When I pass on from this world, it is my hope that my next of kin will see within my musical collection, a large group of recordings from a particular group from New Jersey, called The Smithereens. If I have my way, curiosity will strike them, they’ll put one of the albums on, and a new generation of Smithereens fans will be born. Assuming that is, that I haven’t already converted them to fan status prior to my demise!

The Smithereens – Live in Concert! Greatest Hits and More (purchase from Amazon) has made a believer out of me once again. I’ve heard more than a casual amount of live recordings from the band, and although this is merely the band’s 3rd official live release (and first proper full-length live recording,) I could definitely qualify slightly as the “jaded superfan.”

But weeks before I heard a note, I was impressed with the track listing. Very impressed. Not bad for a single disc worth of the ‘Reens, I thought.

And then tonight, I heard it. My first thought looking through the liner notes, was a bit of regret that I wasn’t in attendance for any of the shows earlier this year. Those feelings quickly changed as I listened to the first few songs, to memories of all of the great Smithereens shows that I have seen over the years – memories that have now been properly captured and documented with the release of this live album.

The Smithereens returned to The Court Tavern (cap. 200,) in New Brunswick, NJ. for four hot and sweaty nights of live recording. The Court Tavern served as a launching pad in the formative years for the group, and the venue is referenced in the liner notes as the ‘Reens equivalent of The Beatles’ hallowed early gigs at the Cavern Club.

All the standards are here – “Behind The Wall of Sleep,” “Drown In My Own Tears,” “Only a Memory,” etc; all are present and accounted for. Nice inclusions like “Time and Time Again,” and “Room Without a View,” and straight on nuggets in the form of “Spellbound,” and “Especially for You.”

Just to name a few, by the way.

I was engaged by the opening array of tracks, and then fully arrested by the nearly eleven minute version of “House We Used To Live In” that they somehow found room for on this 18 track/single disc concert disc. I thought I had heard the definitive version of “House,” until I heard this disc, and heard THE definitive version. In the closing moments of this version, the roar of the band is brought down to near silence with the guitar intricately picking note by note with incredible clarity. It’s a moment that takes me back to my teenage years pressed up against the stage at the Cleveland Agora watching the guitar interplay of guitarist Jim Babjak and frontman Pat Dinizio with eyes that were wide and awakened to the beauty of live rock and roll for the first time.

The band works in two cuts from Dinizio’s most recent self-titled solo effort, and they fit seamlessly with the classics, particularly “Any Other Way,” which bleeds out of the closing moments of “Especially for You.” Almost as if the two songs were meant to be together. It’s just a bit impressive, considering that the two tracks are separated by nearly 20 years of musical recording history.

There are rock songs, and there are anthems. We were uplifted at the Court, but there was also a sadness and a striving. Both the band and the audience know about hard work. They know that life will ultimately knock you down, and that rock music, at its best, doesn’t make you forget your troubles so much as it makes you realize you’re not alone.

– excerpted from the liner notes to The Smithereens – Live in Concert

Man, that really sums it up for me. Music has been my savior and best friend in times both good and bad. I have always made note that there is nothing in this world that a good album and the best of friends can’t get me through. The Smithereens are a band that have given me great joy on many levels, particularly the privilege to watch 4 of the most uniquely talented musicians and their genuine love for playing music together on the same stage. I think that as a music fan, you can appreciate with me, when you find a group of musicians like that.

Very often, these are not the groups that are filling arenas (although, sometimes they are,) but their passion is undiminished, no matter the size of the audience. For nearly 15 years of the band’s 25-plus year career, I’ve been enjoying the live shows from Pat Dinizio – Jim Babjak – Dennis Diken – Mike Mesaros, and more recently, Severo “”The Thrilla” Jornacion, taking over on bass for the sorely missed Mesaros.

“The Thrilla” deserves props – he really nails his place in the band with this release. If you didn’t pick up on that with last year’s Christmas release, you’ll hopefully catch it when you hear him fully and properly locked in with the rest of the band on that smoldering rendition of “House.”

Jim Babjak remains one of my favorite guitar players with what I would consider to be a signature tone that you can not only recognize, but you can also picture the trademark Babjak smile when you hear it.

Drummer Dennis Diken is still one of the hardest hitting consistent drummers that I’ve heard in my time being a music fan. Diken is another musician that I just love to watch him play. As a rock and roll fan, it was a thrill for me to be able to talk to him backstage in the 90s. His musical knowledge really is incredible, so it is no surprise that he has written liner notes for a number of non-Smithereens projects over the years.

And what can you say about frontman Pat Dinizio? As a songwriter, he’s had a big hand in many memorable riffs and songs over the past couple of decades, and also a hand in many more riffs and songs that would have/should have/could have been more memorable than they are. Dinizio delivers the goods on this release.

The Smithereens – Live in Concert is your very own “Smithereens concert in a box,” and it matters not whether you’ve seen the band 40-50 times, or are hearing the band live for the first time via this CD. It is nearly 80 minutes of musical proof that The Smithereens are still vitally important as a band in 2008. The Smithereens – Live in Concert is a chance to appreciate everything that has happened up to this point, and also a chance to look forward to all that still lies ahead.

Let’s all drink to that.

Further Listening:

Here is a favorite (one of many) Smithereens bootleg of mine. This radio broadcast captures a great performance from the band while they were on tour in 1994 supporting their lone RCA release A Date with the Smithereens. Recorded at the House of Blues in Los Angeles on June 19th, it’s a scorcher!

Track Listing:

complete download zipped

Intro
Only A Memory
War For My Mind
Everything I Have Is Blue
Miles To Nowhere
Behind The Wall Of Sleep
Groovy Tuesday
Afternoon Tea
Love Is Gone
Blood & Roses
A Girl Like You
House We Used To Live In

Relevant Links:

Purchase the new live album via Amazon – available as a physical CD, or via internet download.

My original post about the live album can be found right here.
Official website
Pat Dinizio’s official site
A great review by longtime Smithereens fan Rich Firestone from the Steve Hoffman Forum.
The complete discussion of the live album at the Steve Hoffman Forum.