Words & Photos by Anthony Abu-Hanna
If you told teenage me that this summer I’d get to not only see but photograph bands that had a developmental impact on my taste in music, he’d be in complete shock. And he’d be living his best life on this particular Friday night, seeing Sublime led by the late Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob for the first time.
Westville Music Bowl has a slogan: “Pack the Bowl.” Mission accomplished. The venue filled early on a perfect summer night, though as the evening progressed, it definitely got a bit smoky and a certain familiar smell wafted through the Connecticut air. The crowd was beautifully eclectic, spanning from kids who weren’t over 18 to adults who’ve been listening to Sublime their whole lives. Some came early for The Interrupters, but everyone was truly here for the main event.
New Jersey’s The Bouncing Souls opened the show and immediately got the crowd moving with their fast-paced, driving punk. These veterans know how to set a tone. “The Gold Song,” “The Ballad of Johnny X,” “East Coast! Fuck You!,” and “Gone” had the early arrivals bouncing along, energy building for what was to come.
The Interrupters took the stage next and clearly had the time of their lives up there. They reminisced about their first Connecticut show over a decade ago at Toad’s Place, then proceeded to whip the crowd into a frenzy with their ska-punk energy. This quintet brought bouncy tunes with tight guitar riffs, a spectacular frontwoman, and driving beats that had the Bowl rocking. Their highlights included “In The Mirror” and “Raised by Wolves,” before launching into a fantastic closing run of “A Friend Like Me,” “Take Back The Power,” “Family,” and “She’s Kerosene.” By the time they finished, the crowd was more than ready for Sublime.
Bradley’s Son Steps Into the Spotlight
The late, great Bradley Nowell would be proud of his son Jakob taking the reins of Sublime. He is his father’s son, both vocally and in the relentless force of energy he brings to the stage. The band came out with absolute ferocity, opening with “Garden Grove,” “40oz. To Freedom,” and “54-46 That’s My Number.”
After “54-46,” Jakob began working the crowd like a seasoned provocateur, telling them where the buses were parked and encouraging them to “jump the fence and party after the show” before launching into “Waiting for My Ruca.” He had take a moment to talk about how full he was from New Haven pizza, stating how it’s the best pizza in the world.
Beyond their own catalog, the band deftly wove in covers from a massive assortment of artists including Secret Hate, Bad Brains, Falling Idols, Bob Marley, The Descendents, and Stick Figure. But no Sublime show would be complete without a cover of The Toyes’ “Smoke Two Joints.”
One of the night’s best additions was the band’s dog, Marvin, who was having the time of his life on stage. Playing catch, posing for cameras, and just lounging around, I’ve never seen a dog be so calm in front of thousands of people. The crowd, on the other hand, was anything but calm.
Jakob constantly antagonized the audience, making security’s job exponentially harder by encouraging crowd surfing, moshing, and recreational activities. “Smoke whatever you have, and not just weed,” he announced at one point, sending the crowd into further chaos.
The band powered through Sublime’s greatest hits including “Doin’ Time,” “April 29, 1992,” “Wrong Way,” and “Greatest Hits.” Jakob did take a moment for something more serious, acknowledging his late father and dedicating “Badfish” to him and “anyone else who’s lost someone way too early.” His dad would absolutely be proud of him.
As the evening wound down, the band wasn’t ready to quit. Jakob was quite vocal about how lame the hard 10:30 PM curfew was and continued encouraging people to jump the fence and party after the show. What started as playful banter was beginning to sound like a legitimate security nightmare.
They powered through without playing an encore, closing with “What I Got,” “Burritos,” “Same in the End,” and “Santeria” to end the evening. Everyone left a little bruised, a little higher (literally), and wishing the night didn’t have to end so soon.
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