Music fans at The Vogel in Red Bank, NJ this Thursday, December 18, 2025 evening are ready to be spellbound by The Smithereens, the Carteret, NJ band that exploded in the ’80s and ’90s and went on to influence such rockers as Lou Reed, The Gin Blossoms, and Nirvana.
Lead guitarist Jim Babjak, drummer Dennis Diken, and bassist Severo “The Thrilla” Jornacion — along with guest vocalist John Cowsill and guest keyboardist Arne Wendt — take the Vogel stage to a twangy recording of The Ventures’ “Sleigh Ride.”
Following a false start, the band launches into “Behind the Wall of Sleep” where John Cowsill’s voice is full and resonant as he sings, “Now I lie in bed and think of her/Sometimes I even weep/Then I dream of her behind the wall of sleep,” on this fast rocking tune.
Three-part back-up vocals and an Arne Wendt boogie-woogie piano part support the rockin’ “Top of the Pops” where concertgoers sing along with The Smithereens on the “Top top/Top of the pops” refrain. “Hello, Red Bank!” shouts Severo “The Thrilla” Jornacion on bass as Jim Babjak shreds a guitar solo on the coda.
Fans cheer and Babjak jokes, “I am so sorry,” as the band segues into “Sorry,” where Cowsill moves about the stage as he sings, “I would like to say I’m sorry but I won’t,” on this driving rocker.
Dennis Diken exclaims, “Let’s hear it for John Cowsill!” before announcing, “We’ve got a song coming up especially for you from our first album.” Tight drums and bass back up Cowsill and Diken as they sing, “Please don’t look my way/When you see me on the street” under colored lights on the pop-rocker, “Strangers When Me Meet.”
Babjak removes his jacket before his feedback guitar introduces “Only a Memory.” Wendt’s staccato keyboard accompanies Babjak’s guitar solo which echoes The Beatles’ “Taxman” prior to taking on a mind of its own as the crowd cheers.
Cowsill talks about meeting The Smithereens in 1991 when they asked his family band, The Cowsills, to sing on their song, “Now and Then.” Jornacion’s bass and Babjak’s guitar shine on this up-tempo rocker where three-part vocal harmonies ring out on the tune’s catchy “Now and then/I feel like giving up” refrain as lights swirl.
Diken makes a toast to the late Smithereens’ singer/guitarist Pat DiNizio before announcing, “Jimmy wrote this song with Pat.” Here, Babjak and the group perform “Cut Flowers,” where Cowsill croons, “Cut flowers sent/To a girl with sentimental ways/Cut flowers meant/More to her on ordinary days,” on this rock ballad.
Babjak is the featured vocalist on the backbeat Christmas rocker, “Waking Up on Christmas Morning,” before Cowsill sings lead and plays harmonica on the Elvis Presley rocker, “Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me).” The Smithereens follow up with a driving rendition of Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” under multi-colored lights.
Cowsill leaves the stage to Babjak who rhythmically strums his guitar as he sings, “Didn’t I promise you to love you until I the day I die?” on the rock ballad, “Life is So Beautiful,” prior to rendering a screaming electric guitar solo which leaves multiple audience members standing and bowing.
Babjak talks about meeting Dennis Diken on their first day of high school before Diken’s voice is featured on “I Don’t Want to Lose You,” a song which has concertgoers’ heads bopping to the beat of this rhythmic rocker.
Cowsill returns to sing the alt rock tune “Miles to Nowhere” and his lead vocal is supported by Babjak’s top-notch guitar work on “Drown in My Own Tears.”
Cowsill’s bluesy lead draws in listeners as he croons, “One touch from you and I just can’t believe,” as lights spin on the 12/8 rock ballad, “Spellbound.”
Diken talks about growing up in Carteret and playing with Babjak and bassist Mike Mesaros before meeting Pat DiNizio and forming The Smithereens, noting that, in March, the group will celebrate 46 years together.
On “The House We Used to Live In” the crowd echoes Cowsill on the “House (house)/We (we)/Used (used)/Used to live in” refrain of this appealing rocker. Then, rolling drums transition the band into an impressive instrumental rendition of The Who’s “Sparks” from Tommy where Babjak gives a virtuoso electric guitar performance which has audience members cheering on their feet under flashing lights.
To conclude tonight’s performance, concertgoers stand and dance as Cowsill sings, “I want to love, but it comes out wrong/I want to live, but I don’t belong” on “Blood and Roses.” Diken’s drumming drives this pop-rocker where Jornacion gets the crowd revved up with an impressive bass solo before the song ends in a flurry of light and sound.
Music fans stand and cheer as the band leaves the stage and Cowsill takes a seat at the drums to accompany Diken who rhythmically recites the poem, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Diken and Cowsill trade places for a rockin’ rendition of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” and Cowsill, Babjak, and Jornacion jam together in a line as they perform the upbeat pop-rocker, “Time and Time Again.”
Following an energetic rendition of The Beatles’ “Please, Please Me,” Babjak thanks the crowd, announcing, “This is dedicated to all of you. Go in peace!” Lights flash and fans dance as they echo-sing, “I’ll do anything (I’ll do anything)/I’ll say anything (I’ll say anything)/I’ll say anything, almost anything/Except goodbye,” with Cowsill on a stellar rendition of the funky rocker, “A Girl Like You.”
Wendt’s organ swirls, Diken’s drums roll, Babjack appropriates guitar licks from The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” and “Don’t Let Me Down,” and Severo eggs on the crowd as he holds up his bass to cheers and applause before Babjack exclaims, “We had a great time tonight! Thank you so much! We are The Smithereens!” and the band bows and exits the stage.
As concertgoers make their way out of the venue, several chat with Smithereens band members who meet with fans in The Vogel lobby. Here, guest keyboardist Arne Wendt reveals, “For me, growing up, The Smithereens were one of the saviors of rock and roll. I remember listening to them and thinking, ‘These guys are great, and they’re from Jersey!’ prior to acknowledging, “Tonight was my first gig with them and it was an honor to share a stage with them. They really know how to rock!”
Audience members also share their thoughts on tonight’s performance by The Smithereens. Exclaims Sandi from Brick, “I love the Smithereens! I first saw them in the ’80s and I’ve been following them ever since. I really liked seeing John Cowsill with the group tonight. He fits in really well with the vibe and has such good stage presence. The Smithereens are such a great band and they’re still rocking after 46 years!”
Remarks Gary from Holmdel, “I’ve seen The Smithereens eight times in my life and they put on a really good show tonight. There was a lot of energy on stage and the original members — Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken — were unbelievable! Plus I really liked seeing the group here at The Vogel; it’s such a great venue.”
Jim from Union City reveals, “I first saw The Smithereens at a summer fair in Hoboken many years ago — this was probably eight or ten years before Pat DiNizio passed. I thought they were awesome and I’ve followed them ever since. Through the years, I’ve seen all the incarnations of the group, including shows with original bassist Mike Mesaros and guest singer Marshall Crenshaw. John Cowsill did a great job tonight and Sevaro on bass did an excellent job getting the crowd going, plus I really loved the addition of the keyboards, which was something I’d never seen from The Smithereens.”
Lastly, Gregg from Freehold asserts, “It was a fantastic show tonight! I’ve seen The Smithereens several times and they’re always great, but this is my first time here at this venue and I really love it — it has a real club feel to it. Jim is a phenomenal guitarist who, I think, is completely underrated, and John Cowsill did a really great job on vocals — I think he might be my favorite Smithereens guest singer,” before concluding, “The Smithereens are a super talented band; I think they’re totally underrated, but they rock like crazy!”
To learn more about The Smithereens, please go to officialsmithereens.com. To learn more about great upcoming performances at The Vogel — including Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Show on January 23, Richard Elliot on January 30, and Mike Dawes on February 6 — please navigate to thebasie.org/venue/the-vogel/.
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