Year to forget, but night to savour
Joey Cape, Gimme Gimmes offer gigs to remember
What a welcome 2023 had for punk music fans! And even for those supporters who like some of the more toned-down aspects of the genre.
MFATGG member and revered frontman of Lagwagon, Joey Cape, has announced he’ll be doing an up close and personal one-off solo gig at Auckland’s iconic Whammy Bar on Sunday, February 19.
Showcasing his new album — the aptly named A Good Year To Forget — released in 2021, a year that saw Cape separate from his partner of 20 years, catch Covid, lose his father and move back in with his mother and stepfather, you’ll also be treated to a host of other top songs from his solo and Lagwagon careers, so in contrast to the album’s title — this will indeed be a night to remember!
The news gets even better. We have four copies of A Good Year To Forget on CD up for grabs.
His new album is not a punk album, it’s full of deep, powerful and poignant numbers that showcase his journey through 2021 — which was, like for so many of us, one of the most turbulent of his life.
Jimmy Glinster, of heavymag.com. au, in part had this to say about a couple of the album tracks:
“…Album opener and title track A Good Year To Forget pretty much sums up the above-mentioned trials and tribulations with a sombre acoustic ballad. You can really hear the emotion in his voice during this track,
and it’s delivered simply and effectively. Definitely not something you’d expect from a punk rocker, but tough times call for creative flexibility, and this is a pretty good warmup flex.”
“Saturday Night Fever is a song about isolation, and the inability to go out and catch your usual Saturday Night Fever, but instead just having to sit at home and drink by yourself while binging Netflix. Yeah, we’ve all
been there.
“It Could Be Real has a good singalong vibe to it and the closer Come Home is a real gut wrencher.
As Glinster concludes: “If you are looking for a punk rock album, this is not it, but if you want to hear some honest, down to earth, passionate story telling then this is the one for you. The album captures a year of tragedy in an artist’s life and displays an impressive show of songwriting
and musical talent. Buy a copy, listen to the stories, and help support a struggling artist”.
And of course the second part of our “double whamm”’ news, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are hitting the road and good ole Aotearoa has made the hit list as they are heading back Down Under as part of their Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again 2023 Tour, which is the main reason Joey is here in the first place.
They’re playing at The Studio (R18) Auckland on Saturday, February 18, the day before Joey’s show. You’ll get to hear many of the world’s best known songs all superbly reimagined and performed by punk rock’s seminal supergroup, that they faithfully reproduce and make their own.
Among their releases they have variously added a new dimension to country music with Love Their Country, taken a sledgehammer to pop and rock on their debut Have A Ball, given a comeuppance to show tunes on Are A Drag, sent the ’60s reeling with Blow In The Wind and smashed and grabbed R&B on Take A Break, so you can see they have a repertoire to cater for all tastes and occasions. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s been well worth the wait.
Rock it up with Me First And The Gimme Gimmes.
Now as we all know the touring line-up is always a bit of a mystery and we never quite know who will grace the stage to unleash their blistering repertoire.
However, when duty calls for one of the Gimmes to perform with their other band, rest assured a travelling Gimme will step in. And we just happen to notice that both Social Distortion and Bad Religion are playing at Trusts Arena on Wednesday, February 15 (tickets from Ticketmaster).
Given that Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham, from Social Distortion, and Jay Bentley, from Bad Religion, have both been regular touring players with MFATGG, can we assume they’ll both be extending their hotel check-out times and staying on for a few days more? And if they do — will they stay on for Joey’s gig and make a surprise appearance there?
There’s only one way to find out — be there.
Only a few sleeps to go now until Me First And The Gimme Gimmes and Joey Cape solo — two nights to remember and two great shows you will never forget. Top times guaranteed — no contest.