A NYC Cab Carrying Two-Fifths Of Blind Melon Almost Killed Me
Then I met them and got into the show
“This line is way too long, I’m not waiting”, says one of my less than enthusiastic friends as we approach New York City’s Mercury Lounge.
It was late August 2000 and I had convinced some friends to come with me to see a new band, Unified Theory, which had risen from the ashes of Blind Melon in 1998.
Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith of Blind Melon had recruited singer/guitarist Chris Shinn (formerly of Celia Green) and drummer Dave Krusen (formerly of Pearl Jam) to round out the band Luma. They changed their name to Unified Theory right before releasing their self-titled debut album in 2000.
“That’s fine”, I said in response to my impatient friend, “I’m staying. This band is amazing, it will be worth the wait”.
Although it was 21 years ago, that late Summer evening feels as though it could’ve been last week. I remember how long the line was, the disappointed looks on the faces of my friends who just wanted to be in a bar, any bar, and begin drinking, and I very much remember the bouncer as we got to the door who said, “sorry fellas, sold out”!
Despite being upset that I made my friends wait in line for seemingly nothing, this declaration by their newest best friend the bouncer simply meant we could find another bar and start buying rounds.
“I’m not leaving”, I said to no one in particular as I racked my brain to try and figure out a way into the small and apparently full Mercury Lounge. Standing on the street corner just past the venue, I was in a heated yet fruitless discussion with my two very parched buddies. As they painstakingly laid out all the ways that we would not make our way into the show, I began to feel myself giving in and knew I had to look for the next bar to drown my newly found sorrows in.
Knowing when to give up and fight another day, I agreed to follow my friends down East Houston Street (pronounced House-ten for you non-New Yorkers) and look for the nearest watering hole.
As luck would have it, a yellow cab nearly took my legs out as I stepped off the corner. This is a common occurrence in Manhattan so I didn’t think much of it and may or may not have told the cabbie to go fuck himself.
Yes, I did say “as luck would have it” when describing my near demise by way of the reckless cab driver, but it’s for a good reason. See, after the death-mobile came to a screeching halt inches away from my good enough to sacrifice legs, the back doors and trunk flew open simultaneously. From one door emerged Christopher Thorn, the other, Brad Smith. The former Blind Melon guitarist and bass player respectively, now occupying the same roles in Unified Theory, raced to the trunk of the cab to grab their instruments as it seems they’re running late to the gig.
“Hey Chris…Brad”, I yell way too loudly, causing the two of them, my embarrassed (and still thirsty) friends, and Mario Andretti of the NYC Yellow Cab Circuit, to stop dead in their tracks.
Now I’m on the spot and need to come up with something magical to justify what was a decibel under a scream and all I could muster was:
“I’m…I’m a huge Blind Melon fan and ummm, Unified Theory is the best”.
Realizing I unintentionally recreated the SNL scene where Chris Farley says to Paul McCartney, “Do you remember when you were in The Beatles?…that was awesome”, I knew I had to act fast to save face.
Luckily Chris and Brad were nice and/or felt sorry for me and started a conversation. They thanked me for my kind, albeit, mangled compliment, and asked if we were going to the show. I told them we tried but were literally next in line when the bouncer (who I still believe was conspiring with my alcoholic friends to go drinking somewhere else) announced the show was sold out.
Chris pulled out a cell phone and called someone inside the club. He then asked me my name and said “add Rob plus 2 to my list” and we then proceeded to walk in with him and Brad. In the 12 seconds, it took to go from cab to club I had our life-long friendships all planned out. I envisioned hanging out with them before and after the show, talking music late into the night, and essentially becoming BFFs.
As we waltzed past the very confused bouncer, I smirked as I walked in and once in, turned back around and shot a “how ya like me now” smile at him…then ran into the crowd as to not get pummeled.
Back to my plans for world domination with my new besties Chris and Brad. I assumed as all good friends would, that they’d be waiting for me at the bar or VIP area, drink in hand. Turns out, I never saw either one of them again, ever. Boy did I read that one wrong! The only faces waiting for me were those of my friends who not so subtly let me know that the first round of drinks (at least) was on me.
The show turned out to be as great as I’d hoped and meeting Chris and Brad, even though I could’ve been crippled in doing so, was a huge thrill. Blind Melon was a very important band for me throughout the 90s and remains so to this day. Unified Theory released two amazing albums but unfortunately didn’t last very long. I still listen to both bands often and can’t help but think of this story every time I do.
I’m always talking about how music makes us feel and why those feelings and emotions are so important in determining the music we like the most. It’s that human element that does something to us and just won’t allow us to look away. So meeting a couple of humans who helped create some of my favorite music and having them turn out to be great people only adds to the magic that is music.
Speaking of music, one of the great writers we have at The Riff (and all of Medium for that matter) is Jessica Lee McMillan and she wrote this piece on Blind Melon you all should read as well.