When hearing the phrases “cover band” or “A tribute to. . .” we immediately think of almost-par instrumentals, an awkward stage presence and cruise-ship-worthy vocals. And of all bands to cover, Sublime is by far the most diverse, complicated sound to mimic, with different vocal ranges, the occasional addition of rasta and a bass-heavy sound. The Blue Note welcomed Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The tribute band proved capable by providing a SoCal jam to devoted fans, even in the heart of a gray, Midwest winter.
Badfish offers a similar story to that of Sublime, coming to surface on the East Coast in Rhode Island during college years, where they quickly began to sell out small venues.
As devout fans themselves, they had no difficulties mirroring the grooves of Sublime, but with a bit more of a punk-rock sound. The music wasn’t in-your-ears loud, but rather an appropriate volume to nod your head to and jam. The voice of Badfish’s lead singer Pat Downes honors the late Bradley Nowell’s legacy, and if people closed their eyes during vocal-focused songs such as “Waiting For My Ruca,” they could almost forget they were jamming to a cover band.
“I find it hard to differentiate between Sublime and Badfish,” sophomore Courtney Lindbeck says. “Although I’ve never seen Sublime perform, Badfish sounds so much like what Sublime produced. I’ve seen Badfish four times now, and after each show I’m definitely really pumped, my friends and I are never ready for it to end. We have a great time.”
Although the band provides a great cover sound, their stage presence was what stole the show. The foursome of Badfish appeared as no-nonsense guys with laid-back appearances as they took the stage dressed in plaid shirts, cargo shorts and snap-back hats.
Freshman Ray Wertz has seen Badfish twice.
“The core of Sublime is their carefree lifestyle, yet that they are resistant and angry at times toward social norms and conformity,” he says. “When I first saw Badfish in Chicago, the lead singer brought that to the show by dressing in PJs.”
The band seemed to enjoy the college atmosphere. During “40 oz. to Freedom,” the lead singer couldn’t contain his laughter, while the crowd favorites proved to be “Santeria” and “What I Got,” as these two songs provided extreme success for Sublime. Nonetheless, the worry-free vibe was found in party anthem songs such as “Smoke Two Joints” and “Doin’ Time,” which Badfish ended on.
Although many fans in the crowd never had the chance to see Sublime with the original lead singer, it was an undisputed feeling this show would be the closest, most authentic chance. The cult-classic songs are popular to fans because of their sunshine-loving, easygoing feel. And at $14 a ticket, Badfish provided an unauthorized, unsigned and energetic show that was the trademark of Sublime’s early shows in bars and clubs in California.