Posted on Nov 5, 2009
Media/Press Section
Interview with Scotty Johnson, lead guitarist of the awesome alternative band, The Gin Blossoms.
Right click "Save As" or "Save Link As" here if you want to download the mp3 file of the interview.
Robin sings "Hey Jealousy" in-studio with Preston & Steve on 93.3 WMMR.
Pictures of the performance/interview can be viewed here
BEST PERFORMANCE THAT WASN’T BETTYE LAVETTE: Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms, whose voice is unchanged all these years later, and not only brought back the beautiful self-indulgence of my 20s, but was the host with the most. He greeted his family members, many of whom were in the audience (”Hey, Uncle Larry!”), as well as a dude dressed as a chicken (”Thank you, Chicken, for all you’ve done for us these many years.”) His energy was infectious, as he frequently jumped into the audience and up onto the drum set to play the cymbals with his tambourine. My 90s crush was reignited for at least an hour. But everything is cool, until I hear it from you!
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A free concert was held in the valley on Thursday night and it featured the Gin Blossoms. FOX 10's Yetta Gibson explains why this concert for a good cause.
For those not in the know, Gin Blossoms are back together. The Tempe band with the mult- platinum past spent some quality time with Palestra.net's Julie Garcia.
*The above link at palestra.net/music has a high quality version of the interview.
We continue our coverage of the best 2008 had to offer. This time, we are joined by Scott Johnson, guitarist for past EdgeMusic winner Gin Blossoms (April 13 - 20, 2008). Scott Johnson happens to be one of the only two people that take care of Gin Blossoms' MySpace page.
Paul Weller - 22 Dreams
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Duffy (October 5 - 12, 2008) - Rockferry
Aimee Mann - @%&! Smilers
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Portishead - Third
Old 97's - Blame It On Gravity
Jakob Dylan - Seeing Things
Counting Crows - Sturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
Ray LaMontagne - Gossip in the Grain
Elvis Costello - Momofuku
edge tv cribs does a special cribs episode with Robin Wilson from the Gin Blossoms at his Recording Studio formerly his bands practice studio.
Robin sings "Hey Jealousy" in-studio with Janet & Nick on Kiss 98.5.
Another homecoming at the festival was that of the Gin Blossoms. While the crowds here will follow them down as far as they can, Phoenicians only get the opportunity to experience the band in their entirety about once a year at Tempe Music Festival.
They played material off of their newest album "Major Lodge Victory," but the crowd just couldn't get enough of their classics. Since they came up in downtown Tempe, playing at places like Long Wong's and Chuy's, there's a certain sense of hometown pride when they come back. Watching them against the backdrop of the lit up Mill Ave. bridge is a nostalgic reminder of their roots which they've never once denied.
Lead singer Robin Wilson made a point of mentioning that guitarist Jesse Valenzuela is from Scottsdale, bassist Bill Leen is from Apache Junction and guitarist Scotty Johnson is an SCC grad. Wilson grew up in Tempe.
At one point towards the end of the show, Wilson came out onto the catwalk, held the microphone out to the adoring fans, and said, "Do you hear this? It's the sound of Tempe, Arizona."
Perhaps even more touching was Wilson's preface to the song "Hey Jealousy" nearing the close of their performance. Wilson declared that the song would be dedicated to the following people and then promptly named a two-page list of bands that helped form and shape what we recognize as Arizona music. The list spanned decades of bands, and included some of the more famous names like Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers while also mentioning some more obscure ones like Sugar High and Fish Karma.
Before the hip/hop pop onslaught from Fergie, two of the greatest ever Valley bands, Gin Blossoms and Meat Puppets, took turns on the mainstage.
The Gin Blossoms — who honed their patented "Tempe Sound" (the jangle of The Byrds mixed with the energy of The Replacements) just down the road from Tempe Beach Park at the now-defunct club Long Wong's — played a tight set of their best known tunes, including the hits "Hey Jealousy," "Found Out About You" and "Allison Road" from their breakthrough 1992 disc, "New Miserable Experience," Also on the set: "Follow You Down," from 1996's "Congratulations, I'm Sorry" and "Learning the Hard Way," from 2006's "Major Lodge Victory."
It's amazing how live performance can be the great equalizer for artists of both huge and lesser statures.
On Saturday, the second day of the Tempe Music Festival, many in attendance were anticipating that the headlining performance of Fergie would be a fitting climax to the well-run event.
Likewise, some veterans of the Arizona music scene were no doubt ho-humming the prospect of Tempe's Gin Blossoms taking the stage before Fergie (real name: Stacy Ferguson).
But the Gin Blossoms, a band whose heyday was a decade ago, ended up outperforming an underwhelming Fergie and her band (as well as her piped-in backing vocals and perhaps other pre-recorded instrumentation).
Gin Blossoms front man Robin Wilson seemed truly excited to be playng before thousands of his native fans, while Fergie appeared to be going through the motions and eager to get back to her home in Los Angeles.....
The Gin Blossoms, on the other hand, wowed the crowd with a tight set of the pop-heavy rock that made them national stars.
Their fortunes have cooled since then, and they've been known to play the casino circuit, but the Gin Blossoms attacked their set with enthusiasm.
The band nailed all its high-profile songs, including "Found Out About You," "Allison Road" and "Hey Jealousy."
Wilson was in fine voice, and guitarist Scotty Johnson laid down some strong leads. Rhythm guitarist Jesse Valenzuela had a wide grin for much of the night.
"This is world-class," Wilson said of the festival as he gazed out over the crowd. He later walked along a barricade in front of the stage and high-fived fans as he sang "Hey Jealousy."
In true hometown-hero fashion, the band wrapped up its set with Wilson dedicating it to a long list of acts with Arizona roots, including Flathead, Alice Cooper, Dead Hot Workshop, Hans Olson, Zen Lunatics, the Pistoleros, Jimmy Eat World and the Meat Puppets.
I spoke with Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms backstage (he's a big Puppets fan) and Robin was very excited to play the fest for the second year in a row in the town that made them famous. They used to play Long Wong's down on 7th and Mill in the early '90s before "New Miserable Experience" broke the band nationally in 1992.
Right click "Save As" or "Save Link As" here if you want to download the mp3 file of the interview.
Gin Blossoms Interview at Alice's Now and Zen Fest 2007.
Tom interviews lead vocalist Robin Wilson of Gin Blossoms. Robin talks about the 20th anniversary of Gin Blossoms, their new material, his Uranus Recordings studio and more.
Right click "Save As" or "Save Link As" here if you want to download the mp3 file of the interview.
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