Band blends the best of punk and country

Just when you thought you’d never see their faces again Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are hitting the road and good ole Aotearoa has made the hit list as they are head back Down Under as part of their Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again? 2023 Tour.

They’re playing Auckland’s The Studio (R18 venue) on Saturday, February 18 so mark your calendar.

The good news gets even better as we’re giving you the chance to win a copy of their Love Their Country CD up for grabs to help you celebrate what will be one massive punk rock party.

Love Their Country contains 12 megahits from some of the good ole US of A’s best and most loved country artists, superbly reimagined and performed by punk rock’s seminal supergroup.

Listen in awe as this who’s who composite band from the punk music world further prove to all and sundry that they sure know how to cross boundaries — both genre and generations.

Our latest offering of great covers ahead of their much anticipated 2023 visit is their fifth studio album and focuses on country music and includes versions of Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) (Garth Brooks), (Ghost) Riders In The Sky (Johnny Cash/Gene Autry/others), Desperado (The Eagles), On The Road Again (Willie Nelson — whose recent duet of Beyond The Stars with Aotearoa’s own adopted Canadian daughter Tami Neilson is creating ripples around the world), Annie’s Song (John Denver), Jolene (Dolly Parton), I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams), Lookin’ For Love (Johnny Lee, Urban Cowboy), Goodbye Earl (The Dixie Chicks), East Bound And Down (Jerry Reed, Smokey & The Bandit) She Believes In Me (Kenny Rogers), Sunday Morning Coming Down (Johnny Cash/Kris Kristofferson), that they faithfully reproduce and make them their own.

Add to this the fact that among their releases they have variously taken a sledgehammer to pop and rock on their debut Have A Ball, gave a comeuppance to show tunes on Are A Drag, sent the 60’s reeling with Blow In The Wind and smashed and grabbed R&B on Take A Break, you can see they have a repertoire to cater for all tastes and occasions.

It’s been a long time a comin’ but it’s been well worth the wait.

Lock it up with Me First And The Gimme Gimmes — Yeeeha pardner!

We’ll leave the final word to the fans, who, on YouTube have come up with such gems as: “The Gimme Gimmes’ goal was to always be the second greatest cover band in the world. They missed it by one spot.” “These guys are the punk rat pack. Best side project ever”.

‘Nuff said — be there. The ultimate Christmas present for the punk music fan in your life!