“If you don’t expect too much from me, you might not be let down.”
— Lyrics from Gin Blossoms’ most recognizable hit, “Hey Jealousy.”
Life is about expectations. This especially holds true for entertainment, specifically, live music. On the triple bill of Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Vertical Horizon, the spring chickens out of the trio (Vertical Horizon) found their groove in 1999 with the #1 hit “Everything You Want.” This reviewer still remembers the line, “He means nothing to you and you don’t know why” resonating so strongly about being stuck in the friend zone with the object of my affection. (Oh, what could have been, Kristen!)
As for the other two acts? They have been recording and performing before this writer had a Kindergarten Diploma. Their impressive catalogs, including their plethora of hits, speak for themselves. Their stage presence reflects their decades of experience.
Expectations play a huge role in one’s enjoyment level of a concert. Reading stellar reviews or catching favorable YouTube and TikTok highlights can lead to setting the bar too high for what to expect, which can lead to disappointment. On the other hand: Don’t expect too much. You won’t be let down.
Growing up in the ’90s, when TTWS and Gin Blossoms dominated FM radio, both acts became favorites of mine; they were part of the soundtrack to my formative years. Gin Blossoms’ ‘New Miserable Experience’ was the first CD I ever owned. It was paired with my first CD player, which I received for Christmas while in the fifth grade.
Gin Blossoms’ frontman Robin Wilson noted during mid-set banter that his group and Toad the Wet Sprocket first played Cleveland together on tour in 1992. (I wasn’t there. At the young age of 7 years old, I didn’t have those cool parents who took me to concerts.)
Gin Blossoms and TTWS have experienced near-equal success in their careers. Based on billing and set length, this is as close as one can get to a true co-headlining show.
Due to a small box office hiccup, this reviewer found himself near the top of the lawn instead of in prime reserved seats. Annoyed at first, this turned out to be a true blessing. It was a different perspective. I was able to watch the 1500 patrons with a better view than me, get up, sing, dance, and have a great time. I got to comfortably sit in a lawn chair, not sitting elbow-to-elbow with the person next to me. I returned to my concert roots of the least expensive ticket. This may all sound pretentious or patronizing, and, to an extent, maybe it is, but the point I’m trying to get across is that this is a show that could be enjoyed just as much from atop the hill as it could from the front row.
Gin Blossoms closed out the night with an impressive and concise 14-song set filled with hits. A band doesn’t survive in this chew-you-up-spit-you-out business without being great at what they do. Opening with “Follow You Down,” yours truly was immediately transported back to listening to this gem on two-hour car rides to Cedar Point amusement park during the ever-important teenage years. Wilson’s voice is noticeably different from the 1995 studio recording. He still sounds great. He’s a consummate showman. Isn’t that all that matters?
The follow-up, “Lost Horizons” (a personal favorite), gave way to the song “As Long as It Matters,” which Wilson noted had charted #1 in the Philippines (a claim this writer was unable to substantiate nor debunk).
Two fans in the front row of the reserved seating area got up to dance, drawing the ire of dozens of folks behind them who preferred to remain seated. Wilson took a moment before continuing the show to encourage the front-row folks to stay on their feet and keep dancing. “This is a Rock and Roll show,” he yelled.
“We’re your favorite band from Tempe, Arizona,” Wilson remarked between songs. (My concert companion quickly interjected and told me her favorite band from Tempe is Jimmy Eat World. To each their own, I suppose.)
Fan favorite “Until I Fall Away” was snuck in mid-set to give the audience another familiar hit.
A shoutout to producer Don Dixon, who worked with Gin Blossoms (as well as R.E.M. and The Smithereens), who was in the audience on this night, and a thank you to the fans were both nice touches.
Four bangers closed out the main set, “Allison Road,” “Found Out About You” (the answer to the million dollar question on Jamie Foxx-hosted TV show, Beat Shazam), “Hey Jealousy,” and “Til I Hear It From You.” All of these songs were hits and had the audience, many of them standing, singing along to every word.
The guys returned for a bizarre encore, performing two cover songs, John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and “A Million Miles Away” by The Plimsouls.
Immediately prior to Gin Blossoms, the band with the worst name in rock history, Toad the Wet Sprocket, showcased its talents. Unlike GB, TTWS evenly balanced its most recognizable tunes throughout the set.
The Glen Phillips-led act played a 15-song set equally impressive as Gin Blossoms. As they took the stage, there was a rumbling throughout the lawn from folks who were surprised that Toad wasn’t closing the show.
read our advance interview with Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Dean Dinning
My concert companion wandered to find french fries a few songs into the set and missed “Come Down” (this writer’s favorite), and a fun acoustic version of “Good Intentions” (that this writer was first exposed to on the soundtrack to Friends.) Damn, did she miss out!
A few songs later, she took off to find ice cream as the guys transitioned into “All I Want.” Upon her return, I joked that she should get up and leave again so I could hear another one of my favorites.
Wilson, along with Vertical Horizon’s Matt Scannell, were brought out to join TTWS cover R.E.M.’s “Driver 8.” This rivaled “Hey Jealousy” for my favorite part of the show.
No TTWS show would be complete without “Walk on the Ocean,” which yielded to set-closer “Fall Down.” No encore tonight.
Vertical Horizon opened the show with a very quick five-song set: four hits and a cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong,” which ended with “Everything You Want.” The middle song, “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning),” may be more familiar to country fans because it was cut by Gary Allan, a feat that still has the guys in the band scratching their heads.
It was a night of sweet nostalgia. I loved every minute of it!
I had solid expectations for this show. I didn’t expect TOO MUCH, and I sure as hell wasn’t let down.
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