ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES, ROSHAMBO, NALI SECUNDUS

Arena: 17.01.08

Brissie three-piece Nali Secundus skip formalities and launch straight into their intro and opening number ‘Hate Snake’. Guitarist and vocalist Brousard turns the distortion up to 11 and keeps it there, impressing a fair contingent of the crowd and dumbfounding others. The rhythm section, consisting of drummer Sam and vocalist Chuck, provide able backing - both musically and vocally - and the band draw from a broad enough range of influences to stand out from the many So-Cal and hardcore imitators.

Roshambo’s set starts out in shambolic form, with guitarist James Straker declaring that his “amp is fucked”. After addressing technical problems, the band launch into ‘You Smelt it You Dealt It’ and ‘Clint’. The gaffe-heavy set culminates when the band obliterates the opening of ‘Short and Sweet’, with every band member seemingly starting to play a different song before recommencing and playing it with competence. Set highlights include the band’s now obligatory cover of The Descendents’ ‘Silly Girl’ and an exceptionally raucous cover of Motorhead’s ‘Killed by Death’, with bassist Geordie frightening the bejesus out of the crowd with his intense scream.

This Australian touring line-up of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes features NOFX guitarist Eric Melvin substituting for regular bassist Fat Mike and former Face to Face guitarist (and brother of regular Gimmes/Foo Fighters guitarist Chris) Scott Shiflett handling lead guitar.

The heavily-moustached band, also comprised of drummer Dave Raun and guitarist Joey Cape from Lagwagon and vocalist Spike Slawson, mosey on stage in their best Country & Western attire, with Melvin explaining Fat Mike is absent “’cause he couldn’t grow a moustache to save his life.”

Next the self-proclaimed “best cover band in the world” proceed to rip Garth Brooks’ ‘Much Too Young to Feel This Damn Old’ a new one, before delving into “their” back catalogue to punkify ‘Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard’ and ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’.

Nothing is sacred tonight, with everything from John Denver’s ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ to the Rocky Horror Show’s ‘Science Fiction Double Feature’ receiving the MFATGG makeover.

The absence of Fat Mike and (Chris) Shiflett is especially noticeable when it comes to harmonies, or more accurately the lack thereof, with ‘Sloop John B’, in particular, falling casualty. That said, Slawson’s vocals are more than strong enough to carry the band for the majority of songs.

‘Rainbow Connection’ results in a predictably loud sing-a-long, particularly during the “la la las.” The band exit the stage after ‘Only the Good Die Young’, before returning for an encore that fittingly concludes with ‘End of The Road’.

DANIEL JOHNSON