1) GO BACK TO MAIN PAGE OF MY
RAMONES HOMEPAGE.2) GO TO INDEX OF CJ SHOW REPORTS.
CJ Ramone had in this show Dave Hidalgo in drums instead of permanent drummer Michael Stamberg.
Line-up:
CJ Ramone: main vocals and bass.
Dave Hidalgo: drums.
Steve Soto: guitar.
Dan Root: guitar.
+ had three special guests: Nick Oliveri, Tony Cadena and Jonny Two Bags. Read more of reviews below.
Below is first review by Christopher Lee and then by Raz Berry. Thanks a lot for both of you.
FOLLOWING REVIEW IS BY CHRISTOPHER LEE.
CJ Ramone, Gabba Gabba Hey, what can you say? In the saga of
"America's first family" the guy doesn't ever seem to get the
credit or respect he rightfully deserves for his amazing
contributions to "da brudders" sonic legacy!
CJ played on some great records and more importantly, sang some
amazing songs that are modern day Ramones classics in their own
right, I mean c'mon... Scattergun? Main Man? Just to name a few,
RULING! With Joey, Dee Dee, and Johnny gone, someone has to do the
lords work and keep the name alive, whether its CJ, Tommy, Marky, or now
Richie who is back in action you don't have many options to see a
living, breathing, rocking RAMONE! So any chance to hear the songs
and revel in the spirit of Ramones should be treated like an
event, a chance to pay your respects while the power of rock n'
roll resurrects! RAMONES NEVER DIE!
So when I saw it listed a few weeks ago that CJ Ramone would be
playing at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, I was ecstatic, because CJ
always puts on a great show, in addition, he is releasing new
music soon in the form of the upcoming Reconquista
album!
I got to Alex's Bar around 10 PM, assuming the 2 local acts (White
Murder & Audcacity) opening for CJ would be well under way when I
arrived, and I wouldn't have to wait too long for my fix! Well as
my late dad used to say, "what happens when you assume"? Now I had
to find "Something To Do" for the next 2 hours and somehow I found
the "strength to endure"!?
As the clock striked 12, CJ Ramone with his new band took to the
stage and 1-2-3-4, with all cylinders firing they were OFF,
opening up with Judy Is A Punk which segued into Blitzkrieg Bop,
erupting in a 26 song, 75 minute set in true Ramones fashion!
He played classics like Glad To See You Go, She's The One, Do You
Wanna Dance, and debuted a few tracks off the forthcoming
Reconquista CD in the form of What We Gonna Do Now, Ghost Ring,
Nobody's Sweetheart and Three Angels which he dedicated to Joey,
Dee Dee, and Johnny, respectively! If these 4 songs are any
indication, this album will appease hardcore Ramones fans, with
songs that build on the classic Ramone formula! Knowing that the
band funded the album with a PledgeMusic campaign and that they
recently met their goal, I was hoping by chance that they would
have the album available, but CJ told me it will be out officially
next month!
There were a few surprises like a ripping version of Velvet
Underground's Waitin' For My Man, along with a few guest
appearances from Tony Cadena of The Adolescents, along with none other
than former Queens Of The Stone Age/ Mondo Generator bassist Nick
Oliveri who took over vocal duties for insane renditions of
Endless Vacation & Psycho Therapy!
CJ and the band which also consists of Steve Soto (The Adolescents
- guitar), Dave Hidalgo (Social Distortion - drums) and Dan Root
(guitar) performed 3 encores to finish off the night with the last
two being California Sun and R.A.M.O.N.E.S.! What can I say, they
changed the set list at the last minute and its hard to remember
every detail when your rocking the f#ck out! A great evening, and
a good crowd with a mix of hardcore Ramones fans and younger kids
raised on the band by older siblings, there was definitely a
feeling of camaraderie and unity amongst everyone in the room,
rockin' out together arm in arm screaming the words, because
RAMONES are the rock n' roll meaning of life! And we are all in
this together! Except for the old belligerent schmuck who got
"removed" by security for being a pinhead!
Be sure to pick up CJ's new record Reconquista in March, it is
sure to be a killer! And "like" his Facebook page for news and
tour dates!!!!
FOLLOWING REVIEW IS BY RAZ BERRY
Had a dope time at CJ Ramone show last night 2/22/2013 at
Alex's Bar in Long Beach, CA, USA. Great venue to see
bands, CJ was literally about 5ft away. Talk about upfront
and personal!! Performance was Gabba, Gabba, Great!!!!! He
played Ramones classics, one after the other ala Ramones
.....1.2.3.4.!!!!
His band consisted of Steve Soto and Dan Root of
Adolescents band, David Hidalgo on drums of Social
Distortion. Also if that was not down enough, they had Nick
Oliveri (Queen Of The Stoneage/ Dwarves/ Kyuss) sing a
Ramones song. Also lead singer of the Adolescents Tony
Cadena jumped up on stage and performed a Ramones tune!!!
One highlight: CJ Ramone singing along with the crowd Happy
Birthday to the Tony Cadena. I thoroughly enjoyed Tony
singing Commando on stage also because the Adolescents are
another favorite band of mine.
One more special guest, Social Distortion guitarist Jonny
Two Bags got up on stage and belted of a Ramones song with
CJ... It was too much punk rockin and rolling going on!!! I
was elated and one happy girlie.
Some of the highlights from the show was being up front
singing along to all the songs. Chanting along to Havana
Affair, She's The One, Rockaway Beach was real tight. The
whole crowd was down. All in all it was a very tight show,
that I'm glad I trekked the 50 plus miles to get a taste of
Ramones and be around other that appreciate that music.
Set list:
February 22, 2013: Alex's Bar, Long Beach, CA, USA.:
1) Judy Is A Punk.
2) Blitzkrieg Bop.
3) Cretin Hop.
4) What We Gonna Do Now?
5) Beat On The Brat.
6) Listen To My Heart.
7) She's The One.
8) Ghost Ring.
9) Rockaway Beach.
10) You're The Only One.
11) Strength To Endure.
12) Psycho Therapy.
13) Do You Wanna Dance?
14) Teenage Lobotomy.
15) Nobody's Sweetheart.
16) I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.
17) Glad To See You Go.
18) Three Angels.
19) 53rd And 3rd.
20) Waitin' For My Man.
21) Endless Vacation.
22) Aloha.
23) Commando.
24) Pinhead.
25) California Sun.
26) R.A.M.O.N.E.S
1) GO BACK TO MAIN PAGE OF MY
RAMONES HOMEPAGE.
2) GO TO INDEX OF
CJ SHOW REPORTS.
Had a dope time at CJ Ramone show last night 2/22/2013 at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, CA, USA. Great venue to see bands, CJ was literally about 5ft away. Talk about upfront and personal!! Performance was Gabba, Gabba, Great!!!!! He played Ramones classics, one after the other ala Ramones .....1.2.3.4.!!!!
His band consisted of Steve Soto and Dan Root of Adolescents band, David Hidalgo on drums of Social Distortion. Also if that was not down enough, they had Nick Oliveri (Queen Of The Stoneage/ Dwarves/ Kyuss) sing a Ramones song. Also lead singer of the Adolescents Tony Cadena jumped up on stage and performed a Ramones tune!!! One highlight: CJ Ramone singing along with the crowd Happy Birthday to the Tony Cadena. I thoroughly enjoyed Tony singing Commando on stage also because the Adolescents are another favorite band of mine.
One more special guest, Social Distortion guitarist Jonny Two Bags got up on stage and belted of a Ramones song with CJ... It was too much punk rockin and rolling going on!!! I was elated and one happy girlie. Some of the highlights from the show was being up front singing along to all the songs. Chanting along to Havana Affair, She's The One, Rockaway Beach was real tight. The whole crowd was down. All in all it was a very tight show, that I'm glad I trekked the 50 plus miles to get a taste of Ramones and be around other that appreciate that music.
Set list:
February 22, 2013: Alex's Bar, Long Beach, CA, USA.:
1) Judy Is A Punk.
2) Blitzkrieg Bop.
3) Cretin Hop.
4) What We Gonna Do Now?
5) Beat On The Brat.
6) Listen To My Heart.
7) She's The One.
8) Ghost Ring.
9) Rockaway Beach.
10) You're The Only One.
11) Strength To Endure.
12) Psycho Therapy.
13) Do You Wanna Dance?
14) Teenage Lobotomy.
15) Nobody's Sweetheart.
16) I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.
17) Glad To See You Go.
18) Three Angels.
19) 53rd And 3rd.
20) Waitin' For My Man.
21) Endless Vacation.
22) Aloha.
23) Commando.
24) Pinhead.
25) California Sun.
26) R.A.M.O.N.E.S
1) GO BACK TO MAIN PAGE OF MY RAMONES HOMEPAGE.
2) GO TO INDEX OF CJ SHOW REPORTS.