This review of the show is written by Martin
Nunez.Photos are taken by: Andrea Miranda Atenas.
Saturday, May 30, 2009, the night was cold but my heart was warm and trembling about seeing CJ Ramone for the second time in less than a year.
Last year, 2008, Bad Chopper performed a show including both Ramones and Bad Chopper songs in front of a small crowd that left their souls on the venue, this time everything was different since it was a private show at Industria Cultural in Santiago de Chile hosted by Converse, only a few invitations were available for regular people and I was lucky enough to win one of them, I can't imagine what should I've done this saturday outside the venue.
The Venue was an abandoned factory and was filled with a crowd of around 300 people. Once inside, me and my girl were pretty anxious, and suddenly a friend calls me by cell phone and invites me to backstage, all of a sudden I was in front of CJ Ramone himself, he was so humble and took time to chat with us and even signed us a Bad Chopper 7', that John Evicci, Bad Chopper drummer and owner of ACME Records brought for me, we placed the transaction via e-mail a couple of days before the show. It was great to see how CJ takes time to talk with the fans, always with a big smile and even make a toast with us.
With the signed 7' single we took our place in front of the stage, waiting for Bad Chopper to assault the stage with a full Ramones set. A few minutes past midnight, Bad Chopper hits the stage and without much introduction CJ announces Blitzkrieg Bop, counts 1,2,3,4 and the party started, the crowd went crazy, the last chorus was an overwhelmig singalong and without too much words between songs the party continued, he played not only Ramones hits, but lesser known songs for the regular audience, those were the most exciting moments for the good amount of true fans that enjoyed every single note, stage diving and pogo dancing for more than 45 minutes with songs like Swallow My Pride, Sitting In My Room and It's A Long Way Back To Germany.
Since the show started late, there wasn't time for an encore, CJ apologized for that saying that he had to take the plane back to the US.
Between songs CJ took time to talk a bit, remembering Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny, throwing water to the audience, it's Fall here, the night was so cold, but CJ and the Ramones songs were responsibles for making the venue hotter than hell. The songs were played according to the records pace, not Loco Live's style (speed).
Bad Chopper did a great job performing Ramones tunes, they sounded like a bomb, despite some technical problems that were finally overlooked because the show was intense, and at the end of the day, you don't see CJ singing Ramones songs everyday.
Brian Constanza on guitar, and John Evicci on drums did a great job, but of course all the atention was focused on CJ, his Mosrite signature bass and his unique and great voice.
Like their past show, they ended the gig playing R.A.M.O.N.E.S., a perfect song to finish a show, people were flying, beer was spilled all over the floor and sweat was everywhere.
After the show was a party, but I didn't care about that, in my big head there was only room for a great HEY HO! LET'S GO!
It was weird that only show in South America was this one in Santiago de Chile, Converse really treated the fans with this exclusive show (show in Buenos Aires, Argentina got cancelled). The band left the States on Friday, arrived here on Saturday and flew back to te US after the show.
Thanks to Bad Chopper and CJ for making our lives happier one more time. CJ deserves all my respects, he really keeps the Ramones spirit Alive!
Set list:- Blitzkrieg Bop
- Cretin Hop
- Judy Is A Punk
- Commando
- Beat On The brat
- I'm Against It
- Swallow My Pride
- I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
- Endless Vacation
- It's A Long Way Back To Germany
- Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
- Teenage Lobotomy
- Sitting In My Room
- I Wanna Be Sedated
- Pinhead
- R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
Thanks Martin Nunez and Andrea Miranda Atenas.
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