Despite the recent tragedies in N.Y.C. and Washington D.C. that were designed perhaps to deter us all from ever leading normal lives again, The Smithereens jumped onstage anyway. In the best tradition of "the show must go on", the band defiantly kept on rockin' in the free world even though it was probably hard for them to do so. While it has admittedly never been the Smithereens' style as a band to be overtly political, just their presence at the Stone Pony during these difficult times proved reassuring somehow - almost as if reinforcing the President's and Mayor of N.Y.C.'s request that Americans try to resume their regular lives as soon as possible. Pat DiNizio could be found before this show inconspicuously carrying a rolled-up copy of Time magazine with its Bin Laden cover story. He was obviously as concerned as the rest of the band about recent world events. Despite this, stage banter during the show remained minimal and apolitical. They took to the stage and did what they do best - taking the audience's mind off of their problems for a little while by playing some great music. Maybe they even sent a message that everyday life will go on whether terrorists want us to or not. After all, if actions supposedly speak louder than words, then maybe the Smithereens spoke volumes just by cranking up the volume and showing up this evening in the first place. Let the slow healing process begin.

The Stone Pony was packed again just as it had been the previous year when The Smithereens played there. The home team managed to cover all of their bases and played some of the hits, shoulda-beens, and audience favorites. The crowd lapped it up like a starving audience who don't seem to get enough rock nutrition in their radio diets these days.

For the most part, there was nothing particularly unusual in The Smithereens' set list. Pat did throw the spotlight on Jim Babjak at one point by announcing an impromptu Duane Eddy instrumental ("Rebel Rouser"?). Actually, Pat sat that one out himself (probably due to equipment repairs) while the rest of them carried on. Jim looked as if he had been caught unawares, but masterfully pounded out the chords like a trouper. He grabbed the baton admirably and jammed away with Dennis and Mike lending full support.

As even casual Smithereens concertgoers have no doubt noticed, Jim is often self-effacing onstage. He puts-down early songs he's written like "White Castle Blues" or his overall singing abilities on a regular basis. An overly enthusiastic person in the audience who may have visited the bar a few times too many, yelled up at Jim onstage. He asked him if he had written the song "Cut Flowers" that had just been performed. Babjak sort of shyly shrugged yeah (and he did, in fact, write the music to which Pat contributed the lyrics). The audience member followed this up by asking Jim why he didn't sing the song himself then. Without hesitation, Babjak replied surprisingly that he sucks. Anyone who has ever heard Jim sing lead on a few Smithereens tunes might beg to differ with him. Anyway, the band did play his crowd pleaser "White Castle Blues" where he performed his requisite lead vocals. He was even coaxed into doing his one-chug-no hands "beer trick" which I guess we can now say has become a second annual Stone Pony tradition. As imagery of White Castle burgers and beer lingered in the air, Jim remarked that: "we all know that's what we learned in college."

College may seem like another lifetime ago, especially when Pat acknowledges from the stage that it's been "twenty-one years and still the same idiots". And yet, time certainly hasn't affected their performances adversely. Sure, on the surface, they may look a little different. Right now, Mike is sporting a goatee (leaving Jim as the sole hirsute holdout lately) and some band members may have added some stray gray hairs from years of just living. However, the band is still as vital and explosive onstage as rockers half their age. Probably even more so.

Before the show, Pat was cautiously protecting his voice somewhat. It had become a little strained from an overly energetic workout during the previous night's show in Virginia. He still gave it his all this evening, and you probably would never have noticed any voice problems if you hadn't known otherwise. Later on in the show, Mike introduced the band's "secret weapon", Dennis Diken, who came bopping out onstage. Dennis performed his oldies rock medley like a demented televangelist perhaps trying to advocate that "God Save the Smithereens".

The Smithereens required no salvation this evening, however, as triumphant guitar chords rang, Pat sang and drums banged. The hits and more were trotted out in dependably fine form. "In A Room Without A View" crunched, "Alone at Midnight" wailed and "A Girl Like You" even borrowed a few power chords from "Time And Time Again" during its jam session finale in order to gene splice a more perfect "monster mash" bash.

It's almost as if the Smithereens are channeling another era. It seems like another time altogether when rock seemed to matter and people actually knew how to write their own songs and play their own instruments. And when the band breaks into "Blood and Roses" and Diken's bashing away without a care in the world on drums, Pat's in crouched guitar attack mode, Jim's windmilling incendiary chords, and Mike's actually displaying that rare grin of his in satisfaction - well, then maybe the world's not so bad of a place for just a little while after all.

Set list:

1. Only A Memory
2. She's Got A Way
3. House We Used To Live In
4. Alone At Midnight
5. Duane Eddy instrumental (Rebel Rouser?)
6. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
7. I Believe
8. Cigarette
9. Cut Flowers
10. Yesterday Girl
11. Everything Changes
12. In A Room Without A View
13. White Castle Blues
14. Time And Time Again
15. Blood And Roses
16. Diken Medley:
      Little Sister/Route 66
17. A Girl Like You

See our photos from this show!