Gerry Casey Interviews Denny Smith

October 10, 2021

HOME PAGE

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Denny Smith of The Great Affairs

Denny was born in Salinas, California, but raised in Central Illinois, the oldest of four children. As such, he lacked the guidance of a senior, hipper sibling, and became a student of Casey Kasem’s Top 40, immersing myself in the Pop hits of the 80s, more or less unaware of anything else that may have existed beyond the confines of that weekly countdown. Soon enough though, MTV did it’s part to broaden those horizons, and a failed relationship with the Columbia House Record Club’s 12-Albums-For-A-Penny offer got him his real start in both delinquency and musical education, as he never did pay for my requisite number of additional purchases, but he did(and still do)enjoy the hell out of the ones he essentially purloined before their legal department realized he was an 11 yr. old, impervious to threats of litigation.

That burgeoning record collection led to an itch to play the guitar, an itch likely inflamed by the knowledge that guys with guitars got the girls who liked guys with guitars, or at least that’s what KISS taught me, and he never, not even for a second doubted the gospel of Paul, Gene, Ace, & Peter.

In June of 2018, Kivel Records released The Great Affairs’ ‘Ten & 2’. That record found the band pursuing a more muscular, guitar-heavy sound, owing as much to their Classic Rock forebears as formative efforts had to the Singer/Songwriter model. Inspired perhaps by their 2017 covers EP ‘Six Pack’, where the band mined and re-imagined gems from ‘70s FM stalwarts like Thin Lizzy, Fleetwood Mac, and Cheap Trick, the collection openly embraced their various influences to create a sound both comfortably familiar and refreshingly its own.

The Great Affairs have shared the stage with Tom Keifer of Cinderella, Loverboy, Cowboy Mouth, The Wild Feathers, LIT, Nelson, Jack Russell’s Great White, Firehouse, Trixter, Bulletboys, Enuff Z’Nuff, John Corabi(The Dead Daises/Motley Crue), Steven Adler(GNR), The Quireboys, Loudness, Mike Tramp(White Lion), Eric Martin(Mr. Big), Walter Egan, Head East, Every Mother’s Nightmare, L.A. Guns, Lillian Axe, and Alien Ant Farm, among others, including the one & only Corey Feldman…but that’s a story for another time.

<br />

Google	Spotify	Deezer	Breaker
Pocket Cast	Radio Public	Stitcher	TuneIn
IHeart Radio	Mixcloud	PlayerFM	Amazon
Jiosaavn	Gaana	Vurbl	Audius
Reason.Fm

Find our Podcasts on these outlets

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music