Concert Recap: Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler, and Spin Doctors in Cary, NC (August 28, 2026)

Some tour packages just make sense — I'm a huge fan and advocate of mixed-bill lineups that showcase various subgenres, but every now and then you get the perfect lineup of sonic similarity that's just too good to ignore. Whether it’s shock-rock giants like Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie joining forces for a co-headliner, or even the modern metal triple-threat that was 2022-23's "Trinity of Terror" Tour (featuring Motionless in White, Black Veil Brides, and Ice Nine Kills), there's always a tour package that's just too good to miss.

Last year saw the triple-threat of Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, and Gin Blossoms, affectionately referred as the "Spin Gin Traveler" Tour online, and it was such a hit that the bands decided to run it back this year and hit so many more areas that they missed last year. Thankfully for me, that included a stop in Cary, NC at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Despite listening to these bands to varying degrees over the course of my lifetime, this was my first time seeing each of them live, so it was nice to check a handful of bands off the must-see list in one night.

First things first, you know a tour lineup is stacked when a band like Spin Doctors is the first one to hit the stage. From the hits to the covers and everything in between, their set was an absolute blast to watch and shoot — the energy and excitement that these guys have on stage together 30+ years into their career is remarkable, and I'm so glad to have had the experience of seeing them live for the first time. Aside from the musicianship, I would argue that the most impressive part of their set was Chris Barron's athleticism on stage — at the age of 58, he was throwing kicks and moving around in ways that I'm struggling to in my late 20s, so to say I was impressed would be an understatement.

I also loved how the band stayed on stage during the changeover and continued to jam while Blues Traveler entered the stage and soundchecked, making for the most seamless transition I've ever witnessed at a concert. With all the shows I've attended over the years, I've never seen anything like that before, but I wish more artists would employ this strategy so there's no downtime between bands.

I've had a couple chances to see Blues Traveler live over the last few years, because they seem to play at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC pretty regularly, but I haven't been able to actually make the drive to see them until this show. Having been relatively familiar with their music for a while, I thought I knew what to expect from their live show, but they still managed to exceed my expectations on every level. Their studio recordings certainly put their musicianship on display, but it's a whole other kind of energy in a live setting. The band was always sonically in the pocket, and they're such a tight unit on stage. There were several solo sections and opportunities for each member of the band to shine, and it was great to watch and hear.

As far as the setlist is concerned, the expected hits like "Runaround" and "Hook" made an appearance, along with their cover of The Charlie Daniels Band classic "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," but my personal favorite moment of their set actually came at the midpoint of their set, with their performance of "Ode From the Aspect." This song from their 2018 album Hurry Up & Hang Around isn't played live very often, and vocalist John Popper dedicated the song to the audience, even getting visibly emotional while singing. This song felt like a pause in the show and more like a genuine moment between the band and the audience, and its musical difference from the rest of their setlist made the performance of this track an unforgettable moment in their set.

After seeing them live for the first time, I definitely won't be missing the next time they play nearby again. I was in awe of their musicianship, had a blast taking photos during their set, and hope to see them again soon.

Blues Traveler Setlist:

1. Crash Burn
2. Slow Change
3. Runaround
4. But Anyway
5. Ode From the Aspect
6. Carolina Blues
7. The Devil Went Down to Georgia (The Charlie Daniels Band cover)
8. Hook

Gin Blossoms hit the stage and immediately kicked things off with a bang, starting their set with their iconic hit "Follow You Down." From the jump, everyone in the crowd was singing along and excited for whatever the band had up their sleeves, including a surprise cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" to close their set.

One thing I noticed while I was at the front of the crowd and photographing the beginning of their set was that the band seems to genuinely enjoy performing and being on stage together. It's easy to tell a lot of the time when a band is just going through the motions, but Gin Blossoms appeared like they were sincerely having fun at this show. Vocalist Robin Wilson would walk up to the barricade and interact with the audience on several occasions, whether it was giving people fist-bumps, handing out guitar picks, or letting fans play the tambourine; guitarist Jesse Valenzuela and bassist Bill Leen were musically locked in and seemed to be in a flow state with their instruments, lead guitarist Scotty Johnson fed off the energy and smiles coming from the audience, and drummer Andy Herrin looked like he was having the time of his life while still making sure to rhythmically hold things down.

The setlist was mostly comprised of songs from the New Miserable Experience and Congratulations I'm Sorry albums, with all of the expected hits making an appearance and fan favorites like "Competition Smile" and "Hold Me Down" being sprinkled in as well. Personally, outside of hearing the hits like "Hey Jealousy," my favorite part of the set was their performance of "Learning the Hard Way," from their underrated 2006 album Major Lodge Victory. I'm a huge fan of when bands play deep cuts, or even popular songs from underappreciated albums, so hearing a song like this was a very nice surprise.

I've known their hits for what feels like forever, but it wasn't until college that I dug deeper into Gin Blossoms' discography and truly became a hardcore fan of theirs — I've been kicking myself for missing their show in Wilmington, NC back in 2019, but I'm stoked to have finally made up for it now with this show. What made my first time seeing them live even better was having the opportunity to photograph them as well — concert photography has become my favorite activity in recent years, and it's always a surreal experience when I get the chance to photograph artists whose music has made a big impact on me over the years. I've had the pleasure of experiencing this feeling a few times in my career already, from shooting bands like Everclear, Wednesday 13, Skillet, and Motionless in White, and it meant a lot to experience that once again at this show with Gin Blossoms.

Gin Blossoms have been a band for almost 40 years, their breakout album New Miserable Experience was released almost 35 years ago, and they still sound fantastic and are clearly still enjoying themselves while doing it all these years later. Getting to hear so many of my favorite songs from across their catalog, from "Lost Horizons" to "Learning the Hard Way" in a live setting for the first time was an unforgettable experience, and I hope they'll come back to the Carolinas soon. Whether you only know the hits or love all their albums, I can't begin to emphasize how much I recommend seeing Gin Blossoms live. Bonus points if you make it to one of the remaining shows on their current tour with Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors — I promise you won't regret it.

Gin Blossoms Setlist:

1. Follow You Down
2. Hold Me Down
3. Learning the Hard Way
4. Mrs. Rita
5. Lost Horizons
6. As Long As It Matters
7. Until I Fall Away
8. Hands Are Tied
9. Found Out About You
10. Allison Road
11. Hey Jealousy
12. Til I Hear It From You

Encore

13. Competition Smile
14. Just Like Heaven (The Cure cover)

The 2026 edition of the "Spin Gin Traveler" Tour continues through the month of September, with the final show taking place in Traverse City, MI. Fingers crossed for a third leg next summer, but until then, click here for all tour dates and to buy tickets.

To keep up with Spin Doctors, click here.

To keep up with Blues Traveler, click here.

To keep up with Gin Blossoms, click here.