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.

bad religion and strung out 7 Nov 07

Went to see bad religion and strung out at the hordern

Second or third time I have seen Strung Out, after seeing them at Livid in 2003, and then again at the Gaelic Club a year or two ago. But it was the first time I have seen Bad Religion, and I am not sure when was the last time they were in Australia , but I wonder if they will ever come again. So, it was a must see show.

I have to say straight up that Strung Out were disappointing again. I am really starting to think they are more of a studio band than anything else. On record they are tight as, and the vocals are included in this. Live, the band is also tight as, but the vocals are really, really bad. I gave them the benefit of the doubt after seeing them before, thinking that perhaps it was the end of a tour, and his voiced was overworked, but after three times I can now say that I am unimporessed. They are such a good studio band, but no good live for me. They did play a good mix of stuff, old and new, but the vocals ruined it for me.

Bad Religion on the other hand were absolutley fantastic. They played stacks of new stuff, and plenty of older stuff too. This gig made me realise that I really need to get into the old stuff more. I know some of the bigger songs, but they played a lot that i dont know. The songs that I did know were awesome. The sound quality, vocal harmonies and drumming were all first class, and the crowd was right into it. All in all it was an awesome bloody show, and I will be there for sure if we are lucky enough for them to come back again. Hopefully the next show wont be on a Wednesday.