4.29.2010 - Sublime with Rome, The Dirty Heads, and Del Mar
May 3, 2010
The Murat Egyptian Room
Indianapolis, IN
This was absolutely a last-minute addition to our line-up of shows. I just happened to win a meet and greet with The Dirty Heads and Rome from X103 that included tickets to this sold-out show, so we couldn't pass it up.
I'll start this review with a quick overview of the Meet & Greet at X103's studios. First - free pizza. Yum. Next - getting to stand around in the studio with Deuce while he interviewed The Dirty Heads and Rome. Jared, lead singer of The Dirty Heads, tells a hilarious story about going to a strip club the first time he was in Indiana. If you can find that interview on http://www.x103.com/ - listen to it, you'll laugh. After that, we lucky winning listeners got to pile into the Bob & Tom studio and watch through the glass as The Dirty Heads and Rome recorded a few live studio tracks. They did "Lay Me Down", "Believe", and "Stand Tall". These guys are really great - I'd say they have a reggae/rap/ska sound. This small acoustic set upped my level of interest in going to see the show later that night.
We got to the Murat around 6:30 - since it was a sold out GA show, we knew there would be quite the line forming to get any kind of decent spot near the stage. We were actually only about 40 people back from the front of the line - not too shabby. Once inside, we procured a couple of spots against the front railing, stage-right. We haven't ever been smashed right up against the railing for any show, so we weren't exactly sure how we'd feel about this choice by the end of the night, but it actually ended up being a very enjoyable experience. The security guard right in front of us eased our fears a bit by telling us that he had had a long day, and he's not putting up with any crap, he'd just take people down. We agreed wholeheartedly to step out of his way and let him do his job if it came to that!
The first band up, Del Mar, wasn't the type of music I'd listen to on any given day, but I can see that they must have their musical merits. This is actually the band that Bud Gaugh was in when he decided to get Sublime back together. They had a definite punk sound, and really got people ready for the next two bands. Then came The Dirty Heads. The crowd was stoked for their performance, and even more pumped when Rome joined them for a few songs, including "Lay Me Down" of course. To make sure the sell-out crowd was fully ready for Sublime, Jared even hopped off the stage and stood on the barriers to sing the last song. These guys know how to work a room!
Time for Sublime - and I can't say whether it was the contact buzz that everyone had from the plumes of pot smoke filling the room or actual excitement to see this band that hasn't been on the radar since 1996, after former lead singer Bradley Nowell's fatal heroine overdose, but the audience was thrilled. After Nowell's death, the band split, having no desire to perform music under the Sublime name anymore. In 2009, drummer Bud Gaugh and bass guitarist Eric Wilson decided to re-form the band with guitarist and lead singer Rome Ramirez, who was a mere 20 years old at the time. After a legal battle over the Sublime name with Bradley's estate, the band now performs under the name Sublime with Rome.
Sublime still knows how to rock. They played all the old staples - "Santeria", "What I Got", "Date Rape" and "Wrong Way". Basically, all of the hardcore Sublime fans were singing along to each and every word of each and every song. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Rome Ramirez is a good vocalist - no Bradley, but I know his intent isn't to replace him.
Just a few interesting notes on this show - I was surprised to see a ton of young people (under 25's) in the mix at this concert. Just goes to show that a great band will still have an impression on people long after they've broken up - a la Nirvana.
Other topics of note:
- We experienced a near fist-fight after someone tried to snake his way through the crowd that had been standing at the front for an hour to get the best view. Luckily, the situation was diffused, and the two groups of people were friends by the end of the show.
- Lots of people were smoking weed. After a while, security had to take a "we can't do anything about it" stance. Giant smoke clouds were clearly visible heading toward the stage.
- If the Girls Gone Wild videographers had been onstage, they'd have gotten some good material for an upcoming DVD. I think that says enough.
- One thrasher in the crowd was turned on by everyone around him and pointed out to security so they could toss him out for being out of hand. Just goes to show, you should bring more loyal friends if you want to mosh...
- A girl in our vicinity sang every song, loudly, to her boyfriend throughout the show, while complaining to him that she didn't have enough drinks. The man must have been some sort of saint to not have claimed to be going get her another cocktail while he hopped in the car and left her. I sure would have!
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