San Francisco punk rock supergroup Me First And The Gimme Gimmes release their 12th album, Blow it…at Madison’s Quinceanera! today via Fat Wreck Chords. It’s the band’s first release in 7 years. 

Frontman Spike Slawson said, “It was really tense for me going out to no applause—and to people actually walking away when we were playing. A Quinceañera is a very celebrated and important event, not just in a young girl’s life, but in the whole families. Mom and Dad were great, but it took the uncles a little while to warm up to me and our off-color jokes, though I think eventually they got it. Our process is to cast the line out and bring people to the point of—and beyond—outward expressions of displeasure like booing, and then hopefully reel them back in by the end of the set.”

On the 13 song live collection, Slawson introduces “Changes” at the beginning of the first of the band’s two sets. “This is a Black Sabbath song,” he says. “If you know it, feel free to sing along.” Recorded on July 15th, 2023, at The Soap Factory in San Diego, on this live outing, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes consist of Joey Cape (Lagwagon) on guitar, CJ Ramone (Ramones) on bass, Swami John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt) on guitar, and Andrew “Pinch” Pinching (The Damned) on drums. They also add a horn section for the first time, courtesy of Keith Douglas and Jason Crane. Swami John Reis’ father, John Reis Sr., even played accordion on the penultimate song, “Before The Next Teardrop Falls,” the track made famous in 1975 by Freddy Fender. 

“I would like this to be considered indicative of what a live show by the Gimme Gimmes can be,” said Slawson. “The only difference is that there would be people that wanted to hear us specifically and came to see us. What happened at this show, to me, is better than unfettered, unconditional applause from a lot of people. Golf-claps from about five people is how I want to hear a live record. It’s funny, and it doesn’t stop being funny. Not only do outward displays of disapproval not scare me, but I might even crave them a little bit. I don’t necessarily want to leave with people booing, but fawning praise makes me cringe. The girl had a good time, her mom and dad had a good time, her abuelo had a good time. And then when the DJ music finally played, her friends had a good time, too.”

The group’s past releases are Rake it In: The Greatestest Hits (2017), Are We Not Men? We Are Diva! (2014), Go Down Under (2011), Sing In Japanese (2011), Have Another Ball (2008), Love Their Country (2006), Ruin Jonny’s Bar Mitzvah (2004), Take A Break (2003), Blow In The Wind (2001), and Are A Drag (1999), and Have A Ball (1997).

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes will begin a 2 week run of U.S. tour dates on August 14th in Sacramento. Find the tour dates HERE.