Badfish/Bumpin' Uglies/Roots of Creation

The thing about the Sublime tribute band Badfish is that they perfectly encapsulate the vision set forth by Sublime's singer, the late Bradley Nowell, back in the day. While putting their own twist on certain songs, the band members keep the energetic spirit of Sublime alive, all while proferring the music to younger generations and new fans alike. They formed in 2001 at the University of Rhode Island, and it's been a wild ride ever since. Each time they come around to the region, they seem to be bolder and more invigorated. Seven or eight years ago, they were a slimmed-down version of themselves playing smaller bars around Ohio, including a long-gone Blue Gator in Athens. A frontman change in 2007 opened up their sound and ensured that there was no slowing down for these guys. (Eric Sandy)