Punk group pays tribute to divas
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’ve got two copies of their Are We Not Men? We Are Diva CD up for grabs as the ideal precursor to help you celebrate what will be one massive punk rock party.
Containing 12 timeless classics, each made famous by the original artist and here made infamous by the Gimmes delivered in their inimitable style, this album too will have you rocking out in your lounge as you prepare for the unforgettable experience that is a MFATGG live show.
Great songs from great singers — we’ve put the original performers in brackets so you can see just how these princely purveyors of paragon punk take each song and make it their own.
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor), Straight Up (Paula Abdul), Believe (Cher), Beautiful, (Christina Aguilera), My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion), Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston), Top of the World (The Carpenters), Speechless (Lady Gaga), Karma Chameleon (Culture Club), Crazy for You (Madonna), On the Radio (Donna Summer) and, to round it out, The Way We Were (Barbra Streisand).
Now it’s the Gimmes turn to deliver them — as they are!
For the uninitiated, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes consist of core members Joey Cape (Lagwagon) on
Iguitar, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) on lead guitar, Dave Raun (Lagwagon) on the drums, Fat Wreck-headhoncho/NOFX main-dude Fat Mike on bass, and rounded out by the incomparable crooner, Spike Slawson.
Together, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes are an outfit that has always operated more like a beer-hall Pussycat Dolls than a regular mortal band.
When duty calls for one of the Gimmes to perform with their other band, rest assured a travellingGimme will step in.
John Reis, you guessed it, guitarist and lead vocals for Rocket from the Crypt, or Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham from Social Distortion will be filling in on occasion, or maybe CJ Ramone from a little band you may have heard of, The Ramones, will sub for Fat Mike.
Most recently we saw the UK import, Pinch from The Damned, on the skins.
You never know what starstudded line-up you will get at a Gimmes show, which is all the more reason to catch every show you can as every one is just that little bit the
same, but at the same time just a little bit different.
Rest assured though, there will be plenty to rock about and you know it will not disappoint — so get ready to see their Seppo faces again (use your Urban dictionary for that one) — as not only do they know how to have fun — they also know how to take the mickey out of themselves.
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!