Third Eye Blind & Dashboard Confessional at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion: A Review

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - For the first time since 2002 with Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind comes back to The Pavilion 13 years later after the release of their newest album in June, “Dopamine.” In addition, Dashboard Confessional hasn’t played a show at the Pavilion since 2002, either. Although not listed on the ticket, Augustana also opened for the two bands.

The tour began in Mashantucket, Connecticut, and will end at the band’s hometown of San Francisco at the end of July with back-to-back shows, with Dashboard Confessional joining the whole way.

Only opening the lawn, this event brought seats full of excited attendees. Third Eye Blind fans tend to be pretty die-hard, and since the band hasn’t released an album or really toured in six years, people were ready to see them. Additionally, there were some huge Dashboard Confessional fans.

Dashboard put on a great opening show – most fans were already there jamming. They, of course, played their hits, such as “Vindicated,” and they closed, leaving excited fans with “Hands Down.”

After a quick 30-minute intermission, Third Eye Blind hit the stage. With a cool, backlit stage, the band opened with various instruments and finally played a hit for the crowd – “Graduate.” The energy in the crowd sparked – everyone was ready for what was coming next. The band played a couple of hits from their new album, including “Everything Is Easy” and “Rites of Passage,” and then went back to the basics.

The crowd went crazy with the hit songs, including “How’s It Gonna Be?” “Jumper,” “Never Let You Go,” and encored with “Semi-Charmed Life.” The noise of the “doo-doo-doo’s” from “Semi-Charmed Life” echoed throughout the whole crowd. Stephan Jenkins, many times, let the crowd sing the favorites. There was even a time that drummer, Brad Hargreaves, had a solo, and Jenkins joined him on the drums for a minute – creating a fun scene for the fans.

Both bands proved for three hours of solid entertainment and great set lists to sing along to. Let’s hope they don’t take another 13 year hiatus from the venue!