Picture by Brent Broza
Sublime invaded Las Vegas over the weekend for a special series of events, headlined by two concerts at Park MGM’s Dolby Live theater.
The shows kicked off Friday with Long Beach Dub Allstars, who lit up the stage with reggae-ska favorites and boundless energy. The Vandals followed with their signature punk chaos, whipping the crowd into a frenzy and even sneaking in their off-season Christmas anthem “Oi to the World.”
By the time Pennywise stormed the stage, the place was electric. The SoCal legends blasted through classics like “Society” and “Fuck Authority,” and later welcomed NOFX’s Fat Mike for a Bad Religion cover. Closer “Bro Hymn” was a massive, communal sing-along, with a large crowd of friends joining the group onstage for the rendition.
Then came Sublime, the marquee act of the weekend. Frontman Jakob Nowell bounded across the stage as he fired off hits like “Smoke Two Joints,” “Doin’ Time,” and “What I Got.” Pennywise’s Fletcher Dragge joined for a rowdy “Same in the End,” hailing Sublime as life-changing before collapsing into inflatable props with Nowell mid-song — one of many moments that made the night feel part rock show, part family reunion.
Saturday opened with Strange Case, the surf-tinged LA upstarts signed to Nowell’s own label, proving themselves ready for the big stage. The Ataris followed with a punchy set packed with fan favorites and stories of punk rock mischief, highlighted by their beloved “Boys of Summer” cover. Pennywise returned for another powerhouse set — Beastie Boys cover included — before Sublime closed out the weekend with a looser, more playful show. The band dug deep into their catalog, swapped jokes, welcomed Eric Wilson’s rottweiler onstage, and treated thousands to what felt like the world’s biggest backyard hangout.
By the end, Sublime’s gratitude was clear. “We know how much this band means to you,” Nowell told the crowd. “At the end of the day, it means just as much to us.” Judging by the roars, the love was mutual — and fans were already ready for round three. Meet you back here in 2026?