The current Gin Blossoms lineup includes Wilson, Valenzuela, Leen, classic-lineup guitarist Scott "Scotty" Johnson and drummer Scott Hessell. Johnson replaced guitarist Doug Hopkins before the band finished recording New Miserable Experience, after Hopkins was thrown out of the band due to severe problems with alcohol and his own growing dislike for their poppier sound. However, the album included the Hopkins-written tracks "Hey Jealousy," "Found Out About You" and "Pieces of the Night," whose dark lyrics didn't prevent them from becoming the band's first major hits.

Shortly after receiving a gold record for "Hey Jealousy," Hopkins committed suicide in 1993, shooting himself while undergoing mental health treatment. His death inspired the title for Congratulations, I'm Sorry.

"That was at a time before people had conversations about mental health issues and depression and bipolar issues," Valenzeula reflects today. "And we as a band we were young and ill-equipped to handle that. He just couldn't keep going like he was."

"If I had the knowledge I do now, I would have done everything completely different with Doug," he adds. "But we don't have that privilege."

A similar problem with alcohol also led to the dismissal of classic-lineup drummer Phillip Rhodes, despite his getting a second chance Hopkins didn't.

"With Phillip, I don't know what more we could have done with him," Valenzuela says. "We tried to bring him back, but...you've got to be able to play.

"Maybe he was tired of it, I don't know," he continues. "He is a beautifully talented guy and I know he's still playing, but I haven't seen him in a long time. I don't think he's happy with us. Well...I know he's not. And there are a lot of haters on the Internet who keep that situation inflamed."

On happier memories, Valenzeula recalls staying in Houston at "an old rock and roll hotel" off Airline Drive in the '90s which, in some bizarre coincidence, found the Gin Blossoms, Soul Asylum and Evan Dando's Lemonheads all staying there at the same time while playing different gigs in Houston.

"Eveyone slept all afternoon and around six or seven, we all started getting out into vans in the parking lot to get to our respective gigs," he recalls. "And Dan Murphy, the guitarist for Soul Asylum, screamed as he was getting in 'time to make the donuts!' We thought that was hilarious, and we caught part of their show later on that night."

As Valenzeula continues his shopping quest for ingredients, he notes that his recipe includes two items not normally part of taco contents: potatoes and green beans. Just like his mom used to make them.

"It's how poor people eat, and even though I don't have to eat like that anymore, I still do," he says. "Once, I asked my mom why she made tacos like that, and she said 'There were so many of you to feed, I never had enough hamburger!' I don't know. Maybe my mother is a genius!"

The Gin Blossoms play two shows, 5:30 and 9 p.m., Saturday, March 22 at Dosey Doe Café, 25911 I-45 N. Tickets, $98-$138 ticket include a three course meal.

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