Robin Wilson
By Bobby Hurley and Bill Watt
Robin Wilson has been the face of the Gin Blossoms since they formed in 1987. Most Gin Blossom songs are characterized by their great intros that grab your attention immediately. Gin Blossoms were proud to be from Tempe Arizona and didn't jump on the bandwagon of writing songs about California which are over done. Robin and Jesse teamed up to write some good songs that surely are underrated. Robin grew musically through the post Doug Hopkins years. He retains a great integrity both musically and personally and continues to be one of the most talented artists to this day. Gin Blossoms newest album No Chocolate Cake reflects this being another solid album.
Robin Wilson truly has a great attitude for life. One has to admire his courage. Imagine the ecstasy of getting paid to do what you want. He definitely takes away the stereotype of the rich rock star that has an easy life devoid of character or morality. Most people only get behind you or hate when you make it big but aren't there to see the daily passion and hard work in the beginning of the career when they were happy just to play their songs and live in poverty. Most of them decide to pursue low paid gigs instead of getting a job with a steadier income which is why musicians are underrated. Go to 2:30 to see the same comic book sold on Gin Blossoms store. Youtube removed the referenced video. Sorry everyone!
Robin Wilson truly has a great attitude for life. One has to admire his courage. Imagine the ecstasy of getting paid to do what you want. He definitely takes away the stereotype of the rich rock star that has an easy life devoid of character or morality. Most people only get behind you or hate when you make it big but aren't there to see the daily passion and hard work in the beginning of the career when they were happy just to play their songs and live in poverty. Most of them decide to pursue low paid gigs instead of getting a job with a steadier income which is why musicians are underrated. Go to 2:30 to see the same comic book sold on Gin Blossoms store. Youtube removed the referenced video. Sorry everyone!
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| Gin Blossoms lead singer Robin Wilson |
If it is hard near impossible to get a job in this economy you might as well try to get a job in something you enjoy. This type of person will instinctively and with a little effort be able to make the right career moves they come naturally if you are following your passion. This is because Robin is the real deal and isn’t faking the songs his sings from night to night amazingly he is just as passionate today as when he started out. All he needs to do is have enough money and he is a success as a musician and as a person. And if the pay is going to be little today in the United States you might as well spend time doing something you are proud and feel like you accomplished something doesn’t have to be in entertainment could be in anything. One of the ways I like to get interested in a band is by listening to the YouTube playlist of that band. If you do that with the gin blossoms you will hear a lot of good songs from their early stuff to present. Greatest hit cds are also a great way to get into a band and with 20th century masters the Gin Blossoms don’t disappoint offering many of their songs in original quality.
Idiot Summer is a Wilson song that the lyrics are a mystery to figure out. There are four lines that make sense, “three, four peaks all I could see, in the morning its a hundred and ten degrees, but I like goddamn heat. This reminds Bill and I of the time we spent in our dorm called Nault where we didn’t do much but the surroundings made it worth something. Idiot Summer is from the album Dusted it was part of their ’91 EP called Up and Crumbling. Idiot Summer is on Wayne's World soundtrack which makes sense since it is about the summer of two idiots.
New Miserable Experience is their first album and Robin is notable on Allison Road and Cheatin. I read somewhere Hopkins told Wilson Allison Road was their best song and Wilson disagreed and said Found Out About You was. Found out about you is their best in my opinion but Allison Roads a great and underrated song.It is cool that they praise each other’s songwriting and their respective styles. Interesting concept in the video, definitely reminds me of The Byrds the way the guitar rings.
Post Doug’s Death, Congratulations I’m Sorry.
Not Only Numb is another solid track off Congratulations I’m Sorry and is interesting because Wilson’s lyrics put you in observation mode. Takes me way back only not your experiences but just remembering the people you hung out with imagining all these cookouts people playing wiffleball late at night. I just remember people having good times, the greatest kind of spectating in my opinion. Not Only Numb is a great song that flows very easily. Follow You Down is arguably the most famous, most played on the radio from this album. And from the Intro it sucks you in; the harmonica just accompanies the music exceptionally well. Here is a link of the Gin Blossoms performing it on Letterman when Chris Farley was a guest. Paul Shaffer from Letterman’s band plays the harmonica.
Whereas Wilson plays it in the music video, someone else originally played it in the album version but over time the underrated musician Wilson learned to play it and took over. Wilson is a most talented artist because he played the harmonica on Follow you down during his 2011 summer concert tour. Songs like Not Only Numb, Hey Jealousy and Found Out About You give Bill a sense of Nostalgia. It reminds him those hot dog commercials where the hot dogs are cooking on the charcoal grill and you hear people talking.A kid runs through a sprinkler in one of them. The sense of nostalgia means remembering all the people you knew, everything that took place in one summer. This gives you more awareness of surroundings and I picture people playing wiffleball on a Sunday around 6 pm in the summer. It is about observing the people around you and how happy everyone is and how simple the times are, and less about your own personal issues. As Long As It Matters is another song that puts a person in a reflective mood. It’s a song that gives you energy when you are depressed because you can relate to the emotion. Accepting your negative feelings will prevent you from feeling bad about feeling down which depletes your energy.
The underrated musicians Wilson and Jessie differ in their songwriting. Jessie Valenzuela’s songs are a little more mainstream popish because he tries to write stuff that will be good for the radio. Robin if you read his lyrics doesn’t care. He seems to not underestimate the intelligence of the general public. The fact that they only listen to what’s on the radio because they are forced to. Some good people will appreciate good music when they hear it and it is played on the radio. Part of the reason in England Oasis became the biggest band, selling out 250,000 people in Knebworth, England. For once the best band was the most popular band. Robin Wilson reflects on personal experiences and says what he wants. He doesn’t care if his lyrics are all jumbled up. There’s an interesting bit from that first Robin Wilson interview posted at the beginning of the article. Robin says, “I won’t even pretend that I’m some poet that needs to give my soul and share my inner feelings.”He starts with a title when he hears a phrase or reads one somewhere he writes it down hears a melody he likes and finds a fitting title from the list he makes. He is a hard work talent. There is realness when he performs his songs he seems to be going back to a time of innocence. He may say odd things and be drunk at times even but he’s never pretending to be somewhere else.
Bill’s Meeting With Robin Wilson Bill Watt had much excitement over meeting the most talented artist Robin Wilson. Here is how he describes it in his own words: “My sister and I headed down to the Barnstable fair to see the gin blossoms in concert. We picked up my younger cousin who was not around during their heyday but has grown to appreciate their music nonetheless. On the way we listened to 3 gin blossom albums and talked about the songs. We got at the Barnstable fair before the concert and walked around, went on some rides and ate some food. As we were walking by the big slide I see THE Robin Wilson, a very underrated musician, right in front of me, knew it was him. He had the aura of a rock star which I spotted instantaneously. He was watching his son go down the slide and was mellow and so content. I had brought the sleeve of my new miserable experience cd hoping to catch the gin blossoms offstage at the end of the concert but it looked I would have a chance much sooner. My sister kept telling me "go over and talk to him and get an autograph" and I nervously said "eh that’s ok its fine" and it was my sister saying "u may never get this chance again" that made me go up and ask him for an autograph. I didn’t say much because I was star-struck. However he was a nice guy and introduced himself to my sister and cousin. My sister took a picture of us as I think, “wow I am standing next to Robin Wilson”.
A bit later, we arrived by the stage for the concert and as soon as they started playing “follow you down” I was amazed to the point of having chills. Robin's voice hadn't changed a bit. This made it even more nostalgic for me. What I noticed about him is how even though he's now in his mid 40s, you can tell by watching him that the industry has not affected him. He's the same guy he was when he was 10 years old. You can tell he loves performing on stage - he's in his own world, like a kid on Christmas morning. The Gin Blossoms played their hits and found out about you just blows my mind every time I hear it; robin put 110% into feeling those lyrics. "Wave bye bye" from no chocolate cake started and I instantly told my sister "that's ‘wave bye bye’. Robin wrote this one." In my opinion it's the best song on the album, the main chorus stands out, "this is the last time I ever say I love you..." such a catchy yet deep song. They played hey jealousy as the second to last encore and that's when we got up and walked to the front. This part of the performance was thrilling. This was one of the greatest feelings of my life. Finally, they played Eddie money's "Think I'm in love" and made it into a gin blossoms classic by singing his ass off. Overall, - best concert I attended. Robin Wilson had an amazing voice and unbelievable presence.
Wilson seems to know exactly who he is and doesn't seem to give a damn what people think. Robin Wilson was so intrigued by his kid going down the slide in amazement and completely unaware of everything else. For Bill meeting Robin Wilson was a great experience for Bill he said, "I was star struck and didn't say much, but I shook his hand. It just helped me be more comfortable with who I am. I am more confident I want to choose a path in music.
Major Lodge Victory is their 2006 album. “Learning The Hard Way” is the first track and it is not their nostalgic style but it’s a good driving song with a heavy beat and romantic lyrics. The song also features good guitar solos like from 2:32 to 2:45, a very simple but beautiful guitar style. The End of the World is a really good song because it has a very strong vocal performance from the talented musician Robin, it has a great guitar solo and deep lyrics. Long Time Gone is a real get up and go song, a great song to wake up to because of Robin's singing style . The drums are quick but the rhythm is perfect. I hear it and imagine playing 2nd base on my old t-ball team.
And Come on Hard is another great song that demonstrates the dynamic, yet lasting songwriting partnership of Wilson and Venezuela.
Their latest album, No Chocolate Cake, is a really good album on the whole. the first track "don't change for me" sounds like it came off of a Good Charlotte or All-American Rejects album and "I'm Ready" has a not-so-great intro, although halfway through the song gets really good. The ending could've been used for a movie intro. "Wave Bye Bye" is probably the best track on the album. The song doesn't have the same rebellious tone that some of their older songs had, but they're grown up now, and this is a very solid alternative rock song. How Nickelback are more popular nowadays than the underrated Gin Blossoms baffles me and this track is all the evidence needed. "Go Crybaby", "Somewhere Tonight", and Something Real" are also great ones off of "No Chocolate Cake". With the song "Go Crybaby", the lyric "it's your mistake and it takes forever" in the chorus is just the perfect thing to follow "in falling voices... ... come on out". The lead up to the chorus is perfect.
"From the pain you know you're not asleep now, you're lost in space it's all that matters anyhow"These are deep lyrics with a great accompanying melody that spark nostalgia.
They still have this knack for writing songs that make you think of the old days, when a lot of bands have sold out. Their material is definitely more mature nowadays, and I'm sure in 1993 they weren't singing songs that went like "Somewhere tonight, let's light a fire and burn up all the lies," but to me that's what's cool about the band. It shows they're still the same old Gin Blossoms yet they show that they've matured. Despite the more adult contemporary feel, their music is still nostalgic, because the kids that listened to them back in the day are now adults and dealing with the issues in their new songs as well, making more nostalgic moments. "Something Real" -great guitar.
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