Variety of bands set to perform at Union Centre Blvd. Bash

Gin Blossoms are the main national act and will play Friday evening.

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer Updated 9:06 PM Wednesday, August 12, 2009

WEST CHESTER TWP. — This weekend’s Union Centre Boulevard Bash promises to deliver a taste of ’90s music in addition to food from more than 10 area vendors.

A number of bands, including local favorites such as The Rusty Griswolds, will take to two stages during the course of the event Friday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 16. The headlining national act will be the Gin Blossoms, a band that first hit the charts in 1993 with the single “Hey Jealousy.”

Earlier this year, the Gin Blossoms signed with 429 Records, making them labelmates with Mick Fleetwood, Little Feat, Dr. John, Cracker and the Subdudes, according to guitarist Scott Johnson.

In an era when most musicians are taking the do-it-yourself approach to management, the band felt that a label can still give them the kind of support in publicity, marketing and other areas to keep trying it for a while. Plus, 429 Records has been expanding in recent years while the major labels have been scaling back.

“They seem to be really into it,” Johnson said. “It reminds me of (the major label) A&M when we were there.”

In the late 1980s and early ’90s, major labels were still devoting a portion of energy to artist development and put the fire under the Gin Blossoms that made them a prominent act in the alternative scene, even though the band didn’t think they were ready for the big pond yet.

“We were rock stars in our hometown” of Tempe, Ariz., Johnson said. “So we didn’t understand why we had to go to Omaha to play for 10 people.”

But it began to sink in when they were in Los Angeles and one of the big rock stations there added “Hey Jealousy” to its heavy rotation.

“We were doing college tour, playing cafeterias at lunch time and then at the local college bar at night,” he said. “By the end of the tour, the concerts were selling out and there were lines going out the door.”

Before the band took a five-year hiatus beginning in 1997, it had two other singles crack the Top Ten — “Til I Hear It From You” and “Follow You Down”.

The band is now in the middle of production for its fifth studio album, and for the first time are producing themselves.

Union Centre Boulevard Bash is a three-day outdoor music and food festival, produced by the Chamber’s special events division, The Downtown Council and the Union Centre Boulevard Merchants Association.

Admission to the Union Centre Boulevard Bash is free.

How to go

WHAT: The annual Union Centre Boulevard Bash.

WHEN: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday, 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14-16.

WHERE: The Square at Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester Twp.

MORE INFO: (513) 759-7308; www.westchesteroh.org

TRAFFIC: Centre Pointe Drive is closed with access to businesses maintained from Centre Loop and Mulhauser Road. Towne Centre will also be closed north of Centre Loop.

PARKING: Lakota West High School, the new West Chester Library, selected spots surrounding the event.

Entertainment schedule

Friday

Sullivan Janszen Band, 5:30 p.m., main stage

Big Whiskey, 9:30 p.m., acoustic stage

Gin Blossoms, 9:30 p.m., main stage

Saturday

3 Day Rule, 2 p.m. main stage

Kelly Thomas and the Fabulous Pick-ups, 4 p.m., main stage

Bootleg Rider, 5 p.m., main stage

2th Day Echo, 4 p.m., acoustic stage

Off the Hook, 8 p.m., main stage