Скачать или смотреть TMJ & Mekons @ Blue Island Beer Co.

Call the authorities.
The originators of smart, infectious East Coast 90s punk-pop have arrived in modern times to show the kids what "incendiary" means.

It's Too Much Joy live at Blue Island Beer Co. Chicago, IL 9/16/23 (with special guests Jon Langford & Sally Timms of The Mekons)

It's been decades since I'd seen Too Much Joy and by God, these boys haven't lost a step. This was one magical evening on the south side, perfectly suited for a joint-bill with the band's admitted heroes, Jon and Sally of The Mekons!

I had my doubts as to how a sober TMJ show would (or wouldn't) affect me these days as I'm no longer a drankin' fool but I needn't have worried. I dare say every song has aged extremely well and sounded more vital than ever on that Blue Island stage. The new material sounds just as relevant as the good ol' days. The band even had their own signature tallboy cans for sale at the merch table, which was fitting considering the Blue Island Beer Company was the venue. Nice. I bought the last available 4-pack of TMJ tallboys.. just because. Some worthy houseguest will drink 'em at my place someday (actually, there are only three TMJ beers in my fridge because immediately after buying the four pack I gave one to a disappointed female fan who sped to the merch table only to discover I had just purchased the very last of the band's beer inventory. So here, ya go, lady, have a cold one. "We give away what we don't need!"

This is the TMJ way.

I was too busy singing along and living the moment to really stay with the business of phone video, but here are some highlights I managed to grab during the fracas, stitched together in post by this here King Mixer. The only thing missing was Barry.

Too Much Joy: an American treasure!
And a Mekon is a really good thing!