Sublime’s Eric Wilson pulls double duty with new band
Outside of currently being the bassist for Sublime with Rome, Eric Wilson has dabbled with other projects. After original Sublime guitarist & vocalist Bradley Nowell passed away in 1996, he and drummer Bud Gaugh started the initial incarnation of the Long Beach Dub Allstars that lasted until 2002. Wilson has also been involved with the bands Long Beach Shortbus and Del Noah & the Mt. Ararat Finks. These days, he has another band called Spray Allen which is somewhat of a California punk rock supergroup. As part of an after party associated with Sublime with Rome’s upcoming show with Incubus and The Aquadolls at the XFinity Center in Mansfield on August 3, Wilson’s new band will be performing at the News Cafe on 43 Broad Street in Pawtucket at 9pm.
We had a talk ahead of the shows about how a skateboarding legend helped begin Spray Allen, working on the band’s new album with a longtime friend, being in a better place in life and what folks can expect from the after party.
Rob Duguay: How did Spray Allen start?
Eric Wilson: It was kind of like the universe corresponding with me in a big way. I toured with Wade Youman from Unwritten Law when Sublime with Bradley [Nowell] was on the first Warped Tour and I hung out with Wade back then. Then I ran into him when I moved out of Long Beach, California, where I lived my whole life, but it was the best thing I could ever do. Wade started coming around and then he connected with Danny Way, the super pro skateboarder.
RD: Yeah, he’s famous for doing a lot of big air tricks and stuff.
EW: For sure, Danny then connected us with Eric Sherman and Daniel Lonner from Late Night Episode to start Spray Allen.
RD: What was it like working with Paul Leary from the Butthole Surfers again on Spray Allen’s debut album Needful Things that just came out on July 15th?
EW: It was insane-o, I always have a great time when I’m with Paul and his energy. Along with being part of the Butthole Surfers, he’s a super wizard and the guy is fantastic. I love him to death, I connected with him back in ‘94 or something and he worked with us in Sublime on our self-titled album. Ever since then we’ve been running into each other pretty sync wise and whenever I feel something is worth taking towards him, I send it over and he makes it a whole lot better (laughs) to say the least. Stu Brooks from Dub Trio as well helped out with it, he came into my life five years ago and he’s played a huge part in making this music incredible. Everybody involved really was fantastic, especially when we connected with the right chemistry.
RD: Would you say that the chemistry and the collaborative vibe with Spray Allen makes it different from the other bands you’ve been in?
EW: 100%, I feel like it’s the closest thing to being with Bud [Gaugh] and Bradley when we started way back ‘88. Yeah, I believe that.
RD: That’s awesome to hear. Sublime with Rome has been on this tour with Incubus & The Aquadolls and it’s quite a wide ranging one with the different music within the lineup. How did you guys get on this expedition and how’s been going so far?
EW: It’s been going great. Incubus is an awesome band and I’ve been friends with those guys since they first started. We’ve talked on and off for the past couple of years about doing a tour and they’re wicked cool. I saw them not too long ago at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and they were amazing. When Bradley passed away, it really messed me up for a lot of years and I’ve just been awakening from it but life is good and I’ve been really excited for this tour.
It’s nice being in the middle slot because after I play with Sublime I can take a little break and check out Incubus. It feels good to be back where I belong playing music with my friends and my brothers.
RD: What can people expect from the Spray Allen hosted after party at the News Cafe?
EW: It’s a lot like Sublime but without the reggae. It’s all your favorite kinds of music from back in the ‘60s to today and the future, so expect to have your mind blown.