Joey Ramone never graced the legendary stage at London’s 100 Club with his band of misfits from the twilight zone whose sonic blitzkrieg lead one of the most impactful revolutions in the history of music. In the words of John Cooper Clarke “The first punk band I remember hearing was undoubtedly The Ramones. The greatest rock n roll band ever. They just made everybody else look like a waste of time”.
Judy Is A Punk changed the course of my life. Everyone who knows me, knows that. When I hear that record now, I still feel that joy, that amazement, that “I’ve-got-to-play-this-record-40-times-in-a-row.”
That’s the fountain of youth that our beloved Joey was talking about.
So, when Lisa, Vicky, Sadie and Abe (standing in for Maxine who is playing some dates with KennyHoopla) take to the stage as The Ramonas, I’m that 12 year old again, eyes wide open with untold excitement.
The Ramonas don’t fuck around…..1-2-3-4 and the opening chord of Durango 95 hits you at full tilt. It opens the door to the best 75 minutes of your life, chewing out a rhythm on the bubblegum, sniffing glue and falling in love by the soda machine. Thrilling, dazzling stuff. It’s loud, it’s fast, it’s tight and it’s great fucking fun.
Midset comes a clutch of the band’s own songs. They’ve released one mini and two full electric albums as well as an acoustic album, all of their own material. They’re steeped in the heart and soul of punk & rock n roll but with a nod to the B-52’s circa Wild Planet, garage rock, sci-fi, and plenty of soaring harmonies and major/minor chord progressions that make you love their music even more than you do already.
Back to some covers for the final third and it’s a joy to hear Endless Vacation and the final trio of Chinese Rock, Judy and the Motörhead classic tribute R.A.M.O.N.E.S. sounding absolutely lethal.
Then – just like that – it’s all over.
The Ramonas.
They’re the real deal.
Gabba Gabba Hey.
Review by: Giles Sibbald
Setlist
(I take full responsibility for getting this wrong – I certainly won’t congratulate myself, and thank myself and give myself a big pat on the back)
Durango 95
Teenage Lobotomy
Psychotherapy
Blitzkrieg Bop
Rockaway Beach
Havana Affair
Commando
Glad to see you go
Oh Oh I Love Her So
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
Bonzo Goes To Bitburg
We Want The Airwaves
Tomorrow She Goes Away
Cotton Wool Kids
First World Problems
Filth
Consumed
Camp cruel
Rock n Roll High School
I Wanna Be Sedated
The KKK Took My Baby Away
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Pet Sematary
Let’s Dance
Somebody Put Something In My Drink
Endless Vacation
Beat On The Brat
Pinhead
Chinese Rock
Judy Is A Punk
R.A.M.O.N.E.S
