Dub Allstars Whip Up a Storm of High-Energy Reggae Effects

Elvis in the mosh pit. Fat Elvis, with a giant pompadour and white sequined jumpsuit. In reality, just another fan dancing at the Mayan Theatre on Sunday, and a fitting image for the cross-cultural blend of the Long Beach Dub Allstars at their Halloween show.

Most of the Dub Allstars emerged in costume themselves: drummer Bud Gaugh as a Viking, singer Opie Ortiz in a gorilla suit, bassist Eric Wilson and singer-guitarist RAS-1 as ‘80s metalheads--a visual stew to accompany the band’s relentless storm of scratches and echoing dub reggae effects.

Formed two years ago from the ashes of the Sublime, the Dub Allstars maintained a furious energy at the Mayan, even within the most laid-back of moments. While the band has yet to reach the songwriting level of the Sublime’s late Brad Nowell, the Dub Allstars were a tight and entertaining unit, with reggae as the central ingredient, along with the occasional flourish of punk rock.

As demonstrated by the guest appearance of Jamaican singer Barrington Levy, the Dub Allstars are more interested in carrying on a tradition than merely aiming for the pop charts that the Sublime once conquered.

Earlier, G. Love & Special Sauce performed cracked folk and hyper funk with infectious energy, if few memorable songs.

Rapper Kool Keith opened the night with crisp vocals and crazy rhymes utterly disconnected from ghetto cliches and empty bravado. Dressed in a plastic Elvis wig and a Dracula cape, Keith had other things on his mind. As he pulled five women up to the stage, he declared: “This is Halloween pervert night!”