CasaCoisalinda: January 2018

Originally billed as the first public concert at the Count Basie Theatre in its club format, The Smithereens and Patty Smyth & Scandal were scheduled to perform on Saturday January 13th. A few days after the show was announced, Pat DiNizio the lead singer of The Smithereens passed away. The show then became a tribute to Pat entitled Time and Time Again: A Celebration of Pat DiNizio.
Little Steven Van Zandt was originally scheduled to host the event as this was part of his Underground Garage series. He remained as host and also performed a couple songs with The Smithereens.
Along with Little Steven, deejays Jim Monaghan and Ken Dashow acted as MC's for most of the show, with Ken Dashow leaving early since he had a program to get ready for the following morning.
The show started with the 3 of them addressing the crowd and talking a little bit about Pat. Steven then introduced Patty Smyth and Scandal who performed a great set of songs that was split between Scandal songs and some of her solo songs. They also performed a version the Rolling Stones Paint it Black as a tribute to Pat. Patty Smyth's voice is still strong and her band included original guitarist Keith Mack.
After a quick clearing of the stage, a video tribute was played with artists such as Willie Nile, Graham Parker, Pete Yorn, Southside Johnny and many others talking about Pat. Another short video tribute followed and then the remaining members of The Smithereens(Guitarist Jim Babjak, Drummer Dennis Diken, and both original bass player Mike Mesaros and current bass player Severo Jornacion) backed many friends and fans of the band singing lead vocals including Little Steven, Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms, Dave Davies of The Kinks, The Grip Weeds, Tony Shanahan and Lenny Kaye of Patti Smith's band who were also members of The Slaves of New Brunswick along with Jim Babjak, and many more. Mike Mesaros handled the bulk of the bass duties, with Severo adding backing vocals a few times and taking over bass duties for a couple songs.
Producer Ed Stasium played keyboard most of the night and said a few words prior to Robin Wilson's performance of Behind the Wall of Sleep.
Jim Monaghan and Ken Dashow also read tributes from Suzanne Vega and Garland Jeffreys before The Smithereens first song.
Towards the end of the show, White Castle donated a couple hundred cheeseburgers which were given to the crowd prior to a performance of White Castle Blues. Babjak also mentioned that White Castle donated $10,000 to The Pat Dinizio Scholarship which will go towards music education for children.
A great night of music by one of the most underrated rock bands, all for an incredibly sad reason.
God bless Pat DiNizio.

Here are the setlists:

Patty Smyth and Scandal

Trust in Me
Hands Tied
No Mistakes
Shine
Never Enough
Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
Downtown Train
Paint It Black(Rolling Stones cover)
The Warrior

The Smithereens

Sorry-Little Steven
Only a Memory-Richard Barone
Blues Before and After-Robin Wilson
Green Thoughts-Robin Wilson
Strangers(Dave Davies song)-Dave Davies with Dennis Diken
Baby Be Good-ZouZou Monsour
Now and Then-The Grip Weeds & Kenny Margoles
Drown in My Tears-Kenny Howes
Behind the Wall of Sleep-Robin Wilson
All Things Must Pass(George Harrison cover)-John Jorgenson, The Grip Weeds, Richard Barone
Even If I Never Get Back Home-Marshall Crenshaw
Well Alright(Buddy Holly cover)-Marshall Crenshaw
Strangers When We Met-Marshall Crenshaw
Cut Flowers-Richard Barone
Blue Period-Jim Monaghan and Kenny Howes
Life Is So Beautiful-Jim Babjak
Cigarette-Freedy Johnston
In a Lonely Place-Freedy Johnston
Especially For You-Ted Leo
Miles From Nowhere-Ted Leo
I Don't Want To Lose You-Dennis Diken
Top of The Pops-Bebe Buell
War For My Mind-Mike Mesaros
Please Please Me(Beatles cover)-Graham Maby
She's Got a Way-Tony Shanahan and Lenny Kaye
One Look At You-The Grip Weeds
Nobody Loves Forever-Freedy Johnston
House That We Used To Live In/Sparks(Who cover)-Severo Jornacion
Time And Time Again-Peter Zaremba and Keith Streng of The Fleshtones
Blood and Roses-Robin Wilson

White Castle Blues-Jim Babjak
Girl Like You-Little Steven and ZouZou Monsour