Bands to Watch: Smith & Craig

Listen to Smith and Craig

Music's version of the Odd Couple might be Smith & Craig. But on stage and on CD, the unlikely duo — call their sound modern-day classic rock — sounds natural and unforced.

Stephen Craig, 44, grew up in Erie, a big-time fan of the Fab Four and British rock. John Smith is younger, 29, and a native of North Carolina. Van Halen and Guns 'n Roses were his favorites, though he likes Creedence and Lynyrd Skynyrd, too.

When they met in Erie about two years ago, their sensibilities meshed, and they began co-writing songs. For them, the bottom line is songwriting, an art form they feel has slipped in recent years. They write songs that have a timeless, classic feel, enhanced by Smith's sizzling guitar work and Craig's organic piano.

The material ranges from folk-rockers ("Open Road") to hard-riffing, almost GNR-flavored offerings ("Round in Circles") to Elton-esque ballads ("Just Passing Through"). They all unfold with chord progressions and arrangements that feel inevitable, as if you know what's coming.

"We're definitely a throwback with songwriting," Craig said.

Said Smith, "When I write, I hear the whole thing in my head, words and everything. I do all this arranging in my head."

Without playing out much, Smith & Craig secured a publishing deal with Crowe Entertainment. Then they scored something just as exciting — an opening gig for the Zombies with Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone.

Craig had met Argent a few earlier, flying to England for a reunion of the band Argent. (Smith & Craig cover "Hold Your Head Up" on their CD.) When the Zombies played Cleveland last year, he and Smith attended and hung out afterward.

"About 1:30 in the morning, the tour manager says, 'Would you like to do tour support for the band?' And I'm thinking, 'Carry equipment?'" said Craig. "But it was, 'No. Open.'"

There was just one catch. The show was in England. That didn't deter them. Craig scoped out reasonable airfare at the last minute, and Smith got his passport two days before they departed. They did the show last month.

"We were supposed to do three songs, but it ended up being a 45-minute set, and I got to play one of Rod's pianos," Craig said. "We pulled it off, and the audience loved it. I met a girl there, Allison, and I'm going back to see her."

Open up for Zombies and find a girlfriend, too? Things are rolling for Smith & Craig. They now sport a full band with Erie music veteran Dan Smith on bass and drummer Jerode Habas.


BAND MEMBERS
John Smith, guitars, vocals; Stephen Craig, keyboards, guitars, vocals; Dan Smith, bass, vocals; Jerode Habas, drums.

THE INSPIRATION
Erie native Stephen Craig was looking for a songwriting foil and kindred musical spirit. So he posted an ad at Osiecki Bros.

That led him to John Smith, a guitarist who'd recently relocated from North Carolina.

"We started writing together and instantly and came up with a pretty nice sound," Craig said. "We realized it was worth pursuing."

"I moved to Erie mainly for music," Smith said. "I played in Charlotte a lot, but it was a close-minded place. It's like the Bible Belt down there, and rock and roll is kind of taboo. Erie has a pretty cool scene for rock and roll."

GUITAR HEROES
Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Joe Satriani, and Eric Johnson, says Smith. "I don't try to play like them. I just think they're clever. That's what I like."

Said Craig, "I'm on rhythm guitar, so John Lennon for me, absolutely."

FIRST CONCERT YOU SAW
"Guns 'n Roses at their 'Stoned in L.A.' show in 1996," says Smith. "That was a killer tour. They opened for Motley Crue. When Motley Crue came out, everyone left."

"One of my first big shows was Bruce Springsteen in L.A. in 1979 or something," said Craig.

CDS
"Just Passing Through," a 10-song release, is available at Media Play.

WEB SITE
Listen to Smith and Craig

UPCOMING GIGS
Saturday at noon, opening for Abbey Road at Mercyhurst College Ice Arena for Erie Chapter of SABAH benefit ($10 at the door); Saturday from 8-11 p.m. at Moonsense Cafe, 5442 Peach St.; April 22 at McDowell High School Little Theater.