Tag: 90s

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

Toad the Wet Sprocket coming to Wind Creek Event Center with Gin Blossoms, Vertical Horizon
Photo: Chris Orwig

Toad the Wet Sprocket, with its trio of founding members Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols and Dean Dinning, is still making music and touring with the same unwavering spirit of independence that made them one of the most seminal bands of the 1990s.

Toad’s third album, Fear, still ranks big on any ’90s playlist and songs like “All I Want,” and “Walk on the Ocean,” catapulted the band from college campus soundtracks to radio rotation royalty. Their music also found its way onto popular ’90s TV shows like “Friends,” “Dawson’s Creek,” and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.”

The band took a break in the late ’90s but reunited in 2006 and has since released two albums, including 2021’s Starting Now.

Toad the Wet Sprocket is currently part of a tour that includes themselves as well as Gin Blossoms and Vertical Horizon. It’s a show that stops at the Wind Creek Event Center on Thursday, Aug. 15.

I recently spoke with bassist Dean Dinning about the show, what makes Toad the Wet Sprocket’s music so timeless all these years later and more in this new interview.

Q. Can you tell a little about the inspiration behind this tour and what fans can expect?

Dean Dinning: I used to go to concerts in Santa Barbara [California] where you would see two or three bands playing and it always seemed like everyone was friends and would come out and jam on each other’s songs. I always thought that was the most fun thing you could possibly do, and that’s really what this tour is like. These guys are all friends of ours. We’ve known the Gin Blossoms since 1992. They were the first band we ever got to pick to be an opener for our whole tour. It will be a fun vibe and I think people will really enjoy it.

You can read the rest of my interview with Dean Dinning by clicking here.

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

Gin Blossoms’ Jesse Valenzuela previews Wind Creek performance
Photo: David “Doc” Abbott

It was a great catalog of songs and the slow burn of touring perseverance that catapulted alt-rock band Gin Blossoms from the ranks of indie circuit into the ’90s musical mainstream.

Although it didn’t happen overnight, it was their infectiously good 1992 sophomore album, New Miserable Experience, and songs like “Found Out About You,” “Hey Jealousy,” “Until I Fall Away,” and “Allison Road,” that eventually became staples of ’90s radio and firmly established the group as one of the decade’s most definitive acts.

Fans of the Gin Blossoms — which features Robin Wilson (lead vocals / acoustic guitar), Jesse Valenzuela (vocals and guitar), Scott Johnson (guitar), Scott Hessel (drums), and Bill Leen (bass), can expect to hear all of the hits and more when the band performs with fellow ’90s rockers Toad The Wet Sprocket and Vertical Horizon at Wind Creek Event Center on Thursday, Aug. 15.

I recently spoke with guitarist Jesse Valenzuela about the show, career highlights — including the time he worked with Stevie Nicks, new music and more in this new interview.

Q. What was it about the ’90s era of music that keeps fans coming back?

Jesse Valenzuela: It was a terrific time for music and we were lucky to get some attention from radio. Toad [The Wet Sprocket] was so gracious and took us out on the road and showed us the ropes. Whenever we get to be together with them now, it’s always great fun. I have a real affection for those guys. Today we’re fortunate that we have a bunch of hit songs and this show will be long enough for you to hear all of them. We’re going to play all the hits and other songs people have heard and make sure everyone enjoys themselves. I love the Wind Creek venue. We’ve been there quite often over the years. This tour is just starting and the bands we’re touring with, Toad The Wet Sprocket and Vertical Horizon, are terrific. Everyone is playing so beautifully and firing on all cylinders.

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Jesse Valenzuela by clicking here.