Buckcherry

At University of Manchester’s student union, the Academy 2 is much smaller and intimate compared to its larger neighbour. Despite drawing in a respectively large crowd of Buckcherry fans, it was strongly evident that tonight they weren't willing to be warmed up by the two opening acts. Huddling away at the bar, the Mancunian audience sipped beer and watched durably with distance.

Utilizing shoehorns to squeeze into their skinny jeans, London’s newest punk rock band The Holwing had the hardest challenge of grabbing the attention of the crowds. Hairy, loaded and hauling swagger, they seriously played like their life depended on it. With power and force, but sometimes too overwhelming, they really gave their everything, however the majority of the crowd showed no appreciation back. Stand out performances were definitely Champion as well as their take on Sex Pistols’ God Save The Queen, which was the initial crowd pleaser that did break some show goers. These guys should definitely not go unnoticed.

The night and the crowds drew closer with ardour as Canadian Collective Kobra and the Lotus brought symphonic metal and theatrical vocals to the stage. With an audience thirsty for sleaze and hard rock it is a shame to say, their performance was probably a loss due to clash of music tastes. Wherever loitering or stood from afar, the crowd knew why they were here and gave disregard to stage presence prior to Buckcherry.
Wearing her bleached dreadlocks and queerly wearing a dream catcher to the side of her leather pants, singer Kobra Paige delivered so much strength and magnitude vocally. The popular and the vigorously well conducted Welcome to my funeral got no more than a dozen applauses. As time prevailed, with a crowd hard to crack, 50 Shades Of Evil finally had the cheers and over-head claps that this band deserved.

Knowing what everybody was waiting for, Buckcherry took stage half hour later. After a stiff start, front man Josh Todd got sweaty and sticky and ripped off his shirt unveiling his tattooed body. If nothing was to yet to wake up the audience, this did by far surely.

Talking about his early experiences on Cocaine, Todd had managed to lever the audience of long haired teenagers and middle-aged skin headed women to chant ‘Cocaine’ repeatedly in a cult type fashion; he no doubts knows how to conduct a crowd in the palm of his hand.

As expected, the harder hits Lit Up and Next To You were delivered and went down the best. Their ballad Sorry was probably lost by a deadened sound system that seemed to have been one of very few things to let the band down. While previous bands of the night sounded near to perfection, there was something in the wires tonight that wasn't in Buckcherry’s favour. This stood out more for Todd’s known snarling seductive vocals which was sadly drowned out by the stifled sound.

However, no sound defects were ever going to veil the alluring sexual dazzle of Buckcherry’s stage presence. After having randy teenagers roaring and cheering after Next to You, Todd yells “You know what Buckcherry is guaranteed on a Friday night? “Big t*ts and a big f*ckin ass!” This brought fist-pumping cheers by all the lads once again.

Of course, the song that brought the icing of raunchiness was Crazy Bitch. Guitarist Stevie D carries much more charisma and attitude than Slash these days, and had women screaming on the front rows just by winking and throwing guitar picks.

These guys are back in February with a brand new album for the first time in over two years. So far they haven’t given that much away, but have hinted one of the album themes will refer to the seven deadly sins. Until then, these Buckcherry shows are a teasing anticipation and have satisfied fans for the short wait they have to come for what the band will bring in the New Year.