Photos and Review by Ilya Mirman
Galleries: Las Vegas, Wally’s Pub
Growing up on classic rock and 80’s metal, I stopped listening to the radio when Slash left Guns N’ Roses and grunge took over the radio waves. And so for the next 20 years, my musical taste and library were essentially frozen in time – with the exception of discovering new bands when covering concerts and festivals. One such happy discovery was Buckcherry – a hard rocking band from L.A. that puts on one hell of a live show. The songs burst forth with authenticity and feature dynamic arrangements. Born in the 90’s with roots in the 70’s and 80’s, the band is at the top of its game, with a non-stop frenetic touring schedule across the U.S. and the world.
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of their hit record 15, they’ve embarked on a headlining North American tour where they are performing the record in its entirety. In a fitting tour debut, the band played an intimate show on the rooftop of Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, with the Vegas lights making for a unique backdrop.
Though by far the smallest and darkest stage I’ve shot Buckcherry on, the band made the most of it and put on an amazing show, blazing through a good deal of the “15” album, along with their monster hit Lit Up and the more recent Tight Pants (a single from their most recent album, Rock ‘n’ Roll).
The 15 anniversary tour then snaked across the country, covering thousands of miles in barely a week, winding up in my neighborhood – Hampton Beach’s own Wally’s Pub, a name that belies the club’s capacity and eminence as a concert venue. And for the sold out crowd that I suspect boasted more strippers than their Vegas tour debut, the band played a killer set that spanned every song from the 15 album, and again featured their recent set staples – Lit Up and Tight Pants.
The musicianship of the band is undeniable – Josh Todd’s swagger and instantly recognizable voice; Keith Nelson’s and Stevie D.’s guitar work; and straight-ahead drums and bass laying down the foundational underpinnings of killer rock. I think it’s fun as hell when a hard rock act incorporates horns into their live sets, and I’m happy to report that Buckcherry stays authentic to the recorded version of Tight Pants by having tour logistics pro Jesse Keys play sax. He’s not just a terrific musician – rather, he’s part of the Buckcherry brotherhood, and clearly has chemistry and shares kinship with the rest of the band.
Buckcherry’s sets are as fun as they are powerful – so for a rocking, sweaty good time, catch them on tour!!
And for a glimpse of what you’d be in for, check out the photos from the Vegas and New Hampshire shows.
Buckcherry at the Hustler Club – Las Vegas, NV
