It's strange how beloved Sublime has become over time.
Not that the Long Beach, Calif., trio's music wasn't a great blend of blue-collar, honest, beer-chugging, pot-smoking reggae-rock.
Sublime is just an odd band to have taken on this almost mythical status, after singer and songwriter Bradley Nowell died in 1996 from a heroin overdose.
The group never really got its day in the sun, as Nowell checked out right before Sublime's self-titled major-label debut was released.
If Nowell and Sublime were still around today, you wonder where they'd be. Selling out AVA Amphitheatre? Broken up? Playing The Rock?
You also have to wonder what Nowell would think of New England's Badfish, a trio that covers Sublime songs note-for-note and packs venues across the country.
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Together since 2001, Badfish has actually played more shows than Sublime did, according to a 2007 article in Spin magazine.
Badfish will bring Sublime to the Rialto Theatre tonight.
The three members of Badfish also have another band, Scotty Don't, that plays original, ska-rock material and will be opening the show, along with locals The Hounds and SKITN.
Tickets are $15. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Slightly Stoopid to bring its reggae sounds to Rialto
While we're on the topic of Sublime disciples, let's talk about Slightly Stoopid, playing the Rialto next Thursday night.
This group is from Ocean Beach, a kind of hippie refuge in San Diego.
Slightly Stoopid makes reggae odes to marijuana like Celine Dion belts away about lost love: You're here, and there's nothing I fear.
While not an exact duplicate like Badfish, you can tell Slightly Stoopid studied at the Brad Nowell School of Sublime.
Formed in 1995, the band calls its fans Stoopidheads. You should prepare for some funny smells emanating from those in attendance at the Rialto show.
Opening are The Supervillains at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show.
Brooklyn's Kaiser Cartel to play free show at Plush
Poppy folk act Kaiser Cartel will play Plush tonight.
The boy-girl duo use simple harmonics, keyboards, tambourines, drums, guitar and whistling to nestle their melodies inside your brain.
The group's coming all the way from Brooklyn, N.Y., to give you a free show, so you've got nothing to lose.
If you want more info on the Kaiser Cartel, the band is keeping a journal on its MySpace page. Here's a selection from a recent entry:
"Darren, the venue manager, wore a Neil Diamond T-shirt. It was obvious that he was a believer — in Neil, as he told me about ND's amazing live show. It was a stimulating conversation."
The show starts at 9:30 p.m.
Congress hosts two great California acts Sunday
Even if you're a PC person, you've got to admit that Apple has some pretty great taste in music.
Witness The Submarines, whose infectious song "You Me and the Bourgeoisie" was featured in prominent iPhone commercials.
It wasn't just that song though. On its 2008 album, "Honeysuckle Weeks," the co-ed duo from Los Angeles make pretty pop music, lush and layered, sweet and refreshing.
The group is currently touring the country with another excellent California act, The Morning Benders, which makes swinging, accessible bar rock. Also opening is Tucson's Young Mothers.
The only bad part about this show is it's happening on Super Bowl Sunday, which could affect attendance.
The show is at Club Congress for $10 straight up with doors opening at 8 p.m.
