BUCKCHERRY
Mercury Lounge 22 October 1999
by Succubi
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Now, I love a band that can rock. Not many can you know. A lot of posers and try-hards out there. And with rap metal bands enticing impressionable minds along with US 'punks' trying to be funny and singing with English accents, the international scene is full of shite. Sometimes we get lucky and a decent rock and roll band breaks through the abyss of crap and grabs your attention.
Enter Buckcherry.
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The band got premium exposure on TV and radio and in print here in Australia, which helped them manage a super-fast tour of OZ playing 4 cities in 4 nights. And then flying out again.
So I shelled out my cash to see them play at a small club with a stack of local headbangers who at first seem reluctant to get into the spirit of the occasion until they get their heads blown off by the power and energy of the first song "Dirty Mind", and then they come out of the woodwork and feed off the band's hustle.
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Sure, lead singer Joshua Todd looks like a starved monkey and he must sweat the meat off himself 'cause he just doesn't stand still! Dancing like a spastic with a firecracker up his arse, he quickly sheds his jacket to reveal some pretty impressive tattoos on his torso. He has a problem with his pants as they keep falling down, which must be fucking irritating. Sometimes he makes me wonder if he is all there in the head 'cause he is a bit phrentic...but isn't that one thing that makes a great frontman?
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Josh and new guitarist Yogi are the main focal points onstage. Yogi glammed to the max in glitter, red and faux fur, throws out into the audience more guitar pics than Paul Stanley on a generous night. Thrills for the giggling girlies at the side of the stage by walking over and kissing them during the middle of a song. Leaps and struts around but without the pretense of someone from Poison. The whole band just comes across to be naturals onstage, looking the part and not acting like gooses. Although, I must admit that the group-jump-thing during "Lit Up" just like in the video is planned but effective.
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We are treated to 2 new songs not on the self-titled CD, called "Drivin" and "All This Glory". They whip through the majority of their debut CD. If you have it you know the songs - and live, they shit all over the studio versions. Put it down to the live brutal sound from a duel Les Paul attack.I can rave on about the highlights, such as when they play the single "Lit Up". The entire room erupts into one big mosh pit, and upstairs where we were perched felt like it was gonna collapse. And, how a roadie throws a stage invader sideways off stage who in turn wipes out the first 2 rows - including the monkey-in-their-eyes groupies who get trampled on much to the amusement of a couple members of the band. Yeah, sure...they survive. They have worked hard for their recognition tonight.
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What I really wanna say is that BUCKCHERRY have what is needed to kick everyone in the head and get them to wake up and listen. Great songs with mindless lyrics and chunky power chords. Attitude and lewdness to pull it off without the bullshit hypocrisy that their hometown L.A. is renown for. Currently, in an uninspiring 2000 - they are one of the last great rock bands.
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