With almost 30 years as a household name thanks to songs like ” All Star” and “Walkin’ On The Sun,” Smash Mouth has made their name synonymous with fun, funky, and fresh.
I have gotten to see a lot of “older” touring acts— musically, groups that have gotten to the point of having more than 20 years touring and making music. I cannot think of any one of them that competed with the infectious energy that vocalist Zach Goode brought to the stage. While, truthfully, bassist Paul De Lisle is the only original member from the start of their legacy, you would not have been able to tell. Sean Hurwitz (lead guitar), Randy Cooke (percussion), and Michael Klooster (keyboard) all gave you a performance showing you just how much they were all equally members of this legendary group.
The set they chose contained pieces spanning their entire discography, with songs dating back to 1997’s Fush Yu Mang, and covering everything since. Of course, the crowd favorites were seeing their memories flash on screen, along with clips of the movie “Shrek,” as we were treated to special versions of “I’m A Believer” and “All Star.” One of the coolest segments to me, though, was the jam session between Cooke and Klooster. It was a symphony of drums and synth sounds that were an absolute joy, bringing the nostalgia and sounds of late ’90s ska and punk to my ears.
Between the sweet sounds of history, the fun tidbits of story, and the audience interactions, Goode was exceptional at balancing it all with this trip down memory lane. I can say from experience; the best concerts to attend are the ones just like this, soaked in fun, emotion, and the best of times for all ages. Whether you were there listening to your past, or brought in with your parents, there wasn’t a single person in that auditorium that didn’t have a blast.
Well done, gentlemen.
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