Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler Rock Park City

Fans of 90’s alternative rock, blues and jam bands packed into the scenic Canyons Village Amphitheater last week for a sold-out stop on the Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler co-headline tour, with special guests the Spin Doctors.  Part of Park City’s Concerts on The Slopes series, the show drew fans from across Utah and surrounding states for a mountain side evening full of nostalgia singalongs and good vibes.

 

The night opened with the Spin Doctors, who got the early arriving attendees dancing and singing to their 90’s classics “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes” among other songs. Led by frontman Chris Barron and his charismatic stage presence they reminded everyone why they were a staple of the 90’s alt-rock scene.

 

Next up were the Gin Blossoms who wasted no time and started right out of the gate with their hit single “Follow You Down” which set the tone for the rest of their performance.  The band played a close balance between radio singles and deeper cuts that die-hard fans would recognize.  Pulling from their impressive platinum catalogue Gin Blossoms had fans dancing to hit after hit including “Found Out About You,” “Hey Jealousy” and “Til I Hear it From You.”  The set was a testament to their staying power and feel-good alt rock that helped define a moment in the 90’s.

 

Blues Traveler was up next to close out the night with their bluesy, jam filled energy, led by the powerful voice and harmonica of vocalist John Popper.  Fans stayed on their feet throughout the whole set as Poppers harmonica and the band’s vibe had them swaying and dancing the night away.  Their performance showed the bands ability to stretch their songs into a jam session to the delight of the fans.

 

The only hitch of the night was a technical issue with the sound of Poppers harmonica cutting in and out.  At times it was flawless, and other times no sound came as he played away on stage, which was frustrating at times since his harmonica is one of their cornerstone sounds.  Still, his passion and talent shined through and when the sound was on, we were instantly transported back to the 90’s.

 

Technical hiccups aside, the concert was everything we could ask for.  A night in the mountains surrounded by beautiful scenery, a crowd full of dancing and singing fans, and some of the songs that were the soundtrack to the 90’s taking us on a trip down memory lane. 

 

The Concerts on The Slopes series and this show again proved that there’s no better way to experience live music than in the great outdoors, under the stars in the mountain air.