Author Archives: Katelynn Dilday

“Til the Sun Explodes:” Sublime set to release their first album with late-frontmans son

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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.

From shrimps to surfboards, Viagra Boys reinvents what “good music” can be

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If you had told me 6 months ago that one of my top artists on Spotify would be a Stockholm-based, shrimp-obsessed, post-punk group by the name of Viagra Boys, I probably would’ve laughed it off. You might even be laughing me off right now, but if you give them a try, you may find yourself in my shoes before you know it. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Viagra Boys are making waves internationally, and I can guarantee they’re unlike anything you’ve heard before.

According to frontman Sebastian Murphy, he met his bandmates in 2015 while giving a stunning performance of Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” at a Karaoke bar. They hit the scene with “Research Chemicals,” a single that would be featured on their 2016 debut EP, Consistency of Energy. The track is loud and abrasive, with grotesquely detailed lyrics depicting the side effects of heavy experimental drug use. It’s enough to make your skin crawl and yet…I love it, and I’m not the only one. To this day, Research Chemicals is a favourite among fans.

The band went on to put out a few more singles and EPs before the release of their debut album ( my personal favourite project of theirs), Street Worms, in 2018. If you give the album a listen, I’m sure you’ll find yourself asking, “What is this???” at least once or twice during its half-hour runtime. I know I did. But between distorted saxophone solos, absurdist lyrics, and Sebastian Murphey’s distinct vocals, it’s clear that that’s exactly what the band wants you to ask.

Take the album’s lead single, “Sports,” for example. The song starts with Sebastian monotonously listing different sports over a simple drum beat. “Baseball, basketball, volleyball,” get the picture? As the track continues, more “sports” are listed, including, but not limited to, “Surfboard, ping pong, rugby ball, weiner dog.” The chorus reiterates the song’s complex subject matter as Murphy repetitively chants “sports!” (just in case you missed it)  until we’re led into the second verse, in which even more sports are described! “Beachball, volleyball, cigarettes, weiner dog down on the beach, barbecue.” For all intents and purposes…this is not a very good song, and yet it is their most successful to date, and one of my favourites. This song perfectly demonstrates the band’s ability not to take things too seriously. 

This carefree attitude is found in a lot of Viagra Boys’ work, but I think it’s really brought to life in their most recent album, “Viagr aboys.” This album is the first released under their independent record label Shrimptech Enterprises. Murphy stated that the goal for this project was to work with “a little bit of everything” and create something “a bit simple and stupid.” And while this description may be accurate, I think that’s exactly what makes the album so fantastic.

Lyrics in its lead single, “Man Made of Meat,” touch on a myriad of topics, including “wheelchairs motorised by electric motors made by goblins in a factory overseas,” “drinking hotdog flavoured water on a popular TV show called Tub Girls,” and, of course, subscribing to your mom’s OnlyFans. It’s beyond absurdity, it’s over the top, shrimp-flavoured maximalism, and I love every second of it. 

The album continues with overwhelmingly high-energy tracks like “The Bog Body,” “Pyramid of Health,” and “Uno II”, until suddenly drawing back in “Medicine for Horses.” This track is slow, with Sebastian performing its reflective lyrics with a raw, almost pained tone in his voice. Despite the stark drop in energy, the lyricism and musical composition leave you with no doubt that this is a Viagra Boys track, and one of their best to date.

The band kicked off their “Infinite Anxiety” tour with 2 shows in Vancouver this September. As the tour continues, shows around the world are selling out. It seems like people can’t get enough of Sweden’s strangest punk band, so you might wanna keep an eye out to see what they do next. I know I certainly will.

Duffin’s Donuts-A beacon in the night

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Picture this: It’s 2 am, you’re leaving the bar, or club, or wherever your crazy life has led you to be out this late, and all you want is some junk food…I’m sure you’ve been in my shoes once or twice before.

Usually, your choices are pretty slim at this hour. If you’re lucky, there may be a McDonald’s open a few blocks away. But as you make your way down the sidewalk, unsure if your stumbling is caused by the myriad of liquor coursing through your system or pure exhaustion, you see a beacon of warm, red light. By the grace of God, you’ve made it to Duffins Donuts on 41st and Knight. Your night has just gone from good to remarkable.

(duffinsdonuts.ca)

If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Vancouver’s beloved Duffins Donuts before, I’d check that off your bucket list ASAP. This 24-hour diner has everything you could want and more. 

It all started in 1987 when Tony Chhuon and Paula Sim, immigrants from Cambodia, opened up a donut shop on 33rd and Main St. Though donuts were at the center of the Duffins brand, they knew they wanted to do more. The couple was largely inspired during a trip to Los Angeles, where they experienced not only California-style donuts but also a wide variety of Latin cuisines. With an expanded palette and a hunger for more, the two began selling made-to-order tortas, a Mexican sandwich, at Duffins.

Over the course of almost 40 years and two different locations, the menu has evolved into an eclectic assortment of nearly any late-night craving you could have. Fried chicken, boba tea, chili cheese dogs, bacon cheeseburgers, poutine, 24 different types of Tortas, and so much more are all available right now (and for a killer price too!) 

(@jsun.photo / Instagram)

While the wildly expansive menu is a key selling point of Duffins, I don’t think that’s really where the magic lies. For me, the true magic of Duffins is that it’s a one-way ticket to community. Even in the coldest, darkest, loneliest times of night, it’s always there. It doesn’t matter who you are or what kind of day you’ve had; the second you walk through that big red door, it feels like you’re transported to another world. A world where writers sip coffee while typing away in the corner. Where a group of wasted 20-somethings reminisce about the night they’ve had while sobering up over a box of donuts. Where you can get a warm smile and a cold soda from the girl at the register, no matter how late it is, or how badly she wants to go to bed.  

There’s a certain charm to Duffins that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else. So next time you find yourself in East Van, why not pop by? I promise you won’t regret it. One final tip: order the angel donut. It will change your life.

(duffinsdonuts.ca)

‘Miss Paramour’ Hayley Williams doesn’t hold back with her third solo album!

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Even though we’re 10 months in, it seems this may be the year of Hayley Williams. The 36-year-old Paramore frontwoman released her third solo album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party on August 28th. The R&B-inspired pop record didn’t shy away from personal topics for Williams, including her struggles with mental health, previous marriage, and another rocky relationship. The latter of which is leaving fans concerned for the fate of Paramore as a band.

In 2022, Williams confirmed her relationship with Paramore’s guitarist Taylor York after years of fan speculation. The pair toured together and were praised as pop-punk’s ‘it couple,’ though lyrics from Hayley’s new album could imply the relationship wasn’t all positive behind closed doors.

In her song Parachute, Hayley angrily shouts: “What was the moment you decided to give up?/You could’ve told me what you wanted/I would’ve done anything.” In the album’s 7th track, Love Me Different, Williams sings: “you’re probably telling yourself that no one’s gonna love me like you did/I know that you’re probably right about that, but someone’s gonna love me different.” Neither York nor Williams has confirmed or denied their relationship status since the album’s release.

The speculation surrounding this album’s subject matter has undoubtedly boosted its publicity, especially on TikTok. Hundreds of videos have been posted by users debating their theories surrounding the relationship (or lack thereof,) the fate of Paramore, and the trajectory of Williams’ career going forward. 

Though Hayley has yet to call Taylor out by name, she seemed to put a lot of the rumours to bed last week, when she debuted Good Ol’ Days, a new song to be added to the album’s physical release.

The song was performed on Friday at Rolling Stones Musicians on Musicians event. Williams joyfully danced around the stage while singing: “who knew the hard times were the good ol’ days,” all while wearing the same tinted sunglasses that were a staple theme in Paramore’s 2017 album, After Laughter. This song seems to pretty clearly refer to a single off of After Laughter, Hard Times.

If the references to Paramore’s previous work weren’t enough to convince you of a split between Williams and York, the verses seem to all but spell it out. 

“We could sneak around like we’re on tour/Even if that’s all that you want me for/You could call me Miss Paramour.” The release of the song’s official lyrics confirms the spelling of paramour, meaning ‘secret lover,’ while also being a not-so-subtle nod to Paramore, the band her and York share.

The second verse hammers the final nail into the coffin when Williams sings: “Not easy letting go of the one/I’m not Stevie/I won’t hex ya/but my voice will surely vex ya.” This line pays homage to Stevie Nicks and her iconic performance of Silver Springs. Paramore has often been compared to Fleetwood Mac due to the frequency of members quitting and rejoining the bands, speculated romantic relationships, and the drama that surrounds the two groups.

So what does this mean for Paramore as a band? We’ll have to wait and see. As for Hayley, she seems to be on top of the world. With a jaw-dropping performance on The Tonight Show, along with some recent live appearances, fans are practically holding their breath waiting for a tour announcement. The album’s physical release is set for next month, and it seems like Williams just may have a few more secrets up her sleeve. I, for one, can’t wait to see what she does next.

What your barista really wants you to know

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For the last four years of my life, I’ve worked as a barista for a company you’ve definitely heard of. For the sake of my own employment, I won’t be sharing the name of said company, but you know the big chain coffee shop you’re thinking of? Yeah…it’s probably that one.

In my years of service, I’ve noticed a pattern among customers. These are things we baristas see every day, so I figured I’d put out a conclusive list to help you out for your next visit.

(@danymena88 / Pixabay)

1. We, too, wish coffee were more affordable

Most baristas are in the business because they love the coffee they serve. Even with employee discounts, the prices can be a bit much sometimes. It’s just as frustrating for us as it is for you when the cost of a favourite menu item is increased. Not only are we paying more, but we have to spend weeks explaining that yes, we understand you used to pay $3.10 for your nonfat macchiato, but unfortunately, you now have to pay $4.15. And no, we can’t adjust the price for you “just this once.” 

 

2. Your order is not the craziest we’ve ever seen

Honestly, it probably isn’t even the craziest we’ve seen today. So many sweet customers seem so apologetic for ordering something as simple as a medium coffee in a large cup with extra soy, or an extra hot, no foam, no water chai. You wanna see a real complicated order? Stick around til my co-workers go on their breaks. After years of making the craziest combinations of drinks, we tend to get pretty creative with our own orders. So it’s ok! We aren’t judging you! If anything, we’re taking mental notes on what to order next.

3. Pay attention!!!

Customer: Can I get a hot latte with 3 pumps of vanilla?

Me: Absolutely! What size did you want for that?

Customer: And can I get a croissant and a chocolate chip cookie?

Me: Sure, did you want those warmed up?

Customer: Oh, and can I get a cup of water too?

Me: Yep! So, what size for each of the drinks? And did you want your food warmed up?

Customer: Debit.

I’ve had real interactions that go like this. I totally understand being groggy before you’ve had your coffee and all, but I want you to get your order exactly how you want it, which can be pretty hard to do when I’m missing half the details. Another common theme is calling out a customer’s name over and over to no response, only for them to come up to the bar 10 minutes later asking why their drink is taking so long. 

Mistakes happen; it’s not the end of the world, but to make things easier for us both, I ask of you, no, I beg: please just make sure you’re paying attention to what your barista is saying.

We baristas are happy to serve you no matter what, but if you’re looking to be customer of the year, maybe keep some of these points in mind next time you’re picking up a cup of coffee. We really appreciate it!