Exhibit

This exhibit is a testament to how Sublime related to Southern California Culture, which ultimately led to their success. The SoCal culture I am referring to in this project possesses many key characteristics, including a laid back, carefree attitude and a sense of having fun all of the time, especially among the youth of SoCal.

Brad in the Early 80’s

Young Bradley Nowell plays an entry level Fender Stratocaster known as a “Squier.” He jams probably at his house, probably as he first started learning guitar as well. This is the kind of essence Sublime brings to their music as well, an essence of simplicity, being carefree, happiness and an overall essence of fun. The idea of jamming with friends in a garage and embracing the fact that you are not a rock star is what Sublime is about. This picture is so pivotal to this because of how it shows the true beginning of what formed the band that would be Sublime, a band that would flip the California dream on its head and define a new culture.

Young Sublime in 1989

Just after his band formed, Bradley Nowell takes this picture with his new band, Sublime. On the left is drummer Bud Gaugh, in the middle is guitarist and lead singer Brad, and on the right is bassist Eric Wilson. Though it does not have an exact date, this photo was probably taken at some point in the late 80’s or 1990, near when the band first formed. The band is shown embracing the California sunshine and displaying the relaxed and care-free attitude that would lead them to become the main house party band of LA and Orange County, as well as contribute a new aura to the SoCal culture.

1991

Above is Sublime’s first demo tape titled “Jah Won’t Pay the Bills.” I feel that this ablum cover and the artwork on it really do represent what Sublime was going for, or rather who they were as people. Bradley Nowell took a liking to reggae music very early on when he took a sailing trip to the Virgin Islands with his father in 1979. This album cover shows Sublime’s unique fusion of musical styles with the title, since Jah is the God of Rastafarianism. Reggae music has a distinct, intimate relationship with Rastafarianism, so Sublime incorporated the word by blending it with a comedic twist, “won’t pay the bills.” This along with the bands dogs sporting sunglasses in the photo gives the listener a fun vibe right out of the gate without even hearing the record.

Groove Tube in 92′

Sublime plays to a crowd of very few during one of their early tours. They are playing in Florida during the video, where they had no popularity whatsoever at the time. However, one of the likeable things about the band was the fact that they were always willing to play their music, no matter what. In an interview, the bands producer states, “It doesn’t matter if we go to a town and play to only one person, that still one more friend than we previously had.” This attitude of inclusiveness and positivity was the main force that carried Sublime,  while the fact that they were playing an innovative style of music was only half of their success. This attitude definitely spoke to their main audience back in Southern California, and as a result, they gained a huge following and became one of the signature bands of California. They were even know to hangout with the audience after their shows, often going right up to them and sparking conversation. They also show their fun side when an assistant comes up to adjust the microphone for Bradley, and while moving it around, Bradley makes a funny bobbing gesture.

Badfish, 1992

This artifact really sums up Sublime. It is the famous music video for the bands hit song “Badfish,” which shows the band playing the chill song at a beach with all of their friends. The beginning clips of the video show sets of waves rolling in as people meander down to the beach to have their party. The song was off of their first real album titled, “40 Oz. to Freedom,” which thy managed to record in the span of 8 hours by breaking into a high school studio when nobody was there.

1992

“What’s Really Goin’ Wrong” is a surf movie made in the early nineties that features many famous surfers, including Kelly Slater. The beginning of this film shows some friends goofing around and having fun, shortly followed by Sublime playing the theme song of the film. There’s a reason why Sublime was selected to play the soundtrack of the film, and it was because they became a distinct association with surf culture in Southern California. Their blend of punk rock, ska, and reggae really covered all the corners of what surfing was all about, adrenaline, fun and relaxation. They made this soundtrack early in their career, boosting their popularity in the surf scene as the latest, freshest surf music.

Weenie Roast, 1995

Above is footage from the famous Weenie Roast show in 1995. What really made Sublime stand out in the music scene was their incredible, yet ironic ability to not care at all. This show was a shot to standout in front of radio stations and record labels in order to further their career, but instead they made copies of the backstage passes they had and invited 300 of their friends backstage. As if that wasn’t enough, they lets their friends run on stage during one of their punk songs to mosh. While they seemed to burn any bridges that could have been formed professionally, they popularity they gained from doing this was so great that it did not make a difference in their career in the end. Bradley and Bud both sport beer bellies and no shoes on stage while they perform, almost as if they are trying to show that they aren’t rock stars. What truly made Sublime a staple of California culture was their authenticity. They wore their hearts on their sleeves and never tried to be something they were not. They were not only playing to a crowd of surfers, punks, and beach bums alike, they were those people. For that reason, Sublime is truly special and remains a prominent band even 22 years later.