CONCERT: SUBLIME WITH ROME; FORTUNATE YOUTH; ICHRONIQ; FACE TO FACE
On May 24, 1996, the original group Sublime played their last show at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma. No one knew it would be a fated final concert; no one knew that singer Bradley Nowell would be found dead of a heroin overdose the next morning at a motel in San Francisco. Sublime’s base plyer, Eric Wilson, and drummer Bud Gaugh, — disbanded after Nowell’s untimely departure.
SUBLIME WITH ROME - In 2009, the Fremont, California singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez essentially replaced the late Bradley Nowell as the leader of the legendary Long Beach band Sublime. Ramirez started listening to Sublime when he was just a preteen. He studied lead singer Bradley Nowell’s guitar playing and vocal styling and counts the performer as his biggest influence.
Ramirez joined surviving Sublime members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, and they initially planned to perform together under the Sublime name, but the Nowell estate hit them with a cease-and-desist, so they changed their name to Sublime with Rome. For the past 15 years, Sublime with Rome have toured consistently, mostly playing songs from the original-flavor Sublime, though they’ve released three albums of their own.
The Ska Alternative Rock group from California, was formed in 2010 by Rome Ramirez, Eric Wilson, and Bud Gaugh. Ska is a music genre originating in late 1950’s Jamaica. Precursing rocksteady and reggae, it combined elements including Calypso and Caribbean Mento with both American Jazz and Rhythm and Blues; it also genres as Reggae today. Siting respect to family obligations, Bud Gaugh left the band in 2011, leaving one original Sublime member, bassist Wilson, Rome, and former Nine Inch Nails drummer, Josh Freese, replacing Gaugh.
With fan-favorite hits such as “Wrong Way”, “Santeria”, “Badfish”, “What I Got”, “Caress Me Down”, “40oz to Freedom” and many more, the band's concerts are pure sing-along enjoyment from beginning to end. Currently, Sublime with Rome has almost 261 million all-time streams, and over 500k monthly listeners on Spotify. This is in addition to the legacy statistics which include 8M monthly listeners. “Santeria” remains the top song with over 660 million streams. This is followed by “What I Got” with over 420 million streams and “Badfish” with 165 million streams (stats via Spotify). Following Tangerine Skies, Sublime with Rome’s final self-titled album, recorded at Sonic Ranch, will be a celebratory final tour of the fifteen years together and is a thank you to the fans for their love and support on this journey.
In an Instagram statement, Rome Ramirez announced he was leaving Sublime With Rome at the end of 2024: “The upcoming performances over the next year will allow us to reflect on countless incredible memories together!… Singing and playing guitar for this iconic band has been a lifetime opportunity and just flat out absolutely epic. Carrying on the Sublime legacy has been a trust I’ll forever cherish.”
FACE TO FACE - Face to Face is a punk rock band from Victorville, CA, formed in 1991 by frontman Trever Keith, bassist Matt Riddle and drummer Rob Kurth. The band rose to fame with their 1995 album Big Choice, featuring the radio hit "Disconnected" which received heavy rotation on KRQQ radio in Los Angeles and appeared in the movies Tank Girl and National Lampoon's Senior Trip. Face to Face officially split up in September 2004, allowing the band members time to focus on other projects. In April 2008, after a four-year hiatus, Face to Face performed together for the first time at The Glasshouse in Pomona, California. Since then, the band has continued to perform and has released five more studio albums to date.
FORTUNATE YOUTH - From backyard BBQs in Southern California beach towns to its rise as one of the most popular reggae-rock bands in the country, Fortunate Youth remains devoted to its roots and a simple mission: Spread peace, love, and unity with music. It’s a mantra of sorts for the multi-faceted sextet from Hermosa Beach, driving a relentless thirst for live performances and an ever-evolving cache of original material dotted with influences of blues, ska, rock, world, soul, and punk. Dedicated to performing live, the ensemble has logged countless miles across the globe, with F.Y. supporting brethren such as Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, and SOJA.
ICHRONIQ Hailing from the sunshine state, the reggae-based band “ichroniq” is determined to make waves on the east coast, the west coast, and the world over. The band was formed in 2021 by producer CRV5H and vocalist/guitarist Tyler Jaworski, when they met in a jiu-jitsu gym outside of Tampa, FL. With the addition of the smooth and jazzy stylings of saxophonist Daniel Valladares, and the heavy hitting stage presence of drummer Josh Hasak, the group was one step closer to their final form.While staying true to the roots of the reggae genre, ichroniq‘s dynamic drum beats, thumping bass lines, swinging riddims, melodic vocals, and sultry horns weave in and out of different genres and sonic landscapes, always keeping the listener grooving and entertained. Touching on a myriad of topics ranging from partying and feeling good to rebellion to falling in love, with influences ranging from funk, metal, hip-hop, indie, and ska, the band’s predictable song structure combined with unpredictable production delivers a sound that is truly “ichroniq.”After sharing the stage with artists such as Through the Roots, Shwayze, and Little Stranger in 2022, the band plans to expand their unprecedentedly versatile portfolio, tear the roof off every dive bar from Tallanasty to Tamiami, and make their presence felt across the reggae scene.