The Smithereens with special guest vocalist John Cowsill with special guest opener Freedy Johnston at Ardmore Music HallFriday, October 17, 2025 Seated Doors: 6:45 PM | GA Doors: 7:15 PM | Show: 8:00 PM 21+ Unless with a Parent or Legal Guardian About The Venue - Food, Concessions + Drink Menus | Venue FAQ | Contact Info About The Smithereens Website | Facebook | X (Twitter) | Spotify | Apple Music Founded in New Jersey in 1980, The Smithereens have been creating electrifying, original rock’n’roll for 42 years. Jim Babjak (guitar) Dennis Diken (drums) and Mike Mesaros (bass) grew up together in Carteret and lead singer, the late Pat DiNizio, hailed from Scotch Plains. The band paid its dues in clubs all over the NYC tri-state area from Kenny’s Castaways in Greenwich Village to the Court Tavern and Stone Pony in NJ. As The Smithereens’ fame escalated, they were in heavy rotation on MTV and appeared on The Tonight Show, Conan O'Brien, and Saturday Night Live. They’ve since performed on stages coast to coast from the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles to the Meadowlands Arena in NJ to Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, and internationally from Europe to Australia. Tour mates have included Tom Petty, Squeeze, The Pretenders, Lou Reed, and Ramones, among others. About John Cowsill Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube John Cowsill began playing drums and singing at the age of 7, joining his siblings to form the hit 1960’s band The Cowsills. During this time he also toured as the drummer of Dwight Twilley’s band. Cowsill began playing with the touring Beach Boys on keyboards and vocals in 2000. He moved to the drums in 2008, and was featured as lead vocalist on such songs as "Wild Honey,” "California Dreamin’,” “Darlin’,” and "Sail On Sailor." In 2011, Cowsill was chosen to play with Brian Wilson’s band-- along with Al Jardine and Mike Love--on The Beach Boys’ sold-out 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour. Cowsill appears on that band's subsequent studio album, That's Why God Made the Radio (2012). About Freedy Johnston Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify Freedy Johnston is a singer-songwriter originally from Kinsley, Kansas. A town 1,561 miles from both New York and San Francisco. He moved to New York in the 1980's and worked as an office temp for a few years before landing a deal with Bar None Records in Hoboken. His second record for them was his breakthrough album, 1992's Can You Fly. He then signed to Elektra Records and in 1994 worked with producer Butch Vig on his biggest record, This Perfect World, which featured the radio hit “Bad Reputation”, and earned him Rolling Stone's Songwriter of the Year award for 1994. His songs were featured in the movies “Kingpin”, “Kicking and Screaming” and “Heavy”. He currently lives in Joshua Tree, California. Join Ardmore Music Club | Private Events | AMH Merch