A DJ at Chicago’s Q101 was surprised by how emotional she got after listening to Jakobs Castle cover Sublime.
Lauren O’Neil is a midday host at the popular Chicago alternative radio station. She also regularly shares videos to the station’s YouTube page in a series called ‘First Listen,’ in which the radio personality gives honest, immediate feedback while hearing a song for the first time.
Most recently, O’Neil gave a listen to Jakobs Castle’s rendition of Sublime’s “Garden Grove.” The man behind Jakobs Castle is Jakob Nowell, son of late Sublime singer Bradley Nowell, who has also taken over as frontman of his father’s former band. In the video, which you can watch below, O’Neil got surprisingly emotional hearing how the younger Nowell reinterpreted his famous father’s work.
READ MORE: Jakob Nowell Releases ‘Garden Grove’ By Jakobs Castle
“Hang on! Whoa dude, what? This is amazing,” O’Neil remarked early in the song. “It’s clearly ‘Garden Grove’ but man he’s changing the vocal runs, the notes are different. It’s got Jakob’s flavor, but it’s still honoring the original song. And for all the haters on the internet who are just talking shit and saying that he doesn’t sound enough like Bradley, what are you listening to? This, it’s him holy crap this is amazing. I am so happy right now.”
O’Neil, who said she’d been a fan of Sublime since her high school days, gave a hearty seal of approval to the Jakobs Castle version, describing it as “fantastic.” She went on to reflect on Jakob’s unique situation taking over for Bradley.
“Trying to imagine what it’s like as Jakob going out there playing these songs, playing with Sublime with Bud and Eric, meeting some of his father’s peers,” O’Neil said before stopping for a moment. “Why am I getting emotional?” the host asked herself before refocusing.
“[Jakob is] now meeting these people that knew his father and he never really got to know his dad. And now he is following in his footsteps, making incredible music and meeting his friends and they are basically welcoming him in like uncles and aunts and it’s just beautiful. And he just talks about how Sublime is and always has been a family first and foremost and from start to finish this is a celebration of Bradley Nowell and the generations of fans and musicians his music has inspired.”
Jakobs Castle’s version of “Garden Grove” can be found on the recent reissue of the Sublime tribute album Look At All The Love We Found. Other artists who contributed to the star-studded release include Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, Pennywise, Stick Figure, G Love, Jack Johnson, Zac Brown Band, Iration and Fortunate Youth.
Is Jakobs Castle Touring?
Jakobs Castle is currently out on the BVRNT Tour, a headlining trek that also features Spray Allen (featuring Eric Wilson of Sublime), Jesse James Pariah and Strange Case. Jakobs Castle will also perform at the Washington D.C. edition of the Warped Tour festival, happening the weekend of June 14.
Meanwhile, Sublime also has a busy summer schedule, including a performance at the Minnesota Yacht Club festival. The band will also host a special event in Las Vegas dubbed ‘Fear, Loathing, and Sublime,’ taking place Aug. 14-16.
