Sarah Van Buskirk
Staff Writer
Santeria, a Sublime tribute band, performed a drive-in concert at The Canyon at Montclair Plaza Lane in Montclair Saturday.
This outdoor event allowed the audience to park socially distanced and listen to covers of Sublime’s hit songs, from “Badfish” to “40 Oz. to Freedom.”
Bradley Hides, the lead singer and guitarist of Santeria, said Sublime was his inspiration to form the band.
Started in the late 1980s, Sublime was a Long Beach-based reggae and punk band, active from 1988-1996.
“Sublime was a gateway drug to rock and hip hop for me,” Hides said. “And if it wasn’t for Bradley Nowell, the band and I wouldn’t be able to pay tribute to them when we perform.”
Santiera consists of three members, Hides on guitar and vocals, Adrien Covington on bass guitar, and Evan Fahning on drums. They have been traveling and playing at different music venues, including House of Blues in Chicago, music festivals, and bars.
The Montclair stage setup included lasers and lights – on the top of a garage parallel to Moreno street, audience members could get closer to the stage as long as they were masked.
Caleb Stephens, a Murrieta resident, said he was so excited about the Sublime tribute band coming to town.
“Growing up in Long Beach, my dad was the biggest fan of Sublime, so I listened to it … all the time,” Stephens said.
Stephens said he could not wait to get home and tell his dad all about the concert because music is a big part of their relationship, especially Sublime.
“It’s funny because growing up, I was so jealous that my dad got to see the real Sublime live and I never got the chance to, but the experience of the drive in concert with Santeria felt real enough,” Stephens said.
At the end of the night, there was a socially distanced after party, where fans could mingle and chat with the band.
The concert was put on by Where Music Meets the Soul, a live music promoter that has seven concert venues across Southern California. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, all concerts were in theaters. For more information about tribute bands playing locally visit wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com.
Sarah Van Buskirk can be reached at sarah.vanbuskirk@laverne.edu.
Sarah Van Buskirk is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print and online journalism. She is the Spring 2024 editorial director for the Campus Times and has recently served as editor-in-chief, sports editor and staff writer. She is also currently a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine, and a staff writer for La Verne Magazine.