Smash Fashion
Viper Room
The Sunset Strip, West Hollywood
April 15th, 2008
By Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
Photo by Nick Gill
With our “I Break for Boys in Eye Makeup” bumper sticker is stuck firmly in place we were very happy that Smash Fashion was playing tonight. This band is Dandy Rock. Our favorite, next to Punk.
Met up with lead singer, Roger Deering at a Magic Christian show on the Sunset Strip a while back. Mr. Deering was thrilled to meet their leader, Cyril Jordan founder of legendary Flamin’ Groovies. With that street cred established we knew his band, Smash Fashion was going to rock wild.
Half way through April, we caught the Smashers at the Viper Room. Before the show meeting up with some of their future stage-sharers, The Stone Electric, stone cold cuties from Nashville. Stone E drummer, Chris McGuire (and alt country engineer) was thrilled to be on this legendary boulevard for the first time in this legendary club and showing support for Smash Fashion. They’re so cute when they’re new. Blink, blink.
Taking the stage about nine, Roger intro’ed the set with “Here we go.” And they did. Deering has one of those sensational pop rock voices; sweet, high and articulate. Very Bowie-esque. With a shag hair cut all gleaming with streaks and mod outfitted there is nothing not to love. Tall too. Close to seven feet.
Smash Fashion has superior songs with texture and dimension, breaks and swirling crescendos. Lead guitar Jami Patrick is so Cheap Trick with his white shoes style; razor sharp snarling riffs with pout to match. Does it get any cooler than a drummer from Finland? Answer? No. And Reijo ''Repo'' Kauppial is his name. Pretty thing, Tony Babylon plays the bass.
Break out song “Hard on Love” was very Kinky, as in Ray and Dave. And we loved the cover of Sir Elton’s “Benny and the Jets.” Very Punked out. Finishing up with “All Systems Go” we heard the jangly guitars from the Beatles “If I Needed Someone.” Nice. Hey, if you’re gonna steal, steal big!