This post is for my good friend Spoob! If you’ve changed your mind after reading this post, I’ve got your ticket…
Blind Melon is one of those bands that plays a huge part in the soundtrack of my life, and the life of many others. Those who only know the band for their hit single “No Rain” may not understand that. The fans who know the band for songs like “Drive”, “Tones Of Home”, “Galaxie”, “Mouthful of Cavaties”, etc. will TOTALLY know what I’m getting at.
That band was a magical fucking band. Their songs and lyrics just really spoke to me in many many ways and really answered a lot of questions for me. Much like The Grateful Dead did for me, Blind Melon was a band that opened my mind and my heart. To this day, I can’t listen to “Drive” without tearing up or just plain out crying. The band was known also as a vehicle driven by their energetic, hippie-like frontman Shannon Hoon.
Much like bands such as Alice In Chain, Nirvana, even the Grateful Dead, Shannon was the person that everyone identified with. His voice, his lyrics, the way he moved an audience. The way he seemed to just be one of us up there. Playing for and to us, not above and beyond us. He had an aura and a spirit that not only was hard to top, but equally hard to replace. Shannon died in 1995 before a performance on their “Soup” tour in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was 28 years old.
And just like the above mentioned bands, Blind Melon knew that Shannon was just too special of a person to replace so they went their separate ways and released a compilation of rare and unreleased tracks called “Nico”. The album was named after Hoon’s infant daughter Nico Blue Hoon to whom the album was dedicated to. A legacy was left behind and that was the last anyone heard from Blind Melon.
Last year, rumors were floating around the internet that Blind Melon was considering getting back together with a new singer. I heard everything from praise to damnation of the band. I always view news like this of ANY band un-biased until I have read all the details and decide for myself, and nobody else, if I can be behind this. After reading the Blind Melon story, how can I not be behind this?
Blind Melon was a band of FIVE people, not ONE. Even though the one that is now dearly departed was a huge centerpiece of the band, there are still four other very creative and talented individuals. When Shannon died, a part of their hopes and dreams died as well. As the years passed, the demand to hear these songs again just increased and I’m sure the band could feel the desire to get back together and play these songs once again and play them for the people that truly love them! The band has recruited 25 year old singer Travis Warren to do incredibly intense and complicated task. But these guys did it right…
First off, they have not only received the blessing of Nel Hoon (Shannon’s mother, who is so proud that they are carrying on Shannon’s name, spirit and words) but they got the blessing of Shannon’s now 12 year old daughter Nico Hoon. Travis does an amazing job! He’s a HUGE fan of Blind Melon and is obviously moved, inspired and influenced by them and Shannon. He sounds enough like Shannon to pull the old songs off but he does have enough of a difference in his voice to be more than just a mere copycat clone.
The band recently played a show in Chicago, IL at the Double Door which was one of the most moving shows I have ever seen. I didn’t see it live but seeing clips of it on youtube really choked me up at times it was so powerful. At the show, Nel Hoon came out on stage and praised the boys for carrying on the spirit of Shannon and hugged and praised Travis for doing Shannon justice. And if that wasn’t enough, 12 year old Nico Blue Hoon joined the band on stage to sing “Change”.
Hearing his own daughter sing the lyrics “…but I know we can’t all stay here forever, so I want to write my words on the face of today.” just about made me loose my shit! How can that not move you? So Blind Melon is back and they are hitting the road. And another thing is don’t expect to be financially raped like all the other nostalgic comeback kids. Even Alice In Chains on their “comeback” w/ new singer William DuVall were charging $35.00 a pop for tickets. Blind Melon on the other hand, $12-15.00 a ticket. Now if that isn’t doing it for the music, I don’t know what is. Hell, that’s cheaper than what I paid to see them when Shannon was alive!
This is something I can get behind. I can’t express just how happy I am to have this band back and bringing these songs to the people once again and in an honest and true way! I know, just know, that Shannon is smiling and singing along every night… I just know it!
Blind Melon 2007 Tour Dates
Fri 11/23/07 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock Cafe
Sat 11/24/07 Ridgewood, NJ Blend
Tue 11/27/07 Lancaster, PA The Chameleon
Wed 11/28/07 Falls Church, VA State Theatre
Fri 11/30/07 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
Sun 12/02/07 Raleigh, NC The Lincoln Theatre
Mon 12/03/07 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
Wed 12/05/07 Fort Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
Thu 12/06/07 Saint Petersburg, FL The State Theatre
Fri 12/07/07 Tallahassee, FL The Beta Bar
Mon 12/10/07 Memphis, TN Gibson Showcase
Tue 12/11/07 Starkville, MS Rick’s Cafe
Mon 12/24/07 Ridgewood, NJ Blend
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