Music > Live Reviews

The Ramonas

01/04/15

Opener Sara Harrington is a singing guitarist playing a decent mix of covers and originals. Curiously more confident on the covers, she has a strong voice and engaging between song banter. Anyone who does a Henry VIII rap can’t be bad. (7/10)

I feared that ukulele collective The pUKES would be a novelty act. They are far from it. With ten people on stage bashing out punk classics on ukes, bass and drums this was damned fine fun. Holiday In Cambodia is worth the price of admission alone and album Too Drunk To Pluck is highly recommended. (9/10)

Normally, I'd rather hammer rusty nails into my tender parts than see a tribute act. Advertised as the UK’s premier all-female tribute to The Ramones, The Ramonas are intriguing enough to pique my curiosity. Vocalist Cloey is full of energy in a way that Joey wasn't, at least when I saw The Ramones at the end of their career. Rohnny and Pee Pee are both more Johnny than Dee Dee and Margy pummels the drums with way more intensity than Marky. The likes of Beat On The Brat and Pet Sematary are despatched with an intensity that doesn’t let up over 30 songs and 80 minutes. Well worth a look. (9/10)