Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime plays outdoor concert at The Vault in Scranton on July 30
From a press release:
The phenomenon known as Sublime, arguably the most energetic, original, and uniquely eclectic band to emerge from any scene, anywhere, ended with the untimely death of lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Brad Nowell in May of 1996. But encompassing the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime’s music, Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time.
What separates Badfish from other tribute bands is that they have replicated Sublime’s essence, developing a scene and dedicated following most commonly reserved for label-driven, mainstream acts. Badfish make their mark on the audience by playing with the spirit of Sublime. They perform not as Sublime would have or did, but as Badfish does.
The group will play in The Lot, a new outdoor venue at The Vault Tap & Kitchen in West Scranton, on Saturday, July 30 with special guests the South Side Bandits. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show begins at 6 p.m.
Tickets, which are $20, are on sale now and can be purchased online via TicketWeb or at The Vault (301 N. Main Ave., Scranton) with no fees during normal business hours. A limited number VIP deck table seats are available for $30 and can be reserved by calling 570-343-7100.
Over the past 15 years, Pat Downes, Scott Begin, and Joel Hanks, collectively known as Badfish, have traversed borders, adopted friends, cruised highways, popped tires, loitered in parking lots, stormed clubs, blazed festivals, and raised the decibel level across their broad tour terrain. Their mission throughout their eminent career has remained the same – bring the awesome music and message of Sublime to their spirited fans, wherever they may be.
In paying tribute to one of the most galvanizing musical acts in history, Badfish try to revive the Sublime experience by keeping faithful to their down-to-earth, punk rock attitude. Eschewing wigs and gimmicks, Badfish’s philosophy is to deliver Sublime’s music faithfully, spread good vibes, and push the envelope of performance to create a concert experience that surges with energy and originality.
Formed at the University of Rhode Island in 2001, Badfish have gone from packing fraternity basements to selling out prominent venues across the country, including House of Blues clubs across the country, New Jersey’s Starland Ballroom, Town Ballroom in Buffalo, and Revolution in Fort Lauderdale. In the process of mastering their act and multiplying their fans, Badfish have passed many milestones, including the recording of three live albums, performing with musical heroes The Wailers, and sharing the stage with members of Sublime, including saxophonists Todd Foreman and Tim Wu and Sublime’s original drummer, Bud Gaugh.
While they’re proud of these achievements, their focus remains on their audience. Whether they’re playing a 50-person barroom or a raging three-day festival, Badfish strive to rock the house. No matter the size (or smell) of the venue, Badfish aim to throw a party at their shows that will bring together their eclectic listeners and conjure the thrill and the power of the music of Sublime.
Read our full review and see photos from The Vault’s first outdoor concert with The Menzingers here and watch exclusive videos from that show here.
