Third Eye Blind 11.09.2013 The Wellmont Theater

Words by Martin Halo | Photos by Joe Papeo

The fall months of relaunch for the Wellmont Thather in Montclair are giving way to brisker weather but hardly a cooling schedule. After Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck closed out the month of October, the pedal is reaching metal. While approaching the Wellmont on Bloomfield Ave, a line stretched clear across the block as concert goers beckoned at her doors. 90s Alt-Pop rockers, Third Eye Blind, graced the marquee. With an elaborate stage setup vocalist Stephan Jenkins emerged to a packed house of kids in their teens to adults in their 40s.

The set touched upon their classics but really focused on a band who was about to enter a studio in December for what might be their last LP. Jenkins, whose outfit hit mainstream airwaves in 1996 with hits like “Semi-Charmed Kind of Life,” “Jumper” and “Never Let You Go,” seemed in jubilant spirits. “You are witnessing a band bringing it,” he said to the audience with bravado. Funny, because I thought Led Zeppelin was a band that brought it, but I guess that is all in the eye of the beholder.

The scene at the Wellmont during the show was something different. The place was absolutely jammed packed to the walls and the enthusiasm towards the band was full of fervor. Jenkins, who has dabbled around the entertainment industry, including a cameo in Rock Star with Mark Walberg and Jennifer Aniston, has been making music with 3eb every few years since their height of popularity. This upcoming trip into the studio is their first since 2009’s Ursa Major.

As the set wound down Jenkins took a spot to highlight some acoustic numbers, “Slow Motion” and “I Want You,” while an EDM style light show accompanied a percussion break by Brad Hargreaves.

In addition to 3eb, schedule for the Wellmont will highlight Megadeth on Nov 29th, The Cult on Dec 5th and Lupe Fiasco on Dec 7th.

Setlist:
Don’t Believe A Word
The Red Summer Sun
Losing a Whole Year
Crystal Baller
Non Dairy Creamer
Faster
Danger
Never Let You Go
Can You Take Me
Graduate
Water Landing
Bonfire
Wounded
Slow Motion
(Stephan Jenkins solo acoustic)
I Want You
(Stephan Jenkins solo acoustic)
Dream Sequence
Motorcycle Drive By
Jumper
Drum solo
1000 Julys
Anything