Coverage by Chris Sturk

Third Eye Blind — A Look Back at One of Alternative Rock’s Most Enduring Bands

Third Eye Blind is a band many people consider one of the best alternative rock acts still touring today. Formed in 1993, they became a defining force of late‑90s rock with breakout hits like “Semi‑Charmed Life,” “Jumper,” and “How’s It Going to Be,” all of which reached top‑10 status on the Billboard charts. One of my personal favorites from the band is “Graduate” — a track that never fails to make me smile whenever I hear it.

Over the course of their career, Third Eye Blind has released six albums, with their most recent record, “Screamer,” arriving on October 18, 2019. To date, the band has sold more than 20 million albums, solidifying their place as one of the most successful and enduring bands of their era.

The band is currently on tour, and we covered their stop at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) in Durham, North Carolina. DPAC is a bit different from most music venues because it has a fully seated layout. Unlike venues with open floor plans or standing‑room pits where fans can jump around and move freely, DPAC’s permanent seating creates a more reserved environment. It’s a beautiful venue, just not the type you’d typically imagine for a high‑energy band like Third Eye Blind.

That said, the band still brought an incredibly energetic show to the stage, complete with a dynamic and visually striking light display. Lead singer Stephan Jenkins walked out “incognito” style, wearing a thin‑lined hoodie pulled over his head. Midway through the show, he ditched the hoodie and ran across the stage, getting the crowd fired up. Fans raised their hands, sang along, and at one point Stephan let the audience take over a large portion of a song while he smiled in appreciation.

The band was full of energy, and the fans were loving every minute of it. Even though the venue’s seating limited how much the crowd could physically express their excitement, you could still feel the enthusiasm. Fans pumped their fists, screamed lyrics back at Stephan, and leaned into every moment he pointed the mic toward them. I even found myself lowering the camera and singing along with everyone else.

The light show amplified the already high‑energy performance. It was both simple and complex — a blend of interwoven colors and patterns that shifted throughout the night, often syncing perfectly with the beat or guitar riffs depending on the song. It added a polished, immersive layer to the entire experience.

All in all the band brought a strong and sturdy performance to Durham NC. Third Eye Blind has a magical and successful music catalog that will go down in history has one of the great bands in the alternative music scene. With 20+ years under their belt they are still creating and still bringing a kick ass stage performance to fans around the world.

~ Lead Photographer Chris Sturk