Monday, January 15, 2018

Time and Time Again: A Celebration of Pat DiNizio Count Basie Theatre 1/13/2018

 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

Ken Dashow, Jim Monaghan & Little Steven

Patty Smyth & Scandal

Smithereens & Little Steven


Richard Barone

Robin Wilson

Dave Davies

ZouZou Monsour

The Grip Weeds

Kenny Howes

John Jorgenson, The Grip Weeds & Richard Barone

Marshall Crenshaw


Jim Monaghan & Kenny Howes

Severo Jornacion & Jim Babjak

Freedy Johnston

Bebe Buell

Mike Mesaros

Graham Maby

Lenny Kaye & Tony Shanahan

Keith Streng & Peter Zaremba





             
             

                             

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