Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Let’s face it. Few bands break up and produce better groups for their ex-members. Judging by the Gas Giants’ concert Friday night at the Park West – as well as their recently released debut album, “From Beyond the Back Burner” – they don’t look like they’re going to disprove this theory.
Despite the paradoxical name of the Gin Blossoms’ current album, “Congratulations, I’m Sorry,” the five-man band from Tempe, Ariz., has no reason to apologize. “Congratulations” is as good as the Blossoms’ 1992 breakthrough CD, “New Miserable Experience” – something many critics predicted wouldn’t be possible after the suicide of original member Doug Hopkins, who wrote many of the group’s hits.
It’s difficult to believe it has been three years since the Gin Blossoms released their breakthrough album “New Miserable Experience” – until you attend their concert and realize you know just about every song. Nonetheless, the familiarity of the Blossoms’ music did nothing to detract from the enjoyment of their well-crafted pop-rock songs when the musicians headlined Sunday at the Taste of Chicago.
In a perfect triple bill for a beautiful summer night, the Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms and Cracker played to a capacity crowd Saturday night at the World Music Theatre, and the band’s diverse musical styles couldn’t have complemented each other better.
Which came first for the Gin Blossoms? The hit single “Hey Jealousy,” or the record company’s campaign to change the group’s image with a new video, new promo photos and a new album cover? The hit single, oddly enough.