Opening the evening to a very crowded house was local band Absentstar, which released its CD “Sea Trials” on Canvasback, an outpost of Columbia Records. The band was the perfect fit to support Third Eye Blind – a similar sounding pop / rock band with a local twist. Absentstar got the crowd (of mostly Loyola students, with a few old folks like myself thrown in the mix) fired up right off the bat, which continued on through the night.
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Third Eye Blind & Absentstar
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 Entertainment
Art
Loyola University
Chicago, Ill.
April 9, 2008
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I was just rereading my review of the last Third Eye Blind show I attended in September of 2006, which only echoes my thoughts about Wednesday's 3EB show at Loyola University. Yes, you read that correctly, Loyola University.
Let me preface this by saying that Third Eye Blind is one of my all-time favorite bands, and always will be. However, I felt sick inside (as did my self-imposed 'Third Eye Blind SuperFan' friend) watching them perform on a small (albeit nice) stage...in a GYMNASIUM. My, how the mighty have fallen.
If it weren't for the 25 drunk college kids moshing (not kidding) next to me during songs like "Wounded" and "Deep Inside of You" (both slow, mellow songs), I may have enjoyed myself. But it was hard for me to wrap my head around my environment, coupled with the fact that lead singer Stephen Jenkins has the nerve to still use his cocky swagger onstage. It's baffling to me how one isn't humbled by the fact that ten years ago, Third Eye Blind was on top of the charts, and is now playing for an audience of college kids shouting "PLAY JUMPER!" Did I mention that the tickets were only $10?
As I noted in my last review, Stephen is STILL unable to hit the high notes in the majority of his songs. To his credit, my friend and I Googled him on the way to the show and discovered that he is 44 years old. He is still gorgeous but you can tell that the years of touring and insightful pondering about the state of our nation's politics (as he did a LOT during the show) have taken their toll on him. One cool aspect of the show is when the band ran from the front of the gym to the back, where another smaller stage was constructed without anyone noticing. The band played an acoustic set, which allowed the fans in the back to get up close and personal. I thought it was a nice gesture, and it was also quite amusing to watch Jenkins sprint from front to back, while needlessly surrounded by campus security.
My embarrassment for the band doesn’t end there…it pains me to type this, but for the encore, Jenkins appeared onstage…wearing a wolf suit, the Loyola University mascot. Enough said.
However, the band did play a few of my favorites: "Crystal Baller", "Burning Man", "Motorcycle Drive-by" and "The Background", as well as a hilarious version of Nelly's "Ride Wit’ Me." They also played snippets of a few new songs, including “Lightning,” and “Non-Dairy Creamer”. After pulling a “FINISH THE NEW ALBUM” sign out of an audience member’s hand, Jenkins promised that they were going to begin recording their fourth album as soon as they were done with this “tour” in May.
I would love to end this review by vowing never to attend another 3EB show…but unfortunately, I know that when they come back to Chicago to promote their fourth album, I will be (to borrow lyrics from “Wounded”), Jenkin’s “angel in the pit with her hands in the air…”
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agreed
Written by Guest on 2008-04-23 07:55:37
No, you should probably never go to a 3eb show again (unless Absentstar is opening). I felt the same way I was really disappointed in the show (I was a huge fan in Jr. High), but the one I went to I thought 3eb sounded horrible although I was in the back of the gym. Absentstar was by far the best part of the night. |
Not a Wolf
Written by Guest on 2008-04-25 18:51:23
It's a Rambler, not a wolf |
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