Snap Judgment: Blind Melon reunion

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Superfan Sean

March 1, 2008

As if a band reunion doesn’t cause enough controversy, Blind Melon also had the disadvantage of losing its singer, Shannon Hoon, to a drug overdose in 1995. Operating since then as a splintered series of alternate projects, the jam-grunge group finally reconvened recently to make a new album, “For My Friends,” which is due out in April. Now touring to create hype for the upcoming disc, the band rocked Hiro Ballroom Saturday night with its new singer, Travis Warren, at the helm. Discovered through a production project with guitarists Christopher Thorn and Rogers Stevens, Warren has risen to a massive challenge, replacing the beloved Hoon. Astonishingly, even on old faves like “Change” and the once-ubiquitous “No Rain,” his steely voice really measures up. Still, most fans agree, it just ain’t the same.—Cristina Black