Rubikon singer Jae Sims says a couple of things in their set that rather neatly explains the ethos. He points out that the band have been together for 22 years but have never changed lineups. The same brothers they’ve always been (He also reckons that means he’s seen all their dicks, but I digress). Actually, they are a much more aggressive proposition than you may have expected to be on this bill. The Boston mob bring to mind bands like Corrosion Of Conformity (never a bad thing). From the opener “The Gun”, they are little short of down-tuned, thunderous and glorious. Work like “Leave It Alone” and new single “Lose It All” get reactions which are, you imagine, all they dreamed of when they got off the plane to sample their first UK tour after all these years as a band.
Evidently, they enjoyed themselves too and Rubicon made good on their claim to be the best opening band in the world.
The Treatment, have somehow become a classic rock band themselves. Over 15 years of doing this with their various lineups, the Cambridgeshire band are still the formidable proposition you always thought they were. However, now they are armed with a brand new record due in the spring. And one of the songs they play from it, “Back to the 1970s” almost sums them up. The band they wish they were. Indeed, are. They look like rock stars. They are a wonderful rock’n’roll band. Another new song. “Empress”, rather suggests the new album could be something special. The last one, old tune “Let’s Get Dirty” is elongated so that singer Tom Rampton, who is a frontman in the mould of no doubt those that her heroes, can indulge in some crowd participation and guitarist Tagore Grey can go around the crowd on a roadies shoulders in the manner of Airbourne’s Joel O’Keefe.
More than once the band make a point of saying this is the best start to the year they could have hoped for, and with a new album and a headline tour in the offing, 2024 could finally be the year The Treatment deserve.
Before Buckcherry arrive on stage the PA plays an intro tape that suggests they put the danger back in rock’n’roll. That is basically what Josh Todd and his many site hands over the years have done for a quarter of a century. Indeed, it is 25 years since NV saw them open for kiss at Wembley Arena armed with their controversial track “Lit Up”. It is something of an irony then, but they play the homage to cocaine as their first song here.
There is however a very early elephant in the room. It is clear that Todd is struggling a little with his vocals, and it is noticeable that tonight’s set is somewhat changed from what they had done on the rest of the tour. Pleasingly though, this means a chance to see some songs that they don’t usually play, like the snotty punk of “Somebody Fucked Me”. There is little doubt either but the idea of danger and rock’n’roll go hand in hand where Buckcherry are concerned. You cannot listen to the likes of “Ridin'” and not hear the danger that is so often missing, since the glory days at The Rainbow and Cathouse.
Their most recent album “Hellbound”, proved they still had all the skills and its title track belongs here. The cover of “Summer Of 69”, on the other hand, may well be best left, although at least you could say they put their stamp on the classic.
Perhaps because of the nature of the set, there are a couple of ballads. “Pain” is a genuine highlight while “Sorry” is a proper power thing that would have been all over MTV 20 years ago.
It’s just that the band seem so much happier on the sleazy side of things, with “Let’s Get Wild” almost being what you might term trademark good time rock’n’roll.
The massive worldwide hit “Crazy Bitch” ends the set but not before it is augmented by a run-through of “Proud Mary”. They are soon back for an encore however and their adaptation of the pop hit which they turned into “Say Fuck It” is almost their mission statement.
Josh Todd, stripped to the waist, stick thin and tattooed, is every inch the glam rock star and Buckcherry are every inch the glam rock band. They aren’t bothered by the haters or the trends – whatever happens in this world, they will probably have their middle fingers up in the air for many years to come and be lit up while they are at it, no doubt.
