Buckcherry @ Key Club

Buckcherry

Key Club

West Hollywood, CA

By Victoria Joyce

January 28, 2006

SugarBuzz Magazine

On the last Saturday night of January, in a sold out show, Buckcherry body slammed their fans at Key Club on the Sunset Strip. Right now they just might be the hardest working band in show business. This is their winter roster: a November tour of Japan opening for Motley Crue; followed by a double December residency at the Whisky and the Malibu Inn and nicely punctuated with a New Year’s Eve show at the Viper Room that was frightening and fun.

They’ve got a new release coming out called “Fifteen.” Know how they came up with the name? They did it in 15 days. Talk about old school. That’s not a recording session, that’s an insurgency. Buckcherry approaches live performing with this same ferocity. All business. No nonsense. Explosive energy operating in a finely honed environment. I’ve never been to a nuclear power plant. I don’t think I have to now. Not after the Key Club.

Hitting the stage with a “how ya doing LA?” Josh Todd jump started an hour plus long set - slowing down here and there for a super pretty power ballad that served as a counter point to his signature searing rock and roll scream. Literally, he jumps all through the show. He is in incredible physical condition. Rock star skinny with graphically startling tattoos. A playing card of a King covers his back, Joy and Desire across the top and bottom respectively.

Mr. Todd posed a question. “How do you guys feel about drinking in the morning?” This was the intro to “Whiskey.” Then a little later we got “I don’t know about you, but I want everything!” And that was the intro to, what else? “Everything,” as pretty a power ballad as any hair-sprayed Bon Jovi-clone ever did.

Of course they did the big new hit “Crazy Bitch.” As in, “You’re a crazy bitch but I love the way you f*ck me.” It’s one of those message songs. Yeah, you know the place went nuts.

The core of Buckcherry; Keith and Josh, has added some new players who are old friends and the

chemistry is fantastic. Jimmy Ashhurst on bass, Stevie D on guitar and the very interesting Xavier Muriel on drums. Everything is working here; the sound, the look, the moves and the music. Hurry home gentlemen. Hollywood is already missing you.

We got to speak with Keith Nelson on the phone one week into the tour calling from Boise, Idaho.

What was the thinking that went in to the local residencies pre-tour?

“It was a chance to reconnect with the fans and the home town and launch the tour.”

How’s the reception on the tour so far?

“Seattle was off the hook. See ing old friends and a lot of new younger fans. It’s been great.”

Buckcherry has a great website and seems to really grasping the new technology with serious momentum. (MySpace page & Yahoo launch of “Crazy Bitch”) “Yeah, there are so many ways to work through other than to wait for a major label. We have a great team of people around us now. There’s no reason to wait”

Regarding the song “Crazy Bitch,” seeing it performed live seemed to be more of a complement than a negative judgment or anything else.

(Long laugh) “We love women!”

You are very serious and focused on stage. At the key club you didn’t smile once except when Josh put his head on your shoulder.

(Another laugh) “Hey I’m working up there.”

Off the record, what kind of gum do you chew?

“I think that was an Orbit night.”

I managed to get a shot of the set list (Keith’s own copy grabbed by a fan with guitar notes for the tech) and there seemed to be a lot of extra goodies added for this show.

“Yeah, we like to mix it up. The musicianship is at such a level that we can enjoy ourselves up there. We had the opportunity to do some older material that we haven’t done in a while; “Helpless,” and “Voodoo.”

Serious question, back to the song “Crazy Bitch,” were you concerned with censorship?

“The song is what it is. Josh and I wrote that one before our hiatus.”

Anything on this tour you are looking forward to?

“Seeing some old friends. We haven’t seen for three or four years.”

Here are the dates for Buckcherry. If you are in the same time zone, go. Like Josh Todd directed us from the stage at the Key Club, “I think it’s time for a road trip!”

1.28.06 The Key Club West Hollywood, CA SOLD-OUT

1.31.06 Fat Cat's Modesto, CA

2.2.06 El Corazon Seattle, WA

2.3.06 Big Easy Boise, ID

2.4.06 Big Easy Spokane, WA

2.6.06 The House Salt Lake City, UT

2.7.06 Iliff Park Saloon Aurora, CO

2.9.06 Pop's Sauget, IL

2.10.06 The Metro Chicago, IL

2.11.06 The Rock Maplewood, MN

2.13.06 Hooligans Fargo, ND

2.14.06 The Majestic Madison, WI