Spike And The Gimme Gimmes don’t just play shows – they turn rooms into shared experiences, where sweat, nostalgia, and punk energy collide at full volume. On this night, at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, that collision came wrapped in Christmas lights, tinsel, and unapologetic festive excess.
Spike And The Gimme Gimmes @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
The stage told the story before a note was played. A rich red curtain backdrop glowed under warm amber lighting, with the Gimme Gimmes logo hanging proudly at centre stage like a festive seal of approval. On either side, large shimmering gold circular backdrops flanked by towering nutcracker figures. Multiple lit Christmas trees lined the edges of the stage, while tinsel was draped across gear and staging.It wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t minimal. It was full commitment – a tinsel-covered takeover designed for celebration.
Frontman Spike Slawson hit the stage grinning, ukulele in hand, instantly pulling the crowd in. He worked the room like a ringleader rather than a frontman, setting the tone early. Nearly three decades on, having been doing this since 1997, Spike And The Gimme Gimmes have long since earned their status as the covers band. Not novelty, not parody, but a band that understands how deeply these songs live in people and how powerful they become when delivered loud, fast, and without cynicism.
Behind Slawson stood a lineup loaded with punk history. Andrew “Pinch” Pinching of The Damned drove the set from behind the kit with relentless precision. CJ Ramone from The Ramones anchored the band on bass, cool and immovable, locking everything down with trademark simplicity. Jake Kiley from Strung Out brought speed and melodic fire, while Dan Goatham, best known as the bassist in Snuff, stepped in on guitar for the UK tour. Punk rock royalty across the stage, playing with joy rather than reverence.
The set tore across genres without hesitation. Santa Baby was glittery, cheeky, and knowingly over the top, Spike leaning into every second while the gold backdrops shimmered behind him. Jolene and Take Me Home, Country Roads triggered the first of many mass singalongs, the entire room shouting every word back at the band, arms around strangers, voices louder than the PA. From the pit, the stage looked like a glowing festive altar, framed by trees, nutcrackers, and raised fists. Riders In The Sky and On The Road Again rolled through with dusty Americana swagger before Changes cut straight through the party atmosphere. It landed heavy and sincere, proving again that the Gimmes treat every song with respect, no matter the genre.
The middle of the set pushed the room into full release. Love Will Keep Us Together and Karma Chameleon were rebuilt into full-body shout-alongs, while Wild World and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard landed warm and communal rather than ironic. By the time Dancing Queen and good 4 u hit, the venue was in total motion – bodies bouncing, hands in the air. The festive stretch was relentless. Feliz Navidad became a wall of voices, the chorus echoing back in huge waves beneath the red-and-gold glow of the stage. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus pushed things further into joyful chaos.
The encore sealed it. All I Want For Christmas Is You hit like a final sugar rush, followed by Merry Xmas Everybody with Spider Stacy joining the party, turning the room into pure seasonal defiance. Just when it felt like the night couldn’t twist again, Over The Rainbow and End Of The Road brought things down gently, leaving the crowd buzzing, emotional, and completely spent.
After nearly 30 years, Spike and the Gimme Gimmes remain untouchable. A covers band in the truest sense – not recycling songs, but reclaiming them and handing them back louder, faster, and full of life. No irony. No cynicism. Just songs, sweat, mass singalongs, and festive joy. At full volume.
Live review and photography of Spike And The Gimme Gimmes at O2 Forum Kentish Town, London on 20th December 2025 by Nick Allan.
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