Memorial Day - Four bands, One hour.

While the rest of the country was celebrating fallen warriors with flags, Ess-effers were doing it with guitars. Rightly so. New Wave City, the Floating 80’s thing, working with local musicians, put together a tribute to everyone’s favorite pinhead, the late Joey Ramone. Holding their monthly dance/party for the holiday weekend at the Pound, a newish metal club so far off the beaten path you can actually find parking.

Now, I know you know Joey Ramone died (sober) of cancer on April 15th. And you probably heard about the big memorial (i.e. concert) in NY a week ago on his birthday (May 19th) with his mom and Blondie. We got ours on a time delay, which fell nicely in sync with the holiday. I’m glad someone did something. Funeral starts with fun doesn’t it? The concept was four bands would do four Ramones songs each. Let’s do the math, 4 bands times 4 songs times 3 minutes. Shouldn’t be more than a half hour. Blue Period’s guitar, Tommy Vaux's estimate was an hour. It went a little over, but not by much.

The line up was impressive. Blue Period and Barbee Killed Kenn are both local favorites and SF Weekly Wammie Winners; Best Rock and Punk bands respectively. Joined by two more bands, the Hell Brothers and Dirty Pansy (hybrid of Pansy Division and Dirty Power-so legally isn’t that five bands?) Starting the show with a cut and paste video that included talking heads with the Talking Heads, animation from The Simpson’s and a Sha Na Na show (Bowser?), a hundred or so somewhat subdued SF rockers showed up for the show. The crowd ran the gamut from aging-punk, glitter-glam, gen-X, Y and Z, transgender and metal transplant. I love this city. Where else do Ponytails meet fishnets? And watch that glitter, will ya?

Blue Period chose the Drinking and Drugs set and opened with I Want To Be Sedated. They continued with Somebody Put Something In My Drink, Chinese Rock and movie theme, Rock and Roll High School. Obviously, this band got first pick at the songbook. The evening’s theme was definitely D&D. Barbee Killed Kenn took the Disillusioned and Disenfranchised theme. Lead singer, Diane talked a tad too much between songs and ate up time on that ticking clock which probably accounted for the spillover. The girls opened with Blitzkrieg Bop and did a great cover of Sheena. Truly a woman’s song.

The Hell Brothers kept it going with Dark and Despairing take. Every one of these bands has a great lead singer who gave their best “Joey” but this band came closest to what was regrettably described in various obits as a yelp. Standout selection; I Don’t Want to Live This Life. Things went from sad to silly. Dirty Pansy brought it home with the Dumb and Dumber side. Now, don’t get sensitive, remember the Ramones Credo? Three chords is one too many?! After asking the question Do You Remember Rock n’ Roll Radio? DP was joined on stage by BP and further asked if We Were One Happy Family. Definite yes. Gabba gabba hey. This happy show ended with a look up towards Rock and Roll heaven and lead singer Chris screaming, “We fucking love you, Joey.”

Joey Ramone spoke volumes when he reflected on what initally inspired The Ramones so many years ago, ‘Some people were taking themselves much too seriously.’ They never had a hit record. Amazing.

Like Chris said, we fucking love you, Joey.

Victoria

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