X CLASH
SEP 1997
SmashMouth and Me-A Love Story by XCLASH
Last September I heard Walking On The Sun on K-Rock in NYC one morning right after Howard Stern went off and it caught my attention right away.That doesn't happen to often anymore as I'm 39 yrs. old and I've been into "punk" or whatever you want to call it for a long time. In fact, since a friend locked me in an apartment for a whole weekend in late '77 playing "Never Mind The Bullocks" and "The CLASH" over and over and over while feeding me huge quanities of alcohol. When I came out of that apartment I had become Peter Punk a name that stuck for years.The reason I say this is because it's now very hard to make great rock and roll that sounds fresh to me.And it's really hard to make a "perfect" album in the late '90's.It's been almost 3 months and I'm still having trouble listening to anything else.The last almost perfect album was "Dookie" but SmashMouth is better.
A few weeks later I saw they were going to play TRAMPS in NYC, so I bought a bunch of tickets but couldn't convince any of my boring friends to go so I went by myself.Anyone that was at that show might have seen me- I was the old guy in the Green Day t-shirt right in front in the middle(I even caught the Evian bottle that Steve threw out to the crowd).These days I'm really getting bored with the mosh pit because it seems like now some assholes who don't even care about the music just go to hurt people and I hope they all die of Ebola virus.At SmashMouth though it was fun moshing again, it was just letting out energy and having fun.
Anyway,I had begun to think I was past the point where an album could make life worth living, but SmashMouth thankfully proved me wrong.I just wonder how they're going to even equal the 1st album with the 2nd. I also pray that this doesn't give them all big egos and make them disconnect the dots and go on their seperate ways (*). Thank you Steve,Paul,Gregory and Kevin-you've saved me from growing up for 1 more year. Pumpkin Face? No X(CLASH)
(*) The author did not boldtype that concern; I only did that so that I can subtly voice out such similar sentiments.
RED RANGER
OCT 6, 1997
I saw Smash mouth at the
late, great Electric Ballroom in Tempe, AZ. I took my personal trainer,
Sebastian, to help me push my way up to the front of the crowd but it was
too crowded so we stood to the side near the stairway out. Good thing,
too! When the band was done opening for Blur I tracked down where
the band was hanging out after the show and we just walked back there like
we owned the joint. It didn't hurt that Sebastian is 6 ft 4 &
weighs 260 lbs and I just have attitude because I'm a redheaded child of
Satan. I have had the hugest crush on Steve since the first time
I spotted him on TV in August (I always thought Curly was the cute Stooge).
I met everyone in the band, including the touring keyboard player, right
away except Steve. He was busy signing autographs for some way underage
girlies. When he came over to meet me I just gushed like some mindless
groupie "Oh my God!!! I have the biggest crush on you!!! You are the best
looking guy!!! I am so attracted to you!!!" My trainer almost
fainted since I am the most cool calm collected chick around under even
the worst circumstances. Steve hugged me & kissed me....repeatedly...
and said he couldn't believe anyone had a thing for him. Then when
Sebastian got his autograph, Steve asked me what I wanted & I asked
him for his phone#. (I'm crazy not stupid) and he gave it to me!
They are all the nicest nicest guys and I can't wait for them to return
to AZ. I know a lot of people in the music biz here and intend to
call in all favors to get a real backstage/bus all access pass. And yes,
the phone# was real. I got my beer goggles on and called it to check. So, hey Steve, I've the loaded weapon.....do you?
BILL
OCT 8, 1997
J4ADE
OCT 8, 1997
On October 8, I went to the
Smash Mouth concert in Las Vegas with my two friends. We were having
a blast dancing and singing along, but the crowd really was not getting
in to it. When Steve saw us and waved, we were thrilled, but nothing
could prepare me for what was going to happen next. As Smash Mouth
started to play their last song, Steve tapped the security guard on the
soldier and told him to bring me on stage. Steve and I danced together
while he sang "Why Can't We Be Friends." The last few seconds of
the song he told me to go off on the side of the stage so they could finish.
I talked their manager who was singing along and having the time of his
life. After they finished, they all walked off stage giving me hug
and thanking me. I thought that this was odd because I was the one
who should be doing the thanking which I did several times. They were so
nice and friendly making it one of the coolest experiences of my life.
Thanks Smash Mouth!!!!!
MATT CHAPA
NOV 14, 1997
I got to the club a little early and saw Steve and Greg in the parking lot of #'s.(numbers).
I went over there and started
talking to them, got them to sign my book and then Greg invited me and
this other guy I did'nt know on the bus because they had soooo much fruit
and fruit baskets from other gigs that they were giving it to us so it
would'nt go bad before they could eat it. I did'nt see them for about another
2 hrs after that then Steve came out and was passing out passes to good
looking women and then as he was going on the bus before their gig he asked
if I wanted to go to the party afterwards and after about a nanosecond
of thinking about it I took the pass from his hand (before some hot chick
walked by) and said "thanks, see you after the show", went inside got a
beer and right about that time they took the stage. It was really cool.
Afterwards Steve came over to the bar in the club closest to the stage
where I was standing and ordered a drink. We stood there and talked for
the whole show,drank beer and watched Blur. Then after the Blur show we
went upstairs to this private VIP area and the guys from blur and smashmouth
were drinking beer. That was even cooler. I got a couple of cool pics and
left. It was'nt till the next day that I thought about doing a web page
on them. But at any rate...Thats how I got my pass. I was just in the right
place at the right time. but I must admit that when I was going to the
club early I thought that thats what I would try to do so I guess it was
more like mission accomplished. well write back whenever you hear any news on smashmouth and tell the world to check out these awesome creation!!!
L.J.
DEC 3, 1997
Hey just wanted to let you know I missed the new Smash Mouth video (*) but that is ok...cos i was at the concert here in Dallas that night! SM totally rocked the crowd, which wasn;t very big, but that was cool cos i was right upfront. Steve was walking around before and after the show so I spoke to him briefly. It was amusing cos this one drunk girl was screaming out that she loved him and she wanted a kiss and she lied about it being her birthday (and me with my birthday this thurs!) so he would sing to her. Anyway he kept cracking jokes about her being horny during the show. She was annoying. Anyway, after the show, she got her kiss and was then calling him an asshole cos he thought he was it. I thought it funny and told her so. Damn groupies! I bet she would have never looked at Steve twice if she saw him on the street. I barely even recognized him when he walked by. He was real nice to me. Wished me happy birthday after the show. We didn't talk long either time. I almost got to meet Kevin as well but he didnt come out of the back soon enough.
OK just wanted to tell you about my brush with smashmouth. love the page! oh! did you know kevin is 30? don't know about any of the other members tho. His girlfriend or current flame told me how old he was.
(*)
referring to Why Can't We Be Friends
MARK MEDLEY
DEC 14, 1997
Honolulu, Hawaii - Aloha Tower Marketplace Pier Bar Mainstage. My wife and I had just arrived from Chicago to Hawaii about two hours before the show. The show had been rescheduled to Sunday, December 14th, 1997 from the 13th, so we were glad we could make the show. Admission was free if you brought a toy fot the Toys For Tots Marine Deal. The show lasted about 70 mins. and included all the great stuff plus a psycho version of Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer! I was filming the show from the side of the stage, and Steve had to stop the show briefly to have security fix the stupid barricade made of some cheap, flimsy lattice shit. Anyway the show ROCKED! It was Smashmouth's last show of the year, and a Hawaiian Christmas one at that! The band threw out CD's and posters, and stuck around for close to two hours after the show signing stuff and talking with fans. That was my best SM show so far, especially since it was in Hawaii! I'll be seeing them on 2/11/98 in Rolla, MO., & 2/12/98 in St. Louis, MO. Hope to see you there! Smashed in the Mouth, Mark.
Mark Medley
17A Sherwood Eddy Drive
Jacksonville, Illinois
(217) 243-1894
medlive@csj.net
THOMAS CARDENAS
DEC 11, 1997
On Friday, December 11 I was in Portland Oregon, hanging-out around SE Pine St. waiting for a show to start at a club called stage 4. Looking for a place to park, we noticed a huge purple tour bus in the parking lot of la luna at around 11:30 am. Being the curious guy that I am, I decided to approach the tour bus, hoping to find a band that I really dig. When I walked-up, this guy asked me if I'd like to come up and check out the inside... I of course accepted his offer and quickly jumped into the bus. Man, those things are pretty cool. I asked who was playing that evening and it turned out to be that goldfinger, blink 182 and smashmouth had a gig there, at la luna. I asked the guy who he was, him answering that he was the guitarist of smashmouth (I forgot his name). I said "Wow! That's cool... I just saw you guys on MTV this morning... so um, where's that head-singer guy?" He pointed towards the back of the bus and there was that big dude, getting something out of his bunk. He (the singer guy) eventually came to the front of the bus, introduced himself, shook my hand and asked what I was in Portland for. After talking with him for about 10 mins, and hanging out in the bus for about 20 more minutes, I decided I should go check on some details about the show that I was going to down the street. The club was still closed, so I decided to fill my back pack up with the beer that I had in the back of my truck (I am 18, my wonderful aunt purchased it for me....hehe) and decided to head back to the tour bus. Going up to the bus, I offered Paul (the bass player, I think) a beer. He happily accepted and we went back onto the bus. One thing I really dug about these guys was he fact that when I was freezing my ass off, they were nice enough to let me hang out and ask them pretty lame rock star questions...I think I was making paul uncomfortable, but overall he was one cool guy. I later met the drummer, keyboardist, bus driver, a guy named hippy, and one of their techs. I stuck around, smoked cigarettes, drank more beer, and eventually asked to use their pisser where I stole their toothbrush and toothpaste... I'll always remember them by it... hehehe...
Anyway, it's odd to be in the position of someone who doesn't really know a band well, and to actually get to hang with them knowing that there are tons of fans who would kill to do the same. If you ever do meet them, some advice: don't ask too many questions, and just be cool. You'll have fun.
PS -- Paul has me 800 number to my house... I invited him to come hang out or whatever, whenever he's local, just to kinda say thanks for getting my freezing-ass out of the cold...
DAVE
JAN 2, 1998
Hey, I recently bought the "Fush yu Mang" cd, and I love it. I did notice something funny though. I play the tuba/sousaphone in my high school marching band, and I'm pretty good at it. (I got first chair in regional band last year, as a freshmen) Anyways, in the band, we (as you probably know) play songs at the games to get the crowd into the game. Well, me, in one of my greater states of brilliance, figured out how to play "Walkin' on the Sun." (this was before I got the cd, so I had only heard that song, since then, i've figured out many others, and am currently messin' around w/ "Padrino") We played that, (my pal Jeff on the baseline, and myself on the high solo part) at a few of the games, and the people around us that knew what the hell we were doing got a real kick out of it. Well, (the whole point to the story), I got the CD, and I was listening to "The Fonz" (while reading the lyrics) and it came to that part about how he could play the tuba, but they all just shake their heads, and I just about pissed my pants!! I thought it was the coolest coincidence. To top it all off, when Smash Mouth came to AZ, they were a part of the radio station I listen to (the Edge) program called "Radio Anarchy." This is a segment on Tuesdays, (and I don't know what other days) that a feature band comes in and basically takes over the position of D.J. Well, I called in, and I got to talk to the band, and it was really cool, and pretty much why I even bought the CD in the first place!! So it's all just a long story that, in my opinion, kicks some ass, and I thought I'd share it with you. I found your page because I wanted to tell the band all of this, and maybe E-mail them a wav (*) of my friend and I playing some of the songs, but I was very unsuccessfull, so I decided to mail you instead. Anyways, I just thought I'd share that with you, and I guess, if you want, I'll talk to you later. Maybe I could send those songs to you, and see what you think, you might get a kick out of em'!! Later.
(*) If I can, I shall soon include Dave's wav.
I LOVE GREG CAMP
Greg Camp Pix Page
JAN 26, 1998
A while
ago my friend and I went to a Smash Mouth consert and I made this huge
sign that said I LOVE GREG CAMP well, after the song Heave-HO Greg Camp
pointed at me and said "YOU WITH THE I LOVE GREG CAMP SIGN I SEE YOU, YOU
CAN TAKE IT DOWN NOW BECAUSE ITS BLOKING ALOT OF PEOPLES VIEW BEHIND YOU,
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING IT, IT WAS A LOVELY JESTURE, AND IM
FLATERD, THANK YOU" I almost droped dead I felt like I was going to faint
I know for shure my face was all blushed I WAS SO HAPPY. THAT WAS SO FUN they ROCK there consert was awesome..
MIKE & GLORIA ONTIVEROS
FEB 6, 1998
MY HUSBAND AND I, BOTH 38 YEARS OLD, RECENTLY TOOK 3 11YEAR OLD BOYS TO SEE THEIR FAVORITE BAND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO IN BOULDER LAST FRIDAY NIGHT!!!
WE WAITED IN LINE FOR HOURS TO ASSURE BEING IN THE VERY FRONT OF THE CROWD! AND THAT WE WERE!!! FRONT ROW CENTER!! WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!! WE ALL TRULY ENJOYED THIS CONCERT! ONE OF THE BOYS WAS ACTUALLY ON STAGE DANCING AS THE LEAD SINGER SIGNALLED HIM UP AS HE NOTICED HIM GETTING SMASHED IN THE CROWD AS EVERYONE MOSHED AWAY!!
WE WILL NEVER FORGET THIS CONCERT! SMASHMOUTH IS A FAVORITE IN OUR HOUSE NOW AND WE WILL FOLLOW THEM!
DEANNA MARTIN
FEB 16, 1998
I went to thier concert
at Virginia Tech. I got there early to ensure a good view, which I did.
My friend and I were on the first row for the entire concert. Smashmouth
came with the Space Monkeys and Third Eye Blind. They were second. During
thier performance the Space Monkeys came out with a whole bunch of granny
panties and threw them at the band. Greg put a pair of these panties on
his sweaty head. Toward the end of concert he threw them in the crowd and
since we were on the front row, we caught them. After the awesome concert
we went out back where I had found the closest parking space possible and
they were at their bus. Greg came out and started talking to us so we introduced
ourself and talked for a few minutes. I congradulated them on their great
show and got him to sign the shirt I had bought and the infamous panties!! This had to have been one of the coolest experiences of my life!!!