Third Eye Blind: The Best Of Everything

Third Eye Blind
Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA
07.22.15

Approaching the end of a 40-date tour across the US, alternative lovelies Third Eye Blind made an epic stop at Marymoor Park on Wednesday night, reigniting a flame that’s been burning for nearly twenty years. Fresh off of their first album release in six years, the Dopamine Tour brings back everything that is hearty and soulful about this band, from catchy breaks to crushing vocals. To say their fanbase is excited to see them again would be a grave understatement. This band, in many respects, helped define not only just a genre, but also a generation.

With coolers packed full and blankets outstretched, Marymoor Park is the zenith of musical venues when the Seattle sun decides to smile down. The day was perfect. At 8:30, as the sun began to wane, Third Eye Blind took the stage in a roar of excitement. Seated fans and blanket-goers alike stood, as 3EB kicked off their 18 song set with “Graduate.” Front man Stephen Jenkins stood at the back of the stage, dancing with a corded mic hung from the ceiling. His bouncing energy paired nicely with his disarming smile and warm, friendly aura. Along with drummer Brad Hargreaves, these two are the only original members remaining, and they took the time during the set to feature Hargreaves in solo form, punching along to eclectic samples as the crowd ate it up.

While some may argue which albums are more listen-worthy, 3EB did a good job of mixing up their set to include the old and the new. After “Never Let You Go,” Jenkins appeared to be enjoying the same rapture that is so characteristic of Marymoor shows, stating, “This may be the best I’ve ever felt, ever. We’re on like the last five days and we don’t want it to end. I am so fucking glad to be alive in this moment. When I feel joy, I wanna get the fuck down! We’re all friends!” He also spoke of their bicycling adventures around Seattle that day, generally happy to just be alive and enjoying life in the beautiful sunshine. With a “Thank you so very much, Seattle. Peace be with you all,” the encore arrived with three more songs, ending the set with “Bonfire.” Jenkins left the crowd with these parting words: “The energy and spirit I require to make this album comes from you guys. Thank you for being there for us. We’ll come back to Seattle any time you want us.”

Joined by fantastic openers Ex Cops and Dashboard Confessional, this show sold out over a month in advance. Dashboard Confessional played an hour-long set that, for the most part, said goodbye to the years of acoustics past, with lead man Chris Carrabba surrounded by a full band that packed good sound. He did, however, still play a set that was riddled with old gems, from “Saints and Sailors” and “Screaming Infidelities,” to “Hands Down.” As if the evening needed any validation, Carrabba finished their set exclaiming, “Best day of the year!”

Tell it like it is.

Third Eye Blind Set List:
Graduate
Wounded
Crystal Baller
Never Let You Go
Everything is Easy
Mine (Beyoncé cover)
Losing a Whole Year
Dopamine
Motorcycle Drive By
Slow Motion
How’s It Going to Be
(drum solo)
(interlude – portions of Good Man and MIA’s Paper Planes)
Rites of Passage (sample of U2’s With or Without You)
Jumper
Encore:
Something in You
Semi-Charmed Life
Bonfire