55.0°,
Mostly Cloudy The 90s live on
Hundreds gathered at Eisenhower Park to watch the Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors
It was a scorching hot day on Long Island on July 22, but it didn’t stop hundreds of people from seeing two bands who, despite playing for nearly two decades, can still draw a crowd. The day was reminiscent of any summer in the 1990s — people were sitting in lawn chairs with coolers, listening to the Spin Doctors and the Gin Blossoms.
Two original members of the Spin Doctors, guitarist Eric Schenkman and vocalist Chris Barron, flew all the way from Hawaii for the event, and played their well-known “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes,” as well as a blues song that they played in New York City nightclubs before they got their big break.
The band played just as well as they did decades ago.
Barron sported 90s attire — cargo pants and a long button-down shirt — as he flailed, jumped and kicked around on stage, despite noting to the crowd, “We feel like liquid.” The band also announced that it would be releasing a new album and a 20th anniversary CD in the near future. It’s been 20 years since the release of "Pocket Full of Kryptonite."
The Gin Blossoms, with original band members Robin Wilson, vocalist, and Jesse Valenzuela, guitarist, opened their performance with “Follow You Down.”
Wilson, a Valley Stream native, who is known for his audience interaction, encouraged the audience to sing along, move closer to the stage and get their “hands up,” with a tambourine in hand. He then asked for the spotlight to be lowered so he could “see his people” as they danced to hits like “Found Out About You,” “Until I Fall Away” and “Hey Jealousy.”
Free concerts and movies will continue to take place at Eisenhower Park throughout the summer. On Aug. 6, the B52’s will perform at the park. For more information, call (516) 572-0348.
