A decade ago, there was no way to avoid Third Eye Blind. The San Francisco Bay Area rock group exploded across radio airwaves and MTV with “Semi-Charmed Life” in 1997, and the band’s first, self-titled album has sold over six million copies to date. And no matter how hip, exclusive and digital your music collection has become, somewhere buried in a sock drawer next to Chumbawamba’s Tubthumper, you own Third Eye Blind’s debut.
Over the years, the band has by no means faded into obscurity, but things have certainly changed. Blue, Third Eye Blind’s 1999’s follow-up, still sold incredibly well – two million copies – but the darker song material displeased the band’s label, the now operationally defunct Elektra Records.
Things seemed to get worse – songwriter Kevin Cadogan left the band shortly after the release of Blue and sued over publishing rights, leading to a feud with band founder/songwriter Stephan Jenkins. A year-long hiatus and some sporadic touring later, 2003’s Out of the Vein managed to sell only 500,000 copies worldwide.
But despite fading record sales, the band has been well-received on a steady touring schedule throughout the year. The entire March to April leg of their tour sold out this year, and as part of a brief fall tour, Third Eye Blind kicks off a eight-date trek tonight at Ritchie Coliseum. The tickets for the show sold out during the presale.
In an interview with The Diamondback, drummer Brad Hargreaves said the band has always enjoyed success in the Washington area. He recalled the band’s first stint at the legendary, local HFStival, right as Third Eye Blind was on the cusp of success. Not yet a household name, the band had been booked for the secondary stage.
“I remember seeing literally, like, six or seven thousand people from inside come outside to see us because the radio station really started playing ‘Semi-Charmed Life’ at the time,” Hargreaves said.
Third Eye Blind no longer has a record label, but as Radiohead recently proved, there are plenty of avenues for an established independent group to release material.
That is, if Jenkins and the band ever get around to recording something. Back in March, Jenkins told the San Francisco Chronicle the band’s fourth album, The Hideous Strength, would be on its way later this month.
“There are steadfast plans to put this record out, and yet…” Hargreaves trailed off with a chuckle. “It has been three and a half to four years since our last record.”
“It’s just one of those cycles that you really can’t put a definite timeline on,” Hargreaves added. “The record will come out when it’s ready, and we feel the music is up to the standards that it has been on past Third Eye Blind records.”
The lull in Third Eye Blind-related activity gave Hargreaves the opportunity to look for another creative outlet. A chance encounter with Daniel Davies, son of The Kinks’ guitarist Dave Davies, eventually led to Year Long Disaster, a hard-rock trio whose self-titled debut was released last month. Hargreaves said the recording experience had been something of a departure from his contributions to Third Eye Blind sessions.
“Well, Year Long Disaster is very much like three guys getting in a room and generating the music,” Hargreaves said. “Everything’s split three ways. It’s definitely a little bit more egalitarian, but Third Eye Blind never was that. Third Eye Blind was Stephan’s band. He put it together, and he had the vision for it.”
Traditionally, Jenkins either comes to the other band members with a song completely finished or the band pitches an instrumental for Jenkins to consider, Hargreaves said.
Democracy and side projects come at a price, however. Third Eye Blind has picked up activity since Hargreaves committed to Year Long Disaster, resulting in a breakneck schedule for the drummer. Thursday, Hargreaves plays a Year Long Disaster show in Los Angeles before catching a red-eye flight to make tonight’s performance on the campus.
Juggling two bands of differing scopes will prove tiring, Hargreaves said, but the drummer has been glad for the steady work and options available to him.
“I grew up and became an adult in Third Eye Blind,” Hargreaves said. “It has a special place for me, always.” “We do a lot of these little 10-day to two-week runs, and they’re always very fun,” Hargreaves said of Third Eye Blind’s touring schedule. “It’s sort of like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes. Everyone has a lot of different projects that they do, but Third Eye Blind is home.”
zherrm@umd.edu
