There’s something undeniably fitting about hearing Smash Mouth on the open water. Their sun-soaked, West Coast pop-rock has always carried a breezy, beach-adjacent vibe, and on the Sea Deck during the 90’s Cruise 2026, that atmosphere did a lot of the heavy lifting. The crowd was ready for a throwback party, and Smash Mouth gave them exactly that: a solid, fun set that checked all the expected boxes, even if it rarely pushed beyond them.
From the opening “Intro,” it was clear the band was leaning into energy over nuance. The Sea Deck filled quickly, drinks in hand, as cruise-goers gathered for what felt more like a communal singalong than a traditional concert. When “Then the Morning Comes” kicked in, the crowd responded immediately. The groove was tight, the rhythm section locked in, and the band sounded comfortable in this environment. It wasn’t a reinvention of the song—just a faithful, upbeat performance that got heads nodding.
“Crawl” and “Pacific Coast Party” followed, and if there was a theme for the night, it was consistency. The band maintained a steady tempo and a polished sound, but there weren’t many moments of improvisation or extended jams. “Pacific Coast Party” in particular fit the cruise setting perfectly, its carefree vibe matching the ocean air. The audience responded with predictable enthusiasm.
“The Fonz” and “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby” kept the momentum going. The latter, always a crowd-pleaser, sparked one of the night’s louder singalongs. The band seemed energized by the response, though the performance still felt tightly scripted. There were no dramatic pauses or spontaneous crowd interactions—just song after song delivered with efficiency.
Mid-set tracks like “Hot,” “Getaway Car,” and “Ride On” settled into a groove-heavy stretch. These songs gave longtime fans something deeper than just radio singles, but they also highlighted the show’s overall predictability. The musicianship was solid throughout—no noticeable missteps, no sloppy transitions—but nothing that truly elevated the material either.
A pleasant surprise came with “Diggin’ Your Scene,” which added a ska-flavored shift to the set. The horns and upbeat rhythm translated well in the open-air setting, and the crowd leaned into the bounce. It wasn’t a standout performance in terms of innovation, but it did inject some needed variety into the middle of the show.
The most overtly nostalgic moment came with the cover of “Never Gonna Give You Up,” originally by Rick Astley. It was clearly aimed at the cruise crowd, and it worked. The audience sang along loudly, some laughing at the inevitable “Rickroll” history of the song. Smash Mouth played it straight, not overcomplicating the arrangement. It felt more like a fun detour than a statement, but in this context, that was enough.
As expected, “Walkin’ on the Sun” marked a high point. The instantly recognizable bassline cut through the night air, and the Sea Deck seemed to collectively perk up. The song’s funky edge still holds up well live, and this performance captured some of that original spark. If any moment hinted at something beyond “good but standard,” it was this one.
“Come On, Come On” and “Road Man” continued the upbeat pacing, leading into a “Fush Yu Mang Medley.” The medley format kept things moving briskly, though it also reinforced the feeling that the band was cycling efficiently through its catalog rather than digging into it.
The late-set pairing of “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and “I’m a Believer” turned the deck into a full-on singalong. The former, with its simple, repetitive hook, worked well in a cruise setting. “I’m a Believer” remains one of Smash Mouth’s most recognizable covers, and the crowd treated it accordingly. Voices rang out across the deck, and for a few minutes, it felt like a floating 90’s festival.
Of course, the night closed with “All Star.” It was inevitable, and it delivered exactly what the audience expected. From the opening line, the entire deck was singing. Phones were up, drinks were raised, and the band leaned comfortably into the anthem that has defined their legacy for decades. It wasn’t reworked or stretched into something new—it didn’t need to be. It simply did what it’s always done: brought everyone together for three-and-a-half minutes of uncomplicated fun.
In the end, Smash Mouth’s Sea Deck performance on the 90’s Cruise 2026 was a good show—tight, energetic, and reliably entertaining. The band sounded rehearsed and professional, and the setlist hit every major note fans could hope for. What it lacked was surprise. There were no bold rearrangements, no unexpected deep dives, no moments that felt truly singular to this specific night at sea.
But maybe that wasn’t the point. On a cruise built around nostalgia, sometimes the goal is simple: play the songs people love and let the setting do the rest. Smash Mouth accomplished that. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing transcendent—but a perfectly enjoyable hour under the stars.
Setlist:
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Intro
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Then the Morning Comes
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Crawl
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Pacific Coast Party
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The Fonz
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Can’t Get Enough of You Baby
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Hot
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Getaway Car
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Ride On
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Diggin’ Your Scene
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Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley cover)
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Walkin’ on the Sun
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Come On, Come On
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Road Man
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Fush Yu Mang Medley
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Why Can’t We Be Friends?
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I’m a Believer
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All Star
The Videos
00:00 – Intro
01:23 – Then the Morning Comes
04:26 – Crawl
07:59 – Pacific Coast Party
11:25 – The Fonz
15:25 – Can’t Get Enough of You Baby
18:32 – Hot
21:08 – Getaway Car
25:31 – Ride On
29:06 – Diggin’ Your Scene
35:25 – Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley Cover)
39:33 – Walkin’ on the Sun
44:58 – Come On, Come On
49:00 – Road Man
52:14 – Fush Yu Mang Medley
58:02 – Why Can’t We Be Friends’
01:02:49 – I’m a Believer
01:07:25 – All Star