August 2026 is a big month for Smash Mouth as the band released Mercury Comet, their first album of original material since 2012's Magic, and the first LP of the Zach Goode era.

The 12-song disc dropped on August 12 and includes “Better Believer,” “Had Enuff,” and “Monsters On My Block” among others. 

The current lineup is Goode (vocals), Paul De Lisle (bass), Michael Klooster (keyboards), Sean Hurwitz (guitar) and Randy Cooke (drums). De Lisle is the last original member of the San Jose band and the main songwriter. Goode officially became Smash Mouth’s singer four years ago, a few months after longtime singer Steve Harwell retired.

Harwell passed away in September 2023 at age 56 from acute liver failure. He was the face of Smash Mouth from its inception in 1994 through 2021. Goode had the tough job of singing hits millions of people knew by heart, including the distinctive way Harwell sang them.

It's something Brian Johnson had to contend with following Bon Scott and Adam Lambert fought through when he joined Queen. 

Luckily Goode and De Lisle had a much easier task recently of reminiscing about which concerts made a lasting impression on them as fans. While at the Setlist Studios recently they chatted it up with Bree Wilde about some of those memories.

Click the video above for the entire discussion or keep scrolling for a few of the highlights.

Lollapalooza, Saratoga Springs, August 12, 1991

Zach Goode: That was one of the big ones for me back in the early '90s.

There was so many incredible shows back then. I'd say '89 was the pivotal year -- the big year that all these bands came out that I discovered: Pixies, De La Soul, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction and all these bands that became my favorite bands for the whole decade.

That led into '90 and '91 and then Janes did the Lollapalooza thing and I happened to live on the East Coast, so we all did a road trip and went to Saratoga Springs.

That lineup as I'm sure you know... I forgot who opened. Maybe Butthole Surfers went first and Gibby had the shotgun where he was firing blanks, and people were freaking out.

And then Rollins Band.

And Ice T came out and did a rap set. Then they took a break and they came out with a full band and did Body Count. And no one ever heard Body Count before, so that just blew everyone's mind.

Siouxsie and the Banshees - I remember they played "Dear Prudence" with Dave Navarro.

Living Colour, Jane's... then it became this historic thing, you know. That was an amazing memory.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Keystone, Palo Alto, October 12, 1985

Back in the mid '80s -- I grew up in Mountain View, California -- I was a student at San Jose State University, and I was into alternative music and punk rock and there was this new band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, that were combining... they were a punk rock band with funk and it was so exciting.

I'd been listening to punk rock for a long time, many years. After a while it is like you're like hitting your head against the wall. It's kind of the same thing.

Then in come the Chili Peppers, who are obviously a punk band. At least that's what they look like to me. But they're doing it and it was very exciting and very thrilling, and I just loved it.

And the neat thing was, back in the mid '80s, they were signed to a major label. They were on EMI, and they put out these records, but they didn't really sell that many records. But they toured.

You could see them all the time at Keystone, Palo Alto, One Step Beyond, or even in San Francisco. But if you missed them, don't worry, they'll be back in two months.

So I saw them so many times before they got "famous."

Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, Del Mar Fairgrounds, December 28, 1991

Zach Goode: When I moved to San Diego and started my band back then, I super into the Red Hots at the time.

I only discovered them in '89 when the Abbey Road EP came out and I just got obsessed with them for those few years. It was right when Mother's Milk came out so the first time I saw them was this show.

It was like the big San Diego show. I was also super into Nirvana, that album had just come out. And then Pearl Jam I liked.

I didn't love Pearl Jam as much as the other ones. They were the opening band and they stole the show.

Eddie Vedder was climbing up the thing, and then like the legendary thing that happened where the water main broke for the entire venue, so the whole floor was flooded.

Nirvana was in the middle and Red Hots headlined.

Nirvana played. I guess when they released that live album, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishka, they used their opening track, "Drain You," on the album.

It's the recording in San Diego at the O'Brien. So I was like, "I was there!"

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Scroll up for the full interview.

Smash Mouth is on the road playing selected cuts from the new album and all your favorites. Go to their website for tickets.

Go For The Moon Tour

8/28 Summer of Sound at Westfield Old Orchard, Skokie, IL
9/3 Loto-Québec Main Stage, Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival, Gatineau, QC, Canada
9/12 Barnside Harvest Festival, Delta, BC, Canada
9/15 Private Event, Minneapolis, MN
9/30 America Gardens Theatre at EPCOT, Orlando, FL
10/1 America Gardens Theatre at EPCOT, Orlando, FL
10/3 Private Event, Boston, MA
10/4 Private Event, Nashville, TN
10/9 Velódromo Olímpico Agustín Melgar, Mexico City, Mexico
10/14 Private Event, Austin, TX
10/24 Private Event, Lake Placid, NY
10/30 The Sheid, Mountain Home, AR
11/10 Private Event, Las Vegas, NV
11/12 Jacksonville Fair, Jacksonville, FL with Fastball and Nine Days
11/14 Venue not yet listed, The Colony, TX
11/21 Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, Chandler, AZ
12/12 Panther Island Pavilion, Fort Worth, TX