“Yeah, yeah, she don’t know what she’s doing.” “She knows exactly what she’s doing.” Amongst the lotioning and oiling, oiling and lotioning, Wendy Peffercorn, Scotty Smalls and the rest of the kids from the Sandlot helped usher in a wave of classic songs, teeming with reverence and relevance for a young generation of movie fans. In a similar light, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do their damndest to make a history of music popular to a younger music fan, exposing them not only to artists ranging from John Denver to Sinead O’Connor, but to out of the box experimentation. While it wasn’t the kids in The Sandlot that ensured that Ray Charles’ “America the Beautiful” became an instant classic among a generation that only knew him as “that blind guy,” the kids did ensure that a generation seek out music, both new and old. Helping things along the way are members of the Swingin Utters, NOFX, Lagwagon and Foo Fighers who collectively do the same under the handle of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

“Love Their Country” is just one of a string of the group’s releases highlighting pop music’s history in the key of pop punk. Without delving too deep into each song, the band, this time around, gives a brief look at a wide array of country stars old and young, from Jerry Reed to The Dixie Chicks, from Garth Brooks to Willie Nelson; in the process attempting to redefine the songs in light of an entirely contrasting fan base. By presenting any number of the band’s songs to their predominantly punk fan base The Gimme Gimmes attempt to poke fun at the music they attempt while at the same time drawing perspective and interest into the music, which finds new ears through each album’s release. It’s a living.

Ultimately though, the music can’t be taken for serious, yo. The band, when I first saw them live, played a short set accompanied by tiki torches and Hawaiian shirts. The Gimme Gimmes is an alternative to each members’ day job, and though the band’s music isn’t political, hard hitting, or even original, it’s fun and it serves the band’s mission statement wholeheartedly. Lotioning and oiling, boys, oiling and lotioning. They know exactly what they’re doin’.

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes “Goodbye Earl (Dixie Chicks)”
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes “Ghost Riders in the Sky”
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Fat Wreck Chords e-card

Additional Audio From Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Here

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Official Site
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – MySpace Site