Words: Miljan Milekić
Ever since I have known Marky Ramone’s projects, whatever the name or the lineup of the band was, there has always been a discussion among punk rock fans about what this actually is. According to Marky himself, it is a way of keeping the Ramones’ legacy and bringing the music to generations of fans who had not been able to see them. According to some Ramones’ fans, it was a blatant money grab, a “karaoke act,” and vulturing of the music of one of the greatest bands of all time.
For years I was switched back and forth between the two sides until I finally decided – that I don’t care. I took a step back and started looking at it for what it really is – at least for me – a fun tribute to the legendary band, led by a drummer who spent more than a decade with them and played on some of their most legendary albums.
The first time I’ve seen Marky Ramone live, was back in 2008, on this very stage. I can’t even remember who was the singer, or what the lineup of the band was, but it was 14 years ago, and I was 19. A few years later, I have seen him with Andrew W.K. on vocals, and that was the lineup I didn’t really like. This one, however, worked just fine. And once again, it was just about the expectations. A show like this was hardly a life-changing experience. It’s not a substitute for a Ramones show, nor it can ever be. It was a little over an hour of legendary songs, delivered by a competent band, with Marky behind the steering wheel.
Song after song, the four-piece on the stage kept digging into the Ramones opus, delivering a fan-favorite after fan-favorite, much to the approval of the few thousand people in front of the stage. The crowd was ready to accept the game from the get-go, with sing-alongs, a couple of mosh pits, and lots of hands and beers in the air. And once again, it was all about the expectations. The whole show was more like a massive punk rock party under the open sky, and it seemed like everyone present was all for it. Hit after hit, from opening with ‘Sheena Is A Punk Rocker,’ to closing with ‘Blitzkrieg Bop,’ in a typical Ramones fashion, the band packed more than 30 songs in 70 minutes, touching on most of the phases of the legendary punk pioneers’ career.
So, did I enjoy hearing some of the songs I love, and loved for years? Yes. Would I like to hear a few others they did not play? Sure. Do feel like I’ve just seen Ramones? Not at all. But was it fun, and would I do it again? For sure. Until we meet again.
