Mouthing Off

"My attitude going into making the record was, 'Let's write nothing but hits,'” says ever-confident Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell. The 46-year-old Californian has every reason to be brash. His band have topped international charts, sold in excess of ten million albums worldwide, been the go-to band for Hollywood soundtracks and toured every corner of the globe, Afghanistan included. Reinvigorated and searching for a more mature sound, the band have just released Magic, their first offering in six years, an album Harwell says contains “quirky, poppy and beautiful songs”.

Magic also features a cover, something that has become the band's trademark having already taken on The Monkees, War and The Beatles. “I recorded that song about seven years ago,” he says of Simple Minds' Don't You (Forget About Me). “I've got a bunch of great covers that we've done that we've never put out. We've got enough music for about three records. I always felt this cover was one of the best we'd done and I think it may even become our next single.”

Their affiliation with covers has also exposed the band to a massive audience, with I'm A Believer prominently featured in the 2001 film Shrek, a luxury Harwell admits afforded the band an easier ride. “The industry's changed a lot and records don't sell like they use to. A lot of artists rely on touring and stuff like that. We're fortunate that we do so much licensing through movies, TV shows and commercials, that we have another avenue outside of touring.”

When asked if he has ever considered giving up the band and retiring off royalties to live the high life, Harwell is frank. “Could I retire off royalties? Of course I could. But I can't stop playing music.”

That passion has seen the band play off the beaten path. Having performed at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, Harwell makes light of his time spent nearby the infamous detainment and integration facility.

“We got to go to Guantanamo and play for the troops there,” he reflects fondly. “I got to visit the prison where all the terrorist guys were. I'll never forget, I wasn't that far from this guy behind a fence, a big guy with a beard and he looked like he wanted to eat me. Then we got flown onto an aircraft carrier out at sea and played for 5,000 sailors.

“We also went to Iraq and Afghanistan. It's mind blowing, the conditions, it's so hot over there. We got to hang out with the sniper guys, play with crazy guns and blow shit up and fly around in Apache helicopters. I got to stay at one of Saddam Hussein's palaces, which was creepy because all the American soldiers had taken it over and made it their headquarters.”

Despite touring war-torn nations, the band have never performed in Australia. “We've had three tours get cancelled over the years and have a lot of Australian fans who have been waiting a long time to see us. It's the one place I was determined to get to and it's become a reality.”

While their setlist will no doubt feature all the hits, don't be expecting the same band from 1996. “We've grown up and gotten all the craziness out of our system. Guys have kids and families and are married. We've grown as musicians and it's a different show now. It's not five kids jumping around and climbing on everything. It's just one killer rock'n'roll show.”

Smash Mouth will be playing the following dates:

Friday 8 March - Jupiters Theatre, Broadbeach QLD
Saturday 9 March - Hoey Moey Hotel, Coffs Harbour NSW
Sunday 10 March - Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle NSW
Wednesday 13 March - The Hi-Fi, Melbourne VIC
Thursday 14 March - Entrance Leagues Club, Gosford NSW
Friday 15 March - Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill NSW
Saturday 16 March - Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale NSW