Skip to main content

2019-06-30 Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - O2 Forum Kentish Town

Back in 1997, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes released their debut album 'Have a Ball'.  The album is made up of covers from the 60s and 70s, with one exception, Uptown Girl by Billy Joel.

One of the lads in the office brought it in one day and, I'll be honest, I fell in love with it straight away.

Since then, they've released another 8 albums.


If you're not familiar with 'the Gimmes', they are a punk group made up of members from other punk groups.  The lineup changes depending on the weather, but at the front of it all, is Spike Slawson.

Anyway, I've been waiting since then to see them live.  For one reason or another, it just never happened, until last weekend that is!

I headed off to the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on Sunday anticipating a glorious evening and I was not wrong!

There's something magical about mohawk wielding (the hair, not the hatchet!), tattoo covered punk rockers jump around to Cher! It's a little surreal, but a lot of fun.

The songs came thick and fast, so fast that I've no idea of a setlist.  What I do know is that they were all covers!

The lineup on the night (as I said, it does change) was:

  • Spike Slawson (of Swingin' Utters and Re-Volts) – lead vocals
  • Dave Raun (of Lagwagon) – drums
  • CJ Ramone (of the Ramones) - Bass
  • Stacey Dee (of Bad Cop/Bad Cop) - Guitar
  • Lindsay McDougall (of Frenzal Rhomb) - Guitar

It's not the classic Gimmes lineup, there was no Fat Mike (of NOFX) for example, but look, it was a brilliant live show and that's all you can ask for. I just hope it's not another 22 years before I see them again!

Check out the photos below:









Popular Posts

2022-03-26 Buskers on Grafton Street, Dublin

I took a walk around Dublin today,  thought I'd check out the buskers on Grafton Street.   There's a fine history of busking in Dublin, acts like  Hothouse Flowers ,  The Frames ,  Rodrigo y Gabriela ,  Damien Rice ,  Paddy Casey ,  Kodaline  and a host of others all cut their teeth on and around Grafton Street.  It stands to reason that some of those busking today will be successful in the future! So, who did I get to see today?  Well, check out the photos below: Zoe Clarke Allie Sherlock Paul Jenkinson
Read more

Interview with King Kong Company

Originally published 10/09/2013 on Chunk.ie So, there I was, wandering around the Electric Picnic wondering who I was going to watch next. One of the lads said he had heard good things about King Kong Company and that we should check them out, so off we headed to the Body and Soul Arena to do just that.  As I mentioned in my review of the Electric Picnic, the gig was epic.  I figured we just had to interview them here on CHUNK.ie, and here it is! First things first, congratulations on a storming gig at the Electric Picnic. It completely blew me away.  Was this your first Picnic experience? We’ve been to many Electric Picnics over the years but just as punters, and it’s always been a great festival, so it was a fantastic experience to play at its 10 year anniversary. King Kong Company is a rather interesting name for a band, where or how did you come up with it? The name is taken from the film Taxi Driver. If you look closely, Travis Bickle is wearing a badge which says King
Read more

2023-08-26 The Playing Fields Festival - Clane GAA

It's The Playing Fields Festival time again!  TPFF23, it's third outing, is back and it's the same, but a little different also. For the first time, it's not just an Irish affair.  The legendary Basement Jaxx headlined the Sunday night.  Also, for the first time, it's under canvas.  Not a big circus type tent, a more low rise, stretched canvas affair, as per TribFest a few weeks back.  Given the state of the Irish summer, it was a great decision.  The final difference was that I was only there for Day Two as I'd already arranged to bring my niece to see The Vamps , and that clashed with Day One. So, along with Basement Jaxx , who else was playing Day Two of TPFF? Well, we had:     The Flavours      Altered Lines      Diversion      Raging Sons      Spring Break      Roisin O      and      CamrinWatsin I think we can agree, that's a pretty good mix of rock n' roll, party time and dance music!  Even under canvas, the stage was pretty big and sounded good
Read more