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Dennis Diken "Sits In" With The Kootz!
Dennis Diken played drums with the band The Kootz at an outdoor concert at Roberts Garden in Morris Plains, NJ on Sunday, July 19th. Unfortunately, they only got to perform a couple of numbers before the show was eventually "rained out". Specializing in rock and blues, The Kootz has a revolving lineup of seventeen bandmembers who shrink down to a more manageable size of typically four or five musicians per show depending on who's available on any given night. Dennis also appears on the band's newly released CD "Tales From The Endless Bus Tour Of New Jersey". The CD contains 10 original tunes along with six "covers" ranging from the Byrds and The Beau Brummels to Lenny Kravitz. Dennis plays drums on 7 out of the 16 CD tracks and shares songwriting credit on the appropriately "bluesy" instrumental tune "Blue Beetle". He also takes a turn on lead vocals with the rest of the band on a remake of Tommy James & The Shondells' 1969 hit "Sweet Cherry Wine". That tune also features Tommy "Crimson and Clover" James himself as "special guest vocalist". For more information about The Kootz or to order their new CD, visit The Kootz website.
Dennis is shown here seeking shelter from the rain in Morris Plains with a couple of soggy Kootz. (Left to Right: Ed Alstrom, Peter Scance, Dennis Diken, Glenn Taylor & Christopher Bolger)
New Smithereens Article!
The April/May issue (No. 67) of "Magnet" magazine contains a nice new article about The Smithereens.
The magazine talked to Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken who help provide an overview of the Smithereens' twenty-five year history. There is also information in the article about the latest band projects. If you can't find this issue at your local newsstand, you can order it online from Magnet for five dollars.
New Irving Plaza Concert Announcement From Pat DiNizio!
Here is the latest updated information on the Irving Plaza concert from Pat:
Tickets On Sale Now For The Big Halloween Concert At Irving Plaza, NYC, Starring The Smithereens, Glenn Tilbrook (From Squeeze), Marshall Crenshaw & Graham Parker!!
Well, all right!
Tickets for the big Halloween concert, Friday, October 29th, 2004, at Irving Plaza, NYC, are finally on sale!!
Here's the final line-up for this amazing concert:
The Smithereens
Glenn Tilbrook (From Squeeze) & The Fluffers
Marshall Crenshaw
Graham Parker
Legends all, all on one bill, in one night, full sets from all four bands!
Please go to www.IrvingPlaza.com or Ticketmaster to purchase tickets for this very cool, once-in-a-lifetime NYC Halloween concert event.
I sincerely hope to see all of you at this unforgettable "reunion of a generation"...
Sincerely,
Pat DiNizio
The Smithereens
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
"Rock 2 The People" Presents Jeffrey Gaines/Freedy Johnston!
Tickets are now on sale for Pat DiNizio's "Rock 2 The People" concert series with Jeffrey Gaines and special guest Freedy Johnston appearing at The Radisson Hotel Theatre in Paramus, NJ on August 13th. This series has already presented two concerts so far with Glenn Tilbrook of "Squeeze" as the debut act and Colin Hay of "Men At Work" appearing as the headliner for the second show. Tilbrook and Hay each put on superb shows during which they spun entertaining tales and performed the group and solo hits that made them famous. Pat himself performed at Glenn Tilbrook's concert and he also played a surprise opening set for Colin Hay's show where he "rocked the people" once again. One of The Rosenbergs (the opening act for the Colin Hay show) even jumped up onstage to sing along with Pat on "Behind the Wall of Sleep" which he claimed fulfilled a lifelong dream for him. This time around, you can catch a Jeffrey Gaines and Freedy Johnston double-bill at an intimate setting for an affordable price. Go to Acteva to purchase tickets.
Pat's Film Fest & Smithereens Halloween Concert Update!
Pat DiNizio's three-day New York Metro Alternative Film & Music Festival will be held at the Park Central Hotel in NYC during Halloween weekend, October 29, 30 & 31, 2004. The Irving Plaza Concert happens on October 29th featuring The Smithereens, Glenn Tilbrook (from Squeeze), Dick Dale, Marshall Crenshaw, The Alarm, Graham Parker, The Fleshtones and Southern Culture On The Skids all on one bill. There is even a special
band contest where the winning band or solo artist gets to open the Irving Plaza show.
For further information on the film festival and concert, go to the special website. A limited amount of tickets for the Irving Plaza concert (with a capacity of just about 1,000) go on sale the week of August 1 and are available only through
Ticketmaster or the
Irving Plaza Box Office.
New Smithereens/DiNizio CDs!
When it 'Reens it pours. After a somewhat lengthy drought, there will be two new Smithereens CDs released later this year! Coming soon will be a brand new Smithereens album produced by Don Dixon (sometimes affectionately called "the fifth Smithereen" or the Smithereens' "George Martin".) The album will be recorded during the first week of October 2004. According to Pat DiNizio, it will be recorded "using Don Dixon's mobile/portable recording studio, overdubs to be recorded at his home studio in Canton, Ohio, immediately following the recording of the basic tracks (in New Jersey)." This eagerly anticipated Smithereens album will be the band's first full length album since 1999's "God Save The Smithereens." The projected release date for the album is October 31, 2004.
 Before that, Capitol Records will release a two CD Smithereens compilation with the Smithereens' hits and "deep album cuts" plus rare live and unreleased studio tracks. This collection is tentatively set for release on July 13th of this year.
Currently available as of March 23rd is a CD tribute to The Who featuring a live cover version of "Behind Blue Eyes" by Pat DiNizio. Pat's track seems to be the same version of the song that originally appeared on Wild Oats Records' release of their Pat DiNizio "The Living Room Tour" CD from 2001. However, if you've never heard Pat's live version of this Who classic before, the "Who's Not Forgotten: FDR's Tribute To The Who" CD is definitely worth checking out. All of the proceeds from the sale of this limited edition CD help support the non-profit Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) program. (Hearing loss is a disability that The Who's own Pete Townshend has struggled with for many years.) This 21 track CD features Who tunes covered by several different musicians including Pat and Guided By Voices among many others. The CD may be ordered from FDR (Face Down Records).
Hallow-'Reen "Horror Film Fest Concert" At Irving Plaza, NYC!
The First Annual NY Metro Indie "Horror Film Fest Concert" will rock the haunted house at the Irving Plaza in New York City on Friday, October 29th (otherwise known as Hallow-'Reen weekend). This spook-tacular show will feature The Smithereens, Graham Parker, Marshall Crenshaw, The Fleshtones & The Alarm (with more musical artists to be added to the bill later along with other surprises to be announced shortly.) The concert will open the film festival and tickets will be made available shortly through Ticketmaster and The Irving Plaza box office. With a new Smithereens album reportedly coming out the same week, here's hoping that the Smithereens will premiere some new songs at this gala all star show!
"Rock 2 The People" Concert Series!
Bemoaning the loss of several legendary live music venues in the tri-state area like New York City's "The Bottom Line", Pat DiNizio and friend Lee Tannenbaum have organized the Rock 2 the People concert series to help fill the void. Pat and Lee hope to carry on a music tradition by allowing the public the opportunity to enjoy good music in an intimate setting once again. "The Bottom Line was the last major venue that supported singer-songwriters", says series co-founder Pat DiNizio. "There's a large demand from the demographic that came of age with a lot of options for live music and regards musical choice as a birthright. The dearth of suitable live music venues is paralyzing entire genres of music and periods in music history". His partner, Lee Tannenbaum, notes that "the goal of Rock 2 the People is to renew a tradition and create a forum where these performers can reach new audiences while connecting with the fans that made them famous".
Glenn Tilbrook (singer-songwriter for Squeeze) is the first performer in this new series scheduled to take place on June 4, 2004 at the Radisson Hotel in Paramus, New Jersey. Pat DiNizio himself will open the show. Showtime is 8:00 PM with tickets priced at either $32 or $35 (premium seating) and may be purchased from Acteva . Rock 2 the People will also offer a light dining menu with wait service. Prepare to be Squeezed to Smithereens!.
DiNizio And Crenshaw Gig!
Pat DiNizio reunited with "Jerome Jerome" (a.k.a. Marshall Crenshaw) when they both played a double-header concert in Spring Valley, New York for Temple Beth El on April 17, 2004. "Jerome Jerome" was Marshall's pseudonym in the credits for the Smithereens' "Especially For You" album wherein he contributed organ and piano to "Strangers When We Meet". Both musicians coincidentally performed Buddy Holly tunes during their individual sets that evening. Pat sang his Smithereens tribute to Buddy Holly's widow, "Maria Elena" and then followed that up with his cover version of Holly's "Well Alright". Marshall played Buddy's "Reminiscing". They performed their own material as well during their well-received sets at this sold out concert. Marshall noted that he was especially pleased to be playing with Pat who is his "contemporary, peer and good buddy."
This show was organized by Lee Tannenbaum who is also working with Pat on promoting a series of "Rock 2 The People" concerts. Pat DiNizio will be appearing in concert with Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze for the first show in this new series. The concert will be held at the Radison Hotel Theatre in Paramus, NJ on 6/4/04. To be put on a mailing list for the concert series or for more info, you can contact Lee Tannenbaum. (Photo courtesy of Michele Alessi. Shown left to right: Marshall Crenshaw, Michele and Pat DiNizio).
The Two Patricks!
Butch ("Eddie Munster") Patrick Meets Patrick DiNizio. Pat is shown here with his old friend Butch Patrick on November 1, 2003 at the Chiller Theatre Convention at the Sheraton Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Butch even introduced the Smithereens onstage at The Key Club In Los Angeles back on July 28, 2001. (Shown l-r: Pat, Butch's friend and Butch Patrick)
The Smithereens Have Second Thoughts!
Lemon Recordings re-issued the Smithereens' classic Green Thoughts in the UK, in September. Fans can purchase the long out-of-print disc at long last. The folks at Lemon have changed the cover art very slightly, added liner notes (we're flattered that they borrowed from the DSP archives!), and have given the CD a custom label. As for the sound, there's little if any difference, though some staff-ers think the sonic quality may be a tad crisper. We got our copy at Amazon.com.
DiNizio Gets The First Word In New Graphic Novel!
Pat DiNizio has written the foreword to the recent publication Wearing The Horns. The graphic novel's psychological dark fiction is right up DiNizio Alley. From author Clifford Meth, "..the divorce culture has a profound impact on how children are raised and on our psychological well-being. This was my premise in Wearing the Horns."
Here's a short excerpt form Pat's foreword:
Growing up in the early sixties, in the Italian-American immigrant ghetto-enclave of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, I became aware of an interesting, if frightening fact of life: The Horns. At an early age, my eyes opened wide with fear, and cold chills ran throughout my body every time I heard one of the old, off-the-boat Italians in the neighborhood say, “Somebody threw a curse on him! They put the mali oche on him!”
“Somebody’s got the horns on him!”
"...horned or otherwise, Cliff is a dangerously talented writer, as this book goes to prove."
The novella is published by Aardwolf Publishing and features a cover by Frank Brunner and interior illustrations by Dave "X-Men" Cockrum. The publisher offers a money-back guarantee!
The Smithereens Get A Chapter In The Asbury Park Music Scene!
The story of the Asbury Park music scene finally gets told in the new book Beyond The Palace by Gary Wien. "There are a lot of books out there that focus solely on Bruce Springsteen or Bon Jovi, but Beyond The Palace also features the artists that had good careers but didn't sell millions of records," said Wien. Smithereens fans will be happy to know that their fave band gets its own chapter, including a new exclusive interview with drummer Dennis Diken. Dennis talks about how the band formed, his musical influences, the many bands he played in before the Smithereens, and much more. On the longevity of the Smithereens, he explained, "We are like a family. We virtually learned to play together and like playing together. People like our music and we make our living doing this. As long as there’s an audience that comes to see us there’s no reason to stop!"
The 400-page paperback is currently available worldwide from Trafford Publishing or from the book's official website at www.AsburyMusic.com.
New "P.A.T." DiNizio Music Program!
Pat DiNizio made Associated Press, Netscape and Yahoo! News headlines recently by unveiling his innovative new Patrons & Artists Together (P.A.T.) music program. Limited to 100 subscribers, this “vision quest” will allow Pat to partner up with his audience and “make an end run around the way that business is done these days in the ever-imploding music industry.” His subscription program includes “limited-edition music, intimate concerts and charitable events plus free music to anyone with a computer and a modem.”
 The concept derives from those “patrons of the arts” who have, throughout history, sponsored artists and musicians like Michelangelo, Mozart and even Shakespeare in order to sustain an artist's work. This is especially relevant nowadays when artists such as Glen Tilbrook from Squeeze, Marshall Crenshaw and Graham Parker are being “literally cast aside” (as Pat explains it) by today's music industry. Pat's modern variation of this sponsorship notion (P.A.T.-rons?) will not only help to fund his music (some of which will be given away for free later in condensed form at his own website) but will also entitle subscribers to their own private Pat DiNizio concert and original music CDs. It will also allow Pat the opportunity to entertain at charitable events.
Altogether, the Patrons & Artists Together membership package includes a Pat DiNizio Living Room concert (a concept that Dave's Smithereens Page helped launch in 2000), CD and DVD copies of the Living Room/home performance for all in attendance and a fund-raising event/appearance for the charity of choice, one day before or after the Living Room show (patrons' support also will enable DiNizio to bring the healing properties of music to children's hospitals, special-needs children and veterans hospitals across the United States). Subscribers also will receive 50 extra copies of each new CD and two Patrons & Artists Together T-shirts, as well as two Smithereens concert tickets and backstage passes to a show of choice.
Among the CDs of original material to be released to subscribers every four months or so are: This Is Pat DiNizio - a two-CD set of originals that Pat calls a “cross between the Beatles' 'White Album' and Johnny Cash's recent Rick Rubin-produced recordings”, Dark Standards - a Frank Sinatra “standards” CD recorded with a jazz quartet and big band, Carbine Williams - an “all star” band project (an offshoot project of his other group “The Wild Bunch”), The Little Schoolhouse - his first children's record, Merry Christmas With The Pat DiNizio Trio - A Christmas album of holiday favorites, Pat DiNizio Demo Recordings For The Next Smithereens Album, The Fearmakers - Pat's long-dreamed of collection of surf instrumentals, Songs By My Favorite Unsigned Bands - Pat's “cover versions of some of the most absolutely amazing songs from the greatest bands and songwriters you never heard of before” that he discovered during his two-year tenure as Program Director of XM Satellite Radio's “Unsigned” channel.
For more information, visit Pat DiNizio's website: www.patdinizio.com.
The Smithereens Want To Tell You!
The Smithereens' cover version of the late-Beatle George Harrison's I Want To Tell You will be released February 25, and Beatlefan magazine has taken an early assessment. Publisher Bill King described the track as "successful," and "a faithful rendition..., with fuzz guitar and very nice backing vocals."
We've had a sneak preview here at DSP, too, and we think you'll like it. The Reens' version has an obvious Who influence, as well. The CD, called Songs From The Material World: A Tribute To George Harrison (Koch KOC 8390) also contains salutes from Todd Rundgren, Bill Wyman, Dave Davies, and John Entwistle.
Pat Has Breakfast With The Beatles!
The January 19 edition of "Dennis Mitchell’s Breakfast With The Beatles" includes a wonderful interview with Pat DiNizio, talking about his love of the greatest group of all time. (Barely a notch ahead of the Reens, naturally.) Pat offers his interesting insights into the music of the Fabs, and how it influenced his songwriting, among other things.
The show is available this week by going to www.beatlesradioshow.com. What's more, Pat's entire unedited interview is included in segment 4 of the program, and there's a larger version of the photo on the right and a playlist here.
New Smithereens-Related Christmas Disc Released!
A brand new CD compilation of power pop Christmas songs, featuring Buzzed Meg and a host of Reens pals and associates has just been released by Vandalay Records. HI-FI Christmas Party boasts 19 great rock holiday tracks that you'll find yourself playing again, and again. Here at DSP we don't find too many compilations that we enjoy from start to finish (especially Christmas comps!), but this is one disc you won't want to miss! And it's for a good cause, too.
Dan Pavelich (of the Bradburys) put the project together to raise funds for Von Willibrand's Disease research, which is a bleeding disorder his daughter has. Dan got full support from many of his musician friends, who jumped at the chance to contribute their music. Most of the tracks were recorded last spring and summer specifically for this compiliation. Dan told DSP that a Dennis Diken song was very nearly added to the lineup, but time ran short. (Oh well, maybe next year!)
To buy this disc, visit Not Lame Records. The track listing is below:
1. The Jellybricks - We'll Be Together (the Christmas song)
2. John McMullan - (Gimme A) Kiss For Christmas
3. The Spongetones - Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairies
(Featuring everyone's favorite sometime-Smithereen, Jamie Hoover.)
4. Andrea Perry- Fat Aunt Bette
5. Bill Lloyd - The Twelve Days Of Christmas
6. The Bradburys - I Love It When It Snows!
7. Don Dixon - Christmas Is Saturday
(The Smithereens' producer, of course)
8. Lisa Mychols - Listen To The Bells Ring
9. The Lolas - The Little Drummer Boy
10. Glowfriends-Joy Of Christmas
11. The Ted Ansani Holiday Trio - The Kriss Kringle Jingle
12. Mari Pavelich - The Chubby Little Snowman
13. Jim Babjak's Buzzed Meg - Christmas Morning
(Also featuring fellow Reens Dennis and Mike.)
14. Rob P. & The Q's - It's Christmas And I'm Going Home
15. Phil Angotti - Getting Home (For Christmas)
16. Cool King Chris - High Glass Jingle
17. October Elsewhere - Christmas Every Day
18. Dom Mariani - Christmasonic
19. Jeremy - Christmas Spirit
New Pat DiNizio CD is Live In Spain!
The Reens leader has just announced a brand new live CD recording from one of his Living Room Tour shows in Spain. Here is Pat's own description of the disc:
Live In Spain: 18-song limited edition fan club "official bootleg" cd recorded live at the University of Valencia during my recent solo tour of Spain on October 21, 2002. I am limiting the production run of this disc to 500 signed and numbered units, then I am destroying the master. The CD is a great-sounding 71:03 minutes of live solo voice and guitar featuring these songs:
Somewhere Down The Line
Blue Period
In A Lonely Place
Everything Changes
Behind The Wall Of Sleep
Yesterday Girl
Cigarette
No Love Lost
Room Without A View
Something New
Maria Elena
Especially For You
Blood And Roses
Strangers When We Meet
Deep Black
A World Apart
A Girl Like You
To get information on purchasing this CD, visit Pat's website, or visit Ebay.
The Reens Rock The State!
Here's a road report on the Smithereens show at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA, Sept. 20, from "a Loving Fan":
The show was slated to start at 10:00pm. The Reens came on stage around 10:25pm and played roughly til 12:00am. They played all their hits plus some songs I haven’t heard performed live in awhile: Everything Changes, Strangers When We Meet, Blue Period (with no female accompaniment), and Something New and Especially for You from the Green Thoughts album. They did a nice version of the Beatles' Hold Me Tight. They played non-stop with a few occasional stops in the music, a very jazzy version of Peggy Lee's Fever. I think they were foolin’ around, but I thought it sounded good. During the course of the evening, Pat took a break from playing guitar and just concentrated on the vocal parts. It is funny how empty the Reens sound without the rhythm guitar. Also, Pat was kind enough to acknowledge the loyal fans who used to frequent the Bayou in DC (now closed down) and some of the people who used to work there. Towards the end of the night, Jim jumped off the stage and solo-ed in the crowd. Obviously, he was feeling good. He also performed his beer trick. I thought he had retired that routine. While Jim had everyone’s attention, he took the opportunity to grab the mike. He sang his famous White Castle Blues song and told of being inducted into the White Castle Hall of Fame this summer in Ohio and how his younger son tried to eat the hamburger on the plaque.
DiNizio's New "Living Room Tour" Is Seeking "Room"mates!
Pat DiNizio is seeking rooms with (or without) a view to host the return of his acclaimed "Living Room Tour". Pat's initial 2000 solo tour found him taking the novel approach of performing acoustic shows in friends and fans' living rooms and backyards all across America. This new solo tour will be moving into people's homes starting October 2002 on through the holidays and into January and February of 2003. The suggested ticket price will be only ten dollars each. The first show of the new Living Room Tour will be launched in Teaneck, NJ on Labor Day.
As you may recall, Dave's Smithereens Page was honored to be the first place Pat DiNizio chose to advertise the original Living Room Tour back in 1999. That successful tour had feature articles written about it in USA Today and The Star Ledger among many other publications.
If you would be interested in having Pat DiNizio perform Smithereens and solo songs as well as maybe a cover tune or two in the intimacy of your own home, e-mail patdinizio@hotmail.com. Need references? Check out our first LRT reviews !
New DiNizio Website!
Lead-Reen Pat DiNizio has established his own new presence on the world wide web. Visit patdinizio.com to get the latest info from the man himself on all his projects, including the new Living Room Tour, XM Unsigned, the B.E.A.M. foundation, and of course, all the up-to-the-minute Smithereens concert engagements.
Reens In Da House!
Tickets go on sale August 3rd for the Smithereens' Friday, August 30 appearance at the House of Blues in Chicago. [Thanks to Josh Laurie.]
Smithereens 10 Coming To DVD?!
Here at DSP, we find it almost incredible, but the reliable ICE Magazine lists Smithereens 10 for an August 27th release date. If so, the long out-of-print title, previously available only on VHS and laser disc, would be a very welcome addition to any Smithereens fan's library. Let's hope!
Reens Are Sedated, Again!
The Smithereens are featured once more in the CD series, Sedated In The Eighties. Released in April, Number 6 is the latest in the string of compilations, and includes the Reens' own Strangers When We Meet. Other artists on the disc include the Bangles, Blondie, and Camper Van Beethoven. Fans will remember the previous Sedated issues of Reens tunes, with Behind The Wall Of Sleep (No. 1), Blood And Roses (No. 3), and the "acoustic" version of Blue Period (No. 4).
DiNizio Goes To Washington!
The Young America's Foundation will hold its National Conservative Student Conference July 21-27, at George Washington University, in Washington, DC. Pat will be there to speak on the topics "Music, Politics, Blood & Roses: The Fight for America has Begun," and "The New Fascist Left and the War for your Mind." Pat's in good comapny -- other speakers include fellow rocker Ted Nugent, and tv's Ben Stein, among others.
Mr. Smithereen Goes To Video!
Joshua Tunick's film about Pat DiNizio's US Senate run and his Living Room Tour, Mr. Smithereen Goes To Washington, is now available on video tape. Tunick's company, 242 Productions, has still photos and clips from the film on his website.
While the film is mainly geared toward Pat's Senate campaign, Tunick is considering cutting a film of just the Living Room Tour - and maybe releasing a live album with Pat from the tour, depending on interest.
To get more information and to order this tape, visit
242 Productions.
Dennis Diken Drums Dore's Debut!
Country-rock artist Florence Dore recently released her album Perfect City, with Dennis Diken on percussion and drums.
The tracks:
Early World, Perfect City, No Nashville, Framed, Christmas, Everything I Dreamed, Postcard, Brain, Say the Thing, Wintertown (Ode to Kent, Oh).
Visit mp3.com for two mp3s from the album, available on the Slewfoot label, catalog number 809.
Mesaros Gets On Bass, With Stickfigure!
Bassist Mike Mesaros lent his talented bass-playing to Jack McDowell and Stickfigure's brand new release, Ape Of The Kings. The CD is on What Are? Records, catalog 60059.
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