The Republican National Convention (RNC) is taking place in Cleveland this week, and Third Eye Blind were on hand for the festivities last night (July 19) to play a charity show at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Along with a setlist full of deep cuts and few pro-America cover songs like most expected, the band took the time to make fun of the conservative crowd's controversial views.
A clip of the performance posted to Twitter shows frontman Stephan Jenkins telling the crowd "Raise your hand if you believe in science!" After a resounding chorus of boos, he responded: "You can boo all you want, but I'm the motherfucking artist up here."
Jenkins also lobbied for LGBTQ rights, tolerance and acceptance within American society. In 2012, the band declined an invitation to play a private party during the RNC, with Jenkins calling the event "a public sales pitch" and "a tacit endorsement of the Republican presidential candidate and his party platform" in a piece published by the Huffington Post. It's safe to say they made the most of their appearance this time around.
Take a look at clips from the performance and Twitter reaction from those who were in attendance below.
UPDATE (07/20, 5 p.m.): Third Eye Blind have shared a statement about the performance, which you can read in full below:
A clip of the performance posted to Twitter shows frontman Stephan Jenkins telling the crowd "Raise your hand if you believe in science!" After a resounding chorus of boos, he responded: "You can boo all you want, but I'm the motherfucking artist up here."
Jenkins also lobbied for LGBTQ rights, tolerance and acceptance within American society. In 2012, the band declined an invitation to play a private party during the RNC, with Jenkins calling the event "a public sales pitch" and "a tacit endorsement of the Republican presidential candidate and his party platform" in a piece published by the Huffington Post. It's safe to say they made the most of their appearance this time around.
Take a look at clips from the performance and Twitter reaction from those who were in attendance below.
.@ThirdEyeBlind trolls #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/zXIKWdO5Hj
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) July 20, 2016
Third Eye Blind tonite at #RNCinCLE event: We believe in tolerance, acceptance 🙌🙌 (Followed by boos) pic.twitter.com/WPRIEMZmEp
— Tina (@tinpant) July 20, 2016
@LWhiteGRLprob good
— Third Eye Blind (@ThirdEyeBlind) July 20, 2016
UPDATE (07/20, 5 p.m.): Third Eye Blind have shared a statement about the performance, which you can read in full below:
