Jonathan Richman - Girlfriend / Roadrunner

A rare live performance of Girlfriend and Roadrunner from the first Modern Lovers album. Original Modern Lovers bass player Ernie Brooks plays on here with Jonathan. This was taped at Joey Ramones' birthday party at Coney Island High in May 1998.

[@FabianRuni]

Jonathan is absolutely bewitching live; with or without his band you just can't help but fall in love with him.

[@fredericdavid7587]

His smile is so much pure love !

[@TerryLightfoot]

Love your Heart Jonathan. Thank you for giving it to us! ❤️🙏❤️

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Jonathan never ever get's mentioned as an influence. He must have influenced everyone who saw him in some way, his music is so unique yet universal.

[@bqfilms]

I found Jonathan through Mac Demarco, so be glad you are wrong!

[@JherekLazo]

I do mention him but I am a nobody 😂

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

@@bqfilms Who?

[@josefk5659]

He does in Brian Eno’s song called The True Wheel from taking tiger mountain.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

@@josefk5659 True Josef. I meant in wider circles. I can't remember any band citing him as an influence yet he's there in a lot of music. Intriguing that Eno is a fan, I presume. Thanks

[@johnsilva9139]

Joey and Jonathon were born 3 days apart. Joey pasted away less than three years after this birthday party.

[@danthefan5378]

Harold K, thankYou so much for posting! Love it

[@Dadmasterjames]

Come to Chico, CA and you will likely see him at our farmers market or at the Pageant Theater.

[@pacolli]

wow! the best video on the internet for sure! love jonathan, love joey! too cool!

[@VinylSpotlight77]

Great music

[@dlp2006]

Radio on !

[@MCPetruk]

is this the only video of him playing roadrunner? I think so!

[@montsemajanmartinez9824]

Richmans voice and style of delivery is very similar to Jack Kerouac. Wanna test that assertion? Listen to any of his Haikus. Recommend The Ocean, or Railroad Earth.

[@ginajk8857]

Baby I missed you too

[@srmontevirgen]

Dreamy

[@markcanterbury3004]

TL

[@nigelserrano6538]

Thanks so much for posting. I was there that night. Never heard of Jonathan before this. The guy's personality blew me away. I became an instant die-hard fan and have seen him a bunch of times since. Talk about a one-in-a-million uniqueness. You don't see too many true artists like Jonathan Richman around anymore. A shame.

[@Nazzz65]

I can't BELIEVE there are people chattering through this. This is magic Jonathan is magic.

[@CenTexHutch]

This was my first thought. NYC a-holes

[@thetruthexperiment]

It’s a rock show. Most people are watching and everyone occasionally talks about how much fun they’re having. It’s what happens when you record from the audience. You pick up the audience.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

It's a birthday party, Jonathan is the entertainment. People having a good time. That's showbiz.

[@georgeleorgebeorge2354]

People would chatter through the second coming. The ones not busy taking selfies that is.

[@thomaswilkinson4027]

Was thinking the same thing unbelieavable

[@dynjarren7523]

This is great tribute to Joey Ramone! RIP and here he’s Reunited with the bass player Ernie Brooks and now I wish Jonathan Richman would reunite for one Last Time before it’s too late physically or health wise with the Original Modern Lovers and do one last live concert maybe in New York or Paris and get David Robinson and Jerry Harrison on board and film the whole show with them playing the Modern Lovers album from beginning to end! That would be a great live Final Act! I can dream, can’t I? It would be like the Velvet Underground Reunion Tour of Europe which was a Triumph back in 1993!

[@DfactorPop]

Thanks for this! It was my first week in New York City back in 98, Sinatra had died over the weekend, and Jonathan played Joey's birthday party on the Monday of the next week. Cool to see it again!

[@outtathyme5679]

Broke into Sister Ray at the end there

[@jwhiteout]

I saw him tour in '96 with a full band, the only time I've ever seen him with a whole band, with an organ and all. They did Pablo Picasso and it was absolutely killer.

[@SirOsgoodSexton]

Brilliant! Have seen him live a few times but never performed Roadrunner. Great song. Thanks for uploading.

[@shu18902]

Cool! he is the coolest guy in Boston!

[@baronsaturday9560]

*Is there anything live from the first album period? I love that album!* Every John Cale produced debut album was great! Horses - Patti Smith, The Stooges - 1st, Modern Lovers - 1st, Nico - The Marble Index (Chelsea Girls was her debut, but it's this album I see as her 1st, because it was so totally Nico with the new look and playing her harmonium. And it was the beginning of a new era for her, she was very proud of that album) PS: *I bet there's more great Cale produced debuts/albums!*

[@markopolo8845]

Look for “Precis Modern Lovers Order” and “Live at the Long Branch.”

[@maurovacca9315]

Don't forget Bryter Layter the second album by Nick Drake! Amazing.

[@justahappygardener]

Outstanding Roadrunner :) Thank you

[@nickbigd]

I heart Jonathan so much

[@666Eva]

They nailed "Girlfriend". Though have heart the song thousands of times first ,time realizing how really great Johnathan's guitar part is.

[@matthewlowe4679]

Nicest and most genuine celebrity I ever met. He remembered my name 3 years after I last met him in Providence. And We were at the Miami Polish-american club.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Who Joey or Jonathan?

[@samdrury2896]

Genuinely thought it was Will Farrell on bass at the beginning

[@1thepner]

THAT voice is timeless.

[@dougsmith7083]

GIRLFREN

[@maudegonne3740]

Look how that super cool rather jaded crowd responded to Jonathans genuine presence.. They loved him.

[@keriford54]

This is great, I didn't know that he did these early songs still. This was a real treat.

[@theunrealtimemm]

He doesn't very often. Apparently he does Old World and Pablo Picasso on occasion. Not when I saw him in June, 2005 in NYC, sadly (though Ira and Georgia from Yo La Tengo were in the audience that night, which was neat).

[@bencolemanart]

This is great. I saw Ernie Brooks with Thurston Moore last year, and he was still killing it.

[@stsfctshn5427]

he looks like baby creed bratton

[@huwrichards3492]

I love him but why does he look so sad and nervous for a big part of it .... also ramones big big respect boys !

[@relientk93]

this man makes me the happiest

[@hirepimike]

Fascinating that he hung out with Velvets but chose to keep his career wholesome and upbeat.

[@nullvalu]

If Jonathan Richman sang Happy Birthday to me, I'd be so happy...

[@magnusulysses8896]

Pure genius! Love

[@tamnev26]

I was in "Junior High" in Natick Mass, with Jonathan. He was cool then, too.

[@socrefjeff1]

I grew up down the street from him; was best friends with his younger brother Stephen.

[@followthebeat66]

takin' an ampeg fridge like this to a stage like this..

[@andyknowles772]

Imagine having JR sing happy birthday to you....

[@rickg8015]

Looks like he just came from the set of “There’s Something About Mary” here...

[@littlerichierockon2663]

BOSS TOWN ROCK on ST RO NG

[@melthed4306]

Probably way late to the whatfromwherenwhonhow cool party, but Just realised that Violent Femmes may have coped their whole thang from this legend?- this ain't a diss- love 'em all, can even hear Dead MIlkmen in Richman's beautiful songs..

[@boots740]

I just saw him today.Sitting on a bench playing guitar the day before he goes to play in big sur. I stopped and said hi. He's such a nice guy.

[@drstevie]

Beauty !

[@CarlieCampbell]

love love love

[@NBM3]

Turns down for the solo . Class.

[@littlerichierockon2663]

MEYER LUVVRR

[@NoDozBukowski]

Damn.

[@triflebizarre]

Longstanding. GF

[@popadop5]

how many people skipped t0 3.50 for roadrunner

[@rockonhard77]

andrew petrou nah cause Girlfriend is such a great song

[@eskilwalnum2088]

girlfriend is fucking genius, way better than roadrunner imo :)

[@frankirons9337]

Not until you said that it started at 3:50.

[@brineb58]

Not me!!!

[@dougsmith7083]

Not a chance! GIRLFREN is like a special gift to be performed. Probably an all time favourite of Joey Ramone's too

[@fartfacejohnson]

Imagine being there and talking over this. I hope these talkers didn't procreate. There is no need for their bloodline to continue further. God bless, Jonathan.

[@sexobscura]

*shout out wot ow it starts*