CJ Ramone – The Kings Arms (Concert Review)

Presenting himself as something like “the last man standing” (with apologies to Marky Ramone), CJ Ramone paid tribute to his fallen band mates with a solid, if somewhat predictable, set of Ramones tunes, peppered with a few of his own.

I was at the Vector Arena earlier in the evening to review Roxette, so when that show was over, I grabbed an Uber and hi-tailed it to The Kings Arms to catch CJ’s show.

I got there just before 11 and the set had just begun. I asked how long they had been playing and was assured it had only ben five minutes…two songs worth in Ramones term.

There was CJ, centre-stage, his bass strapped on and a New York Yankees baseball cap covering his greying hair. He was flanked by Steve Soto and Dan Root, both guitarists from Southern California band The Adolescents. Drummer Pete Sosa was pounding out the beat in the rear of the stage.

I arrived just in time to hear a handful of CJ originals…Won’t Stop Swinging, Never Get Out Alive and Cluster Fuck…the first and third from his latest album, Last Chance To Dance.

The band sounded tight, the songs were sturdy, if unremarkable and CJ proved to be a capable front man.

Finally, they broke into Blitzkrieg Bop…this is what the crowd had come to hear…versions of Ramones’ classics served up by someone who was a member of the band.

CJ was bassist for The Ramones from 1989 until they split in 1996, replacing Dee Dee Ramone. With Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy gone off to rock & roll heaven, CJ has taken it upon himself to carry on the legacy.

And what a legacy.

In my humble opinion The Ramones are as important to the history of popular music as The Beatles and Elvis Presley. No one sounded like them before and hundreds, if not thousands, of bands have been inspired by them since. Their sound defined what became punk. And they came up with some great songs as well.

CJ paid tribute to his fallen comrades with the song Three Angels…Tommy was still alive when it was written…then launched into Cretin Hop.

The high point of the set came with the one-two punch of California Sun and Do You Wanna Dance…just like the originals used to do it.

CJ pointed out that The Ramones rarely performed any of their love songs because Joey had written them for the woman who would become Johnny’s wife. Years of animosity resulted. But tonight we heard I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend and Baby I Love You along with The KKK Took My Baby Away, Joey’s musical response to Johnny’s marriage to Linda.

But the vibes were celebratory tonight…Rockaway Beach, She’s The One, I Wanna Be Sedated, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, all performed with enthusiasm and good humour.

CJ and his band wrapped things up with Motorhead’s ode to the band, R.A.M.O.N.E.S.

Over 20 songs in just over an hour…a lengthy set by Ramones standards…the spirit lives on.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a gallery of concert photos by Isaac Newcombe:

CJ Ramone set list:

(first couple of songs missed)

1. Won’t Stop Swinging
2. Never Get Out Alive
3. Cluster Fuck
4. Blitzkrieg Bop
5. Three Angels
6. Cretin Hop
7. Last Chance To Dance
8. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
9. Glad To See You Go
10. Carry Me Away
11. Strength To Endure
12. Commando
13. 53^rd & 3^rd
14. California Sun
15. Do You Wanna Dance
16. I Wanna Be Sedated
17. The KKK Took My Baby Away
18. Baby I Love You
19. Rockaway Beach
20. She’s The One
21. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
22. A.M.O.N.E.S.