Smash Mouth rocks South Dakota fest
Smash Mouth isn’t going to let something like COVID-19 stop it from rocking fans.
The San Jose band, best known for the hits “Walkin’ on the Sun,” “All Star” and the Monkees cover “I’m a Believer,” performed in front of thousands Sunday in a concert that was part of the huge Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
About 250,000 people are expected at this week’s rally, which is marking its 80th anniversary. And, no, it wasn’t lost on lead singer Steve Harwell that this was happening in the middle of a deadly pandemic or many attendees openly defied COVID-19 safety guidelines.
“We’re all here together tonight … (expletive) that COVID (expletive),” he said to the highly appreciative fans, who videos and photos showed were not observing the widely recommended social distancing protocol and most of whom were not wearing masks.
Smash Mouth is being blasted on social media for putting on the show. “I don’t know what’s worse . ... Willfully endangering your life to see Smash Mouth or Smash Mouth possibly being the last concert you’ll ever see,” said one Twitter post. “That guy from Smash Mouth was right. He ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed,” said another.
Here’s a selection of other tweets:
“Smashmouth is still a band? That tours?? That people pay to see???”
“Imagine risking your health or life and the health and lives of those you care about for Smashmouth. Hell, I don’t care if John Bonham came back from the dead and Zeppelin played a show in the middle of this. No way, man.”
“I cannot imagine needing to see Smash Mouth this badly.”
“I cannot fathom a universe in any dimension in any form of space-time where I would willingly risk my life and health just to watch a (expletive) Smash Mouth live show.”
Although Smash Mouth seems to be taking the brunt of the negative feedback, it’s not the only act performing at the Sturgis festival this week.
The lineup also includes Trapt, Buckcherry, Drowning Pool, Reverend Horton Heat, Lit, 38 Special, Quiet Riot, Big Skillet and another Bay Area band, Night Ranger, which was set to perform Monday.