Preview by Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

The wave of popular, 1990s-era acts that rode into Artpark in recent seasons (Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra, Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler, Bush) is returning this weekend with a band that is arguably more popular now than when they first scored a string of hits including “There She Goes,” “Breathe Your Name” and “Don’t Dream It’s Over.”

In fact, a quarter-century after releasing “Kiss Me,” Sixpence None the Richer has found a new fanbase thanks to modern-day artists covering the hit song (including Sabrina Carpenter and Blackpink), and the rise on free online music platforms.

On Sixpence’s website, it notes of “Kiss Me,” “The song has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, placing the band in the elite 'Billions Club.' Remarkably, over 33% of those streams occurred in 2024 (when the band reunited), demonstrating the song’s continued reach to new audiences and sustained growth in popularity. Furthermore, in 2024, ‘Kiss Me’ was certified RIAA triple-Platinum, following its double-Platinum certification in 2023.”

“I think it's the ’90s,” Sixpence frontwoman Leigh Nash said in a phone interview. “I think that there's a new interest in other music from other generations – and I think they're really onto something! I think there was something great going on with music, specifically in the ’90s. And I love that there's kind of a pull back to it, not just because my band started in the ’90s, but because I think the music just was maybe more articulate and a little more thoughtful. I think there's a gravitation toward that, and that's what we're seeing, which is great.”

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Sixpence None the Richer will share the stage with KT Tunstall and headliner Toad the Wet Sprocket on Friday night at Artpark. Tickets and more information can be found online at www.artpark.net.

Nash shared more in this edited Q&A.

Q: This venue has done a really good job of bringing in ’90s acts. We see the quality of the music, the quality of the songwriting; we see how much it still resonates with the audiences. Tell me more about what made that decade special, and what it was like to be working and rising through the ranks. When you look back on that decade and the artists that are your peers, what made it different and unique?

Leigh Nash: It just felt like what college is for people who go to college. I didn't. I started touring right out of high school when I was 17, with Sixpence. So, for me, it just felt like we were all kind of seeing each other at festivals, and making relationships and friendships over a really long period of time. Because we were all road dogs. I know there was really great community – and I'm not saying there's not community now, but it was just different.

I know a huge thing that changed is the internet, and Instagram, and even that was pre-MySpace, for that matter. So, you had to kind of find it, the music that you loved. And being on the road at the time, you'd go to a club and hear about a show that happened the night before, or maybe some of your peers talk about a band that they just heard.

Yeah, it was just a really exciting time to discover new music that you think you really love, before everything kind of got media-centric – or way more than it was then, anyway.

Q: Tell me about your live show and what fans can expect when they see you.

Leigh Nash: Well, people that have been fans for a while may remember that I stood very, very still during our shows (laughs), and I didn't move around a lot. I've definitely, with time and having a solo career for all the years that I did, I've become kind of a different performer, for sure.

And I think the band has only gotten better, and that's why we decided to get back together. Well, not back together; we never exactly broke up, but kind of we did – I don't know. But the reason we started doing this again is because of that very reason; we're like, “Well, we've only gotten better at what we do. So, if that's the case, why are we not doing it?”

And so, yeah, I just hope a better, more mature version of what we used to be. I think the fans would probably be able to answer what the differences are better than we would; but, hopefully it's still a great show. We certainly do enjoy it. We're having a blast.

Q: You mentioned that you kind of/sort of broke up. I feel like that's something more bands would benefit from doing, would be taking a break. I think, a lot of times, people … think that when a band breaks up, it's because of ego or this thing or that thing. I don't think they really think about what it's like to be on the road in a bus or a van with the same people, day in and day out, year in and year out.

Can you elaborate on what that time away did for you? You said it strengthened you as a group, as a core, but as far as the creative process – as far as just being able to have relationships with each other – can you talk about how that time away strengthened what you have today?

Leigh Nash: It's fun to have stories from 20, 23, 25 years ago, together. To still know each other, and be so known – and in a different way than everybody else knows you, because of the conditions you were describing; you know, being in a van, or, in our case, in the very beginning, car, van, van. It really is just quite a privilege in this lifetime to have relationships like that, with people that you know in this particular circumstance. You have a musical bond, but also just memories and hilarious stories. And sometimes they're not funny stories, but they're funny now (laughs). That's a huge gift.

We just are more mature. It wasn't an acrimonious breakup at all. I was about to have my first child. I just had one child, but my life has been about raising him all these years; and now he's gone to college – he's about to be a senior in college – and he's doing great. And so, it just feels like I kind of got my wings back, and I can just kind of fly around a little bit longer.

It was wonderful, because it was kind of a, “Let's just try this and find out if we can still do it,” you know, as far as fans being there. And we've just been absolutely delighted ever since we did that huge, really long tour last year.

We just got back from South America; we spent about four-and-a-half weeks down there, and the audiences were wonderful. That was a first for us to go down there.

So, we're just really delighted that there's still an audience, and looking forward to making even more new music.

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Q: When you're on a bill like this, you're sharing stage with other acts, and so there are defined setlists. Is there opportunity for you to work in any new music?

Leigh Nash: We've only got like 30-35 minutes a night, so we're trying to play a mix of our new songs and a couple that are deeper, deeper cuts. And then also, of course, we gotta get to the songs that we've been so lucky to have that are really the hit songs.

Q: We spoke about 20 years ago. I'm sure you remember it as much as I do! One of the things we talked about was not wanting to be pigeonholed. I think you've done a good job of being accessible for all music fans. I know you grew up with some country music influences; you formed this group at a church retreat; obviously, you scored with pop hits; you recently performed at a dance hall.

Has that been something that has been important for you over these years, and is that something you still try to do, is to make music not defined as one thing, but to be different things for different fans at different times?

Leigh Nash: Yeah. It's not been very intentional. I think we are very versatile, and that comes through. We are really authentically us as individuals and as a band. And I think that kind of overrides any sort of plan or intention.

But we have been working with more intention. We've got a great manager, and working with a great booking agent, so we're able to kind of let them plan things out for us and put us where they think we belong.

But it's a huge blessing and a gift to be a versatile band at such a time as this, you know, 25 years later, and still be able to do it.

 

See also >> Toad the Wet Sprocket has 'Good Intentions' for summer tour, Artpark stop