Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, and Spin Doctors Bring the 90’s Back to San Diego, California on August 16, 2025

August 19, 2025
International Concert Reviews, International Galleries
by Johnnie Crow Photographer / Writer

Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms are on a summer co-headlining tour, with Spin Doctors as direct support. The 90’s flashback experience performed in the glorious outdoor venue of Gallagher Square behind Petco Park in San Diego, California on August 16, 2025. The artists clearly get along well, as members from each band joined in for a cover song in every set. They covered Oasis, Elton John and Tom Petty, all of which added to the overall college dorm room jam vibe.

Spin Doctors kicked things off in the early evening. Unfortunately, most of the fans were still streaming in from their pre-parties and missed out on the best performance of the night. With three original members and an excellent brand new album just released, Spin Doctors were energized and feeding off one another. Their debut album Pocket Full Of Kryptonite was a classic, released in the height of musical creativity in 1991. “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues”, “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes” still stand up today as some of the greatest pop rock songs of all time. Vocalist Chris Barron is a dynamic frontman who is highly entertaining. His appearance in both Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler sets were the highlight of the evening. Listen to them again, and check out the new album Face Full Of Cake.

Spin Doctors:

Chris Barron – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Eric Schenkman – Guitar, Backing Vocals

Aaron Comess – Drums, Keyboards

Jack Daley – Bass

Spin Doctors Setlist:

1. Rock and Roll Heaven

2. What Time Is It?

3. She Stands Alone

4. How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me)

5. Jimmy Olsen’s Blues

6. Don’t Look Back In Anger (Oasis cover)

7. Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong

8. Still A Gorilla

9. Two Princes

Gin Blossoms played next. They have a lot of great songs, and they played them all. The performance was very laid back. The crowd really got into it at the end of the set, when they played the biggest hits from New Miserable Experience. At each show on the tour, Gin Blossoms is auctioning off a guitar signed by members of all three bands, with proceeds going to the Pablove Foundation, who fight childhood cancer through Art + Science.

Gin Blossoms:

Robin Wilson – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica

Jesse Valenzuela – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals

Scott “Scotty” Johnson – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals

Bill Leen – Bass

Scott Hessel – Drums

Gin Blossoms Setlist:

1. Follow You Down

2. Hold Me Down

3. Mrs. Rita

4. Lost Horizons

5. As Long As It Matters

6. Until I Fall Away

7. Rocket Man (Elton John cover)

8. Hands Are Tied

9. Found Out About You

10. Allison Road

11. Hey Jealousy

12. Till I Hear It From You

Blues Traveler was the final act, as the sun had already set and a cool breeze blew across the open-air park. These guys can really jam out and they are all excellent musicians. Many in the crowd did not seem to know all of the material, but those who did were treated to instrumental bliss. John Popper alternates between singing and harmonica playing, with equal skill at both. Popper was once in the precursor to Spin Doctors, and he brought out his high school friend Chris Barron to sing a fun song called “Champipple”, which he explained was written by the two of them as an homage to Redd Foxx in the Sanford and Son TV show from the 70’s. Those who stayed until the end got to enjoy “Hook” and Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” to close out the night.

Blues Traveler:

John Popper: Lead Vocals, Harmonica

Chan Kinchla: Guitar, Mandolin, Backing Vocals

Brendan Hill: Drums, Percussion

Tad Kinchla: Bass, Backing Vocals

Ben Wilson: Keyboards, Backing Vocals