Gin Blossoms • Blues Traveler • Spin Doctors
Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert
Summer concerts at Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre always seem to have a special charm, from the surrounding greenery and mountain views to the way people instantly seem at ease once they’re there, but on July 14th, a sold-out crowd for Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler, and Spin Doctors made it feel even more special. I had a feeling it was going to be a great night before I even made it into the venue because in the past, I have rarely had trouble finding parking at Red Butte Garden, but this time the lots were already packed well before showtime. That usually means a good show is on the way, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint!
The weather was hot and sunny, making for a classic Utah summer evening. One of my favorite parts of attending concerts at Red Butte Garden is simply looking around before the music starts. The venue has such a relaxed atmosphere, and fans truly make it their own. People arrived carrying everything from takeout dinners and charcuterie boards to coolers full of snacks. Some even brought little folding tables to complete their picnic setups. It almost felt like everyone had gathered in a friend’s backyard instead of an amphitheater, and I loved seeing the different ways people make a night of it!
The audience reflected the timelessness of the night’s lineup. Fans of all ages filled the amphitheater, and it was fun to watch everyone enjoy the evening in their own way. Some stayed comfortably in their lawn chairs, but several others couldn’t help but get up and dance whenever a favorite song came on, even if that song was just a part of a pre-show playlist!
Spin Doctors
Spin Doctors were first to take the stage, opening with “Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven” before working through a set filled with fan favorites. Lead singer Chris Barron brought plenty of personality from the very beginning. One of the most fun, recurring moments throughout the set came when he’d throw his arms up in the air and essentially do jazz hands. Without hesitation, the audience followed right along, creating a simple but heartwarming tradition!
As the band launched into “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” even more people found themselves up and dancing. The scorching temperatures didn’t stop people from pulling out their best moves during that one! Later, their cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain” had the entire amphitheater singing together. Chris encouraged fans to sing their hearts out, loud and proud, and I noticed that the crowd sounded a little timid at first, but after he encouraged them to “make a fool of themselves,” the volume of their singing multiplied exponentially!
By the time the unmistakable opening of “Two Princes” rang out, almost everyone around me seemed to be up on their feet, singing, and dancing along. Those are always some of my favorite moments at concerts, getting to look around and see strangers that are all sharing the same excitement.
Spin Doctors closed their set with “Shinbone Alley,” but instead of ending there, they welcomed Blues Traveler onstage for an extended jam that smoothly transitioned into the next set. According to the band, it was something they hadn’t done together in about twenty years, making it an especially fun surprise. Watching the harmonica seamlessly carry one band’s performance into the next was the most unique transition I’ve ever seen between sets!
Blues Traveler
Without missing a beat, Blues Traveler jumped right into “But Anyway” before treating the crowd to an energetic version of Charlie Daniels ’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Audiences love themselves a bit of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and it showed as they enthusiastically sang along, clearly enjoying the tune! The band’s mix of blues, rock, and lengthy jam sections kept the energy high all evening, especially during their popular hit, “Run-Around!” That song turned the venue into quite the party! Was fun to look around and see everyone singing along and having a great time!
Between songs, frontman John Popper kept the audience laughing with jokes about Utah’s elevation, asking, “How the hell do you guys live up at this altitude?” It is never the easiest place for visitors to perform, and he mentioned it was particularly tricky being a wind instrumentalist, but if he was struggling, his voice and harmonica skills didn’t waver for a second! He quickly followed the jokes with genuine appreciation, telling the crowd, “I love the shit out of you, Salt Lake City. You are always there for us.” Hearing artists take a moment to sincerely thank the audience always makes a show feel a little more personal, and the cheers that followed made it obvious the feeling was mutual!
Gin Blossoms
As the sun set, the venue had a beautiful golden hour glow, and fans gathered closer to the stage as Gin Blossoms took the stage to close out the evening. Their set had an easygoing yet upbeat feel from the start, and the band came across as genuinely happy to be back in Salt Lake City!
They opened up with one of their iconic hits, “Follow You Down,” which really started their portion of the show off with a bang! It was met with lots of excitement from the crowd! The venue erupted with energy, with everyone up and having a good time!
One of my favorite parts of their performance had nothing to do with the awesome music itself. Every few songs, frontman Robin Wilson handed out a tambourine to a different fan in the crowd, giving several people the chance to play along before passing it to someone new. It was such a simple idea, but it created several really sweet interactions between the band and the audience throughout the set! The band continued on and played seamlessly through songs like “Learning The Hard Way,” “Mrs. Rita,” and “Competition Smile.” The musicality and vocals were so full of talent; it was impressive how easy they made it look!
The stories between songs were just as enjoyable. The band shared that “As Long As It Matters” became a number one hit in the Philippines, one of several fun facts sprinkled throughout the night. Later, Blues Traveler keyboardist Ben Wilson joined them onstage, adding another enjoyable collaboration between the tourmates.
Before launching into the final stretch of the evening, the band joked, “Now we’ll play the rest of the hits,” drawing plenty of cheers from the sold-out crowd. Sure enough, favorites like “Found Out About You,” “Allison Road,” and “Hey Jealousy” skyrocketed the energy throughout the venue and had fans enthusiastically singing every word. They wrapped up the evening with an encore of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven,” sending everyone home smiling after a night full of songs that have stood the test of time.
This show gave me flashbacks to summer vacation as a kid, riding in the backseat listening to so many of these tunes on CDs that my mom had or on the radio! The warm weather and the timeless songs that sound just as good as they did decades ago were the perfect way to spend an evening! From the laid-back atmosphere unique to Red Butte Garden to three bands that clearly still love performing together, the evening was everything a summer concert should be.
It was one of those nights where it was just as much fun to look around at the crowd as it was to watch the stage. Between the sing-alongs, dancing, memorable collaborations, and beautiful summer setting, Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, and Gin Blossoms gave Salt Lake City fans a night that will undoubtedly be remembered for a long time.