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The Spin Doctors' origins can be traced back to the late 1980s in New York City, originally as a band called Trucking Company, consisting of Canadian guitarist Eric Schenkman, John Popper, and later Chris Barron, who was a high school friend of Popper. With a name change to Spin Doctors, as well as the addition of Aaron Comess and Mark White, the classic lineup was in place by the spring of 1989 and in 1991 the band signed with major label Epic Records/Sony Music.
The debut album 'Pocket Full Of Kryptonite' was released in the same year to huge success in both the US & the UK. Despite being ignored initially on its release, the band continued to tour extensively and build up their grass roots fan base. In the summer of 1992 singles such as 'Little Miss Can't Be Wrong' began to get radio play and was featured on MTV. The sales continued and the album eventually peaked within the US top five and has sold over five million copies to date, holding a five times platinum certification.
The next album 'Turn It Upside Down' didn't match the success of its predecessor yet still managed to sell two million copies worldwide. The band promoted the album with another huge world tour lasting three months and including stops at Glastonbury and Woodstock where the band played to some of the largest crowds of their career. Original guitarist Eric Schenkman left the band shortly after the release of 'Turn It Upside Down' by walking offstage during a gig in California. This was the first of a number of inter-band disputes which affected the following releases, the third album 'Here Comes The Bride' only sold 75,000 copies in the US compared to one million for the previous album. The Spin Doctors remained inactive as a band until September 2001, when news about the closing of legendary NYC venue Wetlands sparked the original four members to reunite. They continued to record, release and tour new music after this yet have failed to recreate the commercial successes of their first two albums.
Originally formed under the moniker The Establishment by harmonicist, singer and guitarist John Popper and drummer Brendan Lee, the band’s earliest releases were in the form of cassette tapes featuring original songs as well as covers, including Van Morrison’s “Gloria". The band began jamming regularly and building a repertoire of songs before moving to New York City and performing on the club circuit, soon making a name for themselves as relentless live performers.
With a line-up consisting of Popper, Lee, guitarist Chan Kinchla, and bassist Bobby Sheehan, the band signed with A&M Records who released their self-titled debut album in 1990, and their subsequent album “Travelers & Thieves” in 1991. Following a dangerous motorcycle accident lead-man Popper was unable to perform for a number of months, however returned to release the band’s third studio album, aptly named “Save His Soul”.
The band’s fourth full-length “Four” in 1994 represented a mainstream breakthrough for Blues Traveler, despite poor sales to begin with. The 1995 Grammy Award winning single “Run-Around”, taken from the album, became one of the year’s most popular and best-selling singles and catapulted the album “Four” to popularity. Following the release the band played ’94’s Woodstock Festival and opened for the Rolling Stones. In an attempt to capture the magic of the band’s live performances they release the double album “Live from the Fall” in 1996, followed by their fifth full-length “Straight on Till Morning” in 1997.
In 1999 bassist Bobby Sheehan was found dead in his home with cocaine, Valium and heroin in his system, deemed an accidental suicide, he was eventually replaced by Kinchla’s younger brother Tad. Along with new keyboardist Ben Wilson, Blues Traveler released an EP entitled “Decisions of the Sky: A Traveler’s Tale of Sun and Storm”, followed by their sixth full-length “Bridge” in 2001.
With a move away from A&M to Sanctuary Records, the band released “Truth Be Told” in 2003, followed by another live album “Live on the Rocks” the year after. Blues Traveler subsequently released the Jay-Bennett-produced “Bastardos!” in 2005, a cover album of their own songs “Cover Yourself” in 2007, “North Hollywood Shootout” on the label Verve Forecast, and the group’s 11th studio album “Suzie Crack the Whip” in June 2012.
Initially formed in 1987 by bassist Bill Leen and guitarist Doug Hopkins, they struggled to find a stable lineup, finally settling on vocalist Jesse Valenzuela, Drummer Phillip Rhodes and guitarist Robin Wilson, who went on to switch roles with Valenzuela. They recorded the album "Dusted" independently, releasing it in 1989, catching the attention of A&R records, who signed the the following year.
It was their next release, 1991's "Up & Crumbling," that established Gin Blossoms as a band on the rise, breaking into the mainstream charts with their hit single, "Hey Jealousy" in 1993. The band's southwest sound was decidedly fresh against the flurry of grunge bands that were popular at the time, blending the rootsy country-blues rock of the Byrds with R.E.M's guitar hooks in the similar vein to fellow Arizona artists the Meat Puppets, The Refreshments and Dead Hot Workshop. Their third full length, "New Miserable Experience" (1992), as well as "Hey Jealousy" was full of hit singles, like "Found Out About You," with these songs dominating MTV and radio stations, going on to sell over one million copies.
However, struggling with alcoholism and depression, Doug Hopkins was fired from the band, leading to his tragic suicide on December 5th 1993, which occurred just as his songs had begun to dominate the airwaves. He was replaced by guitarist Scott Johnson, with the band recording their second album, "Congratulations… I'm Sorry" in 1996, the name being prompted by the death of Hopkins. The album charted well and featured one top ten hit, "Follow You Down," yet it received mixed reviews from the music press.
The band disbanded in 1997, embarking on various other projects, before reuniting again in 2001, initially for a one-off New Year's Eve concert. However, this was followed by a summer-long tour, finding new interest from fans and the public of their music, reissuing "Dusted" to renewed acclaim.
The band released a batch of new material in 2006, with the album "Major Lodge Victory" reestablishing them in the alternative rock scene, with the album reaching number 159 in the Billboard 200 album chart. In 2010 they released their fifth album, "No Chocolate Cake," offering a more refined album that reflected their recent dietary requirements. Through continued touring, they have maintained the band's popularity, most notably with their performances in the nationwide 'Summerland Tour' in 2012, where they played at 31 dates alongside bands including Everclear, Sugar Ray and Marcy Playground.
It’s often surprising to see how many huge bands from the nineties, who then faded critically and commercially, are still a going concern in 2014, but I’m not entirely sure why; after all, Oasis continued to dine out on Definitely Maybe and What’s the Story Morning Glory for the best part of two decades. Spin Doctors are another such band, having released a debut album in 1991, Pocket Full of Kryptonite, that went five times platinum in the U.S. and spawned huge radio hits in the form of ‘Two Princes’ and ‘Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong’. They followed it up solidly, too, with sophomore effort Turn It Upside Down going platinum, too, but since then, they’ve retained only a core cult fanbase as their sound dated. Even so, it hasn’t stopped them from continuing to write and record, with their latest LP, If the River Was Whiskey, released last year, taking them back to a rootsier blues sound than they’d previously flirted with. They still play live frequently, too, with their current U.S. tour seeing them dedicate equal prominence on the setlist to each of their six albums, with a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain?’ thrown in for good measure. They played an intimate tour of the UK as recently as May of 2011, too, proving that they still have transatlantic appeal; whether they’re simply a nostalgia band or still have something left in the tank creatively, though, is still for them to prove.
Joeg_67
Blues Traveler, the name is a great clue to the kinds of music they make, traditional blues with a wonderfully free spirited vibe. Although the genre of Blues is very much at the core of what the band does, there is influence from the genres of psychedelica, rock, folk and soul.
A band unmatched in musical passion, having toured their discography for over twenty years they appear to get better with every single show. Classic tracks such as 'Hook' have been re-imagined and developed to include more complex instrumental and is delivered in a generally more sincere manner. The crowd watches on in almost complete silence whilst the band works onstage and only make themselves heard to cheer loudly at the closure of each track.
By the time the band performs 'But Anyway' every musician onstage is quietly prepared to perform to their extreme for the audience and use all of their musical ability that is required for this folk heavy piece of Blues. Blues Traveler are very much an act who's values and processes do not appear to have changed in their 25 year career span.
sean-ward
It has been 15 years since I have been to a Gin Blossoms show (now I feel old). I was excited to hear that they would be playing in my area again, at the same venue. This made me very excited as it's a small intimate venue.
It was interesting to see them return.I found my seat and waited for the show to begin. The crowd was full of people in their 30's and 40's. These were longtime fans just like me. The lights dimmed and "Hey Jealousy" began to play. I was immediately transported back to the mid 90's. The band sounded and looked great as they smashed through "Allison Road" and "Found Out About You". For the next 90 minutes the Gin Blossoms transformed the crowd to another time. The music has proven to be timeless, with the band sounding fresh and energized.
Towards the end of the show, the band took a break and thanked the crowd. They told stories about how they remembered playing this venue many years ago. It was a very moving moment. They lifted the mood by playing a few more upbeat songs.The show was over and I felt like I had experienced something unique. I hope it is not another 15 years before I see the Gin Blossoms because I am old now and might be 6ft under!
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