All in all, it was very enjoyable as a first experience: they sounded good, seemed to be having fun, Dennis was being goofy and singing surf/beach songs, and the guys were all very nice to me and the rest of the fans -- almost all of whom got a chance to speak to the band afterwards if they wanted to. Pat and Jimmy, particularly, stayed around for quite awhile talking to fans, signing autographs, etc. Dennis had to run off to catch a plane, and Mike, as you probably know, wasn't there.
Here's a partial song list (compiled from only my memory): Only a Memory, War for my Mind, Everything I Have is Blue, Top of the Pops, Groovy Tuesday, Long Way Back Again, Behind The Wall of Sleep, Yesterday Girl, Miles From Nowhere, Room Without a View, Over and Over Again, Drown in My Own Tears, Blood and Roses, House We Used to Live In, A Girl Like You.
The big story of the night was: Mike Mesaros -- Missing In Action. Bassist Jamie Hoover filled in serviceably for the (honeymooning?) Mike. Pat asked the crowd to make him feel at home, and they did; this reviewer's only complaint is that he did not play the Hofner (Beatle) bass waiting for him at the side of the stage. And speaking of guitars, Pat spent much of the night playing a silver-speckled Epiphone hollow-body electric that I don't recall seeing before (perhaps a new acquisition?). He had his usual fun with roadies, dangeruosly drunken frat-types in the audience, and a spotlight operator who needed to be reminded to put the spot on Jim during guitar solos. And Jimmy, relaxed and unflappable as ever, was persuaded (twice) to do the infamous "beer trick." Jim, Pat, and Dennis met with fans after the show, and Pat reports that the solo album and solo tour are still in the works.
It was a fun show, worth the four-hour drive for me, my wife Julie, and her sister Janine. It marks the third year in a row that the Smithereens have played an outdoor festival in the Chicago area. (Let's make it four next year, guys -- and don't forget to bring Mike.)
the set list:
Only a Memory
Cigarette
A World Apart
Behind the Wall of sleep
Over And Over Again
Elaine
(a bit of America's "Horse w/ No Name")
Especially For You
Yesterday Girl
Room Without a View
Blues Before And After (bluesy version)
Everything I Have Is Blue
Blue Period
(bit of Ob La Di, Ob La Da)
House We Used To Live In
Top of the Pops
Blood And Roses
Before the show, I was lucky enough to meet Karen and Faith from the 'Reens Fan Club, and they are both extremely nice people. Karen said she would try to get me backstage after the show IF it was OK with the band and if there weren't too many other people around. She suggested I just enjoy the show (which, of course I DID), and then wait patiently afterwards for awhile. For those of you who know me, you all know that patience isn't one of my virtues.
The Smithereens were terrific, and packed every song they could into their allotted time, ending with the obligatory "Girl Like You" encore. Even though Mike wasn't along with them on this makeshift tour, they sounded really tight and you could see that they enjoy working with Jamie Hoover.
But I digress, this is really about The Smithereens as people---not as a band. When the show was over, Karen waited about fifteen minutes and then thrilled me by inviting my wife and I backstage. We got to meet Jim first, and he was just such a nice person and spoke with us just like we were old friends. He saw me holding my "Especially For You" CD liner jacket and finally asked me if I wanted him to sign it!
He pointed out Dennis sitting under a tent and I quickly got him to sign my sleeve liner as well. Dennis was busy with other people, so I didn't bother him further. Jamie Hoover was really great to us, and I talked to him for quite a long time. He mentioned Don Dixon, and I
mentioned liking Marti Jones and he told me he had always toured with her. Jamie was truly a very gracious person, and one who was obviously very happy being there with the 'Reens.
Pat had gone back to the hotel to shower right after the show and we almost missed him. We had waited backstage almost an hour and were becoming concerned about being in the way, when in strolled Pat. He was just wonderful and walked over to us immediately and introduced himself as though we were someone important instead of the other way around. I had him sign my CD liner, and then told him a story about my youngest daughter. Whenever my daughter, Richelle, hears a Smithereen's song on the radio she always says "That's Pat Di Ninzio." Well, needless to say, Pat thought that was VERY cool and asked how old she was. I told him she was turning 10 on Sunday. He told me to find a piece of paper and he'd write a birthday card to her. Never thinking that something this great would occur, I didn't have anything else along with me, so Karen gave me a copy of "Reen Thoughts" to use. Pat confirmed the spelling of her name and then wrote "To Richelle, with love from The
Smithereens! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Then he walked it right over to Jim and Dennis and told them to sign it as well. Jim and Pat both laughed hard when I told them that simple piece of paper was going to thoroughly upstage the bicycle I had bought for her birthday! And you
know what? It did!
I don't think it would be an overstatement to say my faith in humanity in general was renewed that night. You see, the 'Reens were far less pretentious than many people I know, and honestly seemed to enjoy spending time with a true fan. That's a rare, and unique quality.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Karen and Faith. They too proved to be just wonderful, and were so nice to us---making sure that we got a chance to meet the band. And they were very honest as well, telling us it might not work out so all they could offer was a chance. But they really came through for me, and I will be forever indebted to them for giving me what might be a once in a lifetime chance to meet four of the greatest, most talented guys in the world. A band I've followed and loved for years, and had hoped to someday get to meet. Now girls, see what you can do about getting Mike here next time, even though I enjoyed Jamie's company!!
Although it seems so inadequate to express the joy I felt, I am left with nothing more to say other than THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!!
Here's the setlist:
1. Behind the Wall of Sleep
Total time: 45 min.
Pat was very relaxed, making jokes at his occasional screwups and bum notes. His version of REM's "Talk About the Passion" ended about 2/3 of the way through because he realized that, like the rest of us, he couldn't understand Michael Stipe's mumbled lyrics either! He sat
on a stool for the first couple songs and then stood for the rest of the show, accompanied only by his own acoustic guitar, which was augmented at a few points with a fuzzbox pedal. "Top of the Pops" was a big highlight for me since it included a bit of audience participation
by shouting out the chorus in time with the music.
One other point of interest: Pat's solo album is going to be released on the Vel Vel Records label and at this show he also announced that the next Smithereens album (to be released next year) will also be issued on the Vel Vel label.
---Dirk H. dhorst@airmail.net
The event was a record party for the Springsteen tribute cd, One Step Up, Two Steps Back in which the three-fourths of the Smithereens appeared and played Bruce's Downbound Train (one of the best tracks on the cd). I personally was glad to see a great NJ band like the Smithereens on the cd.
When we got to the Motown cafe, we made a b-line for the bar. I didn't realize that hanging next to me was Pat havin' a cold one. It was a special night because almost all the performers were very accessible. They were hangin' out with the fans.
A band from, I think, Rockland County called Joe d'Urso and caravan was the
"house band".
It was the Smithereens' turn to perform and Pat, Jim, and Dennis did a great job
on Downbound Train. They really rocked!! The band was right on the mark and
rocked the house down. The funny thing about the performance was that Pat
was reading the words from a lyric sheet and smoking a butt at the same time. I have
never seen a lead singer smoke a butt between verses before. Well, never say
never. The vocals were strong!!! (great job).
Anyway, the evening was a night I will never forget. By the way, it was a fundraiser for
an organization called World Hunger -- a great cause and a great night.
Pat Dinizio opened for Nils Lofgren at the Bottom Line in New York on Thursday, July 24. There were two shows that night - I caught the early one.
2. A World Apart (new song)
3. Only A Memory
4. Kiss Your Tears Away
5. No Love Lost (new song)
6. Yesterday Girl
7. Talk About the Passion (REM cover)
8. Room Without A View
9. Top of the Pops
10. Blues Before and After
11. Blood and Roses
It was a very exciting night in NYC at the Motown Cafe on September 23rd, Bruce Springsteen's birthday!