There’s a good chance that by now, you have caught a glimpse of 2024 Sublime featuring the late great Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob fronting the group. Perhaps you were at Coachella for this group’s first performance or have seen some YouTube clips. The band with Nowell singing, has nine more festival dates ahead of them this year.
At the same time, we also have the Sublime with Rome Farewell Tour underway. This started on April 11 and runs through mid-September of this year. In addition, Sublime with Rome has announced their final record will be released on May 10.
So, what we have here is two Sublimes going on simultaneously. To make things even more intriguing, we have both Sublimes playing shows on the same night twice. This Saturday is one of them with Sublime playing the Brightside Music Festival in Orlando, FL, and Sublime with Rome playing Red Rocks in Morrison, CO. This happens again on August 10 in Truckee, CA and Victoria, QC respectively.
No, you didn’t just quickly down a 40 oz. or smoke two joints and now everything is fuzzy. These two lines crossing is actually what we’ve got in 2024.
Let’s Break Down 2024 Sublime
Earlier this year, Sublime announced they would be joining forces with Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob. It was angled as a reunion because it includes original Sublime members drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson. This comes 28 years after Bradley Nowell’s death in 1996. He was 28 years-old at the time of his sudden passing. His son Jakob is now 28 years-old.
In 2010, Sublime with Rome debuted. For roughly 13 years this included Eric Wilson on bass. Bud Gaugh had a short run with the Rome era before a slew of other drummers took over for Gaugh. Josh Freese (who is now with Foo Fighters) was one of them.
This is where things take another interesting turn. Wilson stated he would only be participating in the rendition of the original Sublime that now includes Jakcob and Gaugh. So, for the first time, Sublime with Rome is touring without an original member.
I’ve twice interviewed Rome Ramirez. The first time was in front of a line audience at the Levitate Music Festival. This year’s Levitate Fest will be headlined by the original Sublime (with Jakob, Eric, Bud). Ramirez however, will still be promoting the band’s new record out on the road himself. Ramirez has done an admirable job fronting his rendition of Sublime and keeping the legacy alive and well. In fact, they released three records. Ramirez who originally met Wilson in a record store, is an incredible talent who along with his reggae vibe vocal, can wail on guitar.
Ramirez has also taken his talents to side projects that include a duo with Duddy from Dirty Heads.
As for Jakob Nowell, he too has another group called Jakobs Castle.
For this summertime however, we have the dueling two joints of (oringal) Sublime and Sublime with Rome both out there doing their thing. You can find both of their recent setlists here. You will notice both groups play some of the same songs.
It’s likely the only stretch we will ever see where a band that could have easily stopped, is now charging down two paths celebrating this music in very meaningful ways. And remember that.
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