Music

Third Eye Blind mercilessly trolled the Republican National Convention

by Jeremy Mersereau

The 2016 Republican National Convention is in full swing in Cleveland, Ohio, and marks the fulfillment of the grim prophecy given to us 16 years ago by a pop culture monster, about another pop culture monster. Not all of those present for the RNC are in agreement with the majority of attendees, however, least of all Third Eye Blind – a band who have never been particularly secretive about their political leanings, and whose lyrics haven’t historically been wholesome & all-American.

At a RNC-affiliated charity event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night, Stephan Jenkins and his fellow 90’s alt-rockers in Third Eye Blind made their distaste for the the politics of the gathered, in the best way possible – by relentlessly trolling the attendees by repeatedly advocating reasonable viewpoints that no rational person could possibly find fault with, except they were at an RNC event.

“Raise your hand if you believe in science!” Jenkins also reportedly said onstage to a chorus of boos. “You can boo all you want, but I’m the motherfucking artist up here,” he said. Well..’artist’ is pushing it, but the sentiment’s correct.

Overly conservative 3EB fans on social media were…not pleased:

And yes, in case your gut reaction to 3EB’s actions is “kinda a shitty thing to do at a charity event, especially when the proceeds went to Musicians On Call, a non-profit that organizes musical performances at hospital bedsides”, here’s 3EB’s rebuttal:

3EB’s set was ostensibly going to include covers of pro-America anthems and their own stable of hits, but they opted to play lesser-known tracks from their catalogue, with nary a “Semi-Charmed Life” or “Never Let You Go” in earshot. Keep their RNC performance in mind the next time you’re thinking about booking Jenkins and co. for your management team-building event or  militia’s big fundraising picnic.