40 Oz. to Freedom

Last Saturday, Rachel, James, and I went to the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach to catch a Sublime tribute concert.  I was really looking forward to it since I had never been to the famed Belly Up Tavern and I was craving some live music after returning home to San Diego.  Although we missed the opening acts of Project: Out of Bounds and DJ BoomStyler, we caught the impressive opening performance of San Diego bred Social Green, which mixed hard guitar riffs interlaced with a combination of bongos, tambourines, and keyboard.  There was good reason for such a dynamic performance, Social Green was celebrating the release of their sophomore album "Sounds of Revolution".  After an energetic hour long set, Social Green departed the stage to make room for the headlining act, 40 Oz. to Freedom.  40 Oz. has been performing together since the Spring of 2007 and has been turning heads for its close similarities to Sublime.  Covered songs included the upbeat chill track "Badfish" and the politically driven anti-authority anthem "April 22nd, 1992".  Although I find it impossible to ever replicate the sound of Sublime, 40 Oz. has done a wonderful job of capturing the laid-back sound and Long Beach swagger made popular by Bradley Nowell, Bud Gaugh, and Eric Wilson.  The show concluded with an awesome encore, including an extended drum set on the end of "Pawn Shop", leaving the crowd feeling mellow and groovy.  There is no better way to spend a summer evening than watching my favorite tunes being performed and sipping on a cold cocktail, especially under the rafters and hanging sharks at the Belly Up.  For more information on upcoming shows, visit bellyup.com, and for Social Green's second released album "Sounds of Revolution", visit their myspace page!