Gin Blossoms

KAABOO Del Mar’s second year had somewhat of a 90’s reunion on Saturday, featuring many styles and sounds to come out of my generation’s creative minds.  One of my favorite groups to come out of the Alternative Rock explosion was Gin Blossoms, and I was super stoked to have the opportunity to FINALLY hear them live!  Everyone knew a song by the Gin Blossoms!  I have to say, I was NOT disappointed in the least!  Over 20 years after their second studio album dropped and “Until I Fall Away” sounded as fresh as ever with a new intro to start the set.  You could tell that about half of the crowd was from that generation since only half were singing along, but they knew all the words to this (somewhat) deep track from their first major album release, New Miserable Experience, that went 4x Platinum!.

It was good to see Robin looking and sounding good when he broke out the harmonica for “Follow You Down,” the hard-hitting bluesy rock song that reminded everyone these guys weren’t a one-hit-wonder.  It’s quite possible that this band is the reason I fell in love with the harmonica.  Soulful tears of notes and chords poured through those speakers as Jesse, Bill and Scotty worked in unison behind Robin.  The beat up guitars made me reminiscent of my high school days when we were trying to play “Hey Jealousy” or “Found Out About You” in my friends garage, two songs that sounded like they were being played off of that second album I wore the grooves off of when the band broke those classics out.

Robin and the guys were back and playing as good as ever with their new drummer, Scott Hessel, who joined just after their most recent studio album release.  It was a day show and the crowd was easily in the hundreds as these rockers played our “Drunken Barn Dance,” as Robin put it, here in San Diego.   We sure enjoyed all the music and alcohol and we could tell you were too.  Everybody on stage had a drink and I do believe it never went dry during the entire set!

Gin Blossoms

The Gin Blossoms have seen their major setbacks in the past, major breakup after huge success in the 90’s saw a maturing of the band as they sought to overcome their differences and make the specific Gin Blossoms sound.  The only real line-up since that reunion tour has been the addition of Scott Hessel on drums, and that seems to be the missing piece to re-creating that sound!  I look forward to another Gin Blossoms album to be possibly hitting the shelves soon.

Big Jon / BackStage360

Gin Blossoms

KAABOO