Third Eye Blind lights up Reitz
Matt Lindeboom
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: News
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The show sold out faster than any of the previous Student Government Association sponsored concerts in recent memory, and the screams of the crowd proved it true as Third Eye Blind finally took to the stage and opened with "Losing a Whole Year." They went on to play 17 songs, including crowd favorites like "Semi-Charmed Life" and "How's It Gonna Be."
"It exceeded my expectations, and it seemed to exceed other people's expectations as well," said Mike O'Keeffe, SGA Vice President for Social Affairs. "It was really high energy, high tempo, and a lot of fun."
"It's a great show. It's my fifth time seeing them," said Phil Armato, who traveled from Long Island to see the concert.
"Third Eye Blind is awesome," yelled Kristen Markus over the din of the speakers next to her head. Markus came to Loyola to hear the concert from Catonsville, Md.
After the show, some students were more lackluster, however.
"They could have cut down the number of high schoolers by half," said Jackie Eck, '08.
"I liked the smell of the incense," said Elena DiRosa, '08, seemingly at a loss for comment on the show.
Nevertheless, 10 years after their first hit album, Third Eye still seems to draw copious fans to their venues, a large number of which have been on college campuses of late. The band is next slated to play at Brandeis University, Bucknell University, and Old Dominion University. Third Eye Blind's tour, which includes Loyola, comes as the band is preparing to release their fourth album, called "The Hideous Strength," based on the title of a C.S. Lewis novel and due for release this year. However, a previous release date set for 2007 was pushed back after lead singer Stephan Jenkins ran into lyrical difficulties.
"The music's been done for quite a while and were just waiting on Stephan for the lyrics," said drummer Brad Hargreaves, one of the two original members left in Third Eye Blind along with Jenkins. "I've got my fingers crossed."
As a remedy, the band is recording tracks from concerts for a live album*, some of which were recorded as they played at Loyola. Jenkins announced that the show was being recorded between songs to approving cheers and shouts.
"We'll all be in it together," said Jenkins, "That's what I call college, one big group experiment."
Loyola College's own, Jump the Gun, experimented by playing their largest crowd yet, as they opened for Third Eye Blind, playing before Absent Star. Jump the Gun elicited a large response from the crowd, with a few dedicated fans even spelling out the band's name on their bare chests.
"We never played for anything that big before. It was exciting," said Sean Alloca, '08, guitarist for Jump the Gun. "Seeing all the coordination back stage, it was a great experience for us. I think it went really well."
Jump the Gun also includes singer Brian Brutzman, '08, bassist Jack O'Connor, '11, and drummer Peter Bartels, '10.
In addition, the fact that the concert sold out means SGA will have more funds to work with in their search for an artist to fill Loyolapalooza, on April 27. Currently, the SGA has a list of 10 names they will be working with, according to O'Keeffe.
Matt Gwin contributed reporting to this story.
Brad Hargreaves' quote was taken from a question asked by a WLOY reporter in the post-concert interview.
*CORRECTION: The Greyhound originally stated that Third Eye Blind was considering placing live tracks on its new album. This is incorrect. Third Eye Blind is recording live tracks for a live album completely separate from its fourth album, "The Hideous Strength."
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