Have you heard Sublime’s new single yet? After nearly 30 years, the Long Beach legends are back with “Ensenada.” Original bandmates Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson are joined by Jakob Nowell, son of their late frontman, Bradley Nowell, and the familial resemblance is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
On May 25th of 1996, Bradley Nowell lost his battle with addiction while on tour with Sublime. His death was just two months before the release of the band’s self-titled album, which featured hits like “Santeria,” “Wrong Way,” and “What I Got.” This album would catch fire, thrusting Sublime into mainstream success while still reeling from the tragic loss of their frontman.
In their purist form, Sublime came to an end before they really got their start, and while some attempts to revive the band have been made, fan reception has been lukewarm at best. In 2009, the band began performing with Rome Ramirez (under the title ‘Sublime with Rome,’) and while many fans were happy to have the opportunity to see their favourite band live, the project faced a slew of criticism over the years. Some considered Sublime with Rome to be inauthentic, a quick cash grab, and even disrespectful to Bradley’s memory; others felt like Ramirez’s performance wasn’t nearly at the level of his predecessor.
Despite heavy criticism, Sublime with Rome continued performing off and on until their farewell tour in 2024, when it was announced that Bradley’s son, Jakob, would step up as the band’s new frontman. While the announcement was promising, many were left with concerns. How is he gonna be any better than Rome? Is this just another way to pander to younger fans? What if he’s just trying to cash in on his dad’s work?
Fortunately, these concerns were quickly put to bed. From his debut performance at Coachella 2024, all the way up to the release of his first single with the band, it’s clear that Jakob is putting his all into continuing the legacy his father left behind. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he stated, “I’m not Sublime, my uncles Bud and Eric are Sublime. My dad never got to sing those songs in front of an audience that big, of people who adore him and his sound and his message. I know what I would want to have happen in that situation. So I have to do what I have to do.”
If you’ve heard the new song, there’s no way you can deny how perfectly Jakob’s vocals replicate his father’s. When I first heard the track, I was sure it was an unreleased deep cut from Sublimes’ early days. Seriously, can you even tell the difference?
Ensenada is the first single off “Til the Sun Explodes,” which will be the band’s first album since their chart-topping self-titled release. After 30 years, generations of fans are waiting with bated breath to see where Jakob brings the group, but if Ensedada is any indicator, I think we can expect a fantastic piece of work to come.