Pat Dinizio is the lead singer/songwriter from The Smithereens, who formed in 1980. Aside from playing with The Smithereens, Dinizio writes, records and performs as a solo artist. His Living Room concerts set new standards for the intimate coffeehouse and storytelling performance.
Living Room Concerts:
One of the most remarkable and wonderful experiences of my life was the 5-month long "LIVING ROOM TOUR" that I did several years ago, performing solo acoustic concerts in the homes, living rooms, and backyards of over 70 Smithereens friends and supporters across the U.S.A., logging over 65,000 miles (FREE miles, much to the chagrin of Budget Rent-A-Car!!) in a rented 4-wheel drive vehicle.
This sort of tour had never been attempted before by a pop music artist who had achieved some level of national recognition, and I was told by many of my cynical associates within the music industry that my idea and tour itself would fail.
THEY WERE WRONG! Now many other musical artists are doing Living Room Concerts. And I am proud to have played some small part in breaking new ground. In any event.IT'S TIME TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN.
I've decided to resume/continue the House Concert concept on a more or less regular basis, doing shows primarily on weekends when it's much easier for working folks to promote these intimate concerts in their own homes. Weeknights just don't seem to work as well as weekends for a concert as everyone's got to get up early the next morning to go to work! I find that after being part of a Living Room Concert experience, most music lovers tend to prefer these sort of personalized shows, and in fact, actually enjoy them more than most concerts they attend that are held within the strict and often "uptight" confines of the "typical" nightclub or concert venue.These shows are loose, and fun, and very memorable.especially for ME! I do solo acoustic concerts that last nearly three hours and they are "request only" sets. The audience calls out the songs and I do my best to entertain them. I am honored and grateful to have become close friends with most of the good people who have sponsored these concerts, and these warm friendships have brought great joy into my life.
Testimonials
Knoxville, Tennessee I think the most powerful thing about the living room venue, was the bravery Pat displayed in shedding the elevated stage, wall of blinding lights (if you have ever been on stage, the lights create a glare that usually renders the audience invisible), and security of immense sound systems and a backing band. Alone with an acoustic guitar surrounded by couches and chairs, Pat had nothing to suport him except his considerable talent. When his sets came to an end, he was instantly accessible and just another aging adult comparing stories about family life and dealing with an evolving pop culture. I seriously doubt many accomplished performers have the self-assurance to deal with people on that kind of level. - Chuck Thomas
Neptune, New Jersey When my wife Linda and I bought and moved into our new home a few months ago, our imaginations did not allow us to fully envision what actually occurred here last Saturday night. We always knew we wanted to do something special; something out of the ordinary for our "housewarming" party. We knew any housewarming had to include three basic things: our closest friends, great music, and good food. Our learning about Pat`s "Living Room Tour" happened to coincide with the planning of this party. We felt that hosting one of these shows might be just the thing to do to really warm our house and sort of give a "present" to our friends that they would never forget. Well, as it turned out, we were all treated to an experience that surpassed our expectations. When Pat broke into "Only A Memory" to start things off, we knew we were in the midst of something very special. Everyone in the room sang the chorus with Pat. It almost sounded "hymn-like." It was great. Now we have always been big fans of The Smithereens; particularly of Pat`s writing and the group's pure rock `n roll sound and obvious influences. Hearing Pat sing and play these songs on his acoustic in their barest and most honest form however, took them to another level. Out of the many highlights, that included our friend Joe playing guitar along with Pat on (a very bluesy) "The Blues Before and After," "Blood and Roses," and "A Girl Like You;" one particular moment stood out above the rest. We anticipate hosting Pat again sometime along the way. We hope he continues his "Living Room" tour for years to come. We thank you Pat, our friend. - Linda and Ralph
Knoxville, Tennessee The thing I thought was really cool is the instant transformation he would undergo the moment he opened his mouth and sang. Perhaps this happened only in my head, or perhaps it is a blend of reality and my head, but I was amazed by how his voice shifted into "smithereens mode." If your eyes would have been closed, you would have thought it was 2 different people. Way cool. He has cultivated a vocal style that is his own and he has control of it (even with a cold, for crying out loud). He brought back some cool memories for me and I had no idea I knew 75% of their stuff just from KROQ airplay! Sheet bruda, dat was coo. - Scott Spaid
Austin, Texas Hey Pat. I have been meaning to drop you a line and tell you how great your show was at the Cactus Cafe in Austin a few weeks ago. You have one of the most unique voices in music and your songs are timeless. Thanks for coming down. - Todd
Knoxville, Tennessee Hey, Pat. Just wanted to pass along one more "thank you" for the show last night. Everyone's coming into my office this morning saying things like, "Man that was so cool -- that was so awesome!" And those who didn't make it are kicking themselves for missing such a unique and rewarding experience. You played your guts out, and all of us could tell. I even got a little choked up during "She's Got a Way" thinking about my own daughter. The whole evening is series of fond memories. I jammed with a Smithereen. It doesn't get any cooler than that. Take care and God bless, - David Jacobs
