MLS Major League Soccer

Third Eye Blind to Play at Half

Published on July 30, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


LONG BEACH, Calif. (Wednesday, July 29, 2003) - Double-platinum alt-rockers Third Eye Blind will highlight the 2003 Pepsi MLS Halftime Show, broadcast live on national television during Saturday's MLS All-Star Game, MLS Executive Vice President Mark Noonan announced today. The halftime performance adds to the excitement of Major League Soccer's eighth All-Star spectacular featuring the 2003 MLS All-Star squad against Mexican powerhouse CD Guadalajara (Chivas) on Saturday, August 2, to be televised nationally from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. at 3:30 p.m. (ET), live on ABC Sports.

Third Eye Blind, a San Francisco quartet known affectionately to their fans as 3EB, scaled the charts with their 1997 debut album and its first single, "Semi Charmed Life,"; before reeling off four more undeniable rock anthems -- "Graduate," "How's It Going To Be," "Losing A Whole Year" and "Jumper." The album sold six million copies, and remained on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart for well over a year. Their 1999 follow-up, Blue, approached double platinum on the strength of the Stones-inflected single "Never Let You Go." Now touring in support of their recently-released third album, Out of the Vein, 3EB retains their critically-acclaimed skillful mix of melody, tension and propulsive energy plus "a strong authorial presence, an extremely distinct voice."

"The 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game represents a state-of-the-art celebration of soccer with cutting-edge entertainment in Third Eye Blind," said Noonan. "This is yet another example of Pepsi's commitment to bringing MLS fans the best in sports and entertainment."

ABC television star Drew Carey will introduce the group and the Pepsi halftime festivities, as well as participating in the ceremonial coin toss prior to what is expected to be the most competitive All-Star Game in the League's eight midseason showcases.

Singing the national anthems for the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game is bilingual adult contemporary sensation Jaci Velasquez, a 24-year-old singer and actress who boasts a trio of platinum albums and two gold albums, as well as a total of 16 #1 singles in her career, two of which were Spanish-language. Her hit single "Como Se Cura Una Herida" was the #1 most played Latin song in 2001 (Billboard).

Selected as one of the 25 most beautiful Latinos in 2000 by People en Español, Velasquez recently starred on the silver screen with Rosylen Sanchez, Sofia Vergara and Eduardo Verastegui in the independent film "Chasing Papi." The recipient of the 2000 Premio Lo Nuestro award for Best New Artist of the Year, Velasquez also received the 2002 Latin Billboard Music Award for Pop Album of the Year - Female for her performance of the song "Mi Corazon." The singer is currently supporting new Spanish and English-language album releases with this year's 50-date tour.

The 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game offers four levels of ticket pricing, ranging from $35 to $65 for individual seats. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster (213-480-3232), online at www.lagalaxy.com, at The Home Depot Center box office and at the following ticket outlets: Robinsons May, Tower Records and Warehouse Records. For season ticket package and group sales opportunities fans can contact the Los Angeles Galaxy Ticket Office at 1-877-3GALAXY.

Appearing on The HDC plaza pre-game is Sonora Dinamita, is one of the definitive Colombian cumbia groups. Its current version was created in 1975 by Julio Ernesto Estrada Rincon, a.k.a. "Fruko," musical director for the Discos Fuentes label. Fruko was asked by Discos Fuentes to resuscitate the group, which had run its course between 1960 and 1963 playing horn-heavy cumbias. With its moderate tempo and straightforward steps, cumbia - an African-rooted style from the Atlantic coast of Colombia - is the most popular dance throughout Central America and Mexico.

For the Sonora Dinamita records Fruko uses mainly members of his own group Frukos y Sus Tesos - Colombia's most popular salsa band and the house band for Discos Fuentes. The dominant characteristics of this new, 10-piece incarnation are the trumpets and the high, girlish female vocal parts. The band has remained popular in Colombia's interior even though cumbia has clearly been challenged by the rural-styled vallenata as the most popular Colombian music. Perhaps this is due to the current Dinamita line-up's own rootsy approach.

The Home Depot Center is the home of the Los Angeles Galaxy and the official training site for various U.S. National Teams. In addition to hosting the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game, The Home Depot Center also will host Major League Soccer's other marquee event, MLS Cup 2003, on Sunday, November 23. This fall, the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup Final will also call the 27,000 seat HDC home on Sunday, October 12.

The Home Depot Center is an 125-acre development in Carson, California featuring state-of-the-art stadiums and facilities for soccer, tennis, track and field, cycling, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball and other sports. Designated as an "Official U.S. Olympic Training Site," The Home Depot Center is the nation's most complete training facility for Olympic, amateur and professional athletes.

Created around a 27,000-seat soccer stadium, 13,000-seat tennis stadium, 20,000-seat track and field stadium and indoor velodrome, the complex is located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. The complex has also been designated "official" training sites for USA Cycling, United States Track and Field, the USTA, as home of the USA Tennis High Performance National Training Center and is the summer training camp site for the NFL's San Diego Chargers.

Developed and operated by AEG, the $150 million Home Depot Center represents the largest investment in amateur athletics ever made. Whether competing or training, athletes will have the use of world-class amenities including a 3,000 square foot weight room, complete training and locker room facilities as well as dining, housing and other hospitality services.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 30, 2003


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