First off, Big Night Live, is a high-end venue. Tucked into the legendary Boston Garden, the two-thousand-capacity music hall offers booths and bottle service to the punter with too much money. It’s not very punk rock, but it’s a fine venue. Tonight was a three-band bill, all punk super groups, Ultrabomb, The Defiant, and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. 

The reason I was there, Ultrabomb, opened. Ultrabomb is a transnational, punk-power trio featuring my pal Finny McConnell of the Mahones, powerhouse drummer Jamie Oliver of UK Subs, and the legendary Mr Greg Norton of the equally legendary Hüsker Dü. Despite being first on, Ultrabomb came on to a fairly full room and played a set of blistering punk rock with the energy and shapes of men half their age to a very receptive audience. While the set was short, the band played songs from both albums (album two, Dying to Smile, is being released real soon) and covers of Hüsker Dü’s Don’t Want to Know If You Are Lonely and New Day Rising. Ultrabomb won a lot of new fans in Boston. 

The Defiant were next, featuring Dicky Barrett of Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Johnny Rioux of Street Dogs. I hate to say it, but I was too busy chatting with Finny after his set to check them out. Sorry. Next time.

Despite being around since 1995, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are completely new to me. Punk rock covers of pop standards played by middle-aged men dressed in cheesy Vegas lounge act uniforms. Absolute genius, and the crowd loved it.