Smithereens - Mats - 6 degrees of separation

[redredwine]

Ok - got a puzzler for ya tonight. Any common link between the NJ band the Smithereens and the Mats?

I know of one, but it is pretty thin - Pat Daninzio (Smithereens lead singer) has a cameo in Singles and Paul wrote 2 songs for the soundtrack - any others?

[Jer]

OK - I think I can do it in 4.

Smithereens featured Suzanne Vega on the track In a Lonely Place.

Suzanne Vega wrote Luka which was covered by The Lemonheads.

The Lemonheads toured with Soul Asylum in `93.

Many connections from there, but Tommy plays bass with Soul Asylum.

Anyhow - Smithereens were a great band. Loved Especially for You and Green Thoughts. Kinda lost it for them after that but still dug their sound compared to most other stuff getting that much play.

[Kathy]

Pat DiNizio was at the afterparty after Paul's 3rd show in NYC in 2005 - did it in 1 degreee!

[redredwine]

Jun 7, 2010 8:42:04 GMT -5 Kathy said:

Pat DiNizio was at the afterparty after Paul's 3rd show in NYC in 2005 - did it in 1 degreee!

Wow - Kathy is the winner (plus she spelled DiNizio's name right) - but I like Jer's link also!

I found another one a bit ago at this page:

members.fortunecity.com/cleonti/elliot_easton.htm

It's a Bristols - Replacements link that I'm not 100% sure of

The author states " The Bristols are a band of great reputation and 'fame' in the Boston area as a working rock band. Despite years of hard work and local popularity, they never landed a major label recording contract, and thus remain largely unheard by the masses. Their claim to national fame, if any, lies with bassist Kim Ernst, who is married to a member of The Replacements. (not sure which, but it's not Paul Westerberg.) According to Pat DiNizio songwriter for The Smithereens, the hit song 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep,' "was written on an airplane from Boston to New York City about a girl <<Kim Ernst>> who played bass in a band called The Bristols in Boston." The Bristols' heyday was the late 80s and early 90s, though they still continue to this day.

The part I'm not so sure of is the "Kim Ernst married to a Mat" statement. I do know that the Smithereens song is about Kim Ernst according to this website:

www.rockshop.com/bostongetsagrip/seasonsofwither.htm

"Kim had hair like Jeannie Shrimpton back in 1965 (yes, the Smithereens' song was written about her)."

I also read that the Bristols opened for the Mats on a tour stop in Boston.

Let's see, The Bristols on the same bill as the Mats. DiNizio wrote a song about the lead singer of the Bristols. I think that counts as 2 steps?

[scoOter]

1 step, 2 steps, whatever. the smithereens flat fucking rock.

[Jer]

I also read that the Bristols opened for the Mats on a tour stop in Boston.

I saw them open for the Mats in Ann Arbor and in Kalamazoo on 2/14 and 2/15/91. I liked `em.

[Nobody]

OK, another Cameron Crowe connection: "A Girl Like You" was written for "Say Anything" (the lyrics pretty much summarize the movie) but not used for whatever reason and the iconic " beatbox-over-the-head scene was supposed to use "Within Your Reach" instead of "In Your Eyes." I have nothing but love for Crowe, but to think what could have been ...

[redredwine]

Jun 10, 2010 23:09:59 GMT -5 Nobody said:

OK, another Cameron Crowe connection: "A Girl Like You" was written for "Say Anything" (the lyrics pretty much summarize the movie) but not used for whatever reason and the iconic " beatbox-over-the-head scene was supposed to use "Within Your Reach" instead of "In Your Eyes." I have nothing but love for Crowe, but to think what could have been ...

Nobody - just read your connection on the latest Red Red Wine on a Sunday - hope ya don't mind....

Love your screenname, BTW

[jasonizzyj]

Smithereens covered "Downbound Train" by Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Springsteen covered "Jersey Girl" by Tom Waits and Tom Waits adds vocals to "Date to Church."