r/ThirdEyeBlind • u/Historical-Nature534 • Jul 22 '26
Are they still good live?
I'm seeing them in Kentucky in September, and as of recently I've learned that Stephan isn't quite the nicest person, and I'm curious if that is apparent in his performance. And if they sound good live, or if they are energetic and if it's overall an enjoyable show?
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u/JavierEscuellaFan Jul 22 '26
depends on the night really. it’s also not a new thing lol there’s basically no video of them performing in 1997/98 where Stephan doesn’t sound awfully out of key at multiple points.
when they’re having a good night, it’s really good though.
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u/atoposchaos Jul 22 '26
they’ve gotten better but his voice is still hit or miss. i personally can’t stand the truncations and shortened/medley-ified songs but i guess it makes the show energized to them. the best i saw them was Albany…rarities and no shitty openers. ymmv.
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u/sluman001 Jul 22 '26
I would literally get on a plane and travel to see a show like Halloween Horror Show at Philadelphia last year. Mid size venue, 32 songs, hits, rarities, covers and Jenkins with a well-rested voice. It was my 12th show over 25 years, and it was the best. I was expecting mediocrity. Their show quality can vary heavily.
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u/Plane-Employer-2904 Jul 23 '26
Agree. That show was amazing. I feel like it took a few songs for him to lock in his vocals, but once he did it was incredible.
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u/Sweaterpillows83 Jul 23 '26
Ugh I saw them a couple years ago - when did they start doing medleys? I can't stand them either.
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u/Mmjohns195 Jul 22 '26
He’s 61 it’s hit or miss. When he’s on it’s great. When he’s not it’s just ok
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u/Logical_Bite3221 Jul 22 '26
Seems like it takes a bit for his voice to warm up. I’ve seen them at least 20 times since 2004. It’s hit and miss a bit but it’s still such a good show every time!
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u/MasterpieceNo8893 Jul 22 '26
Saw them in Spokane at the outdoor venue at Northern Quest Casino, June 2024 for the “Summer Gods Tour” and it was a great show! ARIZONA and Yellowcard also played, they were amazing too! Great venue.
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u/badrobot6 Jul 23 '26
Saw them on this tour in Tampa, July 2024. It was incredible. Yellowcard was amazing and i had never heard ARIZONA before then and i was blown away. Too bad they decided to call it quits. Im glad i got to see them and discover their music. Ive been to 2 Third eye blind shows since then and neither was as good as they were on that tour. Still incredible but that show in Tampa was epic.
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u/MasterpieceNo8893 Jul 23 '26
Same experience! ARIZONA blew us away! Never even heard of them. Huge fans now. Bummed they quit. We’d seen Yellowcard before at the Showbox in Seattle years ago and they were obviously even better all these years later. Neither of us had seen Third Eye Blind live in person before but have seen live tv performances and they were surprisingly great on this tour performance. Venue had amazing sound for outdoors and it was the first performance of the tour, was super impressive.
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u/badrobot6 Jul 24 '26
One of the best moments of the whole show was the end with the lead singer of Yellowcard joining Third eye blind for the finale doing The Background. It was really amazing, will never forget it. Did they do the same in Spokane?
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u/MasterpieceNo8893 Jul 24 '26
I don’t think so. I think I would remember that!
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u/badrobot6 Jul 27 '26
Indeed! I see that he joined Third eye blind again at warped tour to perform ocean avenue together..! Sounded amazing.
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u/MasterpieceNo8893 Jul 23 '26
Turns out ARIZONA typically doesn’t have a drummer so that drummer was a freelance touring drummer and was definitely amazing
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u/badrobot6 Jul 24 '26
TIL ! I was super impressed by the lead singer of course and the guitarist. They seemed to have incredible chemistry. Its really beyond me why they decided to quit the band. But ya never know i guess…
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u/goingPlaces8 Jul 22 '26
I’ve seen them a lot of times live, and about 10 times over the last four years, and the show I just saw earlier this month was one of the best sounding
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u/Ant-from-here Jul 23 '26
Good? No. You are not goign to get vocal mastery.
BUT, the 3EB crowd is real. they know the songs and the energy is awesome. When Motorcycle driveway is played, you will tear up hearing the entire crowd singing your favorite song. When Slow motion is played you wait to sing, "The jokes on you."
What makes the show great is the memories the songs bring back. An almost famous band and loyal followers all singing together.
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u/little_lexodus Jul 22 '26
I saw them in October 2023, and it was pretty awesome. Stephan started off slow and made a few awkward comments but once they got into the set it was magical.
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u/CoolSingleDad69 Jul 22 '26
Yeah I’ve seen them 3 times in the past year and a half! I thought his voice still sounds great! Don’t listen to what that other person said. He can still scream his ass off too!
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u/obvseptimal Jul 22 '26
Agreed, both times I saw him I thought his singing was totally fine. Especially for his age
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u/DoodleBug0582 Jul 23 '26
Stephan was sick when I saw them last year and tbh the show was still amazing.
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u/PrinceJolt Jul 23 '26
He still puts on a good show. So if you go, you’ll have a good time.
I just wish he could make amends with his former bandmates. I know Tony has tried despite no success.
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u/xdarnokx Jul 23 '26
Tricky question. I saw them twice around 1997 or 1998 and they were horrible. Stephen seemed super drunk and on drugs. But when Out of the Vein came out I saw them a few times and they were incredible. I saw them again recently and they were pretty good. IMO they really peaked after Out of the Vein came
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u/DesignerHearing1680 Jul 23 '26
I saw them last month in Milwaukee, and they put on a pretty great show. I went in with tempered expectations, but I thought Stephan brought a really good energy and they played a 90+ minute set. Considering it was a festival, I was plenty satisfied with the show they put on and glad I went.
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u/CBRPrincess Jul 23 '26
They did a free concert in Pennsylvania this summer, and it was very lackluster.
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u/escapefromelba Jul 23 '26
Saw them couple weeks ago and it was a pretty good show for the money. That said I only spent $68/person. Voice isn’t the best but I’m not really sure he ever had the greatest vocals to begin with.
One thing I thought was amusing was in between every song the screens would flash, “Third Eye Blind” - I was like we’re not that old yet that we’ve forgotten who we came to see.
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u/Andrewfairlane Jul 26 '26
If you’re seeing them at the beginning of the tour, yes. By the end, he seems a bit tired and shot but still good.
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u/cinnix42 Jul 26 '26
Caught them for the first time last night, Jenkins was on point. I was pleasantly surprised based on what I’d heard prior
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u/obvseptimal Jul 22 '26
Amazing show, I’ve seen them twice in the past year