Blind Melon serves up new shows

Putting a label on Blind Melon is not as simple as one would assume after nearly two decades of hindsight.

Before storming onto the airwaves and out of record stores with their 1992 self–titled debut, Lafayette–born frontman Shannon Hoon was a vocal foil to hometown buddy–gone big Axl Rose on a few songs on Guns N' Roses' 1991 "Use Your Illusion" albums. That Hoon and his band rode the alternative wave arguably rendering the pop metal likes of Guns powerless shortly following "Illusions" was not lost on the Hoosier–bred singers.

And amongst the alt–rock brethren with whom they shared radio and video space, Blind Melon were a square peg to Seattle's round hole.

Without the "Bee Girl" video tainting one's perception, the band's breakout single "No Rain" could've easily been mistaken as a Yes nugget unearthed for the "Dazed and Confused" era, with Hoon's vocal styling similar to Jon Anderson, the former vocalist of the British 70s/80s prog rock outfit.

The self-titled "Blind Melon" album is airier, jazzier and sunnier than the fare of the day, not to mention still sturdy nearly two decades after its release.

Blind Melon would follow up their mega–selling debut with "Soup" in the summer of 1995, but would be derailed a few months later after Hoon's death from a drug overdose. Collections of B–sides, best of and live offerings would come out and surviving members would pursue new musical endeavors in the decade following Hoon's death,

In 2006, Blind Melon returned to active duty, recruiting Travis Warren -- who formerly fronted the jam band Fur For Rent -- to fill Hoon's shoes. A 2008 effort, "For My Friends," was released, but only the die–hards took the bait, and Warren has left and rejoined the band between the album's release and present day.

Blind Melon, 8 p.m. Sunday, Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $16 (18 and older). FYI: (773) 549–4140, METROCHICAGO.COM

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