In April, Spin Doctors released their first album in a dozen years. On Face Full of Cake, which was issued by Capitol Records, the band’s founding members—vocalist Chris Barron, guitarist Eric Schenkman and drummer Aaron Comess—are joined by new bass player Jack Daley for 12 tunes that capture their trademark energy and enduring gift for melodic hooks.

Spin Doctors then took the material, along with a set of classic tunes, on the road this summer for a national tour with old friends Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms. The three acts kicked things off on Independence Day at Red Rocks, before delivering a series of coast to-coast dates that will continue into mid-September.

Sunset on the prairie with tour bus, Hays, Kan. (Photo: Chris Barron)

To tell the truth, I was a little intimidated by the prospect of touring in a bus this summer. It can be grueling. For the most part, Spin Doctors have toured by air for the last 10 or so years. However, after the first show of the run at Red Rocks, as the bus pulled out onto the highway, a wild sensation of freedom opened up in my chest and I remembered what it felt like when I was this 20-year-old kid on the open road with nothing to do but play rock-and-roll and get to the next gig.

The string section of Jack Daley and Eric Schenkman, Red Rocks, Morrison, Colo. (Photo: Chris Barron)

The addition of Jack to the band has been a renaissance. And, of course, there’s Eric, my ol’ pal from the ancient campaigns. John Popper introduced Eric and me because he thought we had similar “pockets” [senses of rhythm]. He also hoped we’d start a band of our own and stop bugging him to play with us individually. It worked.

Eric Schenkman, Red Rocks, Morrison, Colo. (Photo: Chris Barron)

This guy is one of my best friends and, for my money, one of the best guitar players on the planet. When I first started playing with him, I had an epiphany about music as a language because Eric always played like he was having a conversation. He and I—and the band as a whole—have continued that conversation on and off the stage since 1988.

The rhythm section of Aaron Comess and Jack Daley, Red Rocks, Morrison, Colo. (Photo: Chris Barron)

Jack Daley is probably the most bona fide rock star in the band. He’s a musician’s musician and an old-school cool guy. And speaking of cool guys, Aaron is one of the coolest guys you could ever want to meet. He’s an all-round amazing musician and composer. A lot of people don’t know that he wrote the music to a lot of our songs. He’s also a fantastic cook. When he wants me to write a tune with him, he generally invites me over for dinner.

Chan Kinchla of Blues Traveler, Red Rocks, Morrison, Colo. (Photo: Chris Barron)

It’s pretty common to hear musicians say that Red Rocks is their favorite venue. Not only is it dramatically beautiful, the sightlines both from the audience and the stage are stunning. When you’re looking out at the crowd, it’s like a sea of happy faces. Taking pictures there is like shooting ducks in a barrel. It’s hard not to look cool on that stage. How cool does Chan look?

Selfie, Spin Doctors, Red Rocks, Morrison, Colo. (Photo: Chris Barron)

I’m the selfie guy in the band. For some reason, I’ve got the touch. I don’t know about those guys, but they are three of the most important people in my life. Whether you get along or not, your relationship with your bandmates is very close. I’m happy to say we get along really well. When you find people you can really play with, it’s worth working out the personal stuff.

Gin Blossoms, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Photo: Chris Barron)

We’ve been pals with these guys forever. We’ve done more gigs together than any other band—going all the way back to 1990. This summer is the fourth time that we’ve toured with them. I sat on the side of the stage and got kind of choked up listening to Scotty and Jesse weave those guitars through all those great songs—Bill with his loose limbed thrumming and Robin’s unmistakable reedy tenor. It took me back to a happier, simpler time.

Chan Kinchla and Brendan Hill of Blues Traveler on their bus, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Photo: Chris Barron)

Blues Traveler has a mini rehearsal before every gig. That’s why their transitions are so smooth. Not everybody knows that I went to high school with them and I was actually in the early incarnation of the band. There’s a lot of love between our bands. They never missed an opportunity to give us a leg up when we were getting started.

Stage view, Red Rocks, Morrison, Colo. (Photo: Aaron Comess)

Back in 1983, me and my good friend Kenny Stern drove from Dallas to Red Rocks in Colorado to see three Grateful Dead shows. It was my first time seeing them, and it was an incredible experience in many ways. The 15-year-old me thought, “How cool would it be to play there someday?” Spin Doctors have played there half a dozen times so far, and it’s always a full-circle moment for me. We even busted out our own version of “Franklin’s Tower” by the Grateful Dead in honor of them. We look forward to many more shows there in the future.

John Popper being nursed on his tour bus. (Photo: Chris Barron)

John and I have been friends since he was 17 and I was 16 and friends, let me tell you, he was knocking kids’ socks off even back then. He’s been pretty under the weather this tour and he’s looked kind of shaky. And then he gets on stage and blows the doors off the place. It’s like he has another gear and, man, when he plays that harmonica, it’s like fresh paint on an old calliope— kind of sad and kind of glad, going round and round and up and down. You can see the wheels turning but you don’t know why it works. And that’s because it’s magic. And don’t get me started talking about his singing. He’s a true great.

Selfie, Spin Doctors, La Vista, Neb. (Photo: Aaron Comess)

This is right before our set. The sun was shining bright on us, which is why we’re all in shades.