A Few Moments With Dennis Diken of The Smithereens

Dennis Diken, drummer and founding member of The Smithereens, joins us for a bonus podcast ahead of the band's one-night-only show with Marshall Crenshaw at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis on Friday, June 5. From "Blood and Roses" and "Behind the Wall of Sleep" to "Only a Memory" and "A Girl Like You," The Smithereens built a sound that still hits hard—power pop, rock, British Invasion hooks, and Jersey grit all wrapped into songs that have aged a whole lot better than most of us. In this conversation, Dennis talks about what fans can expect when The Smithereens return to Annapolis, how guest vocalists step into songs that are so closely tied to Pat DiNizio, and why the band's music has never felt stuck in one era. We also dig into some deeper cuts, what still grabs his ear in new music, the vinyl he would hate to lose, and the dream collaborator he'd love to have onstage or in the studio. Very limited tickets remain for The Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw at Rams Head On Stage on June 5. Details are available at RamsHeadOnStage.com, and you can keep up with the band at officialsmithereens.com. Normally, I'd say "have a listen now, and then grab your best friend and get a pair of tickets!" But not today. Put this on pause, get the tickets first (they are selling out) and THEN come back and... Have a listen! LINKS: The Smithereens (Website) The Smithereens (Facebook) The Smithereens (YouTube) The Smithereens (Instagram) The Smithereens (X) The Smithereens (Spotify) The Smithereens (Tickets)