Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler rock it old school at Pittsburgh Brewing Co.
via TribLive
On Sunday night, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in Creighton got a lineup that would’ve completely packed Star Lake in 1995. You can just imagine a sea of tie-dye-clad hacky-sackers rocking out to three of the moment’s hottest bands. Considering it’s 30 years later, the bill of Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler drew an impressive crowd — despite not-always-ideal weather.
All three alt-rock-adjacent bands scored hits in the early to mid-1990s with songs that still get airplay today. The camaraderie among the acts was heartwarming and gloriously nostalgic.
Kicking off the show were Spin Doctors, who had a pair of top 20 hits in 1992 and ’93. Lead singer Chris Barron came out charismatic from the get-go, and the band jammed through a setlist that showed off surprising versatility. There were the hits, of course; “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” got a huge crowd reaction, for example.
Even lesser-known singles like “Jimmy Olson’s Blues” were pure fun, with groovy bass and strong vocals from Barron. They showed off their bluesier side with the earnest “The Heart of the Highway,” a single off of their latest album, “Face Full of Cake,” which released earlier this year. Also from the new record was “She Stands Alone,” a Zeppelin-esque tune that feels more classic rock than their ’90s output.
Barron commented on the new album, which is on Capitol Records. “That’s a major label, so that means it’s good,” he quipped.
Speaking of Zeppelin, the Spin Doctors played a faithful but invigorating cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” that made more sense than expected.
Just as the drum fill to start their biggest hit, “Two Princes,” echoed around the outdoor venue, the rain began. Despite a steadily increasing drizzle, the assembled audience greeted the song with enthusiasm, dancing and singing the “just go ahead now” refrain loud enough to be heard over the band.
After that spate of rain — which didn’t deter most concertgoers — the sun came out just in time for Gin Blossoms to come on. They pulled a truly pro legacy band move and started the set with one of their most recognizable songs, the swelling “Follow You Down,” a top 10 Billboard hit from 1996. The audience appreciated it too, shouting the refrain alongside lead singer Robin Wilson.