Sublime with Rome w/ Rebelution, Pepper, and Mickey Avalon
Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA
08.31.15
Despite Marymoor’s strict no-cannabis rule, the air was scented with pot for Sublime with Rome. Opening the night was a very R-rated performance by Mickey Avalon. Mickey was quickly joined by three women in mini skirts and crop tops. As the songs proceeded, their clothes proceeded to come off. A song-by-song strip tease with strip club-worthy dancing, ending up in nothing but thongs and strategically placed tape. This was not a child-friendly performance. Nonetheless, the combination of the girls and Mickey got the crowd pumped by closing with his biggest hit, “My Dick.”
Pepper kept the energy high. These Hawaii natives gave rock an island flare, classifying themselves as Kona Dub Rock. Right off the bat, they encouraged the crowd to ignore warnings and light up their joints. People discreetly hit on tiny pocket vapes in the crowd while security tried to keep a watchful eye. These three were very enjoyable, with soothing voices and positive attitudes. They showed Seattle a lot of love and appreciation despite our less than optimal concert weather.
Rebelution is a great, easygoing California ska-reggae band. The band was accompanied by two very talented painters. During the set, they created a beautiful work of art featuring a background of surreal mountains fronted with a stoic tightrope walker balancing above a Seattle skyline. Rebelution has quite a Seattle following, displayed by the numerous t-shirts in the crowd. It was great music to take in and relax to. The crowd swayed and toked to their soothing rhythms, setting the perfect atmosphere for Sublime.
Sublime with Rome, not to be confused with the original Sublime. I think most would argue it is a bit of a stretch to keep claim as one of rock’s most iconic stoner bands with only one original member. But I must admit, Rome did do Bradley Nowell justice. If you closed your eyes during “Smoke Two Joints”, you could not easily distinguish the two apart. They kept the night mellow with dark stage lighting, a background of rainbow lights and a thick cloud from the fog machine. The side painters continued, with some amazing black light painting. Overall, a very solid performance that was uniquely reminiscent of the one and only Sublime.
Review by Renae Koepke
Photos by David Endicott
Sublime with Rome
Rebelution
Pepper
Mickey Avalon
