With two multi-platinum albums, and three singles that charted in the Billboard Top 10, Semi-Charmed Life, Jumper, and How’s It Going to Be, the alternative rock band, Third Eye Blind has lived nothing short of a semi-charmed life. The San Francisco band, led by front man, singer, and songwriter, Stephen Jenkins, began as a solo act after Jenkins graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. Evidentially, in 1993, after wanting something else, he pieced together what is now Third Eye Blind. The reference to the concept of the mind’s eye originally consisted of Jenkins, bassist Arion Salazar, guitarist Kevin Cadogan, and drummer Brad Hargreaves. Caught in a bidding war and the largest publishing deal for an unsigned artist, 3EB signed with the record label, Elektra in 1996, releasing their first self-titled album, Semi-Charmed Life a year later, which sold over seven million copies in the U.S. alone. Two years later, they released their second album, Blue featuring hits “Anything” and “Never Let You Go”, selling 150,000 copies within its first month. Third Eye Blind set off on shows across the globe, touring with U2 and Oasis. Cadogan was replaced by Tony Fredianelli, and in 2003, they released Out of the Vein including singles, “Blinded” and “Crystal Baller”. In 2009, they released their fourth and latest album, Ursa Major, #1 on the charts, included the popular “Don’t Believe a Word” and “Bonfire”. The lineup has changed over the years, with Kryz Reid replacing Fedianelli and adding bassist Alex Cavalier and Alex Kopp on keyboards.
Lumped into the post-grunge category with The Verve Pipe, Vertical Horizon, and Better than Ezra, Third Eye Blind had a brighter, uplifting sounds than some of their peers of the late ‘90s, full of energy and excitement. From their early but ever so popular acoustic guitar chords of “Jumper” or the catch pop refrain from “Never Let Go”, every song is like a drug for you, intoxicating and addictive, even twenty years later. 3EB has a fully-charmed life, but their lyrics have always reached the darker side of life. The solemn stories are paired beautifully with the intense energy of the bands’ music. Above all, Third Eye Blind capitalizes on imperfection. They play each show without backing tracks, pitch correction, sequencers, and landing gear - a combination of real live talent. While the band is facing down the demons on stage, they simultaneously make personal connections with the audience, finding themselves and others in the midst of the music, creating a sense of community, putting the past away and stepping back from that ledge that keeps fans returning. 3EB is now on their 20th Anniversary Tour across 29 cities in the U.S. in anticipation of their fifth and last album, a long and laborious journey and the end of the road for the band. Before you start wondering how’s it going to be without any new albums, check out original tunes off of their upcoming album at Bogart’s November 23!
