Here is some of the intros.. Likely to be many more.. Sloop John B: The Ramones, Teenage Lobotomy You've Got a Friend: The Ramones, Blitzkreig Bop Crazy: Black Flag, Six Pack On the Road Again: The Misifts, Astro Zombies CCC: Agent Orange, Bloodstains Country Roads: Face to Face, I Want East Bound and Down: The Damned, Love Song Elenor: The Clash, London Calling Save the Best for Last: Sex Pistols, Pretty Vacant Superstar: The Adolescents, Kids of the Black Hole All Outta Love: Black Flag, Rise Above Favourite Things: Bad Religion, Generator San Franciso: Bad Religion, Stranger than Fiction I Still Miss Someone: X, Los Angeles Hava Nagila: The Offspring, Come Out and Play Kekkon Shyoyo: Social Distortion, Story of My Life Speechless: Sonic Burner, Dead Boys Oh Girl: GBH, Race Against Time Longest Time: Stiff Little Fingers, Suspect Device Beautiful: TSOL, Superficial Love
Seeing the band’s name in the title made my heart so friggin happy! I’ve been hooked on the gimmes since hearing “country roads” on survival of the fattest (there are so many rad tracks by awesome bands on that compilation). ❤
Spike Slawson was such a good choice to be the vocalist for Me First. He was the bassist for Swingin' Utters for a long time, but never really gave himself much time on the mic. Man's got some pipes, and since he didn't do lead vocals much elsewhere it makes Me First not really sound like anything else. If it was Fat Mike on vocals, or Joey Cape, it would just be a NOFX or Lagwagon side project. Spike on vocals allows them to be their own entity. He did vocals on a Swingin' Utters song or two, has an EP with The Re-Volts, and has a ukulele project called Uke-Hunt (what a name!), and man I just wish there was more original music out there with him on lead vocals.
Of all of the constituent bands that comprised The Gimmes, Swingin' Utters was beyond underappreciated. Sure, Lagwagon wasn't as big of a name as Foo Fighters or NoFX, but damn if Swingin' Utters wasn't a deep cut to be able to pull from.
This got me so pumped!!! Me First is one of the most fun bands ever to listen to, and it’s helped expose me to lots of music they’ve covered, which I might not have otherwise listened to. You picked 2 tracks from an earlier record and then 1 track from their new live album, but their studio album stuff between these 2 albums is much more dynamic and better produced, especially on “Take a Break” and “Love Their Country,” either of which would make for an excellent full album reaction!! Spike got even better at crooning on those albums 🎶
My mother is a very traditional, conservative, religious woman. There's no way she can handle loud punk music. However, she grew up listening to the amazing "oldies" songs from the 60's and early 70's. When I was growing up, the only radio station that played in the car was the oldies station. I once had to make a 1 hour car trip with my mother, and Me First's Blow In the Wind album had just come out. I knew the entire album was covers of songs she liked. So, I made her listen to the album. For the first and only time, her reaction to my punk music was, "Ya know, I really like some of these songs."
Amazing. The first part of your comment is *precisely* how I grew up in terms of musical exposure. Oldies 24/7 in the car, in the house. While I missed a lot of newer stuff, I'm grateful for it because I did end up loving some timeless music that I still listen to today. Righteous Brothers, Lovin' Spoonful, the Ventures, the Byrds, the Zombies, King Harvest, on and on and on.
@@LowEndUniversity Same here. As a kid, I did get tired of hearing the same songs over and over. But as an adult, I really appreciate it. When I list my favorite genres or "time periods" of music, I always list the music from that era.
The great thing I love about the Gimmes is that the take classic punk rock songs riffs/intros or sound and used them for their covers. The intro of Dancing Queen is from The Clash's song Janie Jones. Amazing review as always!
The Runaway 'fart' is a nod to Sex Pistols EMI outro. Actually, a lot of their songs have nods to other punk songs, particularly as intros. I love this band, and by the look on your face you enjoyed this! Also - Their Phantom of the Opera is divine!
Never thought I'd see a MFATGG reaction. Heck yeah! There are so many great covers by them, but 3 of my favorites (besides Sloop John B which you did) are End of the Road, Over the Rainbow, and I Believe I Can Fly.
Mark, as an Abba fan and a recent discoverer of the joy the Mad Caddies bring, you should check out their cover of SOS... which is an all-time favorite for me
Just starting the video, but I wanna say: I'm so happy you're giving them a try. They are great, and their live performance is incredible. I definitely recommend you check them out if you get a chance. Also: I highly recommend you listen to their cover of Jolene
Would love to see you come back to The Gimmes, and punk covers in general, again and again. These never get old to me. Reel Big Fish -- Take On Me, Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons, Social Distortion - Ring of Fire. All are straight bangers.
@@LowEndUniversityI’ve only gotten as far as the Wikipedia page, but I was gonna ask if you might’ve been thinking of The Lemonheads cover of Mrs Robinson. But, nevermind 😁
You're killing me! They are my one last bucket list band that I haven't seen live and I had no idea they came to town! They are the soundtrack to every road trip so I can have a car concert of one, starring me (and annoy my entire family). 😂
Agreed!! They have a couple really good underrated songs that no one ever mentions… I Just Called To Say I Love You and City of New Orleans. Check those out
Back in the mid 90s my local radio station had a charity drive. Someone donated to hear the Gimme Gimmes cover of "Rainbow Connection". I was just getting into punk rock at the time, and being a child of the 80s The Muppet Movie was a staple growing up. So that combination really stuck with me. Good thing too, since it would be around twenty years later before I learned that it was a song by the Gimme Gimmes. The time I heard it on the radio the song was sandwiched into a long lineup of other songs, with no DJ intro for identification. A couple decades later and some algorithm recommended a Gimme Gimmes' song after I'd been listening to a bunch of NOFX, and I rediscovered the band. It felt like finding money in the pocket of an old coat that'd gone unworn in a closet for all those years.
I really relate to this. So many times in my life I've heard a song that absolutely grabbed me but had zero way to identify it and nobody around me knew it. I had peace knowing the universe would show it to me again at some point and just to be patient. Ha! I've had years go by before I heard a given song again.
Phantom of the Opera will most likely always be my favorite… even though there are so many. 😂 I loved guessing which song they were paying homage to in the intros and at every house party, all of my friends and I screaming, “huhyayuh! Yeah!” At the end of every song 😂 Thanks for the nostalgia! Always great reviews. 🙌🏻
If the Gimmes come through your neck of the woods in Texas, Mark, go check them out. So incredible and fun to see live. Spike has amazing crowd interaction and is hilarious.
Me First is my secret favorite band, I just love covers and they do it better than anybody. Their cover of Seasons in the Sun is my favorite song ever. I was super hyped to see them at Warped Tour back in the day.
So fun watching you discover these bands. I am patiently waiting for you to discover Squirtgun. Mass Giorgini absolutely rips on bass. The song Field Trip is is a great start
Loved this video and your enthusiasm discovering this band. This is the EXACT reaction I get from people when I introduce them to the Gimmes! 😂🤘Never gets old. Keep up the low end, my friend.
Just had the opportunity to see MFATGG in concert Aug. 2024 - so Amazing!!! Side note…The shirt I wore to the concert was “The Warning” which is how I discovered your channel in the first place.
Love MFATGG! Can't wait to see you do more of them! Also, I had no idea they were on The Wolf of Wallstreet soundtrack (I verified on imdb, I've never seen the movie), so I learned something new too!
Take a Break is always my favorite album. Each one of their albums has a theme and that theme was tribute to their favorite Black artists/song writers. Their End of the Road cover 🤌🤌🤌🤌
I love how some songs start with familiar punk chords. For example "On The Road Again" the intro and the outro are from the Misfits' song "Astro Zombies" or "Elenor", the intro, the bassline and some screams are from The Clash's song "London Calling". This is so much fun :)
I am glad you mentioned Summertime, Fantastic song! Fat Mike actually released a Punk VHS/DVD of music videos from bands on Fat Wreck Chords circa late 90's early 2000"s and on it was Me First doing Summertime. Aside from it being such a great song the cover version they do amp's it full of energy and the music video emits that same vibe. One of my favorite Me First songs and videos. Country Roads is another classic Me First track. Thanks again for posting these videos, they are amazing!
I'm 49 and I grew up on oldies because of my dad, most of the songs were really upbeat and because of that I gravitated towards 80s New Wave and then 90s alternative rock in the late 80s and then pop punk and skate punk in the 90s. All my musical tastes stem from the oldies as a child oh and especially back up harmonies 😍
I got pretty heavy into the punk-rock of things for a few reasons. First, it was a great gateway as a beginner to the "habit's of rock n roll" in a very accessible way. It was all like Beach Boys, as you said. Garage rock of the 60's etc. And in the late 90's early 2000's punk-rock-and-roll sort of aged with the crowd. People got better. The people are cool, the musicians have gotten more comfortable with throwing it all out there. It's awesome
My dad enjoys the Gimmies and he’s 65, and I think that’s rad. Btw Mark, the opening of Dancing Queen is Janie Jones by The Clash. They do that a lot, where they start with a classic punk song, and then switch to the cover really fast.
Man, I’m old and was listening to the first Gimmes album in college in the 90s. So many great covers they have done over the decades. If you’re not aware they often do some brief nod to older classic punk songs at the intro of the cover. I also love spikes old Johnny Rotten snarls (eg “A and M”) at the end of songs. Lots of fun old punk references. All that being said spike has shown himself to be a monster vocalist. I don’t know if he played down his range and abilities early on to sound more raw or if he just got better over time, but man some of his covers on the divas album, his vocals are outstanding. It’s fun music. Recently played a bunch of their songs on a road trip for my 6 year old. 👍🏼🎸
You were soooo close to being a punk haha. The Beach Boys are a huge influence on punk bands starting way back with the Ramones and even through to today with bands like Joyce Manor naming them as favorites.
The Queers have a very noticible Beach Boys influence, and they covered a lot of Beach Boys songs. I probably wouldn't have got into punk in high school without the 50/60's rock heavy influence, since "Golden Oldies" radio station was what my parents kept the car dial into.
I was thinking the same thing when he said that, i liked the beach boys when i was really young (like 6 or 7 lol) and punk has a pretty special place in my heart. It felt like a faster, louder, angrier version of bands like the beach boys, the ventures, etc so it was a pretty natural transition to the clash ,ramones, etc, later on.
this band is more fun than any other band i really hope i get a chance to see them live some day.. there are some great live concerts on yt that ive watched dozens of times. rock on brother! love ur content ♥
I love the live version of Delta Dawn which they end by playing the chorus, modulating to a higher key, and then doing it again until Spike can't hit the notes. 😂
Cool video of you analysing one of the coolest punkrock bands!. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a band that is changing its line up every now and then (on bass fat mike, Jay Bentley, CJ Ramone). Maybe you can play bass for them on a few shows, that would be cool 😅
spike is an incredible vocalist, pls do an album youll have so much fun, they often pipe in a classic punk rock riff into the cover, so its always 2 covers in one
I'm sure someone has already pointed out that the intro was a riff on The Clash's Janie Jones, but I'd be remiss if I didn't. Love that song. My old band covered it in college. Me First has SO MANY good covers. You're in for a treat, bro!
My favorite Me First and the Gimme Gimme's albums are Have a Ball and Are a Drag. On Have a Ball, they covered a bunch of '70s easy listening songs (Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, etc). On Are a Drag, they covered songs from musicals. Both albums are a lot of fun and introduced me to some songs I might never have heard otherwise.
Spike has a hell of a voice. Check out. " Nothing compares to you , I'm so lonesome i could cry and Danny's song". They give the song " Summertime " a very cool surf guitar spin.
I've thoroughly enjoyed your punk adventure and getting introduced to the bands I've grown to love. One band I would suggest that I haven't seen mentioned much is Belvedere. Amazing musicians and songwriters. Their latest album is mind blowing, but I'd suggest you check out one of their classic tracks 'Brandy Wine'
Me first and the gimme gimmes are a drag is my favorite album of theirs. They do Rainbow Connection, Don't Cry for me Argentina and Time Warp.. The album is full of well-known musical covers.
The last song, and that whole Quinceañera album, were recorded as a free show at a real Quinceañera, a (primarily) Mexican celebration of a girl turning 15. Their first live album, "Ruin Johnny's Bar Mitzvah," was recorded at a real bar mitzvah, where they played Hava Nagila for about 15 minutes.
You will have to Google their intros. They start most of these songs with another song, usually. For example, their cover of Favorite Things starts with the intro of Generator by Bad Religion. Its kinda fun trying to figure out what song they used.
@17:51 a recurring theme MFGG do is in the process of arranging the cover, they’ll musically quote an iconic punk song/riff/trope. It’s usually Ramones, Clash, Bad Religion. It’s little Easter eggs for their friends and fans in the scene, kinda iykyk.
Dude. I commented once before about how you were getting me intrigued to pick up a bass again. I came across this video today. I was actually in a me first cover band called the Gimme 5. I actually know how to play the Del Shannon song and Sloop John B. If you liked the Del Shannon cover, they also did Hats Off to Larry.
Saw them in SD a few weeks ago. Super cool show. My buddy is friends with a few of them so we ended up on the tour bus. Got to talk modeling and guitar with Jake Kiley and CJ Ramone. They both use modeling amps live.
I first heard MF&tGGs with Country Roads and Danny’s Song, and I was hooked. Seen ‘em live twice. Warped Tour in Dallas in like 02? And same time about there in Austin. They still make me smile. Check out Screeching Weasel’s cover of Runaway. LOL
I LOVE Me First And The Gimme Gimmes. They’re finally playing Scotland in December and I’m so desperate to go as I’ve missed them every time 8:55 The intro is something the Gimme Gimmes do a lot: they like to throw in similar other songs. In this case, and not for the first time, it’s the Ramones (Teenage Lobotomy)
Me first and the Gimme Gimmes has the same drummer as Lageagon, and Joey Cape, the singer from Lageagon does guitar along with that guy from Foo Fighters l. It's kinda a super group. Fat Mike used to be the bass player but live it was the bass player from Bad Religion for a long while and more recently CJ Ramone has been playing bass. All fun facts. A lot of really great bass players associated with this band.
Yes, this version of Sloop John B was in Wolf of Wallstreet. Honestly, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is my favorite punk band. Goodbye Earl, Wild World, and I Believe I Can Fly are masterful.
The Dancing Queen intro is from Janie Jones by The Clash. Just saw Me First play in Maine over the summer. What a great show. Great music with great performances and great comedy, all while Spike is running around with the mic and mic stand with 4ft of tinsel coming off it between his legs pretending it’s horse while singing Ghost Riders In The Sky. Magical ❤
Ooooo definitely give Summertime a listen. Honestly, that whole album, Are A Drag, is peak Gimmes. Science fiction double feature is probably my favorite song they do. The album Blow In The Wind is real good too, mostly 60s
You mentioned Rocket Man. I used to play the Gimmes Rocket Man all the time when it first came out.Such a fun version of that song. All their stuff is super fun!!
I also did a deep-dive on 15 more GIMMES tracks over on Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/mixtape-vol-1-me-116059374
Sloop John B intro is Teenage Lobotomy by the Ramones. Me First often pay tribute to punk bands before them in their intros.
Here is some of the intros.. Likely to be many more..
Sloop John B: The Ramones, Teenage Lobotomy
You've Got a Friend: The Ramones, Blitzkreig Bop
Crazy: Black Flag, Six Pack
On the Road Again: The Misifts, Astro Zombies
CCC: Agent Orange, Bloodstains
Country Roads: Face to Face, I Want
East Bound and Down: The Damned, Love Song
Elenor: The Clash, London Calling
Save the Best for Last: Sex Pistols, Pretty Vacant
Superstar: The Adolescents, Kids of the Black Hole
All Outta Love: Black Flag, Rise Above
Favourite Things: Bad Religion, Generator
San Franciso: Bad Religion, Stranger than Fiction
I Still Miss Someone: X, Los Angeles
Hava Nagila: The Offspring, Come Out and Play
Kekkon Shyoyo: Social Distortion, Story of My Life
Speechless: Sonic Burner, Dead Boys
Oh Girl: GBH, Race Against Time
Longest Time: Stiff Little Fingers, Suspect Device
Beautiful: TSOL, Superficial Love
In runaway they pay tribute to the sex pistols song "emi" in the outro as well.
That's cool as hell! Makes much more sense now, good to know!
Man I was about to write this. Well put. 👊🏽
Did anyone mention Dancing Queen starts with Janie Jones by the Clash?
It always cracks me up when Spike says, “this next one is a cover.”
Came to the comments to say ^
Never heard that but I love this band and that's hilarious!
Legendary joke
It's funny the first time you hear it in the set, and still funny the 30th time
@@joshsocshift "It's funny cause it's true"
Seeing the band’s name in the title made my heart so friggin happy! I’ve been hooked on the gimmes since hearing “country roads” on survival of the fattest (there are so many rad tracks by awesome bands on that compilation). ❤
Survival of the Fattest was the album that really opened me up to this genre
Agreed. My fav is "only the good die young" from that era of gimmes.
Same. Country Roads was the door opener for me followed by Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Gimme Gimmes are one of my favorite bands of all time.
@@adamfritz84check out their cover of I Just Called To Say I Love You
Spike Slawson was such a good choice to be the vocalist for Me First. He was the bassist for Swingin' Utters for a long time, but never really gave himself much time on the mic. Man's got some pipes, and since he didn't do lead vocals much elsewhere it makes Me First not really sound like anything else. If it was Fat Mike on vocals, or Joey Cape, it would just be a NOFX or Lagwagon side project. Spike on vocals allows them to be their own entity.
He did vocals on a Swingin' Utters song or two, has an EP with The Re-Volts, and has a ukulele project called Uke-Hunt (what a name!), and man I just wish there was more original music out there with him on lead vocals.
Didn’t know all that. Thanks for the info! Very cool
Re-volts is amazing
Of all of the constituent bands that comprised The Gimmes, Swingin' Utters was beyond underappreciated. Sure, Lagwagon wasn't as big of a name as Foo Fighters or NoFX, but damn if Swingin' Utters wasn't a deep cut to be able to pull from.
Spike’s other band
The Re Volts
m.th-cam.com/video/0rlAIpDlbGc/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUYdGhlIHJldm9sdHMga2ljayBpdCBvdmVy
m.th-cam.com/video/BP2jxczlUj4/w-d-xo.html&pp=8AUB
The intro to dancing queen is actually “Janie Jones” by the Clash off of their first 1976 S/T.
That first clash record is one of my favorite records.
They also end the song with Janie Jones too
ended with it too
and outtro too.
our host here... does not have that much punk rock knowledge yet.. 😅
Their “Who Put the Bomp?” is incredible!
Yeahhh
Absolutely!! That and Country Roads are my MFatGG favorites.
Don't sleep on Spike's vocals. Some of the best pipes in punk.
Joey Cape has a killer set on him too, and really nails it on backup vocals with The Gimme's.
Spike is an amazing singer
@@MartyMcFly88 and Entertainer
seriously
Their take on Rocket Man and Only The Good Die Young are quite special.
This got me so pumped!!! Me First is one of the most fun bands ever to listen to, and it’s helped expose me to lots of music they’ve covered, which I might not have otherwise listened to. You picked 2 tracks from an earlier record and then 1 track from their new live album, but their studio album stuff between these 2 albums is much more dynamic and better produced, especially on “Take a Break” and “Love Their Country,” either of which would make for an excellent full album reaction!! Spike got even better at crooning on those albums 🎶
Back in the day, winamp, mp3s and that folder "punk covers". Nostalgia. Ps. Fat Mike on bass.
ME TOO!!! Collected all of them...God bless Napster and BitTorrent!!!
Then 10 years later you realised half of them were misnamed
And that Visualizations thingy
Still use winamp to this day. Best music player
@@midyouthcrisis420😂
Yay MFATGG. Loved them from minute i heard their Country Roads version in 1998.
My mother is a very traditional, conservative, religious woman. There's no way she can handle loud punk music. However, she grew up listening to the amazing "oldies" songs from the 60's and early 70's. When I was growing up, the only radio station that played in the car was the oldies station.
I once had to make a 1 hour car trip with my mother, and Me First's Blow In the Wind album had just come out. I knew the entire album was covers of songs she liked. So, I made her listen to the album.
For the first and only time, her reaction to my punk music was, "Ya know, I really like some of these songs."
Amazing. The first part of your comment is *precisely* how I grew up in terms of musical exposure. Oldies 24/7 in the car, in the house. While I missed a lot of newer stuff, I'm grateful for it because I did end up loving some timeless music that I still listen to today. Righteous Brothers, Lovin' Spoonful, the Ventures, the Byrds, the Zombies, King Harvest, on and on and on.
@@LowEndUniversity Same here. As a kid, I did get tired of hearing the same songs over and over. But as an adult, I really appreciate it. When I list my favorite genres or "time periods" of music, I always list the music from that era.
@@LowEndUniversityI grew up on Eagles, Elton, Shania, and mormon tabernacle choir, wouldn’t change a thing
I had a similar experience with my mom, but with Toy Dolls! 😂
Yes , that track was on Wolf of Wall Street . They also used their cover of Different Drum in the Dodgeball movie .
Taxicab Confessions' intro had Somewhere Over The Rainbow
The intro of “Sloop John B” is the riff from RAMONES’ “Teenage Lobotomy”
How did you recognised it? Wow, what a ear
The great thing I love about the Gimmes is that the take classic punk rock songs riffs/intros or sound and used them for their covers. The intro of Dancing Queen is from The Clash's song Janie Jones. Amazing review as always!
The intro for Dancing Queen is The Clash's Janie Jones. :)
And the outro aswell
You beat me to it! Ha ha ha i love the clash and picked up in it too!
I love when they do random intros of other songs, my favorite is On The Road Again, using Astro Zombies by The Misfits as the intro
Joe Strummer smiles from his grave.
The Runaway 'fart' is a nod to Sex Pistols EMI outro. Actually, a lot of their songs have nods to other punk songs, particularly as intros. I love this band, and by the look on your face you enjoyed this! Also - Their Phantom of the Opera is divine!
Haha I did pause for a sec when I saw Phantom on the list and went "ooooooohhhh"
@@LowEndUniversity they have an album "Goes Drag" that is all songs from musicals.
@@LowEndUniversity that and rainbow connection were really great.
Never thought I'd see a MFATGG reaction. Heck yeah!
There are so many great covers by them, but 3 of my favorites (besides Sloop John B which you did) are End of the Road, Over the Rainbow, and I Believe I Can Fly.
I try to keep everyone on their toes 😘
Mark, as an Abba fan and a recent discoverer of the joy the Mad Caddies bring, you should check out their cover of SOS... which is an all-time favorite for me
That EP was my first punk CD as a kid. SOS might be one of the best covers of all time.
Just starting the video, but I wanna say: I'm so happy you're giving them a try.
They are great, and their live performance is incredible. I definitely recommend you check them out if you get a chance.
Also: I highly recommend you listen to their cover of Jolene
absolutely crush live
Spike also sings vocal armonies in NOFX's "The Decline", all of them.
Would love to see you come back to The Gimmes, and punk covers in general, again and again. These never get old to me. Reel Big Fish -- Take On Me, Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons, Social Distortion - Ring of Fire. All are straight bangers.
If you haven’t heard it, You Can Call Me Al by Inspection 12. Great cover.
Social Distortion Hank Williams' Alone and Forsaken, Mike Ness doing Dylan's Don't Think Twice
And yes this version of Sloop John B is in The Wolf of wall street.
I've seen the movie enough times now where it was an instant memory trigger, but I couldn't pinpoint where. Haha!
@@LowEndUniversityI’ve only gotten as far as the Wikipedia page, but I was gonna ask if you might’ve been thinking of The Lemonheads cover of Mrs Robinson. But, nevermind 😁
@@LowEndUniversity which part? Love this movie
@@JPindanga pretty sure it's the scene where he kicks the FBI guy off his yacht. "I call these fun coupons" 😂
@@JPindanga when he’s throwing lobsters at the fbi guys on his boat
Cheers from Argentina!! Your reactions rule! Loved your video covering Matt Freeman style. Keep it up! Thank you!
Thanks so much!!
Saw them last year in Nashville, the energy in the room was amazing!! Nobody could stop dancing!
You're killing me! They are my one last bucket list band that I haven't seen live and I had no idea they came to town! They are the soundtrack to every road trip so I can have a car concert of one, starring me (and annoy my entire family). 😂
Love this so much!! Been listening to Me First since "Are a Drag" in 1999.
Great Video!
Ghost riders in the sky, heart of glass and Country Road are some me first, musts.
Agreed!! They have a couple really good underrated songs that no one ever mentions… I Just Called To Say I Love You and City of New Orleans. Check those out
Spike is definitely the most underrated vocalist in this genre. He's incredible, especially live.
Spike is the croon master supreme! Great stuff dude. Thanks for doing these!
You bet man! Appreciate you!
Back in the mid 90s my local radio station had a charity drive. Someone donated to hear the Gimme Gimmes cover of "Rainbow Connection". I was just getting into punk rock at the time, and being a child of the 80s The Muppet Movie was a staple growing up. So that combination really stuck with me. Good thing too, since it would be around twenty years later before I learned that it was a song by the Gimme Gimmes. The time I heard it on the radio the song was sandwiched into a long lineup of other songs, with no DJ intro for identification. A couple decades later and some algorithm recommended a Gimme Gimmes' song after I'd been listening to a bunch of NOFX, and I rediscovered the band. It felt like finding money in the pocket of an old coat that'd gone unworn in a closet for all those years.
I really relate to this. So many times in my life I've heard a song that absolutely grabbed me but had zero way to identify it and nobody around me knew it. I had peace knowing the universe would show it to me again at some point and just to be patient. Ha! I've had years go by before I heard a given song again.
Hell yeah man!
Phantom of the Opera will most likely always be my favorite… even though there are so many. 😂 I loved guessing which song they were paying homage to in the intros and at every house party, all of my friends and I screaming, “huhyayuh! Yeah!” At the end of every song 😂
Thanks for the nostalgia! Always great reviews. 🙌🏻
If the Gimmes come through your neck of the woods in Texas, Mark, go check them out. So incredible and fun to see live. Spike has amazing crowd interaction and is hilarious.
Wait where in Texas is Mark from? I'm out of San Antonio
Me First is my secret favorite band, I just love covers and they do it better than anybody. Their cover of Seasons in the Sun is my favorite song ever. I was super hyped to see them at Warped Tour back in the day.
that was the first song of theirs i ever heard, and i was instantly hooked.
It’s a dead heat between Me First’s and Too Much Joy’s covers of Seasons In The Sun. Terry Jacks never saw either coming!
So fun watching you discover these bands. I am patiently waiting for you to discover Squirtgun. Mass Giorgini absolutely rips on bass. The song Field Trip is is a great start
Boy did I rip off that bass line early and often in my first band lol
Amazing song and band
Loved this video and your enthusiasm discovering this band. This is the EXACT reaction I get from people when I introduce them to the Gimmes! 😂🤘Never gets old. Keep up the low end, my friend.
Just had the opportunity to see MFATGG in concert Aug. 2024 - so Amazing!!! Side note…The shirt I wore to the concert was “The Warning” which is how I discovered your channel in the first place.
I started 50's & 60's....then went into punk rock. Still love all of it too.
Same here ✋😁
Love MFATGG! Can't wait to see you do more of them! Also, I had no idea they were on The Wolf of Wallstreet soundtrack (I verified on imdb, I've never seen the movie), so I learned something new too!
Omg. One of my absolute favorite bands. Their covers are so much fun!!!
Dude, you're reviewing all my old favorites. Love it. Thank you (except for dancing queen.... that was new!)
Glad you enjoyed, my friend! ☺️🙏🏼
Take a Break is always my favorite album. Each one of their albums has a theme and that theme was tribute to their favorite Black artists/song writers. Their End of the Road cover 🤌🤌🤌🤌
Just discovered this channel. Thanks algo! You sir, have a new subscriber and I don't even play bass. Thanks for the upload!
Spike has always been a legend. Hosting Punk Rock Karaoke is where shines.
An absolute HAM
Been Smashing the gimmies loads recently, hello and crazy of take a break are my favorites 🔥🔥
I love how some songs start with familiar punk chords. For example "On The Road Again" the intro and the outro are from the Misfits' song "Astro Zombies" or "Elenor", the intro, the bassline and some screams are from The Clash's song "London Calling". This is so much fun :)
Last couple of times I saw them live CJ Ramone was the bass player in the Gimme Gimmes. Thanks Mark
I am glad you mentioned Summertime, Fantastic song! Fat Mike actually released a Punk VHS/DVD of music videos from bands on Fat Wreck Chords circa late 90's early 2000"s and on it was Me First doing Summertime. Aside from it being such a great song the cover version they do amp's it full of energy and the music video emits that same vibe. One of my favorite Me First songs and videos. Country Roads is another classic Me First track. Thanks again for posting these videos, they are amazing!
I'm 49 and I grew up on oldies because of my dad, most of the songs were really upbeat and because of that I gravitated towards 80s New Wave and then 90s alternative rock in the late 80s and then pop punk and skate punk in the 90s. All my musical tastes stem from the oldies as a child oh and especially back up harmonies 😍
I got pretty heavy into the punk-rock of things for a few reasons. First, it was a great gateway as a beginner to the "habit's of rock n roll" in a very accessible way. It was all like Beach Boys, as you said. Garage rock of the 60's etc. And in the late 90's early 2000's punk-rock-and-roll sort of aged with the crowd. People got better. The people are cool, the musicians have gotten more comfortable with throwing it all out there. It's awesome
Their Sunday Morning Coming Down cover is Kick Ass!
Hell yeah!
“Love Their Country” is their best record imo!
@@kirillnauchigin8727i agree 100%!
My dad enjoys the Gimmies and he’s 65, and I think that’s rad.
Btw Mark, the opening of Dancing Queen is Janie Jones by The Clash. They do that a lot, where they start with a classic punk song, and then switch to the cover really fast.
Ahhhh! That might explain the intro to Sloop John B, I wasn't sure where they were going with it. I guess a small medley type of nod?
Yeah they do it a lot. One of my favorites is On The Road Again where they use the intro to Astro Zombies by the Misfits
Man, I’m old and was listening to the first Gimmes album in college in the 90s. So many great covers they have done over the decades. If you’re not aware they often do some brief nod to older classic punk songs at the intro of the cover. I also love spikes old Johnny Rotten snarls (eg “A and M”) at the end of songs. Lots of fun old punk references. All that being said spike has shown himself to be a monster vocalist. I don’t know if he played down his range and abilities early on to sound more raw or if he just got better over time, but man some of his covers on the divas album, his vocals are outstanding. It’s fun music. Recently played a bunch of their songs on a road trip for my 6 year old. 👍🏼🎸
You were soooo close to being a punk haha. The Beach Boys are a huge influence on punk bands starting way back with the Ramones and even through to today with bands like Joyce Manor naming them as favorites.
Haha, I always say I was just one block away!
The Queers have a very noticible Beach Boys influence, and they covered a lot of Beach Boys songs. I probably wouldn't have got into punk in high school without the 50/60's rock heavy influence, since "Golden Oldies" radio station was what my parents kept the car dial into.
I was thinking the same thing when he said that, i liked the beach boys when i was really young (like 6 or 7 lol) and punk has a pretty special place in my heart. It felt like a faster, louder, angrier version of bands like the beach boys, the ventures, etc so it was a pretty natural transition to the clash ,ramones, etc, later on.
this band is more fun than any other band i really hope i get a chance to see them live some day.. there are some great live concerts on yt that ive watched dozens of times. rock on brother! love ur content ♥
finally my friend!!.. Fat Mike, Mike Burkett on bass. can't wait to watch later
They also have a live album called "Me First and The Gimme Gimmes Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah". It's very much like this. 17:27
I love the live version of Delta Dawn which they end by playing the chorus, modulating to a higher key, and then doing it again until Spike can't hit the notes. 😂
@@mikepaulus4766I honestly can’t believe you’re whining, it was only 4 modulations dude!
@@warrenpeace4276don’t try to take my mistakes away
Spike singing “Nothing Compares 2 U” is just freakin awesome…
Cool video of you analysing one of the coolest punkrock bands!. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a band that is changing its line up every now and then (on bass fat mike, Jay Bentley, CJ Ramone). Maybe you can play bass for them on a few shows, that would be cool 😅
I’m down!! 😇
Loved this band! And Country Roads was so f'in great. Thanks for reminding me.
spike is an incredible vocalist, pls do an album youll have so much fun, they often pipe in a classic punk rock riff into the cover, so its always 2 covers in one
and go see them, even tho the OG lineup is not the touring lineup but the last time i saw them stacey D was ther and it was so fun, spike is the best
also CJ ramone was in the lineup and hes in this album art, as well as joey cape
the country album is the best one
ahh the long awaited review of me first and the gimme gimmes!
Intro to "Dancing Queen" was "Janie Jones" by the Clash
And the ending too
Intro to Dancing Queen is The Clash! Cmon !!! 😂😂😂 BTW, Clash video would be 🤌
I did “Lost in the Supermarket” from them awhile back!
I'm sure someone has already pointed out that the intro was a riff on The Clash's Janie Jones, but I'd be remiss if I didn't. Love that song. My old band covered it in college.
Me First has SO MANY good covers. You're in for a treat, bro!
Would love to see another with these guys in this format
My favorite Me First and the Gimme Gimme's albums are Have a Ball and Are a Drag. On Have a Ball, they covered a bunch of '70s easy listening songs (Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, etc). On Are a Drag, they covered songs from musicals. Both albums are a lot of fun and introduced me to some songs I might never have heard otherwise.
Spike has a hell of a voice. Check out. " Nothing compares to you , I'm so lonesome i could cry and Danny's song". They give the song " Summertime " a very cool surf guitar
spin.
I've thoroughly enjoyed your punk adventure and getting introduced to the bands I've grown to love. One band I would suggest that I haven't seen mentioned much is Belvedere. Amazing musicians and songwriters. Their latest album is mind blowing, but I'd suggest you check out one of their classic tracks 'Brandy Wine'
I think they're on my list! Thanks for the kind words as well 🙏🏼
Me first and the gimme gimmes are a drag is my favorite album of theirs.
They do Rainbow Connection, Don't Cry for me Argentina and Time Warp..
The album is full of well-known musical covers.
its really awesome to watch your journey because i grew up playing shows and touring with these bands.. its was my whole life..
The last song, and that whole Quinceañera album, were recorded as a free show at a real Quinceañera, a (primarily) Mexican celebration of a girl turning 15. Their first live album, "Ruin Johnny's Bar Mitzvah," was recorded at a real bar mitzvah, where they played Hava Nagila for about 15 minutes.
Incredible! Makes sense, I heard the intro and was sort of thinking "I wonder if this whole thing was really recorded live like this" but wasn't sure.
They also let Johnny play drums with them at his bar mitzvah
To add on, the mother won a contest with 91X, here in San Diego to have them play at a party.
No Fat Mike for the most recent album, and it shows. Not nearly as good as the earlier stuff.
You will have to Google their intros. They start most of these songs with another song, usually. For example, their cover of Favorite Things starts with the intro of Generator by Bad Religion. Its kinda fun trying to figure out what song they used.
Always loved the Gimmie Gimmies. Grew up listening to oldies with my dad and these covers were a way to combine two things i cherish in life.
@17:51 a recurring theme MFGG do is in the process of arranging the cover, they’ll musically quote an iconic punk song/riff/trope. It’s usually Ramones, Clash, Bad Religion. It’s little Easter eggs for their friends and fans in the scene, kinda iykyk.
I saw them at the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle this year. It was definitely a fun show to watch!
Intro in Sloop John B is a Teenage Lobotomy by Ramones
I've been listening to Me First since the late 90s...... all they've always been a favorite. You need to listen to them all!!!
Dude. I commented once before about how you were getting me intrigued to pick up a bass again. I came across this video today. I was actually in a me first cover band called the Gimme 5. I actually know how to play the Del Shannon song and Sloop John B. If you liked the Del Shannon cover, they also did Hats Off to Larry.
Saw them in SD a few weeks ago. Super cool show. My buddy is friends with a few of them so we ended up on the tour bus. Got to talk modeling and guitar with Jake Kiley and CJ Ramone. They both use modeling amps live.
I first heard MF&tGGs with Country Roads and Danny’s Song, and I was hooked. Seen ‘em live twice. Warped Tour in Dallas in like 02? And same time about there in Austin. They still make me smile.
Check out Screeching Weasel’s cover of Runaway. LOL
One of my all time favorite bands. Seen them a few times, always great.
If you liked this you should check out The misfits album project 1950. They cover a bunch of songs from that era
I was excited to see this reaction.
I am in a cover band of this cover band. Were called “Yes Please and the No Thank You’s.
🤘
Their Sunday Morning Coming Down version has some great lines!
Man, you've got to do Crazy from their album Take a Break. Excellent bass intro on that one and a top notch cover to boot.
Me First is one of my all time favorite bands! Been listening to them for about 25 years.
I LOVE Me First And The Gimme Gimmes. They’re finally playing Scotland in December and I’m so desperate to go as I’ve missed them every time
8:55 The intro is something the Gimme Gimmes do a lot: they like to throw in similar other songs. In this case, and not for the first time, it’s the Ramones (Teenage Lobotomy)
"Jolene" by Dolly is their best cover hands down.. the drums and bass and guitar is just wow and the vocals... everything all around solid
Me first and the Gimme Gimmes has the same drummer as Lageagon, and Joey Cape, the singer from Lageagon does guitar along with that guy from Foo Fighters l. It's kinda a super group.
Fat Mike used to be the bass player but live it was the bass player from Bad Religion for a long while and more recently CJ Ramone has been playing bass.
All fun facts. A lot of really great bass players associated with this band.
Yes, this version of Sloop John B was in Wolf of Wallstreet.
Honestly, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is my favorite punk band. Goodbye Earl, Wild World, and I Believe I Can Fly are masterful.
Spike, the singer, used to work in the FAT records mail room. Ended up one of the best voices in punk imo.
finally "me first...", I love this band and how they approach another songs to punk rock
The Dancing Queen intro is from Janie Jones by The Clash. Just saw Me First play in Maine over the summer. What a great show. Great music with great performances and great comedy, all while Spike is running around with the mic and mic stand with 4ft of tinsel coming off it between his legs pretending it’s horse while singing Ghost Riders In The Sky. Magical ❤
Ooooo definitely give Summertime a listen. Honestly, that whole album, Are A Drag, is peak Gimmes. Science fiction double feature is probably my favorite song they do. The album Blow In The Wind is real good too, mostly 60s
They are one of the few cover bands I can name. Instantly recognizable. The Gimmes have set the bar so high that it might never be cleared by others.
I couldn't find it scrolling down so sorry if it's already been said but...
The intro to Dancing Queen is Janie Jones by The Clash.
I've thought this for a while, but this really solidifies it. We would have definitely been friends in high school!
Hell yeah!! 👊💥
You mentioned Rocket Man. I used to play the Gimmes Rocket Man all the time when it first came out.Such a fun version of that song. All their stuff is super fun!!
Oh, if you're looking for an *amazing* Punk Cover: Hi-STANDARD - California Dreaming. It's a japanese punk band from the 90s.