Hank III Headlining Joey Ramone Birthday Bash

This year's JR Birthday Bash at Irving Plaza will be headlined by Hank III and Morningwood. First of all, I didn't even know that Morningwood was still around. Secondly, Hank III! Yeah, buddy! Maybe I'll actually go to this. It kinda seems odd to have a Joey Ramone party at Irving Plaza though. Somewhere a little further south would make much more sense.

Celebrating what would have been the 59th birthday of punk icon JOEY RAMONE, the annual JOEY RAMONE BIRTHDAY BASH will take place Wednesday, May 19th at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza .  Mickey Leigh, event organizer and brother of Joey Ramone, has announced this year’s lineup and a sell out Bash is expected again.  Net proceeds will go to benefit Lymphoma research.                                                                                             

This year’s headliners are Hank III and Morningwood.  Once again, the spectacular party will conclude with The Joey Ramone Birthday Bashers featuring Richie Ramone, Hank III, Walter Lure, Cheetah Chrome, JP Thunderbolt, Ed Stasium, Jean Beauvoir, George Tabb,Ivan Julian, Al Maddy, Walt Stack, Dave Merrill, Mickey Leigh & others.  Also appearing are The Sic F*cks, The Independents, Spanking Charlene (winners of Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records contest) and Heap.  As the audience enters the venue they will once again be greeted by musician Tracy Thornton, playing Ramones songs on the steel drum.  And, in what has become a Birthday Bash tradition, Sean O’Sullivan's Punk Pipers will round out the night with their rendition of “I Wanna Be Sedated” on bagpipes.

The Masters of Ceremony for this year’s fete will be Steven Van Zandt, Steve Craig, Matt Pinfield and Pete Ashner.  Additional surprises are expected at the evening’s events. 

RAMONE, who passed away in April 2001 after a seven-year battle with Lymphoma, had a history of encouraging up-and-coming bands in New York ’s downtown music scene by showcasing them at his special “Joey Ramone Presents…” events.  Since RAMONE’s passing, his brother and their mother Charlotte Lesher carried on the tradition “by featuring bands that make great music and getting together some of Joey’s friends to celebrate him on what would otherwise be a sad, somber day,” Leigh explained.

This year’s Bash is being sponsored by Manic Panic, Trash & Vaudeville, Tripp , New York Waste, WPKN, 101.9 RXP, Bravado and Ovation. 

Death Playing The Joey Ramone Birthday Bash

Remember a couple months back when everyone was talking about Death? I'm refering to the black proto-punk band from Detroit, not the metal dudes. Well, according to a press release I just received they are set to play this year's Joey Ramone birthday bash at The Fillmore.

This year’s headliners are Fishbone and Supersuckers. The spectacular party will conclude with The Friends Of Joey featuring Richie Ramone, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Jean Beauvoir, Ivan Julian, George Tabb, Al Maddy and Mickey Leigh. Also appearing are Death and Rough Francis (both bands were the subject of a feature story in the New York Times on March 12), Uncle Monk (featuring Tommy Ramone), Bebe Buell, and Tom Clark & The High Action Boys. As the audience enters the venue they will once again be greeted by musician Tracy Thornton, playing Ramones songs on the steel drum. And, in what has become a Birthday Bash tradition, Sean O’Sullivan's Punk Pipers will round out the night on the bagpipes. The fete will be emceed by Matt Pinfield and Peter Aschner. Additional surprises are expected at the evening’s events.

Buy Tickets:
Joey Ramone Birthday Bash

NYC Punk - Keeping The Scene Alive

When I was living in Morgantown, WV I was down with the local punk scene. This wasn't the shitty "punk" scene you grew up with in the suburbs - this was the real deal. The shows were wild, the bands were awesome, and the people were family. Morgantown even had it's own "punk house" - ever been to a punk house? If not you're missing out my friends, it's like a commune full of dirty, destructive, anarchist hoodlums - and it's god damn utopia.

Why am I talking about this you ask? Because believe it or not there is a punk scene in NYC. The NYC crew is a lot more organized, take a look at their website. If you're a weary punk traveler looking for a real show then this is your best bet. If you're in an NYC band and can't figure out where to play then they have resources to help you. It's damn near everything you need to stay in the loop, including news, band/show listings, movies, trade, and ride shares to shows.

So don't tell me the scene is dead in NYC. CBGB might be gone and the Continental might be a sports bar now but that doesn't mean the scene is dead. The scene is alive you just have to work a little harder to find it kids...

Link:
NYC Punks MySpace

MP3:
Judy Is A Punk - Ramones