The Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw

Way back in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the Smithereens broke big out of their native New Jersey. Songs such as “Only a Memory,” “Blood and Roses” and “A Girl Like You” effectively channel ’60s pop; their catchy choruses and sharp hooks helped the songs crossover from college to commercial radio. The band’s track record in the ’00s has been spotty at best. At one point before he passed away in 2017, singer-guitarist Pat DiNizio held down a gig on the Vegas Strip where he performed Confessions of a Rock Star, a show that featured songs and stories from throughout his life. The band rolls into the Music Box tonight with singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw taking DiNizio's place. Reviews of the show have been generally positive and note how Crenshaw and Co. used the show to pay tribute to the late DiNizio. (Jeff Niesel)