Since the success of “Semi-Charmed Life” and “Never Let You Go,” Third Eye Blind is currently on tour promoting its fifth studio album “Dopamine.” One of the defining bands of the late 1990s, Third Eye Blind has sold around 12 million records worldwide.
In an email interview, The Daily Reveille talked with lead guitarist and backing vocalist Kryz Reid to discuss the band’s upcoming visit to Baton Rouge.
Third Eye Blind will perform at Varsity Theatre on March 30. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.

The Daily Reveille: What about this tour were y’all most looking forward to?
Kryz Reid: I guess playing more “Dopamine.” We’re trying to put more tracks from the album into the set. Also, getting out in the summer in America is fun.
TDR: Tell us how the tour is going.
KR: The tour is going fabulously. It is a lot of fun. We’ve all got our bikes out are and exploring. I’ve got my new drone so I’m flying that guy all over America. It’s going great — really, really well. The weather was s— in the beginning, and now we’re in Mississippi, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
TDR: What do y’all like most about touring and performing live?
KR: That my mom thinks I’ve got a real job, haha. I guess we’ve all loved everything about it. It’s just like having the last laugh. It’s getting to do what you absolutely love with your best mates and getting paid to do it. And getting told you’re great at it.
TDR: What does through your mind before a show?
KR: I mean, we are all prepared for the show. An hour before the show, I like to do a warm up — play guitar, vocal warm ups, work out the kinks, stuff like that. Then we all get together and get hyped up. We play music and jump around. It’s just show time and we get ready for big release. All of it builds up to that — the reason we’re here.
TDR: Do y’all do anything special to prepare for a show?
KR: We’ve finished eating an hour before the show, so not to be bloated on stage. All warm up and jam together. So we’re warmed up and not walking on stage cold, I hate that.
TDR: What do y’all think is your best song? Why?
KR: I can’t answer that question. The songs are like our kids. You couldn’t pick one of your kids over there.
TDR: What’s your fondest memory as a group?
KR: I remember we were recording “Dopamine” in Sunset Sound in L.A. We were recording for the song “Blade” and [lead singer] Stephan [Jenkins] had this idea that it would have a guitar solo like glass breaking, the most inappropriate solo ever. [Drummer] Brad [Hargreaves] was doing drums and Stephan was like, “Want to put down that solo?” So I said, “Yeah let’s just align here and get on the same page. I’m just going to record you just singing solo. So sing like you want the solo to sound like.” Stephan just starts screaming this big insane thing. So I went and sat down and just played it. I recorded the first take and Stephan came him screaming “That’s it! That’s the solo!” And that was it. I recorded the solo on the first take, pretty fabulous.
TDR: How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
KR: Do it twice, the old rule. Do it again the next time, so everyone thinks you meant to do. We take the lead of Stephan. Stephan makes a mistake, take his lead, not that he does it very often though.
TDR: What advice would you give to musicians who are just starting out?
KR: David Bowie said, “Always be spectacular.” Best advice — live by that.
TDR: Have y’all been to the Baton Rouge area before?
KR: Yes, one of our best mates is from Baton Rouge. We love it, and it’s very nice. My very first tour with Third Eye Blind, our fourth show was in Baton Rouge. It was my first time and I took tons of pictures. It’s gorgeous.