Local musical darlings the Gin Blossoms will be celebrating the release of their latest album, “No Chocolate Cake,” on Sept. 29 with a performance in Tempe, Ariz.
The Gin Blossoms, whose former hits include “Til I Hear It From You,” “Follow You Down” and “Hey Jealousy,” released the first single from their new album to radio stations last month. Called “Miss Disarray,” it delivers more of the post-grunge pop-rock that the band’s following will never get enough of.
In celebration of the release of the new record, Robin Wilson, Scott Johnson, John Richardson, Bill Leen and Jesse Valenzuela will be signing CDs and performing a special in-store acoustic set at the Best Buy at 1900 E. Rio Salado Drive at 7 p.m. The album itself will be released the day before, on Sept. 28, but is already available for pre-order through such vendors as iTunes.
Haute Living got guitarist Scott Johnson to dish a little about the upcoming album and the local music scene …
HL: Did you set out to expand upon the same sound the band has already become so well-known for or did you want to do something new?
SJ: We experimented a little with new grooves, but never really considered what peeps want. We know what we are good at and stick to it.
HL: You’ve done a substantial amount of collaborating with your friends The Rembrandts, and we hear Danny Wilde mixed the record and co-wrote some of the songs on this album. What kind of personal touch did he bring, and who would you love to collaborate with on the next one?
SJ: Yes, Danny is a buddy, and he brings this amazing pop sensibility to the table. We would [also] like to work with Sam [Means] from The Format.
HL: Do you ever go out and watch other local bands’ shows? Is there a group making a sound or doing something right now that you think is exciting?
SJ: There is a great blues band in town called The Sugar Thieves and they really kick a**!
Johnson added he’s proud of the fact that “No Chocolate Cake” is the band’s first self-produced album, and also, that he wrote one of the songs featured, called “Goin’ to California.”
Visit the band online at ginblossoms.net
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