San Francisco has always been a breeding ground for iconic music, but few thought they'd see '90s rockers 4 Non Blondes strumming through their hits again, at least not until a TikTok remix catapulted them back under the city's spotlight. The band, with its 1992 anthem mashed up with Nicki Minaj’s "Beez in the Trap," has gone from '90s memory to a social media sensation, drawing lip-sync homages from celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter and even Malala Yousafzai. According to a report by SF Chronicle, the ongoing attention jump-started a homecoming with back-to-back shows at the Great American Music Hall slated for December 17-18.
Frontwoman Linda Perry, whose solo success as a producer and songwriter is formidable in its own right, didn't plan for a band reunion. As noted in her interview with RIFF Magazine, being invited to play at BottleRock Napa Valley was the catalyst, and subsequent offers poured in, "For 30 years, I had no intention of ever reuniting with 4 Non Blondes and playing shows. It was not on my radar," said Perry. Despite initial apprehension, the group came together, and their upcoming San Francisco appearance underscores the city's instrumental role in Perry's musical and personal journey since her arrival in 1986.
But it's not just about nostalgia. The band is ushering in new material, which has already resonated through summer festivals, where, according to Perry's account, they found themselves playing to an unexpected 65,000-strong crowd. These moments have been pivoting points for Perry, who confided, "Our last festival, we played to 65,000 people; not 65,000 people in the place. That was our crowd!" as she told RIFF Magazine. Perry's experience is rounded off by a forthcoming solo record and documentary, which promises to uncover the raw and vulnerable aspects of her story.
Fans eager for "Bigger, Better, Faster, More!" might be taken aback by Perry's intent to veer away from old tracks that no longer resonate with her. In preparation, the quartet is polishing an album Perry has whimsically considered naming "Fatter, Older, Slower, Tired," a sequel of sorts to their '90s debut. The band has been recording at Perry's L.A. studio, aiming for a release next year, as stated in the same RIFF Magazine interview.
Despite the whirlwind of viral fame and a tickle of apprehension, Perry appears unfazed, ready to milk the moment, "Whether this lasts another five months or a year, I don’t really care. I’m just gonna have fun," she affirmed to RIFF Magazine. It's a sentiment befitting both the city of San Francisco and the unexpected second act of 4 Non Blondes, both steeped in transformation and a dash of the unexpected.
