LONG BEACH SHORTBUS Long Beach Shortbus makes two stops at Pipeline Cafe this weekend.

Punks grow up,
not old

Former Sublime bassist forges
new sound with childhood pals

WITH A revamped band lineup and new full-length album, former Sublime bassist Eric Wilson returns to Hawaii this weekend for a pair of concerts at Pipeline Cafe.

Long Beach Shortbus With local openers Linus Where: Pipeline Cafe When: 8 p.m. today and tomorrow Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 at the door (18-and-over) Call: 926-3000 or connect to www.lbshortbus.com or www.pipelinecafe.net

Now known as Long Beach Shortbus, Wilson is joined by fellow Long Beach Dub Allstars alum RAS-1, drummer Marion Ramirez and guitarist Trey Pangborn.

At 40 years old, Pangborn is the oldest member of the new band, but all four have known each other since they were teens in Southern California.

"We all grew up in the same area and have seen each other's bands play," Pangborn said this week. "A lot of it was punk rock music when we started playing back in the 80's."

INFLUENCED BY groups such as the Clash, Bad Religion and the Minutemen, Sublime put Long Beach on the map in 1992 with the release of "40 Oz. to Freedom."

At the time, the band's unique blending of punk with elements of reggae and hip-hop was something mainstream audiences had never heard.

The 1994 independent release "Robbin' the Hood" proved they weren't one-hit wonders, although lead singer Brad Nowell's death two years later caused the group to disband just as their self-titled major label debut hit record store shelves.

Along with the requisite greatest hits and unreleased material compilations that followed during the next few years, Wilson continued to perform the music Sublime fans wanted to hear as a member of the Long Beach Dub Allstars.

And while audiences will hear plenty of new material off Long Beach Shortbus' full-length debut, "Flying Ship of Fantasy," Pangborn is certain they'll also play favorites like "Badfish," "What I Got" and "Santeria."

"We still play those same songs," he said. "It doesn't bug any of us at all ... we're having fun and enjoying it."

WITHOUT THE support of a major label or distribution deal for "Flying Ship of Fantasy," Long Beach Shortbus takes things back to the old school by releasing the new album on indie imprint Skunk Records.

"We've been touring since we put it out," said Pangborn. "We've gone pretty much all over the United States."

Being on tour has also allowed the group to witness Sublime's influence on a number of other groups.

"We end up playing with a lot of bands that were influenced by ... that particular sound," he said. "Sublime had their own thing going that no one else was doing at the time."

As the four musicians approach middle age, there aren't many signs that the guys are starting to slow down.

The most noticeable change? Instead of an endless weekend filled with alcohol-soaked parties and the sparking of spliffs backstage, they have learned to appreciate having a bit more time to relax and recharge between gigs.

"It still happens, but not as much as it used to," Pangborn said. "Everyone still likes to party, but not as much as when we were younger."