Blind Melon

Stone Temple Pilots. INXS. 10,000 Maniacs.

HughFreakingDillon said:

they are playing in calgary the same night of my cousin's wedding 30 km's away. saw them in 2008 at least.

Faaaaack. I have fourth row tickets to slash that night. Didn't know they were coming back to Calgary. Might have to sell the slash tickets and go....but then I've never seen slash play live either. I saw BM with Hoon (and PJ and NY) in 93 but missed out on my one chance to see the new lineup in Edmonton due to thinking I could get will call tickets at a bar (had t picked up my tix and ticketmaster was already closed). Idiot.

Personally, I have no problems with bands continuing with new members as long as the deceased wasn't the main songwriter. I don't think it's fair for bands like BM and AIC to have to start over touring in a van, or quit music altogether because their singers couldn't kick. I may be mistaken, but I believe BM used to skip songwriting credits and use the words ' Blind Melon is a band' instead.

And...I think no rain is a great song. It got totally killed by radio play, but it's got such a great vibe... helped that I was already hooked by the I Wonder vid, so the success of no rain probably wasn't as annoying for me as to someone who was introduced to them by that song.

brianlux said:

Yeah, I've heard the reformed band is very good but I just can't imagine they're the same. Probably a name change would be in order. Any time a lead singer with a distinct voice dies or leaves a band it's best to change the name. Can anyone think of another example like this where the lead singer moves on but the name stays? Off hand, I can't.

AC/DC
Alice In Chains
Stone Temple Pilots
Iron Maiden
Sublime tried but, were successfully sued
Genesis
Pink Floyd

Shannon Hoon passed away 20 years ago today

Drowned Out said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

they are playing in calgary the same night of my cousin's wedding 30 km's away. saw them in 2008 at least.

Faaaaack. I have fourth row tickets to slash that night. Didn't know they were coming back to Calgary. Might have to sell the slash tickets and go....but then I've never seen slash play live either. I saw BM with Hoon (and PJ and NY) in 93 but missed out on my one chance to see the new lineup in Edmonton due to thinking I could get will call tickets at a bar (had t picked up my tix and ticketmaster was already closed). Idiot.

Personally, I have no problems with bands continuing with new members as long as the deceased wasn't the main songwriter. I don't think it's fair for bands like BM and AIC to have to start over touring in a van, or quit music altogether because their singers couldn't kick. I may be mistaken, but I believe BM used to skip songwriting credits and use the words ' Blind Melon is a band' instead.

And...I think no rain is a great song. It got totally killed by radio play, but it's got such a great vibe... helped that I was already hooked by the I Wonder vid, so the success of no rain probably wasn't as annoying for me as to someone who was introduced to them by that song.

So I ended up selling my slash tickets and getting tickets to the BM show in Calgary instead....after selling the Slash tix, I was informed that an acquaintance of mine (and close friend of a close friend) was touring with him as his bodyguard....I could have watched the show side stage with backstage passes....fack...
Anyway...we get to BM a little late - they just got on stage. They're seated, playing acoustic....I then noticed there are only three people on stage: Chris, Glen, and Travis....wtf?
Travis kept apologizing about it, saying that it didn't sound right with one guitar, and because BM doesnt write with traditional rhythm/lead parts, more like alternating lead exchanges, it was beyond him to fill in for Rogers....I was getting really annoyed, because it didn't sound great, and I spent a fair amount of money on gas, hotel, tickets, etc...had passed up the slash show in Edmonton, and had no idea the show would be performed as a 3 pc acoustic set. However....after some more banter between songs, it became apparent what happened: Brad Smith's brother Chris was killed in a car accident earlier that day, too late to cancel the show....so Rogers and Brad never made the trip to Calgary. Apparently Chris was deeply involved with the band around the time of the release of Soup?
In the end, the show was still pretty entertaining, even if the songs don't all work as well acoustically, and without the interplay....
They covered The One I Love and Jane Says (Travis totally f'd up Jane Says tho...got into the zone and just kept going lol....they pretty much played the song twice)...They asked if anyone in the crowd knew the rhythm part to Galaxie and a guy came up and played it with them - nailed it. It was a good time, but disappointing....totally understandable tho. Showed a lot of courage for the guys who showed up to make the trip and actually perform...I'm sure it was emotional for all of them. They've cancelled their australian tour as well.

today is Blind Melon day at work for me. Going to listen to them all day.

Drowned Out said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

wow, that's crazy. I had no idea why the cancelled the Oz dates. I assumed it was more problems getting along with Travis. I was in Calgary at the time for a wedding, and was considering skipping out of the reception early to see the show, but I didn't.

Gotta say, he does Shannon's parts exceptionally well. His voice is unreal.

yeah, saw them on tour in 2008. I closed my eyes and thought it WAS Shannon.

I saw them twice with Travis. For me, I appreciate the similarities and differences between his voice and Shannon's. The band and Travis were on fire both times and I got to meet Nell Hoon, Shannon's mom, in Grand Rapids. Super cool woman!

I get the feeling from seeing all the recent melon love, and things like Soup getting voted #1 underrated album of the 90s, that Blind Melon is going to be the new Big Star. Woefully neglected in their time, but recognized for their greatness by all with ears in the future.

yeah, i was one of those "bee girl" people. I dismissed them because of that song and how heavy it was rotated on radio, I just ended up hating it. It wasn't until years later that I "got them". too bad. I think they passed through my city once, and I missed the opportunity to see them with Shannon.