Smash Mouth hosts small party at Show Me Center

Trying to think of a progenitor for Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell, the name that comes to mind is Chubby Checker. They have similarly hefty builds, of course, and both possess distinctive voices. But they also bear a spiritual resemblance, a demeanor that says, Here we are, we might as well have a party.

Like Checker and the Twist, you can imagine Smash Mouth recording a song that inspires a new dance.

Harwell and Smash Mouth brought the party to the Show Me Center Tuesday night, performing before a crowd of 1,201. The venue was set up for a capacity of 3,500.

Smash Mouth was headlining the College Television Network Music Binge Tour, but parents and their children composed a large part of the audience. Children like catchy Smash Mouth songs like "All Star" and are fans of the band's music -- a cover of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" -- in the soundtrack of the movie "Shrek." Other Smash Mouth songs appeared in movies "Ice Age," "Big Fat Liar" and "Clock Stoppers."

This is, after all, a band that just got off a tour with the boy group 'N Sync.

Smash Mouth's music was made for parties where men wear loud shirts and everyone drinks cocktails in funny glasses. The Farfisa organ and fuzz-tone guitar of "Walking on the Sun" and "Can't Get Enough of You Baby," the irresistible hooks built into the songs and Harwell's unpretty but stylish vocals add up to a good time.

The band can sound like punk rockers one minute and lead into a disco-ish song with the into from the old '60s dance tune "Tighten Up" the next. They're good musicians. They just aren't very serious. Nobody in the audience seemed to mind.

Opening act Lucky Boys Confusion released a torrent of sound powered by the kinetic drumming of Ryan Fergus and appealing voice of Kastubh (Stubby) Pandav.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

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