Caught The Smithereens over the weekend...

lowend1 · October 07, 2013, 12:24:32 AM

...playing at a local street fair here in NJ. Here's their part-time bassist, Kenny Howes - nice 4001S (I think). ...and what the E string does when you're not looking.

Paul Boyer · October 07, 2013, 08:06:25 AM

Good ol' Kenny. Knew him from his days as customer service guy at Rickenbacker. Nice gig! Yep, 4001S, judging from the (unreadable at this range) model designator near the nut on the truss-rod cover. Most 4003's won't have this added engraving.

lowend1 · October 07, 2013, 08:47:32 AM

Quote from: Paul Boyer on October 07, 2013, 08:06:25 AM
Good ol' Kenny. Knew him from his days as customer service guy at Rickenbacker. Nice gig! Yep, 4001S, judging from the (unreadable at this range) model designator near the nut on the truss-rod cover. Most 4003's won't have this added engraving.

Just zoomed in on another shot, and all it says is "Made In USA" - so it's a 4003?

Dave W · October 07, 2013, 10:00:15 AM

Wow, Kenny with the Smithereens. Shows how out of touch I am, didn't know he had left Rickenbacker.

TBird1958 · October 07, 2013, 10:39:02 AM

I really like The Smithereens alot! That said, their long time bassist Mike Mesaros is my fave, his playing is simple, yet creative - in their genre I can't think of a guy I like better. Regardless, they're cool, and I think a bit underappreciated

lowend1 · October 07, 2013, 01:36:37 PM

Quote from: Dave W on October 07, 2013, 10:00:15 AM
Wow, Kenny with the Smithereens. Shows how out of touch I am, didn't know he had left Rickenbacker.

He's a part-timer - does the gigs that "The Thrilla From Manila" can't. Maybe he's still there the rest of the time.

eb2 · October 07, 2013, 11:29:00 PM

I saw them a few months ago and he was playing with them. They opened for Tom Petty. Great gig, and they did Amazing Journey. The lead singer has gotten ginormous.

ack1961 · October 08, 2013, 04:01:18 AM

Quote from: eb2 on October 07, 2013, 11:29:00 PM
I saw them a few months ago and he was playing with them. They opened for Tom Petty. Great gig, and they did Amazing Journey. The lead singer has gotten ginormous.

it's that damn White Castle in Rahway

Dave W · October 08, 2013, 11:36:55 AM

Yeah, Pat has gotten huge, just look at some YT videos of live performances in the past few years. He's twice as big as he was 25 years ago. Never mind that, he still rocks.

Hörnisse · October 08, 2013, 03:46:26 PM

Quote from: Dave W on October 08, 2013, 11:36:55 AM
Yeah, Pat has gotten huge, just look at some YT videos of live performances in the past few years. He's twice as big as he was 25 years ago. Never mind that, he still rocks.

I can relate. I'm twice as big as I was 35 years ago!

gearHed289 · October 09, 2013, 09:30:40 AM

I'm twice as old as I was 25 years ago.

Highlander · October 09, 2013, 12:04:25 PM

Why'd you have to bring math into the equation...? I'm twice as old as I was 27 years ago but that sounds younger than the total of the sum involved...

lowend1 · October 09, 2013, 08:12:32 PM

Apparently, Pat had some health issues a few years back that manifested themselves in the form of hives - when he was able to get up, it was only to go to the emergency room. They had him on Prednisone, which, coupled with the inactivity, caused him to balloon up to 350lbs. Since that time he's dropped about 80 lbs. I had not even seen pics of him in years, so when he walked out onstage this past weekend, I was shocked. Great show though. Free, too!
(BTW I like the consistency in their wardrobe)

gearHed289 · October 10, 2013, 09:09:10 AM

I had a feeling there were health issues involved. Gotta be more than Chicago's great food selection.

He's definitely unrecognizable. Hope he's able to get back to a healthy weight.