In 1993, the future of the Gin Blossoms was in question. While the Arizona pop-rock band was dominating the airwaves with singles like “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You,” Doug Hopkins, the songwriter behind the group’s biggest hits, was struggling with alcoholism and depression. He was fired from the Gin Blossoms and later took his own life.
But the band returned, after contributing “Till I Hear It From You” to the soundtrack of the movie Empire Records, with their second major label release, 1996’s Congratulations I’m Sorry. The release proved the group was more than a two-hit wonder, as the album went platinum and the single “Follow You Down” became a Top 10 hit. The album starts out with a fierce rocker titled |“Day Job” that sounds a bit like The Smithereens with defiant lyrics like “I should’ve been a whole lot farther/ I’m never going back to college/ For just one good day job.” The whole release is full of strong guitar-based pop music.
By 1997, the group disbanded, but in 1999, they reunited for a New Year’s Eve show in Phoenix. In 2002, the Gin Blossoms released a DVD of a show in Chicago. Now, the group is on tour until this fall.
The Gin Blossoms play Club Octane, 321 Alvarado St., Monterey, on Friday, March 19, at 8pm. $25. 646-9244.
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