Music Mavericks Blogazine

October 05, 2017

Menzingers, The Offspring, and Sublime with Rome

Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, CA

September 26, 2017

Article and photos by Steve Anderson

The Menzingers were the opening act on this night.They took the stage at 7pm and started rocking the house even though most of the fans were stuck in traffic trying to get in. No worries for this band as they played their songs with skill and enthusiasm warming up the crowd that was there.

By the time the Offspring took the stage most of the fans were in their seats and ready for a great show..There was tension in the air and part of it was due to the dry crackling air of the Santa Ana weather that had descended on San Diego. It was also due to the collective expectations of the fans who knew what kind of thrashing music the two main bands were capable of creating. After all, Offspring has sold 40 million albums worldwide and along with Sublime has been credited with reviving Punk Rock in the 1990’s.

Offspring did not let their fans down….From their opening song “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” to the closing of the set with “Self Esteem” the band ignited the house with sixteen of their best songs. It was like it was the 1990’s and they had turned the clock back to their younger days. Even though a lot of water has gone under the bridge since the band had its first major hit in the 90’s, Noodles can still rip on the lead guitar, Dexter Holland can sing with the intensity he always had, Greg K. is always steady on the bass guitar and the drummer Pete Parada can rock it with the best of them. The fans gave their seal of approval by singing a collective chorus to the last song that was so loud that it reverberated the walls of the amphitheatre. After that finish by the Offspring I wondered how Sublime and Rome was going to match it.

Sublime with Rome came out and ramped up the energy in the amphitheater with the incendiary song “Date Rape” and they never let up for the rest of the night. Even though the thirteen song set contained only one of their original songs, “Panic” from the album “Yours Truly”, Sublime with Rome showed that they were up to the challenge as they played hit after Sublime hit. Rome Martinez on lead guitar and vocals, original band member Eric Nelson on bass and Josh Freese on drums are able to capture the primal magic of the original band. Many of the fans in the audience were not even born or were still very young when Sublime had its first hits in 1997. But it is a testament to the songwriting prowess of Sublime founder and lead singer Bradley Nowell (Feb.22, 1958-May 25, 1996) and the performing ability of Sublime with Rome that these young fans are still dancing and singing along with Sublime music. And sing along they did as the band closed out the set and night with the songs, “What I Got” and “Santeria”. The thousands of fans drowned out the band as they filled in the chorus to the two closing songs and showed that great music lives on in the hearts of its fans.

All photographs are copyrighted images.