Concert review: The Smithereens and Marshall Crenshaw return to The Coach House

From left, Jim Babjak, Marshall Crenshaw and Dennis Diken.

The capacity crowd who filled The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday night (Aug. 21, 2021) to catch The Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw were reminded over the course of 105 glorious minutes why we missed live music and the power of a rock concert so much during the pandemic.

Marshall Crenshaw at The Coach House.

Returning to the legendary venue for the first time since early February 2019 when the quartet performed a moving tribute to the late Smithereens singer-songwriter-guitarist Pat DiNizio (read my review of that concert event HERE), founding members Jim Babjak (guitars, vocals), Dennis Diken (drums, vocals) and Mike Mesaros (bass, vocals) along with Crenshaw (lead vocals, guitar) thrilled the audience with a dream setlist featuring the majority of the Carteret, New Jersey-spawned group's radio favorites as well as deep cuts that resonate as much now as when they were tracked in the studio. They also performed some rousing covers of classic rock favorites throughout their 21-song set. Several notable member of the Smithereens history-filled legacy were also on hand to catch the troupe on Saturday, including bassist Severo Jornacion and producer Ed Stasium. 

Jim Babjak having a blast in San Juan
Capistrano on Aug. 21, 2021.

Opening with "Behind the Wall of Sleep," the band offered a powerful take on the 1986 classic. Crenshaw's vocals blended well with the Smithereens' potent rock sound, and Babjak unleashed the first of a score of impressive lead guitar solos of the night. After performing an equally mighty version of "Top of the Pops" and the melodic "Sorry," Babjak noted "It's good to be back." Diken then added that the Smithereens had first performed at the Coach House in 1986. (This writer first saw the Smithereens at the venue when the band toured in support of its 1989 album 11.)

The Smithereens' high-energy rockers are great to be sure but the group's appearances are a perfect reminder that their more quiet songs are just as memorable. A touching performance of the Beatlesque "Strangers When We Meet" also served as a reminder that it was Crenshaw (credited as "Jerome Jerome") who played Hammond organ and piano on the studio version featured on 1986's Especially For You.

Dennis Diken in action at The Coach House.

The parade of great songs performed with authority and energy included "Only A Memory" and "Now And Then" (both bolstered by Diken and Babjak adding sublime harmonies to Crenshaw's lead vocals), an audience-pleasing reading of Badfinger's "No Matter What," the jazzy ballad "Especially For You" and elegant take on "Cut Flowers."

Jim Babjak of The Smithereens.

Babjak sang lead vocals on the aptly-titled "Life Is So Beautiful," a wistful original that began with him playing electric guitar alone before the rest of the band came in; the song's verses were understated while the instrumental breaks were majestic and explosive.

The Coach House audience enjoying every minute
of The Smithereens and Marshall Crenshaw.

"Miles From Nowhere" was another selection that fully showcased the collective might of the Smithereens' musicianship with Diken and Mesaros locked in as a fiery rhythm section while Crenshaw's rhythm guitar and Babjak's forceful lead work enhanced the collective magic of the song. 

Other late-set standouts included "Blood and Roses," and an ambitious encore spanning an affecting version of folk singer Tim Hardin's "Reason To Believe," a power pop-styled reading of The Kinks' "Where Have All The Good Times Gone?," a Southern rock run-through of the Allman Brothers Band's "Ramblin' Man" and epic take on their own 1989 hit "A Girl Like You."

This is one music writer — and admitted huge fan — who hopes we will be hearing more from the Smithereens soon.

The Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw - Aug. 21, 2021 Setlist

Behind the Wall of Sleep / Top of the Pops / Sorry / Strangers When We Meet / Only a Memory / Now And Then / No Matter What (Badfinger cover) / Especially For You / Alone at Midnight / Cut Flowers / She's Got a Way / Life is so Beautiful / Miles From Nowhere / Drown In My Own Tears / House We Used To Live In / Sparks (a cover of the instrumental on The Who's Tommy) / Blood and Roses / ENCORE: Reason To Believe (Tim Hardin cover) / Where Have All The Good Times Gone? (Kinks cover) / Ramblin' Man (The Allman Brothers Band cover) / A Girl Like You 

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography by Bob Steshetz 

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