Me First and the Gimme Gimmes @ The Horizon Ballroom, Lake Tahoe

By Greg Glenn

In the history of a band they usually play tons of shows, visit the same cities every year again and again (sometimes multiple times in the same year). But at the time, this band didn't do that. To witness this band was a testament to your dedication to their music, even though it wasn't technically their music. At the time, I was working on a TV show based out of UCLA and somehow got access to this show, I believe the 9th show Me First ever played (damn you Warped Tour, damn you).

So anyway, the show started after some wannabe Limp Bizkit band left the stage and the Gimmes took over. All of them seemed to have trouble standing due to their excessive amounts of alcohol but like the professionals their are, they played amazingly. Jake Jackson (aka Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters) is one of the best wasted guitarists I have ever witnessed. His chain smoking in no way debilitated his guitar playing ability, smoking during the entire show. Holding a cigarette between his ring finger and pinky finger, he effortlessly tranferred the cigarette to his mouth during a solo without missing a beat. He then proceeded to fall over, flat on his back as Fat Mike tea-bagged him. RAD.

The rest of the Gimmes also played flawlessly. Fat Mike with one hand in the air clenched in a fist executed his distinct bass riffs without a hitch and the boys of Lagwagon showed everyone why they were such excellent musicians. Spike (of Swingin' Utters) sings with a drunken vigor even Sinatra would be proud of.