Buckcherry Live at the Cleveland House of Blues (Concert Review)

Buckcherry sometimes seems to be a forgotten band, and I can’t figure out why. They’ve put out seven solid CDs and one EP since 1999. They have their own signature sound, look, attitude and danger to carry on the mantle of hard rock that has passed on from the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Guns ‘n’ Roses. Yet, when people talk about bands that will carry the rock torch, their name doesn’t come up.  They also tend to play smaller venues, but I think they should easily be an arena act. So, when they come to Cleveland, I go out of my way to see them … including this past Saturday night.

With my wife and friends in tow, we headed to the House of Blues for a fun night. They kicked off the show in high gear launching right into “Lit Up.” The crowd was right with them as Josh Todd screamed about his love for cocaine. They didn’t let up as they streamed right into “Broken Glass” and “Bring It On Back.”

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSPEvXgqcJk[/embedyt]

They brought the Saturday night party and had just as much fun as the crowd. A big highlight was “Tight Pants” off their newest CD Rock and Roll. This funky song sounds better live than on the CD. “Gluttony” was a fast, heavy favorite. “Crazy Bitch” capped off the main set, starting with a slower, 70’s disco vibe before exploding into the fan favorite. They played three songs off of their Fuck EP, including “Say Fuck It” which has become a staple of their encore.

As always, Todd kept the energy moving the entire show. Although his voice suffered a bit from some road wear, guitarists Keith Nelson and Stevie D. lent their support with strong backing vocals. Both shined on guitar trading solos and nasty guitar riffs. They are an underrated guitar duo that play with the same heart and feel as their predecessors Richards and Wood, Perry and Whitford, and Slash and Izzy. And, it was drummer Xavier Muriel‘s birthday, complete with a cake which they surprisingly didn’t smash into his face. But, it’s always fun to celebrate with the band.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UvSxU8QtQY[/embedyt]

My only complaint is that it was way too short since they only played for an hour and 15 minutes. I don’t think I’ve seen them play any longer in the 5-6 times I’ve seen them. Because they’re one of the “younger” bands and they have a wide selection of songs, they should be playing at least 90 minutes. As a result, I overheard quite a few fans commenting about the length of the show. But even with that, it was a great show and I can’t wait for them to come back again.

Set List

Lit Up
Broken Glass
Bring It On Back
Somebody Fucked With Me
Out Of Line
Sorry
Dirty Mind
Ridin’
Tight Pants
Gluttony
I Don’t Give A Fuck
The Feeling Never Dies
Crazy Bitch
Say Fuck It
Too Drunk

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