| Review | Apr. 10, 2008 | 8:52 pm |
A review of Third Eye Blind’s Loyola concert
By
For many, it was a dream long in coming: the opportunity to hear the classic ’90s anthem, “Semi-Charmed Life”, performed live by the band that helped define a decade for suburban teenagers. With its mildly rebellious rock riffs, you wouldn’t want your mom to listen to the lyrics. The lights turned off, and a gymnasium full of college students erupted in screams and cheers. But when the band started playing, the crowd quieted and began to murmur. Wait, is that them or another band? I don’t recognize this song, do you?
Students expecting to see the Third Eye Blind they knew from childhood Wednesday at Loyola University, may have been shocked and a little surprised at how few of its classics the band played, particularly since they haven’t put out a new album in five years. The cheers that erupted at the announcement of the band’s upcoming fourth album was diminished by the fact that, though it had been written “in blood that flowed out onto the paper,” it has yet to actually be recorded.
The few songs Third Eye played from their new material seemed odd and unoriginal. Particularly of note were the songs titled, “Non-Dairy Creamer,” which he had introduced as a “dirty song,” and “A Fever that’s About to Break,” neither of which provided the breakneck, youthful energy of their bigger hits.
The band couldn’t seem to decide what sort of concert they wanted to play, let alone what kind of band they wanted to be. Slower songs constituted almost half of the set, bringing the energy down. Emotional songs such as “Wounded” and “Jumper,” tackling relationship abuse and suicide, respectively, appealed to the emo-teen sector, while at other times the group tried to pass itself off as a legitimate hardcore rock band.
Of course, the band members themselves are aging and might be losing touch with what their audience wants. Offers to play new material elicited resounding No’s from the crowd, which was ignored. One audience member, after seeing 44-year-old lead singer Stephan Jenkins up close for the first time, said, “Dude, he looks old enough to be my dad.”
However, excitement in the crowd picked up considerably when the band played its most well-worn hits. “Crystal Baller,” the first hit played and the only song from its most recent album, was decently received, but “Jumper” and “Never Let You Go” prompted every clichéd, energized-rock-concert reaction in the book. Had the mood stayed like this for the duration, it would have been an excellent concert.
The night’s highlight was when the band ran from the front of the room to a smaller stage situated at the back, where it performed two songs. As he explained to the confused crowd, he’d always felt bad for the people who got to concerts late and had to stand in the back. It certainly gave more attendees the chance to enjoy the band up-close.
As expected, the concert ended strongly with “Semi-Charmed Life.” Although the audience called for an encore, the last two songs the band played were low-energy and unremarkable, and they left the stage without the resounding cheers they’d enjoyed a few minutes before.
Clearly, most of the students had come to revel in nostalgia and hear the songs they’d known all of the words to, not to imagine all of the possible things that non-dairy creamer could represent. With a surprise chance to get close to the band, it may have been a semi-charmed kind of concert, baby, baby, but the crowd wanted something else.
Stephen Neal said,
April 10, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
I completely disagree with everything stated above. The band did indeed play ALL of their major songs from the past three albums (Semi-Charmed Life, Hows It Gonna Be, Jumper, Motorcycle Drive-By, God Of Wine, Narcolepsy, Graduate, London, Deep Inside Of You, Losing A Whole Year, Wounded, Never Let You Go, Slow Motion, Crystal Baller, The Background….). I cannot think of a single hit that they did not play. In response to your comment that their new material seemed “unoriginal” and ill-received, I, for one, found it to be faithful to their classic sound and thoroughly enjoyed it. The reason that it wasn’t “better received” is simply because the audience members couldn’t sing along with them like they can with the older songs. I actually found that to be one of the more exciting parts of the concert, finally getting to hear new material from their long-awaited fourth album. In my opinion, I felt that the energy was extremely high throughout the entire show, even during some of their “slower, lower energy” songs such as “Deep Inside Of You”. You should take note that just because audience members aren’t screaming at the top of their lungs does not mean that they aren’t enjoying themselves. Seeing that you fail to appreciate the entirety of what Third Eye Blind encompasses, I suggest that, before you write such a critical and ill-conceived review, you should listen to all of their material and attempt to wrap your head around the fact that this band is about so much more than just their “90’s anthems”.
Samantha said,
April 11, 2008 @ 12:06 am
Alright, so I was also at this concert and I have to preface this by saying that Third Eye Blind is one of my favorite bands of all time - I own all three of their albums and know the words to every single song. I absolutely agree that their new stuff was…lackluster, at best (I was cringing the entire time Stephen Jenkins was singing about non-dairy creamer). I also agree that the pace of the show was odd and disjointed. However, I’m not sure what else a casual fan could have asked from the band - they played all their “greatest hits” and every single song that people SHOULD know the words to. If they only played what they are known for, the set would be about 35 minutes long. While I’m sure that there were a lot of people there who were disappointed by the show, the truth of the matter is that it was a pretty awesome concert for anyone who is more familiar with their repertoire.
No said,
April 11, 2008 @ 12:13 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA the people above me are real tools listening to tool bag music, get a better childhood ASAP
Stephen Neal said,
April 11, 2008 @ 12:37 am
yea so why are you even looking at this review? get a life.
No said,
April 11, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
How do you feel when you realize that the world has passed you and your crappy shallow ’90s bands by? Do you turn on the radio and actively think, “Man, I wish things were more wholesome and artistic today, not like all of that rap music that’s poisoning the air.” Then do you go put on your copy of Now! That’s What I Call Music volume 1 and slowly remember the good old days? Because your perception of culture, what’s good or bad, is so painfully limited that anyone with a brain could assemble a collage of more relevant and meaningful bands as easily as the muthafuckin’ Megazord. Oh, sure, but you have your memories and that’s all you need, but do you realize that the world has moved on and you haven’t? Holding on to a band with some value ain’t so bad but Third Eye Blind? Goddamn, wake up and smell the Kool-Aid.
Stephen Neal said,
April 11, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
Listen man, i don’t know what the hell your problem is, but just because someone likes an older band doesn’t mean they’re fixated in the past. There is absolutely nothing the fuck wrong with 3eb and its a shame because I guess you dont have the goddam brain capacity to appreciate their music. I have no clue what you are trying to infer, maybe that we should all blair “free bird” on our car stereos 24/7 because Lynard Skynard was a “relevant, meaningful” band? I dont give a rats ass if their music isn’t significant. Thats not exactly what im going for. I just like their sound. Listen man, i like plenty of music, some of which includes the classics and rap. But, just because some of us have our own particular tastes and like 3eb doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with that. There is more to them than their 90’s radio hits. Most of my favorite 3eb music comes from their third album released in ‘03. I understand that you are too sophisticated an individual to possibly recognize the appeal of 3eb’s music, but if that be the case i once again must ask why the hell you are even looking at this review. You an your megazord can fuck off.
fleetwood said,
April 12, 2008 @ 10:55 am
third eye blind kicks ass, they have some new songs that really could be hits, non dairy creamer is not a bad tune but the lyrics are odd, about to break is a sweet song, this review is terrible, a 3rd grader could do better,
ummmm.... said,
April 12, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
I think it’s pretty obvious that this article was not written by someone who owns Third Eye Blind’s self-titled album, inarguably their best. The band played EVERY track off of its most popular album, along with the major hits from the other 2 old albums and 2 or 3 new songs.
I have zero idea where you can come from saying that the concert was disjointed. They played for almost 2 hours giving long-time fans a chance to hear some of the more obscure songs (Burning Man and London were weaved and sampled into each other), a chance for moderate fans to hear Crystal Baller and Deep Inside of You, and people who only know Jumper and Semi-Charmed Life a chance to relive 90s nostalgia.
Jenkins is certainly a weird guy and made very odd comments about his relationship to the audience, but he put on a good show with a vitality that belies his age. I have yet to hear anyone, but the reviewer, complain and say this concert was anything but a great 2-hour time travel back to 90s alternative music.
Foxy said,
April 28, 2008 @ 8:28 am
Can any post the lyrics to non-dairy creamer?? I just saw them play at SUNY Oswego but I couldn’t understand most of the lyrics and cannot find them anywhere because the song has not yet been recorded.
Nor Cals #1 3eb fan said,
August 9, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
So its been a while since I’ve been to a 3eb show. I have been keeping up with their new material. It does sound fantastic. I think Non-Dairy Creamer is a brilliant metaphor in this coming of age. Sure 3eb is aging, and the energy of the show might not be as exciting, but its not about that. It is more of a cultural fan base. You should know all the words or have that spiritual connection where you find yourself in their music and their message when you go to a concert. We all go to these shows to find ourselves. We are in this together. We rock the backyard. This is what and this is where 3eb is going. I for one can whole heartedly say that I have made 3eb my own. It is my addiction and my some what of my religion. I found myself through 3eb. It is my pleasure to share my wealth of the band with all of my experiences and memories. Long live 3eb, long after we do.
Patrick said,
October 7, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
The only thing that was right on here was 3eb defining a generation you are correct in that manner. I was not there at their concert nor have I ever seen a live performance of 3eb’s. But the music the band has created over the years has been the most inspiring sound of my life. I am thrilled to hear new stuff is coming out and I can not believe Stephen is now 44. They still sound great from the looks of this and hopefully this next album will bring a curtain close to an era of dysfunctional youth who are now growing older just like the idols we have came to adore. I know the sound of 3eb will echo throughout time as Stephen is undoubtedly the greatest lyricist of our life’s and more people who stumble upon this band will recognize the peace in their words.
bird whisperer said,
November 4, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
this article is written my someone obviously not fawned by 3eb. Its really stupid that this guy thinks that from watching one little crowds response in the dark that ” Omg they have lost their touch, and they arent cool anymore”. I have been to 3 concerts from around the country in the past few years and u know something funny, every single one was crazy people creaming and jumping from the front to the back of the crowd. I don’t know where u were but 3eb yes, 3eb music from the 90’s and yea they’re a little older but never have they lost their touch 3eb is the same 3eb from day one.
AkdovAuston said,
November 4, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
Ok, first of all, lyrically Stephan Jenkins is a king, self-titled, blue, and out of the vein will all support that statement. Musically the band does just as good of a job at complementing what he has to say throughout all three albums, i think it is all brilliant. The only reason this bitch gave them a bad review is because the only song’s she probably knew were the “hits” when those aren’t even their best songs. And if those songs are the reason someone is going to see the band then they shouldn’t complain, no one should ever go to a concert because they heard a couple songs on the radio 10 years ago. Also, another thing shes gotta consider is how underrated and poorly promoted Blue and Out of The Vein really were, 3eb even admits it themselves. If these albums were promoted as good as the first then there would be no question on how good they are. Maybe their new stuff is a little different but until they actually release the cd like they said they were going to do 2 years ago I’m not saying anything. Also them losing Arion probably has an effect on the whole bands moral and they may no longer be who they were years ago, but I’ve seen them 3 times in the past 2 years and each show was amazing although very similar, but that led me to catching a drumstick so i cant complain.