Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A-10

Quick Words:

Ramones-concert-review-Adios

Full Text:

(concert rev, The Ramones @Toad's Place, 3/1/96)

Concert Review-

Could This Be The End of An Era?

(with photo)

By Shannon Hicks

NEW HAVEN - Like a good margarita, you really have to take it with a grain of

salt when a musician, band or group decides to announce retirement. The

Rolling Stones and Elton John have been threatening to do so for so many

years, no one takes that threat very seriously anymore. Rod Stewart, who

returned to Connecticut for a concert last week, has also been threatening to

pack it in for a few years. Even Ozzy Osbourne, who made a big stink about

retiring less than two years ago, is back on the road these days.

These are just a few people who have decided to announce retirement, yet

continue making music. Don't even get started on the number of people who have

work "discovered" posthumously...

Now it looks like The Ramones may be making a run for the gold ring of

retirement. The three-chord wonderboys of punk, a longstanding quartet of

"brothers" from Forest Hills, Queens, won't answer questions concerning an

impending retirement with a straight, direct answer, but there are a few

nagging hints that have fans of all ages scratching their heads, getting out

to every show possible, and preparing for the worst.

With the band's latest release - one of the best in a few years - having been

named Adios Amigos , and a current tour dubbed "The Final Tour," it doesn't

look like there will be too many more opportunities to send that familiar call

("Hey, Ho! Let's Go!") out to Joey, Johnny, Marky and CJ to get a show going.

Connecticut fans have had numerous opportunities over the years to see this

band live, a show that has been often simulated, never imitated. "You give us

17 minutes, we'll give you 20 songs," could have been The Ramones' original

mantra, and it continues to hold true today.

Luckily, the state was not left out this year when the band set up its concert

itinerary. Shortly after the release of Adios Amigos last July, the band

played a show at Riverside Park in Agawam, Mass. Local radio stations pushed

that performance - quite confidently, in fact - as "what could be New

England's last chance to see The Ramones!" Last Friday proved that statement

untrue.

Packed in like sardines, the crowd at Toad's Place on February 23 knew what to

expect, from raised arms and bodies, body surfers by the dozen, lots of black

leather jackets, and songs that spanned the band's 21-year history. Before

recording Amigos , Johnny and the rest of the band decided they wanted to get

into the studio and "just play the songs, not having to do overdubs," he says

in the band's press release. The result is a Ramones performance captured just

as it would more or less sound on stage, sans the audience's reaction.

The audience reaction is what is saved for the live shows, and Friday's in New

Haven was as typical reaction as a Ramones show is typical in presentation:

straightforward punk, no rinky-dink guitars or keyboards, with loud crashing

drums and Joey's unmistakable vocals.

These guys can't retire! Who's going to tell us about babies stolen by the

KKK, graduating from Rock n' Roll High School, doin' the Blitzkrieg Bop, not

wanting to grow up, or remind us to listen to Rock n' Roll Radio? Who's going

to tell us the antics of Sheena the Punk Rocker, take us back to Rockaway

Beach, give us Shock Treatment or talk us into wanting a lobotomy during our

fragile teenage years?

Others may try. They may even have a similar style. But the best they can hope

for is to be a distant cousin of the Ramones, not one of the brothers of the

defining punk band that took not just New York, the East Coast or the country

by storm, but the entire world.

Like Jell-O is gelatin and Jose Cuervo is tequila, The Ramones were, is and

always will be punk. Retirement or not.