Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - 19 Jan 08

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a bloody awesome band. Is there really anything else to say? I dont think so. They would have to be one of the funnest, happiest, cleverest and talented bands I have had the good fortune of seeing. How anyone could go to a Gimmes show and not have a good time I simply cannot fathom. So when I headed off to the Manning Bar to see them last night, I knew I was gonna be in for an awesome show. I caught them twice when they played here in 2003, and they were amazing. Their latest album Love Their Country, is fantastic, so I could not pass up the chance to go see them live.

Supporting act Yidcore were unexpectedly good. Like the Gimmes, they were very entertaining, and quite funny. Their cover of Wind Beneath My Wings was a highlight, and I have since found out that they actually recorded an entire cover album of Fiddler on the Roof. That's cool. And when the singer carries around a rubber chicken, and the guitarists dress like this:
you cant go wrong. I will have to try and listen to some more of their stuff, they were good.

The Gimmes came on about 10.30, and from go to whoa they were first class. Every one of them, even part-time members Eric Melvin and Fake Jackson, were fantastic. Joey had a disgusting handlebar moustahce, and Melvin's 'ball brusher' was a constant source of jokes. I was a bit surprised to see Melvin playing bass, I had thought he would play guitar and Scott would play bass, but I guess Scott is a better guitarist.

The set list was:

• Country Road


• All My Loving


• Favorite Things


• Mandy


• On the Road Again


• Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)


• Goodbye Earl


• Summertime


• Over the Rainbow


• Jolene


• Science Fiction Double Feature


• Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard


• Rainbow Connection


• Desperado


• On the Run


• Sloop John B


• Isnt She Lovely


• Stairway to Heaven (with Lindsay from Frenzal on guitar)


• I Believe I Can Fly


• Sunday Morning Coming Down


• ENCORE: Blowin in the Wind and Danny's Song

All in all it was a sweet set. I was hanging out for Sunday Morning Coming Down, and it was the perfect track to play before the encore. The sound quality was awesome, the banter was funny, and the crowd really got into pretty much every song. I could not fault the show. Everything about it was awesome. I wish I had have gone to see them both nights they were in Sydney.

I love this band.