I've had a 29-year love affair with Spike and the GimmeGimmes (previously known as Me First and the Gimme Gimmes). It started back in 1997 when I was given a
copy of Have a Ball, their debut album.
Not an original, god no, a CD copy (they were all the rage in our office
after we got our first CD Burner!).
Nineteen years later, I finally got to see them live when
they played the O2 in Kentish Town. Nineteen
years… but it was worth it! Last year,
they played Ireland for the first time, and not only was I lucky enough to be
there, I also got to photograph the show.
So, when I heard they were back in Ireland for a mini tour (Belfast, Cork, and Dublin), I fired off the photo pass request and waited… and waited… and waited some more. It turned out their PR had changed, and that was that. Thankfully, another photographer gave me a kick up the arse and suggested I message the band directly. Twelve hours later, and all was good in the world.
Tonight, in Dublin, they’re playing Opium Live to a packed
house, full of fans intent on having a great night — and they weren’t left
wanting.
If you know the Gimmes, you know what to expect. If you don't, let me explain. To start with, every song — and I mean every
song — is a cover. There isn’t an
original track to be found in the whole set. But don’t let that worry you; you’ve never
heard covers like these before.
The night started with a ukulele-led version of Santa Baby and quickly descended into wonderful country madness, with songs like Jolene, Country Roads, and Ghost Riders in the Sky getting everyone in the dancing mood.
The speed and intensity of their performance gives you no time to think. As you can see from the setlist, it’s bop after bop after bop — and if you’re not careful, you might forget to take the photos you’re there to take.
All too soon though, it’s time for Feliz Navidad and for us to make our way home. As Christmas nights out go, musically, it doesn’t really get much better than this.
My highlights? Well, Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down is always superb. Good 4 U is already a classic. Rocket Man and Over the Rainbow likewise. I would have loved to have heard Mandy, but that wasn’t to be.
Anyway, another fantastic Gimmes show — now for some photos.
