Marshall Crenshaw and The Smithereens celebrate life and legacy of Pat DiNizio at The Coach House

From left, lead guitarist Jim Babjak, drummer Dennis Diken, singer-guitarist Marshall Crenshaw and bassist Mike Mesaros at The Coach House on Sunday, 
February 10, 2019.  Photo: Bob Steshetz

Marshall Crenshaw at The Coach
House.  Photo: Bob Steshetz

As high as the anticipation was waiting for The Smithereens to perform with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA on Sunday night (Feb. 10, 2019), I can only say the actual performance outdistanced even my wildest dreams about the return of the New Jersey-spawned rockers to the enduring landmark where I first saw them in concert 30 years earlier.

When lead singer-songwriter/rhythm guitarist Pat DiNizio died at the age of 62 on Dec. 12, 2017, count this long-time Smithereens fanatic as having been convinced the band would likely never appear in Southern California again. But when word came late last year that lead guitarist Jim Babjak, bassist Mike Mesaros and drummer Dennis Diken would perform a short string of West Coast dates with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw culminating with a concert at The Coach House I was floored. Needless to say, I braved one of the fiercest winter storms in memory last night and made the long drive to South Orange County, CA to catch the event. 

When the band took the stage at 8:24 p.m., the capacity crowd cheered and the energy was immediately palpable and remained so for the next two hours. Opening with "Behind The Wall of Sleep" (off the band's 1986 landmark disc Especially For You), Crenshaw fit well into DiNizio's role as he sang the well-known verses while strumming away on his electric guitar and the band charged in freewheeling fashion that have always been a trademark of the Smithereens. 

Dennis Diken in action at The Coach House.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

This was exactly the style of concert that was always The Smithereens' hole-in-one; hitting all the right notes at a cool roadhouse where the band's splendid mix of '60s-minded garage rock, heavy power pop and perfect song craft sound as magical and engaging as it did the first time you heard it way back when. I wasn't the only one enthralled all night; I would look around me and beyond the obvious sea of cell phones capturing video and still images where the bodies and feet moving in time with a parade of choice songs.

Guitarist Jim Babjak at The Coach
House.  Photo: Bob Steshetz

Everyone on stage was central in the making of the music, and also paying tribute to the life and legacy of DiNizio (as well as The Smithereens; the band celebrates its 39th birthday in March 2019). For example, before performing "Strangers When We Meet" (the lead-off track on Especially For You), Crenshaw recalled he had performed keyboards on that original recording using an assumed name ("Jerome Jerome"); the performance of that track was explosive with Diken unleashing a number of artful drum fills that added dynamics to the melodic rocker.

"Folks, raise your glasses high and let's have a toast to Pat DiNizio," Diken said after the musicians finished "Strangers When We Meet." The crowd was quick to toast before the group on stage launched into "Only A Memory," the lead track off 1988's Green Thoughts. That memorable rocker was bolstered by the capacity crowd propelling the song via a dramatic clap-along.

Every song performed was essential to the night's magic, with "Crazy Mixed-Up Kid" (which was somehow joyful and wistful at once), Baroque-flavored rockers "In A Lonely Place" and "Cut Flowers," the sparse "Life Is So Beautiful" (featuring Babjak on lead vocals and stellar guitar play) and intoxicating rockers "Drown In My Own Tears" and "House We Used To Live In."

Jim Babjak, left, with Mike Mesaros. Severo Jornacion is on the far right.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Those who have loved The Smithereens' otherworldly ability to deliver masterclass covers were in luck this night; The Kinks' "Tired of Waiting For You," The Beatles' "When I Get Home" (showcasing Crenshaw's convincing vocals), Buddy Holly's "Well...All Right," and the Beach Boys' "Girl Don't Tell Me" were definite home runs. Fans were treated to guest appearances late in the set courtesy of Ed Stasium (who produced the band's 1989 album 11) and long-time touring member Severo Jornacion.

Jim Babjak, left, with drummer Dennis Diken at
The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Mike Mesaros on Feb. 10, 2019.

Crenshaw and The Smithereens closed out the regular set with an extended "Blood and Roses," with Mesaros' signature bass line sharing the limelight with Babjak's epic guitar work. 

The thrilling encore included "War For My Mind" (featuring Mesaros on lead vocals and Jornacion on bass guitar), a rousing cover of Badfinger's 1970 hit "No Matter What" (featuring Crenshaw's shimmer lead guitar work) and seven-minute, tear-down-the-walls version of "A Girl Like You."

Opening the night was Huntington Beach-based quintet Firemelon. Lead singer Matthew Samia led the group through a strong set of roots-minded Americana-drenched rock. The original songs were potent, as was a thoughtful take on the John Lennon-penned Fab Four classic  "Don't Let Me Down."


Review by Robert Kinsler

Photos by Bob Steshetz

The Smithereens performing in front of a packed house in San Juan Capistrano.
Photo: Bob Steshetz