Mighty Mouths

The popularity of the uplifting song “Walkin’ on the Sun” is starting to complicate the heretofore ordinary life of Steve Harwell. A fan of skateboarding, hanging out with friends and listening to his prized collection of Elvis albums and CDs, the lead singer of the punk-ska-pop band Smash Mouth enjoys being an everyday kind of guy. But now that Harwell and his bandmates--lead guitarist Greg Camp, bassist Paul De Lisle and drummer Kevin Coleman--are stirring up the alternative-rock world, the days of blending in with the crowd may be numbered. With a No. 1 single on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks, Smash Mouth’s debut LP, “Fush Yu Mang,” has sold a healthy 227,000 units, according to SoundScan, since its July release.

Within two years, the San Jose quartet has vaulted from no-name obscurity to making numerous radio and in-store promotional appearances and securing opening slots on several high-profile tours. After sharing a bill during the summer with the Orange County band Sugar Ray, they joined the tour by British popsters Blur. Beginning Oct. 31, Smash Mouth will support U2’s mammoth “Popmart” tour for seven U.S. dates.

Not bad for four childhood chums who jammed unceremoniously in their garages, as Harwell recalled, “back in the Van Halen days.”

“We’re living our dream, but it sure seems surreal at times,” he said by phone from a recent tour stop in Austin, Texas. “Forget about pinching myself. Sometimes I feel like asking someone to punch me, just to make sure I’m really awake.”

The band’s singer, who resembles the Three Stooges’ Curly, with long sideburns and tattoos (Elvis, of course), talked excitedly about the future, including a Sunday appearance at the Galaxy Concert Theatre in Santa Ana, an Oct. 17 guest spot on the David Letterman show and the U2 bookings.

But he also insisted that it’s all just business as usual for the band members.

“If you hung out with us for a week, I think you’d have a few beers, grab some fast food and maybe strike up a good--or at least memorably goofy--conversation,” said Harwell, 30. I’m just Steve--or this job won’t be fun anymore.”

Recently, though, he’s noticed a love-’em-or-loathe-’em attitude surrounding the group.

“Once you enjoy a taste of success, everyone around you changes,” he said. “Overnight, it’s like being the most popular guy in high school. Only you wish it didn’t take this to make you so suddenly desirable. It’s all so phony.”

Or, perhaps even worse, he said, people distance themselves completely.

Smash Mouth has drawn ire from its local, punk-based indie scene since signing with Interscope Records, one of rock’s hottest labels. For some observers, jumping straight to the majors, and grabbing regular radio airplay, adds up to selling out.

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Harwell condemned that claim as ludicrous.

“What’s a sellout? . . . Wanting to get our songs played on the radio so we can make a career for ourselves?” he asked incredulously. “I mean, I don’t think it’s nobler to play in front of a dozen cool people at some dive than for a bunch of fans who sing along because they’ve actually listened to ‘Fush Yu Mang.’ ”

The CD dishes up a promising collection of kinetic, tempo-shifting punk, ska and pop-rock. Despite a pair of forgettable, juvenile tracks (“Beer Goggles,” “The Fonz”), there’s enough lighthearted humor to balance the more weighty subject matter, including homeless youths (“Nervous in the Alley”), sexual self-doubts (“Flo”) and communication breakdowns (“Push”).

Sonically, the emphasis is on hook-driven melodies.

“We like catchy tunes with some three-part harmonies,” said Harwell, who cites such diverse influences as Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, ELO, Gene Loves Jezebel, Depeche Mode and Sublime. “We write every song with the intention that it will get played on the radio. We’re not a hard-core punk band with just one guy who screams in agony at the top of his lungs for three or four minutes.”

Though Harwell identifies with the guy next door, he relishes the opportunity to play before crowds--the bigger the better.

“It’s funny; I get a real rush out of performing for lots of people,” he said. “It seems the larger the audience, the less nervous I get. Some of the fans on this tour with Blur have really warmed to us too. It’s a challenge playing for audiences that didn’t come to see you. But if you can win them over, it gives you a tremendous lift.”

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Whether or not Smash Mouth--a term to describe a particularly aggressive style of hitting opponents in football--has staying power will be answered down the road. But for now, the foursome is enjoying the ride.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect our career to take off so fast. And at times, it is overwhelming with all the press, radio, concerts and other commitments,” Harwell said. “But we have absolutely no complaints. I mean, we’re having fun and it wasn’t that long ago we were the only unsigned band in regular rotation on [San Jose FM-radio station] KOME.”

* Smash Mouth performs Sunday at the Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd, Santa Ana. 8 p.m. $10-12. (714) 957-0600.