originally at http://envyonline.com/features/concerts/mf.html

One word. Brilliant!

First to understand this band you must know who is in this band. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are Fat Mike, bass player ( NOFX), Jackson, aka. Chris Shifflet guitar player, (The Foo Fighters), Dave Raun, drummer (Lagwagon), Joey Cape, guitarist (Lagwagon) and the leader of this circus Spike , singer (Swinging Utters). Lets get you familiar with what this band is about. Simple concept, cover songs. NO originals, as made perfectly clear by Spike half way though the show. And that's a good thing, we can leave the original music to each of the guys primary bands. They have released 3 albums since they got together in 1997. The first titled " Have A Ball" featured songs from the 70's, their second release "Are a Drag" featured show tunes from Grease, Annie, Evita and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and their 3rd and new release "Blowing in the Wind" features 60's pop songs by Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan and The Beach Boys. So do you see where this is headed? Right down the super highway to Punk-o-Rama good times. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this show. But what I got was one of the most entertaining & fun, sing-a-longs I have ever been to.

These guys have no attitudes; they know exactly what they are doing. Having a good time, playing fun tunes, in their own way. Yet, more times than I can count, they professed they were the best band in the world, as well as mentioning how much they suck. I would say they are somewhere in between. The best has to be reserved for people like Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer and Falco, doesn't it? Flying through songs every three minutes you can't afford to go to the boys or girls room in fear of missing the thrusting "Only The Good Die Young" (billy joel), or the throw your hands in the air version of Cat Stevens "Wild World". There are no marathon jams, or 10 minute guitar solos, no long political speeches about sweat shops, just quick, fast, sometimes melodic (kidding), ok, usually melodic tunes, with the exception of the occasional Bass Guitar slip up or guitars going out of tune, primarily due to the pouring shots of Whisky for the front of the crowd. Hey, they are looking out for the people...so we can cut some slack for them, 'ey.

If you had to pick any band that would assure you a good time, this would be up there with anyone. They can come play my party anytime. See Ya!