LIVE: JACKYL / BUCKCHERRY – July 7, 2023

Venue: Uncle Sam Jam – Woodhaven Civic Center

City: Woodhaven, MI

Dates: July 7, 2023

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

Summer festival and carnival season is upon us in Michigan and that was never more evident than it was on a warm July Friday night.  As the annual Uncle Sam Jam took over Woodhaven Civic Center once again, I made my way to the show to see two great rock bands that embody that rock and roll swagger while embracing the every day rocker’s spirit — Jackyl & Buckcherry.  First up was Buckcherry – Josh Todd, Stevie D, Kelly Lemieux and they wasted no time getting down to business with their first (and my favorite) hit “Lit Up.”  With the crowd amped up and the energy instantly dialed up to 10, there was no looking back, but for the moment they dug into the ballad “Sorry” but still had everyone on their feet and singing.  Keeping the good times rolling, they rolled into “So Hott” followed by “Somebody Fucked With Me” giving the crowd more than enough fucks to give for remainder of the evening.  I dig Buckcherry and love their new stuff, but am ecstatic they kept older tracks in the set like “Ridin'” and “Porno Star,” with the pair Swirling the old with the new as the band spun a handful of new songs from their latest disc Vol. 10 into the set with “Keep On Fighting,” “Pain,” “Let’s Get Wild,” and a killer cover of Bryan Adams’ classic “Summer Of ’69” to help wind down the set.  Arguably the bands greatest hit and fan favorite “Crazy Bitch” closed the show, but with a cool tip of the hat to Tina Turner tossed in for good measure as they wove parts of “Proud Mary” into the song’s DNA for tonight’s performance.  I will grab a ticket and my camera every time these guys are near me… I love a great rock show.

Adding to the festival vibe, the local firework show was put on during the set change between bands keeping everyone interested while we waited for Jesse James Dupree and his merry men to take their rightful place on stage.  Armed with originals and classics, the foursome took the stage and ripped into their portion of the show with “Blast Off” and then jumped with both feet into one of my personal favorite Jackyl tunes, “My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaine’s Ass.”  The song always carries the same amount of piss and vinegar live as it does when I go back and listen to the original recorded version.  With the crowd properly whipped into a frenzy, Dupree led the band into the first huge hit of the evening with “Down on Me” pulled from the bands debut release.  With a twin guitar attack on hand for most of the evening, there was depth added to some of the tracks, including “Back Off Brother” and a great live version of the band’s cover of Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re an American Band.”  With other tricks up their proverbial sleeves, there would be more covers peppering the show, but not before Dupree, guitarist Jeff Worley, drummer Chris Worley, and bassist Roman Glick ripped through another killer original “Push Comes to Shove” before shifting the pace and delivering a cover of “A Country Boy Can Survive.”  Sooner we were off and running through a chain of songs that are arguably some of the best and most beloved of their catalog with more songs from the band’s first release as the guys went blow for blow through “I Stand Alone,” “When Will It Rain,” and “Dirty Little Mind” before sinking their musical teeth into “Redneck Punk”  As the evening wound down, Jesse with guitar and mic played a rousing (and mostly solo) version of Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds.”  With everything played tonight, there was only one thing left for the GA boys… grab a chainsaw and close with “The Lumberjack.”  And that’s exactly what they did.  I cannot wait to catch the guys live again… it’s always Jackylstock somewhere when there’s a family reunion.

JACKYL SETLIST: Blast Off – My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaine’s Ass – Down on Me – Back Off Brother – We’re an American Band – Push Comes to Shove – A Country Boy Can Survive – Secret of the Bottle – I Stand Alone – When Will It Rain – Dirty Little Mind – Redneck Punk – Suspicious Minds – The Lumberjack

BUCKCHERRY SETLIST: Lit Up – So Hott – Somebody Fucked With Me – Ridin’ – Hellbound – Porno Star – Keep On Fighting – Pain – Let’s Get Wild – Sorry – Summer Of ’69 – Crazy Bitch

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries