Yeah it's definitley better that there's no real appropriation of The Ramones out there. Nothing brought that home to me like Joe's most recent Birthday Bash. My misgivings are based upon a sadness that Joey never got to see what he meant to people. Not the way he deserved to anyway. No matter what the gesture, The Alkaline Trio do not serve as a fitting memorial to the guy who really had it all. I never rated Mark as a drummer but rather tolerated his position within the band. His spoken word tours do little to underpin the importance of the combo he ended up in. Whilst I enjoyed being at the Bash to celebrate Joe and dug a chunk of the proceedings, I personally didn't reckon that what went down was a fitting memorial to Joey. A wise man told me to remember that even when Joe was alive, some of the bills he put together could be kind of ramshackle. Whilst that offered a perspective, I think the big guy would have dug the Star Spangles/Chesterfield Kings/Romantics triple whammy a night later just a wee bit more. That's what I like to think anyway.

Maybe it's better that there's nobody out there anymore under the Ramones banner. Just try to imagine Marky 'n C-Jay takin' the road, in a desperate attempt to finalize their pension plans, with Ian Assbury or that dork from Pearl Jam doin' duty as Joey...

No need for Mr. J to be apologising for listing Dutch shows as we have folks hungry for the real stuff in all corners of this sorry earth. Tomorrow in Glasgow, Iggy and his Stooges will be appearing at Download and taking the stage at 6.20pm. I won't be there because I can't afford it but General Cruickshank will so hopefully he'll deliver a wee report. The next night he's catching Edwyn Collins with The Alexander Brothers. If you're unfamiliar with the latter then Google the name and prepare to be aghast. Me? I'll be heading up the road to see Eddie and the Hot Rods. Who'da thunk it? You can see just about everybody in 2004, three-fifths of the MC5, a bunch of Stooges, what's left of The Dolls but there's no RAMONES. Pretty sick, eh?
For anybody around the Glesgae area, Mike Watt will be making an appearance at the one and only Monorail Music around 2pm prior to his Stooge duties.

Please excuse these Dutch gig listings, but believe you me these things don't happen too oft'. So if you're in close range of Amsterdam this Friday why not head for the OCCII In'it where the mighty Sack-o'-Woes will appear alongside some lesser talents...