For more than two decades, the Gin Blossoms have defined the sound of jangle pop.
From their late ‘80s start as Arizona’s top indie rock outfit, the Tempe-based combo has drawn critical applause and massive popular success for their trademark brand of chiming guitars, introspective lyricism, and irresistible melodies.
The Gin Blossoms soon unfurled a chain of crossover favorites, spanning five different formats — from “Hey Jealousy” and “Until I Fall Away,” to “Follow You Down” and the Grammy-nominated “As Long As It Matters,” earning the band sales in excess of 10 million in the US alone.
“It’s a really rare thing,” singer and guitarist Robin Wilson says of Gin Blossoms’ continuing saga. “So many chapters in this long story.”
Wilson, guitarist Jesse Valenzuela, and bassist Bill Leen co-founded Gin Blossoms in 1987 and quickly became the toast of the Grand Canyon State’s local scene.
Blending an array of influences — from The Beatles and The Byrds to The Band and The Buckaroos — with pure pop songwriting and their own post-adolescent energy, the band hit upon a truly thrilling sonic approach that instantly set them at the forefront of the always-adventurous American underground.
“A lot of it was really folk based,” Valenzuela says. “Some of it English, some American. Then we’d just play it too fast and too loud.”
“We’re entertaining and we have chops,” says Wilson, “but it really comes down to the songs. The reason we’re still here is that we have good songs. When young musicians ask me for advice, what’s the best thing to do to further my career, I always say, ‘Write good songs.’ It always comes down to that.”
The Gin Blossoms will be performing at The Paramount on Thursday, July 27 at 8 p.m.
The Paramount is located at 370 New York Ave. in Huntington.
For tickets and more information about the concert, go to www.paramountny.com.
