Sunday night June 2, CJ Ramone headlined a night of three punk bands at Seattle’s Funhouse. CJ replaced Dee Dee, the Ramones original bass player and played with them until the band retired. He had a stellar band of three other musicians playing with him (Steve Soto-guitar-vocals, Dan Root-guitar-vocals Pete Sosa-drums). They hit the stage with a vengeance opening with Let’s Dance. Several other Ramones classics like Blitzkrieg Bop, I Wanna Be Sedated, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (my favorite) and Rockaway Beach followed and they even did a few non-Ramones covers like Graham Parker’s Crawling From the Wreckage and ended their set with Motorhead’s tribute RAMONES. When they played Commando CJ dedicated it to all the vets in the audience (he himself is a vet).
The tiny club was maybe two-thirds full. This wasn’t a lively audience. Most in attendance were over the age of thirty. But many sang along to the big hits and there was barely a still body when they played those famous punk anthems. The band had a good amount of energy though and the crowd definitely fed off of that.
Playing prior to CJ Ramone was Portland’s Mean Jeans. I had seen Mean Jeans once before opening for the Aquabats nearly two years ago and I was just as wowed by them this time. This band had lots of hair that constantly whipped into their faces and twirled like a helicopter blade. They played a type of power pop punk that reminded me a lot of Screeching Weasel. They also have a cute factor going for them as well as loads of charisma. Mean Jeans are, Billy Jeans: guitar/vox, Jeans Wilder: drums/vox,Junior Jeans : bass, Billy Jeans: guitar/vox. I love Mean Jeans.
Opening the night was Seattle’s own punks, Die Nasty. Die Nasty is raucous, grungy punk rock led by the dynamo Lauren Goffin who seemed to channel Joan Jett. Add some churning guitar chords from Steve Ross, zany bass playing by Nils Larson and manic, energetic drumming by Dain Hudson and you have a band that is pure punk for hip people.
When the night was over there was nothing left but the smoldering wreckage of another night of punk.
– All photos property of Holly Homan, all rights reserved.
