Smash Mouth ready to rock the North Idaho State Fair

Sizzling synthesizer, retro rock, up-tempo beats, swinging style, oh-so-groovy organ.

Keyboardist Michael Klooster has been tickling Smash Mouth's electronic ivories since 1997, taking much joy in his career as a purveyor of radio hits and memorable music enjoyed by fans across the generations.

"It’s an honor to do what I love," Klooster said Tuesday morning in a phone interview with The Press.

Riding the generational waves has been smooth sailing for Smash Mouth, which has always taken influence from the much-loved hip bands of yesteryear. 

"What’s cool about Smash Mouth is not only is there a '60s theme, there’s a new-wave theme and disco. It's really cool," Klooster said. "We're not locked into any style because we’re so widespread." 

Originally from San Jose, Calif., Smash Mouth formed in 1994 and skyrocketed to radio and music video fame with the band's debut single, "Walkin' on the Sun." This was soon followed by "All Star," a huge hit that was used in the 1999 film "Mystery Men."

"The meme world with 'All Star' never seems to go away," Klooster said with a laugh.

A Smash Mouth remake of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" introduced a brand-new generation to the song when it was included in the "Shrek" soundtrack. The first "Shrek" was released in 2001, 35 years after the Monkees released "Believer."

“It is a huge thing with our band," Klooster said. "We have promoters, they’re like, 'I've never seen so many generations enjoy a band together at the same time.'"

Even in the beginning, Klooster said, Smash Mouth members received fan mail from kids who said their band was the only band on which they could connect with their parents.

"We’ve always had this weird relationship with young generations, middle generations and old generations," Klooster said. "We see it all the time and we’re astonished by it."

The musical bridging of generations continues for Smash Mouth as it recently covered the Brady Bunch classic, "Sunshine Day," featuring Greg Brady himself: Barry Williams.

"It was great. We’ve known Barry for quite a while," Klooster said. "In the early days we'd do festivals, and he would be the emcee. He would have his band, the Johnny Bravo."

He said he and bassist Paul De Lisle have always been fans of old TV.

"A lot of that stuff has lost social impact over the years," Klooster said. "We grew up on 'Andy Griffith,' 'Brady Bunch,' all that stuff."

He said "Sunshine Day" fits the Smash Mouth style.

"It came out really, really great," he said. "I really like it."

Smash Mouth, currently on its "Ride On" Tour, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the North Idaho State Fair and Rodeo alongside what Klooster describes as its "brother band" — Sugar Ray, which also ascended to fame around the same time as Smash Mouth with songs such as "Fly," "Someday" and "Every Morning."

"We were brother bands in 1997. That was our first tour, Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth," Klooster said. "We’ve done many a summer tour together."

This won't be Smash Mouth's first performance in the Lake City.

"I remember going on the lake and it was well over a decade ago," Klooster said. "And I’ve definitely played Spokane." 

He said the band enjoys the mass appeal of performing at a venue where multiple generations can have a collective musical experience.

"So many people can get together and enjoy a high-energy show," Klooster said. "The whole thing is nothing but fun. It's great. I really look forward to coming and seeing your fair."

Info: nisfair.fun

    Smash Mouth will play the North Idaho State Fair on Aug. 20.