New Jersey Rock Royalty Returns to Red Bank as The Smithereens Take the Vogel Stage

Few bands are as inseparable from New Jersey’s musical identity as The Smithereens, and this fall the Garden State rock institution brings its storied catalog back home with a special performance at the Vogel at the Basie Center Campus in Red Bank. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 8 p.m., promising an evening steeped in power pop history, ringing guitars, and songs that have soundtracked decades of American rock radio.

Formed in Carteret in 1980, The Smithereens emerged at a time when sharp songwriting and classic influences were colliding with modern edge. Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, Mike Mesaros, and Dennis Diken crafted a sound that drew heavily from the melodic sophistication of the British Invasion while retaining the grit and immediacy of American garage rock. That balance became their signature, earning the band a loyal following well beyond New Jersey and placing them firmly in the national conversation by the mid-1980s.

Their ascent accelerated with the release of Especially for You in 1986, an album that produced enduring staples like “Blood and Roses” and “Behind the Wall of Sleep.” Those songs, driven by chiming guitars and emotionally direct lyrics, helped define an era of alternative-leaning rock that still felt rooted in classic songcraft. Subsequent releases, including Green Thoughts and 11, expanded their reach even further, yielding hits such as “Only a Memory,” “A Girl Like You,” and “Too Much Passion.” During that period, The Smithereens became fixtures on MTV and college radio while sharing stages with artists ranging from Tom Petty and Lou Reed to The Pretenders.

Live performance has always been central to the band’s reputation, and that reputation has only grown with time. Their shows are known for muscular arrangements, tight harmonies, and an unpretentious connection with the audience. Alongside their original work, the band has also paid homage to its influences through full-album tributes to icons like The Beatles and The Who, reinforcing their place within the broader lineage of classic and alternative rock.

After the passing of Pat DiNizio in 2017, Babjak, Mesaros, and Diken chose not to close the book on the band’s legacy. Instead, they moved forward with purpose, honoring their longtime frontman by keeping the music alive onstage. In recent years, that approach has included collaborations with respected guest vocalists, among them John Cowsill, whose résumé includes both The Cowsills and a long tenure with The Beach Boys. His presence adds a fresh dynamic while remaining faithful to the spirit of the songs fans know by heart. Other guest vocalists have included Robin Wilson of Gin Blossoms and Marshall Crenshaw, underscoring the band’s wide-ranging influence across generations of rock artists.

The Smithereens’ recorded legacy continues to evolve as well. Their most recent release, The Lost Album, brings previously unheard sessions featuring DiNizio to light, offering fans a deeper look into the band’s creative history and reaffirming the timeless quality of their songwriting.

Set against the intimate yet refined atmosphere of the Vogel, this Red Bank performance is more than just a concert. It is a home-state celebration of a band that helped shape modern American rock while never losing its New Jersey roots. For longtime listeners and newcomers alike, it is an opportunity to experience a living chapter of the state’s rich musical story, one that remains an essential part of the broader New Jersey music scene highlighted throughout Explore New Jersey’s coverage of live music and artists.