Third Eye Blind @ Stage AE (6/13/22)
Even at a young age, I knew Stephan Jenkins was an iconic songwriterand and to this day, he's yet to disappoint me with Third Eye Blind's impressive catalog, spanning over 20 years. From "Thanks A Lot" and "Dust Storm" (which reminds me of The Cure) to "Faster" and "Crystal Baller" (two of my personal favorites), their set was a refreshing mix of both the old and new, proving that these guys never lost their fire. As the rain began to slow down, Jenkins expressed that while they were approaching the end of their tour, “It feels like it’s just beginning.” He took to the stage solo and serenaded the crowd with an acoustic performance of "Slow Motion" (his first time playing the song live in over 3 years) and “The Background” before the band returned to play fan favorite “Jumper” among others. But it wasn’t until everyone lost their minds at the sound of the drum machine intro to "Semi-Charmed Life," the first of a two-song encore, did Jenkins’ sentiment truly sink in. Before I knew it, they were performing "How's It Going to Be” and it was the perfect send-off after a very wet but happy evening in Pittsburgh.
Photos and words by: Mollie Crowe