Invasion of the '80s

Aug. 21, 2015

One is a San Francisco glam-punk band whose stage presence includes flashing sunglasses, platform shoes, wild stage antics and questionable lyrics. The other is an alternative power-rock outfit from New Jersey who favors black T-shirts and got its name from a Yosemite Sam catchphrase.

Opposite coasts, and most definitely contradictory approaches to being a band, but you’ll hear similar sounds because they both crafted some of the most familiar songs of ’80s rock radio, which is probably why they’ve hit the road together for their 2015 Rock of the ’80s Tour. They’re making a stop at the Little River Casino Resort this weekend.

THE SMITHEREENS

This New Jersey band’s first two major songs were 1986’s "Behind the Wall of Sleep" and "Blood and Roses," a double dose of altpop that landed them in the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.

Their first ballad, "In a Lonely Place," was inspired by psychedelic English band The Move and borrowed some of its lyrics, storywise, from the Humphrey Bogart movie of the same name.

Many think of the band as an early ’90s act, as it wasn’t until their strident single "A Girl Like You" hit the Billboard pop charts in 1990 that they really"¦ well, hit their own stride.

From there, it was on to radio favorites like "Top of the Pops," "Too Much Passion," their blistering cover of The Outsiders’ 1965 hit "Time Won’t Let Me" (as featured on the Timecop movie soundtrack) and a duet with former member of The Go-Go’s Belinda Carlisle ("Blue Period").

They never became massive like their fellow New Jerseyans Bon Jovi, but their strongly written, enthusiastically performed songs have kept them going for over three decades, largely due to their signature sound.

"This is something precious that cannot be bought, faked or imitated," Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken recently told The Washington Times in an interview, "the fans keep us going."

Up next for The Smithereens is the continuation of their live shows – they’ve already got concerts booked through March 2016 – and singer Pat DiNizio’s 60th birthday bash concert, at which he and his Smithereen-mates will share the stage with Marshall Crenshaw and The Grip Weeds in his New Jersey hometown.

THE TUBES

These Cali punkers may look well-worn on the outside, but their inner sensibilities remain the same, at least musically. Frontman Fee Waybill said they’re still playing some of their best-known tracks, including "White Punks on Dope," "Talk to Ya Later" and their biggest punk-pop hit, "She’s a Beauty."

The Tubes debut album was released in 1975 and spawned the loud, some would say rude, "White Punks" single, plus opening spots for the likes of The New York Dolls and Iggy Pop, as well as shows worldwide. For what was essentially a group of high school friends, this was heady stuff and they pushed their antics onstage (and sometimes offstage) to excess.

As a result, they bounced from label to label, leaving A&M for Capitol Records, and then departing Capitol in the mid-’80s.

Waybill actually left the band in 1986, moving on to co-write pop songs for, and with, other artists, but he returned in 1993 to join the band on a European tour and has stuck around since for this more casual version of The Tubes, which may or may not be working on a new album that may or may not have a release date of next year ("No sneak peeks!" Waybill said when asked.)

Many personnel changes and a decade and a half later, they released a live album, The Tubes World Tour 2001, and got back on the road. In 2009, they released their rarities album, Mondo Birthmark.

As far as touring goes today, let’s just say it’s not the ’80s anymore.

"We pretty much only do weekends now," Waybill said. "And no tour buses. So it’s not really a tour. It’s a one-night stand."

The Smithereens and The Tubes will be in concert at Little River Casino Resort, 2700 Orchard Highway in Manistee, Friday, Aug. 28 at 9pm. For tickets and more information, visit lrcr.com or call 800-585-3737.