Omni to host Third Eye Blind concert April 28
Written by Vicki L. Kroll | | news@toledofreepress.comSix years — that’s how long Third Eye Blind fans waited for a new full-length CD from the band.
“Ursa Major” was released last year on the rockers’ own record label, Mega Collider Records.
“Creatively, it took a little while to re-energize and get re-inspired with something to say,” said drummer Brad Hargreaves. “Stephan [Jenkins, lead singer and guitarist] takes a lot of pride in what he’s saying, and if he doesn’t have anything to say, he can’t write a song, so it took him a while to find topics that inspired him again.”
The first single, “Don’t Believe a Word,” is fueled by politics, with lyrics “Didn’t we have standards once?/ I hate you and your cowboy boots/ You wanted clever, and you settled for stupid.”
“I think that song is kind of the modern-day ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ by The Who. It touches upon, don’t believe everything you read, follow your instincts. Yeah, hope you won’t get fooled again; we changed those just enough so we can’t get sued,” Hargreaves said and laughed during a phone interview from a tour stop in Charleston, S.C.
Another new track, “Bonfire,” is a springtime song.
“Stephan just kind of has a way of taking you to that place, you know, early in spring, a bonfire ring, she was shivering — you’re kind of instantly transported to that bonfire and can smell the marshmallows roasting,” Hargreaves said.
Third Eye Blind burned up the charts with its 1997 self-titled debut that included “Semi-Charmed Life,” “How’s It Going to Be” and “Jumper.”
“When you’re new to the business, you’re so young you just figure it’s sort of your birthright, and you have to have that kind of confidence in yourself,” Hargreaves said of the early success. “We were so busy, we didn’t really have a lot of time to sit there and reflect on what was happening.”
He added, “There are so many opportunities open to you when you have that kind of a record. Luckily, at the time, we were willing to work really hard to sort of explore all those, and it really gave us quite a foundation to continue our career.”
When Hargreaves isn’t drumming for Third Eye Blind, he picks up sticks for Year Long Disaster, featuring singer and guitarist Daniel Davies, son of Dave Davies of The Kinks, and bassist Rich Mullins. The rock trio just released its second disc, “Black Magic: All Mysteries Revealed.”
“[Year Long Disaster is] over in Europe right now, and they’re getting some good shows, so it’s kind of hard to not be able to do them, but at the same time, Third Eye Blind is doing really well,” Hargreaves said.
Third Eye Blind will bring its latest lineup — original members Hargreaves and Jenkins along with guitarist Kryz Reid and bassist Abe Millet — to the Omni, 2567 W. Bancroft St., for an 8 p.m. show April 28. Tickets are $25.
“My mom’s family is from Toledo. My grandfather worked for Owens-Illinois for years,” Hargreaves said.
Tags: The Omni, Third Eye Blind
