Most music enthusiasts dread hearing that one of their favorite dismantled bands has chosen a new lead singer to bring them back on the road to play songs originally created nearly 15 years ago. The assumption is that this “new” band is going to be horrible and that a good thing shouldn’t be messed with, even if it means hearing “them” live again. Another blow is to hear that the new lead singer is a 21-year old kid. I will tell you, none of this crossed my mind when I heard that my favorite band, Sublime, found a new lead singer to form Sublime with Rome and was coming to the Riviera Theater in Chicago on my golden birthday in April. (An interesting “law” side note: The new band had to be renamed as part of a preliminary injunction in favor of the deceased original lead singer, Bradley Nowell’s estate.) I jumped online ASAP and booked two general admission tickets. I had been playing the hell out of 40 Oz to Freedom, Robbin’ the Hood, and any other album or import I could get my hand on ever since junior high. I just wanted to see Sublime live because I never had the chance after the original band’s lead singer, Nowell, passed away in 1996, just as I began to listen to their music. Sure, I saw Long Beach Dub All Stars at Warped Tour awhile back, and they were great, but that band was technically a spin-off and they had their own style and songs. THIS was an opportunity to finally hear all the Sublime songs I love live.
This may be the time to tell you that not only did I see Sublime with Rome in April, but I also saw them in July when they played at Charter One’s Northerly Island Pavilion in Chicago and I also saw them again in July at Mandalay Bay’s Hotel Beach in Las Vegas. When a band’s your favorite, they’re your FAVORITE. I won’t waste space rating each show individually because they were all pretty awesome. I will mention a few brief highlights, however. The April show at the Riviera was part of the band’s spring tour, so I liked that the set list was different than the two July summer tour shows. Between all three shows, I was happy to hear my favorite songs (”Greatest Hits,” “Under My VooDoo,” and “Don’t Push”), but was surprised to not hear “Caress Me Down.” The band also encored each show with “Scarlet Begonias,” “Santeria,” and “What I Got,” which I thought were excellent choices.
Now, on to the band itself and the venues. Bud and Eric (original members) delivered wonderfully – just as I’d expected – and I was pleasantly surprised to hear the new lead singer, Rome, channel Nowell in a respectful way that still kept with the original melody of the songs. I was impressed with his powerful voice, confidence, and enthusiasm. The venues that held each show were also out of this world. I had been to the Riviera Theater before and for those of you who have also, you know that it is a great nostalgic, intimate place to see a show. The sound resonated through every corner the nearly 100 year old place! Northerly Island Pavilion was a sweet place too – its location on the old Miegs Field spot on Chicago’s lakefront was perfect for a summer night show. Lastly, the show in Las Vegas was just out of this world. I love Vegas in its own right, but to be at a small “beach” (with accompanying wading pool!) at the Mandalay Hotel 100 feet away from a spectacular dub-style band at the furtherest spot pretty much topped nearly every other Vegas experience I’ve had over the 10+ times I’ve been there. The laid back atmosphere made it feel as if you were watching a small local band at some Caribbean island hideaway, and I’ll never forget it.
So to sum up, Sublime with Rome, in my opinion, is just as great as the original band. They made do with what was left after the tragic death of their original lead singer and it works. The places chosen to play their “comeback” tour were absolutely awesome. I hear they’re working on a new album right now, and I’m psyched to see what original creations they’ll come up with.
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