My Smash Mouth Concert Experiences
Oct. 8, 1997
The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas
(I wrote these down right after I got back from the concert.)
Yes, I finally got to see Smash Mouth perform! What can I say? I had a great blast and they were just awesome! I can only remember going to two music concerts/gigs in my life: M.C. Hammer (I'll never get sick and tired of "Turn This Mutha' Out") at the Neal Blaisdell Arena and Toad the Wet Sprocket at Pink's Garage both in Honolulu. I must say that I had one heck of a time watching these four wacky lads ska/rock/rap/jam their hearts out for their fans.As I waited anxiously for Smash Mouth to open for Blur (yawn), the audience were treated to a techno instrumental version of "Walkin' On The Sun." If I can find that, I'll definitely want to have it. Anyway, when Smash Mouth finally appeared on stage I felt ecstatic. Finally, I will hear the songs I--oh!--so love sung live as they were meant to be.
What a treat for all the senses! Steve Harwell is a born performer. He had that easygoing personality that you could just sense and feel. He simply connected with the audience with his down-to-earth humor and frank honesty. Also, he made swearing fun! Gregory Camp rocked amazingly with his guitar. I, being so musically untalented, could only just stare in awe at how he manipulated his guitar. The sounds he made from it just made me want to mosh on the floor. Unfortunately, the audience seemed somewhat relaxed (perhaps stunned at Smash Mouth's awesome music) that they only displayed their lack of inhibition by jumping a lot. Paul DeLisle, I first thought was a mellow dude. But when he started jamming with his bass, I soon realized that my thought was wrong. It always amazes me seeing a performer dance real crazy while playing a guitar. Kevin Coleman might have been hidden from my viewpoint, but he played those drums with wild abandon. God, those four just made fantastic music that night!
Since they were the opening act for Blur, I was expecting that they will only play a few songs. To my pleasant surprise, they played most of their songs, except for "Pet Names" and "Push." I have this theory: They probably thought that those two songs were too "angry" so they substituted them with an Elvis and reggae song. And what can I say? I loved that Elvis tribute and rastafarian tune nevertheless. Steve's memorable finale for "Disconnect The Dots" blew me away (I wish that I have that live recording instead of the album version as it was just awesome). I also enjoyed the farewell rap in their final song, "Why Can't We Be Friends." Anyway, they played their selection pretty much in the order they had their songs in the album (1).
I can rave and rave and rave but I basically want to tell you guys and gals that Smash Mouth will not disappoint you if they ever come to your town. They are a perfect example of a band who appreciates all forms of music; and their songs and performances would prove it. Hearing Steve rap then seeing him turn Jamaican is a treat in itself! Anyway, my only disappointment was they didn't play those two excellent songs. Nevertheless, those are trivial complaints as they truly gave one hell of an awesome show. I sure hope that I get to see them perform again soon.
[I shall put pics from that concert soon...]
footnotes:
(1) i think that the order of the set they played went like this: flo; beer goggles; let's rock; heave-ho; the fonz; elvis song; padrino; disconnect the dots; reggae song; nervous in the alley; walkin' on the sun; why can't we be friends (a).(a) a very lucky girl was chosen to dance on stage with smash mouth that night! she jammed! i'm hoping that i could find her online and ask her about her way cool experience with the coolest artists in the fush yu mang universe!
...and we finally discovered each other online! read about her way cool nsme (near-smash mouth experience)!!!
Feb. 2, 1998
The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas
(a more comprehensive account of this religious event shall be posted soon...)All I can say right now is that they have surpassed their superior concert last time. Also, I dug the people there compared to the Brit-pop fans of Blur last time. It was a scene seeing people mosh to "Walkin' On The Sun" and "Why Can't We Be Friends" (I never knew that was possible!) Oh, and slap me and call me Suzy, they played "Sorry About Your Penis" as their second surprise finale!!! Way Cool!!! Anyway, once I get all my bearings, I'll write a comprehensive lowdown (like you dudes read this! ;-)...) on your webmaster's second near-smash mouth experience.....
LAS VEGANS SMASH MOUTH FANS! Do you have pics from their Mix 94.1 appearance and/or The Joint concert? I was so pissed when they wouldn't allow my camera inside the concert (1). I'm even pissed off even more when I saw two people with video cameras inside! What the fuck?! Oh, well.....Anyway, so if you folks got 'em--anything at all would be cool!--just email me. THANX!!!
footnotes:
(1) by the way, a nice girl tried to sneak in my camera inside, unfortunately she got caught. and this is between me and her:
um, isn't there something i should be getting back? ;-)
BACK TO BILL'S SMASH MOUTH MAIN PAGE