Multi-platinum rock legends Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms have joined forces yet again for an electrifying co-headlining summer tour. The bands behind signature hits like “Run-Around” and “Hey Jealousy” have announced a 35-date run set to kick off in July bringing their high-energy performances coast-to-coast, including a stop in Cincinnati, OH at Riverbend Music Center on Thursday, September 17 with very special guest The Spin Doctors.
Blues Traveler — who last year celebrated 30 years since the single release of their GRAMMY® Award-winning breakthrough hit “Run-Around,” a milestone highlighted in a Rolling Stone interview with frontman John Popper — will join Gin Blossoms, whose quadruple-platinum album New Miserable Experience helped define ‘90s alternative radio, for this highly-anticipated run. In addition, returning from last year’s lineup, the tour features legendary alternative rock band Spin Doctors, commemorating this year the 35th anniversary of their multi-platinum debut Pocket Full of Kryptonite, home to the chart-topping, GRAMMY®-nominated hit “Two Princes.”
For Blues Traveler, the run is a celebration of long-standing friendships forged on the road. “It’s rare when a package feels so much like home that it carries a spirit which becomes tangible to an audience,” frontman John Popper reflects. “That was the case — by all accounts — regarding our summer tour last year with Spin Doctors and Gin Blossoms. We grew up with Spin Doctors as pups in the same litter… ours is a shared origin story. But working with Gin Blossoms was a first. Their music was everywhere when we were coming up, and yet only last summer did we have the opportunity to learn how fun it is playing with them — and to discover how much energy our three bands put out in combination. So, we’ve decided to take this show everywhere we missed last year. We’re excited to bring it to you.”
That enthusiasm carries over from last summer’s shows. Guitarist Chan Kinchla adds, “Back by popular demand! We had such a blast last summer with Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors and all of you beautiful people that we decided to bring the tour to the half of the country we missed. Can’t wait for another amazing summer!”
Members of Gin Blossoms echo the sentiment, highlighting both nostalgia and momentum. “Same tour 2 summers in a row,” says vocalist Robin Wilson. “I’ve never even heard of this happening before. It is a testament to the strength of the lineup. We’re all friends, we’re gonna sell a lot of tickets, and it will be a blast.” Guitarist Jesse Valenzuela puts it simply: “Let’s do it again, part deux! Another summer of great music with our brothers in Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors.” Guitarist Scott Johnson adds, “Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors is the best package we have ever been a part of, something for everyone!”
For Spin Doctors, the decision to return for a second consecutive summer speaks for itself. “As far as I know, it’s pretty unprecedented for the same tour to go out two summers in a row,” says frontman Chris Barron. “I’m glad it’s happening because it’s nice to know that while we were having a ball, the audiences were as well. For sure it’s gonna be the ticket of the summer.” Drummer Aaron Comess hints at what fans can expect: “We had so much fun last summer on this tour we’re doing it again. Get ready for lots more collaborations, hit songs, and killer jams.”
About Blues Traveler:
Nearly 4 decades ago, the four original members of Blues Traveler — John Popper, Chandler Kinchla, Brendan Hill, and the late Bobby Sheehan — gathered in their drummer’s parents’ basement in Princeton, NJ, to jam. From these high school sessions emerged a band that would go on to release a total of 14 studio albums, four of which have gone gold, three platinum, and one six-times platinum, selling more than 10 million combined units worldwide.
Over an illustrious career, Blues Traveler has played more than 2,000 live shows in front of over 30 million people and, with “Run-Around,” achieved the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history — earning the band a GRAMMY® for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. In 2021, Blues Traveler released the GRAMMY®-nominated Traveler’s Blues (Round Hill Records), a collection of reimagined and recharged classics from the American blues songbook and the group’s first official blues album. The second release in this series, 2023’s Traveler’s Soul, takes a similar approach, consisting of cover songs from a specific genre — this time classic R&B and soul.
About Gin Blossoms:
Formed in Tempe, Arizona in 1987, Gin Blossoms helped define alternative radio in the early ‘90s with their breakout major-label debut New Miserable Experience. Led by the gold-certified hit “Hey Jealousy,” the album went on to sell more than four million copies, delivering enduring singles like “Allison Road” and “Until I Fall Away” and cementing the band as power-pop mainstays. Their hometown legacy was officially recognized in October 2022, when Tempe unveiled an honorary street sign renaming a section of 8th Street between Rural Road and Una Avenue as “Allison Road Avenue,” celebrating both the beloved song and the album’s 30th anniversary.
They followed with the platinum-selling Congratulations I’m Sorry, featuring the Top 10 smash “Follow You Down” and the GRAMMY®-nominated “As Long as It Matters.” Decades later, their jangly guitars, sharp hooks, and emotionally resonant songwriting still hit with the same immediacy. Made up of Robin Wilson, Jesse Valenzuela, Bill Leen, and Scotty Johnson, Gin Blossoms continue to evolve without losing the sound that made them essential. Their latest album, Mixed Reality (produced by Don Dixon and engineered by Mitch Easter), delivers 15 new tracks packed with chiming melodies, wry lyricism, and undeniable heart, proving the band is as vital now as ever.
Inducted into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2017, Gin Blossoms remain road-tested and fan-driven, touring relentlessly and sharing stages with Collective Soul, Barenaked Ladies, and Hootie & The Blowfish. Reuniting once again with Blues Traveler for this year’s tour, the longtime collaborators are building on the momentum of last summer, when they took over the Jimmy Kimmel Live! stage for an epic mashup, an electric reminder that Gin Blossoms continue to turn nostalgia into something unmistakably alive.
About Spin Doctors:
Best known for their multi-platinum album Pocket Full of Kryptonite — celebrating its 35th anniversary — which sold 10 million copies worldwide and featured hits like the GRAMMY®-nominated “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” Spin Doctors are a defining band of the ’90s alternative rock scene. With their infectious hooks, bluesy grooves, and high-energy live shows, the band continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Composed of Chris Barron (vocals), Eric Schenkman (guitar), Jack Daley (bass), and Aaron Comess (drums), Spin Doctors remain a force in rock music, blending funk, blues, and pop into their unmistakable sound.
Their latest album, Face Full of Cake (via Capitol Records), marks their first release in 12 years, showcasing the band in revitalized form with warm funk, abundant hooks, and the easygoing energy longtime fans expect. Featuring new bassist Jack Daley, the record reflects the creativity, humor, and collaborative spirit that have defined the band’s enduring career. With a blockbuster summer tour on the horizon, Spin Doctors continue to prove that, despite decades of experience, they are just getting started.
