Who was it that said, "To be a superstar, you just have to act like one?" That might have been Third Eye Blind, too. After all, singer/songwriter Stephan Jenkins' motto, since the band's inception three years ago, has always been "We are the biggest band in the world." No messing about. While this cocksure, larger-than-life attitude did not make Jenkins any friends among the Bay Area musical community (those whose insular mind-set encouraged "playing music for music's sake" and discouraged any talk of the big break), it did, however, make the band fiercely independent -- something that their manager, 31-year-old Eric Godtland, says helped them in negotiating their picture-perfect contract with Elektra. "[Unlike most newly signed bands] we had complete control over this album," says Godtland, "from the producer (Jenkins produced the album) to the cover art. Now that the San Francisco scene is changing, local bands are beginning to realize that it's possible to make their music the way they want to make it, on their own terms [while still reaping major-label benefits]. Third Eye Blind has proven it."
You can see Third Eye Blind on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Paradise Lounge; call 861-6906. And if you want to catch Thunder Winkie, they are playing there Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, Feb. 2-4. You could call, but they probably won't tell you anything.
By Silke Tudor
