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Thursday, September 2, 2010
Reunited band to perform this weekend

Thursday, November 12, 2009

It’s not too often that the chance to see a band that cites “basketball players who sleep with a lot of women” as an influence rolls around.

But Saturday night will provide just that opportunity when Smarty Pants, a former power-pop stalwart of the Oklahoma music scene, reunites for an evening at the Conservatory with recently reunited Euclid Crash, indie-powerhouse Student Film and ambient-gazers Little League Hero.

Smarty Pants entertained many in its active years earlier this decade.

Its cheeky, nerd-psychedelia had fun at heart, as noted by its self-released “E=MC Hammer” and boasting influences like “The Karate Kid” and “Star Wars” action figures.

With geeky roots and a poppy sound, Weezer comparisons were imminent and warranted.

No doubt the songs were catchy, but where Smarty Pants truly thrived was on the stage. Donning costumes and blasting out their poppy tunes, the band members left no reason for a single audience member to not have a grin plastered across his or her face.

Chris Palmer, the band’s lead guitarist, noted that the band has been longing to play for those beaming faces during Smarty Pants’ six-year absence.

“[We’ve missed] seeing friendly faces and just having fun playing together, just seeing people have fun at our shows,” Palmer said.

The band’s split was a civil one, mostly just adults moving in new directions.

Some members got new jobs and others moved, but the chance to reunite to play for those smiling faces seems to be just too much to turn down.

It also seems like there might be a few chances to see the band again down the road.

“Six years ago we said we broke up [but] this show feels like we’re not broken up,” Palmer said. “Sure, it would be fun to play shows every year or two; we’ll have to think about that.”

I get the impression that its fans will demand regular performances, and that the band will have a hard time turning down the opportunity to play for them.

Don’t feel like this show is just for the older fans; new ones can look forward to having just as much, if not more, fun.

“It seems like as we got older, people coming to see us got younger,” Palmer said. Younger people are more energetic and that’s what made it fun,” Palmer said.

So being unaware of Smarty Pants back in its heyday might be a blessing in disguise; new, younger fans might very well have the best time of all.

You’ll just have to show up on Saturday to find out.

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