Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah [LIVE]
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes
"Hi, my name is Benjamin Rosenblatt.
I attend Hamlin Dell Junior High School in Agoura Hills, CA (Go Hamlins!)
A few months ago, my family and I were invited to Jonny Wixen's Bar Mitzvah at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu..."
-liner notes
"Get ready for the worst time of your life."
Punk’s all-star cover act returns for its fifth, most conceptual and farcical release yet. Members of The Swingin' Utters, Foo Fighters, NOFX, and Lagwagon don powder blue tux's, red yarmulkas, and play truly awful sets while bantering through it all.
"Some people say we're the best band in the world. What do you think of that, Mike?"
"THEY'RE WRONG!"
Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah from Fat Wreck Chords is live, recorded at (you guessed it) little Jonny's passage into manhood. As if to prove the unbelievable, there's a video segment on the CD as well. That it was live was a little disconcerting at first both because that fact wasn't listed on the cover to the disc and because I'd never heard them live before. But then I thought, what better way to hear them live than at something so inherently hilarious as a Bar Mitzvah? Of course its awkward, but I think thats the whole point. Its the worst possible self-parody for the worst possible parody band- and it works a charm.
Unlike previous Gimme releases, there's no theme or central era of music for this one. After the traditional Blessing [by Jonny, naturally] the Gimmes launch into one sloppy Classic Rock cover song after another. I can almost hear the kvetching: "Oy gevalt! For this you invite us?"
The Gimmes are at their best during renditions of Billy Joel and Blondie. "The Longest Time" and "Heart Of Glass" translate seamlessly into fun pop-punk songs, particularly the latter. A Debbie Harry tune and "Hava Nagila" on one disc: All you could ever want. Speaking of the traditional Hebrew tune, it features a few choice placements of the main riff from The Offspring's "Come Out And Play." Seriously. Its hilarious because its absurd. The entirety is absurd.
Article comments
1 - Temple Stark
I got this up on Advance.net
Here's one link to one of the ADV pages.
You'll be there, just look :)
Is there anywhere I can listen to these guys a little before a purchase?
2 - stevs
just pure genius