REFLECTING on the PAST, FUTURE
Gin Blossoms guitarist Jesse Valenzuela talks about band’s start, the hits and what’s next
American alt-rock band Gin Blossoms first broke into the mainstream with their infectious 1992 album, New Miserable Experience. Songs from that album, which eventually went on to sell four million copies, included the jangle-pop and radio friendly “Hey Jealousy,” “Until I Fall Away,” “Found Out About You,” and “Allison Road.” These cemented the band as one of the early ’90s best-selling acts.
The band abruptly broke up in 1997 only to reform five years later and have continued to record and perform as many as 120 shows a year. Their 2010 release No Chocolate Cake shot up to #1 on Amazon and reached #14 on the Billboard Indie Chart. The band’s 2018 follow-up Mixed Reality, is reminiscent of the group’s earlier days. Vocalist Robin Wilson called it a companion to New Miserable Experience and an album the band would’ve wanted to make in 1990.
Fans of the Gin Blossoms — featuring Wilson, Jesse Valenzuela (vocals and guitar), Scott Johnson (guitar), Scott Hessel (drums), and Bill Leen (bass) — can relive the magic of the ’90s when the group performs at SteelStacks’ Musikfest Café at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9.
I spoke with Gin Blossoms guitarist Jesse Valenzuela about the band’s Bethlehem show
and more in this exclusive new interview.
James Wood for The Morning Call: What can fans expect from the Gin Blossoms upcoming performance in Bethlehem?
Jesse Valenzuela: We may have had a lot of time off and not touring as much as we used to but fans can expect to hear every song they want to hear. All of our hits will be represented.
Then we’ll play some of the other material from our thirty-five years together. There’s a lot to choose from. It’s going to be a great time.
How did the band get started?
It wasn’t something that happened overnight. It took some starts and stops before we actually became a band. We all had grown up in the same college town working in different bands. We all knew about each other and eventually just started playing together.
Early on it was me, Doug (Hopkins) and Bill (Leen), along with Richard Taylor and Chris McCann. (Hopkins, the band’s original lead
guitarist and principal songwriter, passed away in 1993). After Richard left Rob (Wilson) came in about eight months later. Then Chris left the band and we wound up getting another drummer. It was a busy first year.
To what do you credit the band’s longevity? What do you think keeps fans coming back?
That’s the million-dollar question. I think we provide a great show every night. We always do our best and the people who come to our shows have been so terrific. It’s an honor to play music for them.
Why do think fans enjoy listening to the band’s biggest hits at shows as opposed to hearing new music?
I think it’s the familiarity. Fans want to hear the songs they grew up with and remember. Oftentimes, the introduction of a new song is the chance to run for a beverage or use the restroom [laughs]. I don’t like to knock new music over the fans’ heads. It seems like it’s too much information.
Right before the band’s biggest album, New Miserable Experience, you recorded the EP, Up and Crumbling. How did that album come about?
As I recall, we tried to make a record in Los Angeles and it didn’t sound very good. We had a difficult time with the producer. It was just a bad combination at the time and just didn’t work out. Our record company wanted us to stay busy until we could go make another record so we all came
home and made that EP.
Are there any projects you’ve been working on that we can talk about at a high level?
I released an EP called ‘Pete’ during the pandemic and have enough material for another record that I’ll eventually put out digitally. I also had a song on another artist’s record
that’s since become a commercial and have started playing solo acoustic shows at wine bars around my home. I get to sing any song I want, and they range anywhere from Motown right up to new songs by other artists. It’s been a great deal of fun.
Of all the highlights of your career is there one moment that stands out to you as most memorable?
Not really. It’s been a great career that keeps moving forward. All of the big milestones for me have been family-related … like the birth of my son and his graduation.
Maybe it’s because I’m getting older but those are the things I appreciate the most. If there’s been a silver lining
to this pandemic, it’s that I’ve been home with the people I care about the most. Having said that I’m glad we’re getting out to play music again and that people can come out to see us and have a great time.