Pop and Jazz Reviews : The Lighter Side of the Smithereens

With a song catalogue that documents almost as many shipwrecks (of the romantic sort) as Lloyd’s of London, the Smithereens wouldn’t seem the likeliest band to deliver an evening’s light diversion.

But they glossed easily over the wreckage of love in their Tuesday show at the Coach House. The New Jersey band’s 85-minute concert was little concerned with the dark substance of singer Pat DiNizio’s songs, focusing instead on the energy and zest to be found in the musical raw materials in which he packages his sad tales.

For the most part, the Smithereens (who play at the Coach House again tonight before moving on to the Ventura Theatre in Ventura on Saturday and the Roxy on Tuesday) delivered simple pleasures, sans insights and heartaches, during an impeccably tight and forcefully played set steeped in their mid-’60s Brit-rock influences.

Even though the band rarely ranged beyond the narrow bounds of its dark, driving formula, the repetition was enjoyable because the Smithereens’ basics are so solid: capable vocal harmonies and slashing lead guitar from Jim Babjak, steady drumming from Dennis Diken that would erupt in explosive surges at strategic moments, and, above all, the walloping but supplely melodic presence of Mike Mesaros’ bass.

The drawbacks, aside from the glossing over of substance, lay in extracurricular shtick that interrupted those admirable basics. Occasional choreographed stage moves and pompous DiNizio remarks took away from the rawness and purity.