Third Eye Blind Rocks the Crowbar

With repetitive guitar riffs and catchy little ditties, Third Eye Blind is on their way to mass popularity. Taking advantage of this popularity, the Crowbar had hoped to attract a large crowd when Third Eye Blind came into town on Monday, Oct. 13. This task was easily accomplished when hundreds of people entered into the bar an hour before the show started. With the place filled, many people wondered if Third Eye Blind could live up to their hype in their live show. The fans weren't disappointed.

Starting the night off was opening act, Reef, a British band that is quickly gaining recognition with their first single "Place Your Hands". Fans cheered wildly when the band opened their set playing this song. Reef continued to play for 45 minutes with guitar-driven lyrical songs. During the performance, lead singer, Gary Stringer jumped into the crowd and started singing to the fans face-to-face, livening up the crowd in the process. By the time their set was done, fans were anxiously awaiting to see the band they all came for. Reef had done what they came to do, to fill the crowd full of energy just in time for Third Eye Blind's performance. After another half-hour, Third Eye Blind finally took the stage and the fans cheered ecstatically.

Without saying anything, Third Eye Blind started right into their set of angst-ridden songs, beginning with "Losing a Whole Year", which also happens to start off their debut album. From the start, the fans knew they were in for a good show. Third Eye Blind was energetic, dancing around the stage while playing their songs. The fans were dancing and shaking their heads too, gathering around in a huge mob right in front of the stage.

In the middle of the show, the band played the song everybody was waiting to hear, "Semi-Charmed Life". A song about Crystal Meth (a drug) and sex, Jenkins wondered how this song became so popular. After calling the fans perverts for liking such a song, the band proceeded to play the tune with vigorous energy and rawness that you could only get from hearing a new, refreshing young band.

Near the end of their show, the band asked the fans if it would be all right to play a new song, the B-side off of their new single "How's it Going to Be." After a resounding yes, Jenkins explained why. "We only have one album, so if we didn't play any new songs, this would be a really short show," Jenkins said.

Third Eye Blind continued to play two more songs after this before they proceeded to leave the stage. After a few fans cheered all night for the song "Graduate", the band did not let them down. With everybody singing along, "Graduate" sounded even better live. "London" finished off the first set. Third Eye Blind then left the stage leaving everyone cheering for more. Again, the band did not disappoint.

Coming back on stage alone, Jenkins grabbed an acoustic guitar and played a song without his band mates. With the crowd singing along, Jenkins did not feel so alone. Once this song was through, the rest of the band members came back on stage to play two more songs to finish the show. After ending the show with "God of Wine", which subsequently is the last song on their debut album, the fans were left satisfied knowing they had just seen an exciting, energetic show.

Throughout the show, Third Eye Blind continuously interacted with their fans. Jenkins, who is from Berkeley, Ca. (along with the rest of the band), mentioned a few times how the atmosphere of Penn State made him feel like he was home. The crowd cheered and applauded, accepting the compliment for their college town. Jenkins also interacted with his fans by jumping into the crowd and crowd surfing while singing at the same time. After the drummer threw his drumsticks and Jenkins threw his guitar picks into the crowd, Third Eye Blind left the stage for the night, but hopefully not for the last time in State College.

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