Third Eye Blind

Early into their set Third Eye Blind's lead man Stephan Jenkins asks the crowd how many of them have not seen them live before (it's a while since they've been in the capital). To underline this idea of meeting new people, he invites people to say hello to a stranger next to them. It leads to a young man shaking my hand. It's all very cordial. And it is a relief, as it means the guy is momentarily distracted from sticking his tongue half way down his girlfriend's throat (second date probably - it won't last!). In fact, when they are not playing tonsil tennis, the girlfriend is nattering away, seemingly unaware that a gig is where you listen to music and not other people.

This distraction means that watching Third Eye Blind is made a little harder and halfway through the show the energy seems to drain from the band and the crowd. Earlier on, Jenkins strutted his way across the Forum stage, to a warm and enthusiastic welcome. He is sporting dark clothes with a woolly hat and looks better prepared for a jog around (his home city) San Francisco than performing a gig. He must be boiling, because outside it's been a mild and muggy November day in London and the temperature seems to be doubled inside.

It's 22 years since the band were formed, but in that time they have produced just five albums, so they have tested the loyalty of fans in America, let alone those in the UK that see them rarely. However, recent album Dopamine showed a return to form, with some impressive songs and a fresher sound that embraces the darker tones of Berlin era David Bowie. Much of the set features material from the album, but some of the tracks work less well, without the extra production a studio allows. Opener Everything Is Easy is a cracking pop-rock song but here sounds thin and lightweight. Better are Rites of Passage and All These Things, which come later in the set.

Of course though, most of the people here have turned up to see the likes of Semi Charmed Life and Jumper. They are saved for either side of the encore break and get the night's biggest reaction. The energy that seemed sapped from the band half way through returns and the crowd feed off it, leading to a rousing close to the night. At 51 years old, Jenkins has been around the industry a long time and his recent mutterings about Third Eye Blind's retirement indicates it might be time to move on. Many in London tonight would disagree.