By: Rob Cavuoto
That’s what you get when the combine Buckcherry and HellYeah sharing the same bill in New York City for the Jägermeister Music Tour. While initially this may seem like odd touring combination, make no mistake that these two bands are carrying the torch for pure American Rock n’ Roll, HellYeah with their blend of “spirit lifting” southern rock and Buckcherry with their distinctive commercial driving crotch n’ rock.
Loyal and diehard fans alike arrived in full forces to fill the Best Buy Theater to maximum capacity. The theater isn’t small by any means; it holds 2,100, but delivers the feel of an intimate club by allowing more fans to get close to the stage.
There was no shortage of energy or on-stage camaraderie by either band. Nowadays, when your favorite cash cow band hits the stage, barely going through the motions, Buckcherry and HellYeah looks like they are having a blast playing and interacting together. It brings you back to the days when you wanted to learn how to play guitar.
Though both bands individually told me prior to hitting that stage that they typically don’t over rehearse for their shows and were only finalizing their set lists hours before the show, all songs were performed flawlessly and with ease.
HellYeah was the opener on the bill, burning through a 40-minute set with songs from their first two CDs including “Stampede,” “HellYeah” and “Alcohaulin Ass,” Stand out song of the night was “Better Man” with the acoustic lead- in.
Buckcherry exploded on stage proving that Josh Todd is one of today’s leading frontmen with all the style, presence, and charisma of his elders Steven Tyler and David Coverdale. Keith Nelson is a driving force and powerhouse on guitar, setting the energy level to “11” on every song.
In speaking with Keith prior to show time, he told me that his goal is to get the right combination of songs in their set that keeps the fans of the new materials and their diehards happy. Being a huge fan of their new material, I was digging “Rescue Me,” “Sorry” and “All Night Long,” but he two songs that brought the house down were clearly “Lit Up” and “Crazy Bitch!”
Do yourself a favor and pick up HellYeah’s and Buckcherry’s latest CDs and be sure to see them live. I know it’s a bit early in the 2011 to make a claim like this, but I must say, it’s probably one of the best shows I have seen this year!
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HellYeah Chad Grey Photo: Rob Cavuoto
HellYeah Greg Tribbett Photo: Rob Cavuoto
HellYeah Tom Maxwell Photo: Rob Cavuoto
HellYeah Vinnie Paul Photo: Rob Cavuoto
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Buckcherry Josh Todd Photo: Rob Cavuoto
Buckcherry Keith Nelson Photo: Rob Cavuoto
Buckcherry Josh Todd
Buckcherry Keith Nelson and Stevie D Photo: Rob Cavuoto
Buckcherry Josh Todd Photo: Rob Cavuoto
Bryan (13 years ago)
Thanks for the review Rob. I just picked up my tickets for the Atlanta show next Thursday (2/24) and I’m already fired up. I dig the “say what they want” lyrics of Hell Yeah but I’ve been missing Buckcherry shows for a decade now and the Buckcherry stops here. They’ll be playing the Tabernacle in Atlanta which maxes out at 2600 capacity so it should be a reasonably intimate show for me and a couple thousand of my closets friends. BTW, great photos to.
Bryan
Ignited We Stand (13 years ago)
I would have loved to see this show. Vinnie Paul is the man.