Buckcherry - Middle East

While the MTV audience was at Avalon with Alkaline Trio last night, the true rock crowd was with recently reunited Buckcherry downstairs at the Middle East. Don't get me wrong - I love both bands, but if a raunchy, sweaty, PBR soaked rock show is your thing, the Middle East was for you. Although singer Josh Todd seemed a bit dazed throughout Buckcherry's 80 minute set, lacking his usual frenzied energy and visceral hold over the crowd, Todd at 75% is more than most frontmen at 110%. The riotous power of Todd & guitarist Keith Nelson's high octane songs, evenly balanced between their two old albums and "Fifteen", out a week ago, carried the band through the set and had the sellout crowd literally bouncing off the walls.

Opener Rock n' Roll Soldiers impressed with ragged hook-heavy punk songs and raw energy. They seemed psyched to be on the bill and played a no holds barred set, as opposed to the headliners.