REVIEW: Third Eye Blind @Manchester Academy

Cai Dixon
Nov 13, 2015
3 min read

Words & Photos: Cai Dixon

Third Eye Blind are potentially one of the biggest icons in Alternative Rock. With hit tracks such as 'Semi Charmed Life' and 'Jumper', Third Eye Blind were a huge hype within the Alt-rock music scene in the 90's. After achieving fame when their hit single 'Semi Charmed Life' appearing on American Pie's 1999 film, the band exploded and had defined the urban American culture.

With only one support band for the night, Symmetry, it wasn't a long wait till Manchester could reminisce on their teenage selves. California's own Symmetry walk on to the Manchester Academy stage, bringing their Pop-punk attitude with them and get straight into playing.

Although I was left wondering why a band like Symmetry, who have supported the likes of McBusted and James Arthur, were supporting Third Eye Blind, their sound was enjoyable and stage presence was like no other support band. With frontman Mike Campbell jumping into the crowd, treating the barrier fans to an up close and personal performance. The crowd was loving it, so they can not be faulted. Symmetry leave the stage after going into detail how much of a pleasure it is to support Third Eye Blind, it was extremely clear they were overly joyed and honoured to be supporting such a legendary band.

Finally, Symmetry had left the stage, Third Eye Blind's banner was raised and the venue dims into darkness. The silhouettes of the band walking on stage excites the crowd and a soft red light lit up the fog filled stage, with frontman Stephan stood at the back of the stage on the drum riser with a beanie hat covering his eyes, the band start to play 'Persephone'.

Not even getting into half of 'Persephone', the band quickly break into playing 'Wounded' of 1999 album 'Blue' before uncovering his face from the beanie hat covering his eyes. The crowd explodes into happiness and a wave of young and older fans jump up and down, feeling like they are back in their primes.

The band then go into play 'Never Let You Go', another song in which the band is hugely recognised by. Half way through the song, frontman Jenkins pauses the band for a couple of moments to firstly apologise for waiting so long till coming back to the UK, he says "We're just so un-organised, this kinda shit isn't easy" he then explains how the UK is where the band started, when supporting Oasis.

As the night progressed, and the crowd got ever so sweatier, the nights only just getting started for Third Eye Blind. The band grabs the crowd attention, playing 'Motorcycle Drive By', the lyrics are screamed back to the crowd and not a soul at Manchester Academy was stood still. I took a moment, stood at the back of the venue to just realise how long these guys have been around, but yet how they still manage to put on such a show musically after all these years of a band.

The band leave the stage, leaving drummer Steve Bowman on stage by him self, playing what was possibly one of the most epic drum solos I have witnessed. But not much longer after, the band rejoin Bowman with Jenkins screaming over to the crowd "We've not finished yet... This songs called Jumped" and it was finally Manchester's time to shine. Lyrics "I would understand" were screamed straight back to the stage and the Academy was bouncing.

Shortly after, the band announce it's coming to their end of their set and a "BOO" was chanted by the crowd, until Third Eye Blind explode into their most recognised songs 'Semi Charmed Life', it was at this point of their set that we all realised as a whole we can't be waiting around for Third Eye Blind to come back. This is a band who has a solid UK fan base, regardless of the fact they only played two UK shows this time round, we can only hope when they return to play to the Brits it will be a whole tour, not just a couple of one of shows.

Over all, Third Eye Blind provided an absolutely solid performance and made the years of waiting to see them completely worth it.

Rattle Rating: 9/10