Third Eye Blind
July 22, 2018
Hudson Gardens Event Center – Littleton, CO
Words by: Tyler Hypnarowski
It was quite the scene in Littleton, Colorado. As rain pummeled the Denver suburb, nasty storm clouds hovered over the mountains to the west, creating some uncertainty amongst those in attendance at Hudson Gardens and Event Center to see Third Eye Blind. The resilient crowd that braved the elements was rewarded however when the band took to the stage right around 8:45pm and opened with “Graduate”, the rowdy rocker from their 1997 multi-platinum selling self-titled debut album. The rain passed but the clouds still remained, creating an oddly appropriate backdrop for Third Eye Blind, who’s music often contains deep or dark themes under a surface of catchy hooks and alt rock swagger.
Down to two original members in frontman Stephan Jenkins and drummer Brad Hargreaves, Third Eye Blind has made an effort to move their careers forward while not putting the past away completely. It’s no surprise to them that most who come to their shows want to hear the super hits “Semi-Charmed Life”, “Jumper” and “How’s It Going To Be”, all of which were played Sunday night. But the setlist also included “Dopamine”, the title track off of their of their 2015 release, as well as “Fuck Forever”, a song written by Babyshambles that’s slated for an upcoming covers album. The evening also saw the band perform “Company of Strangers” from their 2016 EP We Are Drugs, a song which could almost be mistaken for a b-side on one of the band’s pre-2000 recordings. Nothing they release will ever be on the level of their 1997 debut, but it’s good to see they are still capable of putting out quality music and mixing it into their shows with the classics that helped define the post-grunge sound of the mid and late 1990s.
Jenkins, now 53, was able to show off some of his signature falsettos on songs like “Never Let You Go”, and “Deep Inside of You” two singles off of 1999’s Blue. A San Francisco Bay Area native, he joked with the audience that the quality of Denver cannabis “hasn’t quite caught up with California yet” while praising Colorado’s beer. Making an effort to connect with the crowd has always been a point for him during shows, and that connection was perhaps no stronger than when he picked up an acoustic guitar and you could hear a pin drop during “Motorcycle Drive By”, the sentimental, crescendoing track from their aforementioned debut album. The show was then rounded out by other gems including “Losing A Whole Year”, “Wounded”, and “Crystal Baller” among others.
Third Eye Blind walked the line between raw and refined, just like they did between nostalgia and looking forward. They didn’t try to emulate songs note for note from the albums, but are instead proud to be a “guitar rock band” that “makes this up as we go”, not a “MacBook band” as Jenkins explained at one point. The result was an honest and energetic, albeit way too short (70 minutes including encore) rock and roll show. Although it did appeared two songs may have been cut from the original setlist likely due to the weather delay: “Slow Motion” and Blinded (When I See You).
Everyone has someone or something they think of when they hear that unmistakable “Do-do-do, do-do-do-do” from “Semi Charmed Life”. Third Eye Blind shows are a lot like meeting up with an old high school friend that you don’t see often. The memories come flooding back and you get to talking about the good old days. But even if the reminiscing dominates the conversation, you’ll naturally start discussing your current lives and looking ahead at some point. And that seems to be about where Third Eye Blind is at in 2018.
