Let me tell you something about Sublime’s incredible staying power. This Gen Xer still has “Santeria” on her running playlist—28 years after its release. That driving beat about crystal balls and million-dollar dreams? Never fails to put a smile on my face and energy in my step. And this August, that unmistakable Southern California vibe takes over Las Vegas for Fear, Loathing & Sublime in Las Vegas.
If you look at Sublime’s Spotify numbers—nearly 13 million monthly listeners and over 2 billion streams—it’s hard to believe the band released just three studio albums (40 oz. to Freedom, Robbin’ the Hood and Sublime) between 1992 and 1996. What made the band work wasn’t only Bradley Nowell’s genius for blending punk aggression, reggae rhythms, ska upstrokes and hip-hop flow into something entirely fresh. It was how effortlessly natural it all sounded, like the musical equivalent of a perfect SoCal afternoon during the golden days of the ’90s.
Now, decades later, the story continues with the same authentic approach that made the band memorable. The timing feels perfect. Sublime just released “Ensenada,” its first original song with Jakob Nowell—Bradley’s son—as frontman. It’s a significant milestone that bridges past and present, capturing that Sublime vibe and authenticity.
“Creating genuine music that reflects your life and times ... people tap into that, and then you look around and realize, wow, look at all the love we’ve found,” Jakob recently told Antimusic. It’s a philosophy his father would recognize.
The three-day Vegas format at Park MGM feels right for this next generation of Sublime. This was always a band about community, from its early days playing generator-powered shows in parking lots to headlining major venues. The weekend kicks off Thursday with KROQ’s Miles the DJ at a welcome party, a tribute to the radio station that championed the band’s music early on. The main events on Friday and Saturday at Dolby Live will feature Jakob performing alongside original members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, the uncles who helped raise him and now stand beside him as he steps fully into the frontman role.
The supporting lineup reads like a who’s who of ’90s alternative rock: Pennywise (frequent tour partners with Sublime), The Vandals (Orange County punk legends), and The Ataris (carrying on the pop-punk tradition). Long Beach Dub Allstars’ inclusion is especially meaningful: The group was formed by Gaugh and Wilson after Bradley’s passing, representing the direct continuation of Sublime’s experimental spirit.
The event comes courtesy of KROQ and sponsors that perfectly capture SoCal culture: Monster Energy, Primitive Skateboarding, Black Flys Eyewear and Long Beach Beer Lab. Die-hard fans can access exclusive VIP experiences featuring acoustic sessions and rare memorabilia displays. With “Ensenada” pointing toward new material, these Vegas shows promise to showcase beloved classics alongside a preview of the band’s exciting new direction.
As Bradley once sang in “What I Got”: “It all comes back to you, you’re bound to get what you deserve.”
And what Vegas deserves this summer is three nights of pure California gold.
Park MGM. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15-16, starting at $163.62 plus tax and fee. parkmgm.mgmresorts.com
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