- [Narrator] The following program contains adult subject matter.

Viewer discretion is advised.

[upbeat rock music] [upbeat rock music] [audience cheering and applauding] - Hey everybody, welcome to "Soundcheck."

I'm Jen Eckert.

We're at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey, and tonight we're joined by Third Eye Blind.

Now, the alt rock band is back on tour, and has not slowed down since breaking out in the late '90s with such hits like "Semi-Charmed Life," "Jumper," and "Never Let You Go."

I caught up with Lead singer and songwriter Stephan Jenkins, who talked all about from the debut album to what they're working on now.

I also recently spoke with Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, which was so cool, about working with Steven on Third Eye Blind's album, "Screamer," and how he and Steven both share the rare role of being the frontmen, and the foundation of these influential rock bands.

So, I know you know all the words for these songs like I do.

So, get ready, rock out, and join me for this "Soundcheck" for Third Eye Blind.

[audience cheering] [intense guitar music] [upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] - [Guitarist] Whoo!

♪ There's every good reason ♪ ♪ For letting you go ♪ ♪ She's sneaky and smoked out ♪ ♪ It's starting to show ♪ ♪ I'll never let you go ♪ ♪ I'll never let you go ♪ ♪ I'll never let you go ♪ ♪ I'll never let, you turn around your back on each other ♪ ♪ That's a good idea, break a promise to your mother ♪ ♪ Turn around, your back on each other ♪ ♪ You say that I've changed ♪ ♪ Well now, maybe I did ♪ ♪ Even if I changed ♪ ♪ What's wrong with it ♪ ♪ I'll never let you go ♪ ♪ I'll never let you go ♪ [audience cheering] ♪ I'll never let you go ♪ ♪ I'll never let you turn around, your back on each other ♪ ♪ That's a good idea, break a promise to your mother ♪ ♪ I won't turn around, your back on each other ♪ [upbeat rock music] - Steven, welcome to "Soundcheck," thanks so much for joining us.

- Thanks for having me.

- Well, you are back out on tour, it's been a crazy few years.

We're here at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey.

Tell me, how you feeling about this tour?

- Like I don't have the lyrics done for my new album, which was why we put this tour on.

[Jen laughs] The spring tour was supposed to be this kind of an extension of the summer tour, where we're playing amphitheaters, and now we're playing small, little theaters, where we can go to places that we hadn't been, and play songs that we didn't play.

- Do you prefer a small theater over a big venue?

Do you prefer one over the other?

- I just like variety.

Honestly, I love the Wellmont.

When you're playing for 2,000 people, everybody here knows every song, and so, you can change it up, and it keeps us feeling fresh.

We have a new album out called "Our Bande Apart," and also this year we did our first unplugged album.

We wanted to try out that.

♪ Never let you go ♪ ♪ I'll never let you turn around, your back on each other ♪ ♪ Got the good idea ♪ ♪ Break a promise to your mother ♪ ♪ Turn around, and turn on each other ♪ ♪ But that's a ♪ ♪ Good idea, break a promise to your mother ♪ ♪ Turn around, your back on each other ♪ ♪ That's a good idea, break a promise to your mother ♪ ♪ I won't turn around, turn back on each other ♪ ♪ What a good idea ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I remember the stupid things ♪ ♪ The mood rings, the bracelets, and the beads ♪ ♪ Nickels and dimes, yours and mine ♪ ♪ Did you cash in all your dreams ♪ ♪ You don't dream for me, no ♪ ♪ You don't dream for me, no ♪ ♪ But I still feel you pulsing like sonar ♪ ♪ From those days in the waves ♪ ♪ That girl is like a sunburn I would like to save ♪ ♪ That girl is like a sunburn I would like to save ♪ ♪ She's like a sunburn ♪ ♪ She's like a sunburn, oh ♪ ♪ She's like a sunburn ♪ [audience cheering] - Let's talk about the set, you designed it.

Tell me what the design is- - Huh?

- Tell me what the, what you were going for.

- I was in Venice, and I saw this amazing structure.

It was all out of wood, but it also had this like, the chaos of nature, and I think about Third Eye Blind as this kind of beloved chaos we play with our bodies and our hands.

And so, it's handmade, and I, I like that idea of that, this sort of getting back to that organic nature of music.

- And you mentioned the unplugged album.

- Yeah.

- Which came out in 2022.

It kind of honored your debut album too, with a lot of those songs.

- Yeah.

- In an acoustic way.

- Yeah.

- Do you now, after you've done that, do you prefer some of the songs acoustic- - Totally.

- To the original?

- Which ones, like- - Yes.

Probably "Blinded," that's on "Out of the Vein," our third album, which is 20 years old this year.

- How?

- I don't know.

- Doesn't feel like 20 years, right?

- Yeah, and I always feel, I always wanted another crack at that song.

[audience cheering] [chill guitar music] [chill guitar music] [audience cheering] ♪ Just an old friend coming over ♪ ♪ Now to visit you and ♪ ♪ That's what I've become ♪ ♪ I let myself in ♪ ♪ Though I know I'm not supposed to but ♪ ♪ I never know when I'm done ♪ ♪ I see you fogging up the mirror ♪ ♪ Vapor around your body glistens in the shower ♪ ♪ I wanna stay right here ♪ ♪ And go down on you for an hour ♪ ♪ Stay, and let the day just fade away in a wild dedication ♪ ♪ Take the moment of hope and let it run ♪ ♪ Never look back at all the damage we have done now ♪ ♪ To each other, to each other, to each other ♪ ♪ 'Cause when I see you ♪ ♪ It's like I'm staring down the sun ♪ ♪ And I'm blinded ♪ ♪ There's nothing left to do ♪ ♪ Still I see you ♪ [audience cheering] ♪ I never believe that things, they happen for a reason and ♪ ♪ They never go as planned ♪ ♪ I wanted to thank you for a vision ♪ ♪ That was lost that you returned ♪ ♪ But you're past when you understand ♪ ♪ Now her appetite, that is blown ♪ ♪ Little else is known ♪ ♪ Except she's a little angry ♪ ♪ Grabs a towel, looks away ♪ ♪ The heat fades with the day ♪ ♪ And I fall down on what to say ♪ ♪ Oh, something clean, let me be clever ♪ ♪ Hey, oh well, whatever ♪ ♪ But that's not what I mean ♪ ♪ Where we've been has left us burnt still ♪ ♪ I won't turn now from a fight ♪ ♪ You know I'll never win ♪ ♪ 'Cause when I see you ♪ ♪ In spite of all the things I've done ♪ ♪ And I'm blinded ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm still staring down the sun ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ It's like I'm staring down the sun, yeah ♪ ♪ Hey, I'm blinded ♪ [audience cheering] ♪ Hey, I'm blinded ♪ ♪ I'm blinded ♪ [audience cheering] [chill rock music] - Let's talk about, you grew up in Cali.

- Hmm.

- Started out as a drummer, and then you're- - Yeah.

- [Jen] In a rap group.

- Yeah, hip-hop's always been a big influence on me, because it's about stretching out the lyrical space.

- Who were some of your musical influences growing up?

- I loved stuff like Cameo, and the Gap Band growing up, and Prince.

Jane's Addiction later on was this sort of big ocean size, their music was ocean sized.

But it's not even influences growing up, I continue to be influenced by music now.

I'm interested in being permeable to what now is.

It makes me happy that our music is kept alive, but I'm ignited by the present tense.

♪ In spite of all that we've become ♪ ♪ I'm still blinded ♪ ♪ And I'm still staring down the sun ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ It's like I'm staring down the sun ♪ ♪ And yeah ♪ ♪ Staring down the sun ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Staring down the sun, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Staring down the sun, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I'm blinded ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ [audience cheering] ♪ I see you ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ When I see you ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ [audience cheering] [chill rock music] [audience cheering] [chill rock music] [audience cheering] - Billy Corgan.

- Uh-huh?

- We spoke with him recently about you.

- Yeah?

- He said you guys have a bromance.

How did your relationship start?

'Cause I heard it was a little, it was an interesting start to your relationship.

- It was?

- [Jen] Yeah.

- I don't know what he said.

- I didn't really take his band that seriously, and now I realize that he wrote a lotta great songs, but at the time, they seemed kinda like outside of what we were doing.

So, I think I said some funny stuff about the band or something crass, and he came up to me somewhere in public, and said, "I don't like what you're saying about my band."

And after that, we became friends.

- Oh, I know what he's talking about.

- Ah, it's all coming back to you.

- Billy, Billy, Billy.

- I found him quite charming, and interesting, and then I paid more attention, and I realized that he had a lot to say as a musician too.

And that's what started this bromance that we've had all these years.

- I was a huge, huge Pumpkins fan.

The song "Thanks a Lot" is basically, which is on my first record, is a Smashing Pumpkins ripoff.

Yes, it is.

- Oh, yes, it is.

[laughs] - And he was on MTV.

They asked him, "Who's your favorite band right now?"

And he said, "Third Eye Blind."

And I was just, you know, we had just put out our first record, so I didn't take any of this for granted, I wasn't like, oh yes, oh, thank you.

Like, it was a really big deal to me.

- He wrote a lotta great songs, and that's always been my delineating point.

You know, a lot of bands had cool sounds, and cool vibes, but you had to be a great songwriter, really, to hang, and that's why I think their music has endured.

[audience cheering] [upbeat rock music] [upbeat rock music] ♪ Pictures came back from Mars ♪ ♪ A new golden age, we're told ♪ ♪ Mars had rivers, lakes, and seas ♪ ♪ But life never seemed to take hold ♪ ♪ In the emptiness, my mind goes back to you ♪ ♪ We live beneath, we live above, and we live below ♪ ♪ All of us next to each other, but so utterly alone ♪ ♪ And we 're in this all together, now we're all on our own ♪ ♪ And you learn tenderness is essential ♪ ♪ And you learn ♪ ♪ The only thing I know is how we hold each other right now ♪ [audience cheering] ♪ Make a deal with someone new, but it's too scary to ignore ♪ ♪ It won't dent my isolation ♪ ♪ If we change what we're looking for ♪ ♪ Still, we've learned what's worth our time ♪ ♪ And what's a bore ♪ ♪ And you learn tenderness is essential ♪ ♪ And you learn ♪ ♪ The only thing I know is how we hold each other right now ♪ - Let's talk about "Screamer," their album which you wear the musical consigliere on.

Tell me about your involvement.

[Billy laughs] - Well, he reached out to me, and said, "I'd like you to come help us, and listen to what we're doing, and see if anything's attractive to you."

And I end up writing some songs with them, and advising on other songs.

But I really did enjoy working with them on music.

And I don't know, but it's one thing to be a fan, and listen to somebody's music, and sorta think you know what they do.

But until you're really in the studio with him, and writing with him, I gained a much greater appreciation for his talent, which is really a unique kinda talent.

The only people I can think of off the top of my head that write songs the way that Stephan writes songs would be Stevie Nicks and Courtney Love.

It's more like storytelling.

And he has that gift, and I didn't really appreciate that until I worked with him.

- You and Stephan share the common bond of being the frontman, the foundation of these influential rock bands.

What is that like to be in that position?

- There's a famous thing, they call it LSD, lead Singer disease.

[Jen laughs] It puts a weird pressure on you.

People tend to identify you as like, quote unquote, "the face" of the franchise.

So, it creates a sorta weird ripple.

So, when you're around other people who've been through it, there is a certain kinship.

- It's not about asserting yourself, it's trying to make space for the collective.

That is a gorgeous feeling, and one that I am very happy to have been foundational in bringing about.

[upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] [upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] ♪ Like a dust storm ♪ ♪ We got caught ♪ ♪ Came out with the balance ♪ ♪ Of an astronaut ♪ ♪ Meet me by the garden down the road ♪ ♪ And we'll drive up the coast ♪ ♪ I've been sleepwalking all year ♪ ♪ But I didn't give up this ghost ♪ ♪ And it all seems like we've been so alone ♪ ♪ And the veil lifts ♪ ♪ From the death we've lived in ♪ ♪ No more proxies and no more stand-ins ♪ ♪ Skies open up ♪ ♪ The only thing I know is how we hold each other right now ♪ ♪ Ooh, the only thing I know ♪ ♪ Is how we hold each other right now ♪ [upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] - The songs, they sparked conversation.

You know, "Jumper."

[Stephan mmhmms] I remember when that came out, it sparked such a conversation about mental health and suicide.

And even now more than ever, I mean, we're talking about it.

Tell me about the story behind the song, and just the impact it's made over the last two decades.

- "Jumper" is kind of a noir, actually.

It's what I would've said to a kid who jumped off the Coronado Bridge in San Diego, which is a Navy town.

Who was getting bullied because he was gay in high school.

The message of the song is, yeah, is without asking for anything, he like, even if we never see each other again, we all have more understanding for each other than we may give ourselves, and give each other credit for.

And that seems to be something that makes people wanna sing out.

♪ I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend ♪ [audience cheering] ♪ You could cut ties with all the lies ♪ ♪ That you've been living in ♪ ♪ And if you do not want to see me again ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ The angry boy, a bit too insane ♪ ♪ Icing over a secret pain ♪ ♪ You know you don't belong ♪ ♪ You're the first to fight, you're way too loud ♪ ♪ You're the flash on a burial shroud ♪ ♪ I know something's wrong ♪ ♪ Well, everyone I know has got a reason ♪ ♪ To say, you can put the past away ♪ ♪ Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend ♪ ♪ You could cut ties with all the lies ♪ ♪ That you've been living in ♪ ♪ And if you do not want to see me again ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ He's on the table, and he's gone to code ♪ ♪ And I do not think anyone knows ♪ ♪ What they are doing here ♪ ♪ Your friends have left you, you've been dismissed ♪ ♪ I never thought it would come to this ♪ ♪ And I, I want you to know ♪ ♪ Everyone's got to face down the demons ♪ ♪ Maybe today, you could put the past away ♪ ♪ I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend ♪ ♪ You could cut ties with all the lies ♪ ♪ That you've been living in ♪ ♪ And if you do not want to see me again ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ I would ♪ ♪ Anyway ♪ [audience cheering] - What's your writing process?

- I don't have a process.

Sometimes it's a beat that comes into my head.

Sometimes I'll have a melody that comes together, and I will start singing what that melody sounds like.

I always have a sense of what the song is about.

It's not even what a song is about, a song's not about something.

An essay is about something, songs are about answering a need, answering something that makes an emotional dent, and rendering that.

- When I think of his music, or their music, you know, it's like I, it's something about petulant child, and free spirited or something, you know, he likes to surf, you know what I mean?

And their music's kinda like catching the right wave.

The beautiful thing about a band like Third Eye Blind is when they catch that wave, when they catch that right emotional moment, there's a sort of freedom, and beauty in that.

[upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] [upbeat rock music] [upbeat rock music] [upbeat rock music] ♪ Can you put the past away ♪ ♪ Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend ♪ ♪ And I would understand ♪ ♪ Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend ♪ ♪ I would understand ♪ ♪ And I would understand ♪ [upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] [upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] [audience cheering] [upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] - "Semi-Charmed Life."

Was it when you wrote it, you sung it, or you heard it on the radio the first time?

Were you like, dang, that's good?

- No, it's when my mom left a message on my machine, and she was screaming.

- What'd she say?

- She had heard it on the radio, and.

Uh.

- And we're still surprised.

- Just one of the best feelings I ever had.

♪ And I want something else ♪ ♪ To get me through this ♪ ♪ Life, baby, I want something else ♪ ♪ Not listening when you say ♪ ♪ Goodbye ♪ - How do you want Third Eye Blind, years from now, when we're all gotten, to be remembered?

- It's really hard for me to put that into the past tense.

That just sounds like death.

I don't wanna be remembered.

- [Jen] I don't wanna be, you don't wanna be remembered.

- They saved the world.

[clears throat] - They saved the world.

[laughs] Yes.

♪ Doo doo doo doo ♪ ♪ Doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo ♪ ♪ Doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo ♪ ♪ The sky was gold, that was rose ♪ ♪ I was taking sips back into my nose ♪ ♪ And I wish I could get back there, some place back there ♪ ♪ The place we went then ♪ ♪ Yeah, I want something else ♪ [upbeat rock music] [audience cheering] [audience cheering] - [Stephan] Thank you so very much.

Good night to ya!

- Wow, what a show.

Big thanks to Stephan Jenkins and the band.

You know, it's really cool to see how the crowd is just so multi-generational, and you see teenagers out there discovering Third Eye Blind just like you and I did not that many years ago.

Well, that's all the time we have.

Thanks so much for watching, and we'll see you here for the next "Soundcheck."

[upbeat rock music] ♪ Pictures came back from Mars, a new golden age we're told ♪ ♪ Mars had rivers, lakes, and seas ♪ ♪ But life never seemed to take hold ♪ ♪ In the emptiness, my mind goes back to you ♪ ♪ And you learn tenderness is essential ♪ ♪ And you learn ♪ ♪ That the only thing I know ♪ ♪ Is how we hold each other right now ♪ [upbeat rock music]