On their twelfth studio album, the punk rock cover and supergroup Me First and the Gimme Gimmes bring a hysterical and energetic edge that’s a breath of fresh air. They make almost every right move and do it with style.
The group opens their live set with “Changes.” Originally a Black Sabbath song also covered by Charles Bradley and popularized as the theme song to Big Mouth. Right after, lead singer Spike Slawson mistakes the event for a bar mitzvah, a throwback to their first live record, Ruin Jonny’s Bar Mitzvah.
Instrumentally, they’re arguably the best cover band ever. Because the group comprises incredibly talented musicians, like C.J. Ramone on bass, they blend easily. On “Queen of Hearts,” energy and chemistry are automatic as they run through a track usually described as mid-tempo.
Like their previous live record, they don’t shy away from covers to match the occasion, as evidenced by several tracks like “Camino de Guanajuato” and “Estos Celos.” As the group mentions, this is their first time with a brass section behind them, and their trumpeters’ tone is bright and colorful, perfectly matching the band.
There isn’t a single song that stands out on this record because they’re all so good. However, what does stand out is the audience interaction, which makes a live album perfect.
Many things can be balanced with a live record, and the crowd is a huge part of that. It makes records like KISS’s Alive! or EXO’s EXO Planet #4 — The ElyXiOn (dot) the best live record in the last two decades. And this quinceañera does its part.
Slawson isn’t afraid to interact with the crowd. He asks Madison, the girl of the hour, about her favorite songs and artists. While he never plays any Bruno Mars, his energy allows the party to get into it anyway.
What results are screaming kids, excited parents asking for more, and a lot of embarrassed chuckles. The best one has to be their slowdown in the final chorus of ABBA’s biggest hit, “Dancing Queen,” where Slawson slowly draws out the final sentences. The excitement is too much, and the words slip out.
Overall, ¡Blow it…at Madison’s Quinceañera! can be considered one of the year’s most entertaining and realistic albums. At the end of the album, those in attendance can buy their merchandise in the parking lot. No other album has that guarantee.
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