On a recent Wednesday night, the gun loving, hunter conservative and guitarist extraordinaire, Ted Nugent arrived in Chicago to bring his arsenal of hits to the House of Blues. A healthy following came to see the 61-year-old legend that is known to have the longest scream in rock history. The fans were ready to rock and catch the fever with the "Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead" tour.
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Ted Nugent
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House of Blues
Chicago, IL
August 4, 2010
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Fans had nothing but great respect for sweaty teddy as they eagerly waited for the velvet rope to be removed and rush to the front of the stage. “He’s like Julius from Pulp fiction, he’s just a badass motherfucker” says Dan from Indiana. “He’s the only man I know that makes sense when it comes to politics and gun control…”
The show almost didn’t have a opener when Canadian rocker Val Halla’s band quit the day before. However, as she told her fans on her FaceBook page, “Good News - I simply refuse to (quit)! I won't give up! You don't let down Uncle Ted!” Luckily for her and Chicago, the awesome local band Till Death came to the rescue and performed an amazing set with the female singer. If you are unfamiliar with them, Till Death is a talented metal/southern hardcore band that has slowly created a solid following. You may have even caught them recently on tour where they have been making a splash with the Van’s Warped Tour. With them behind her, Val Halla rocked on screaming and singing in her zebra skin dress with a bouncing feathered boa attached to her guitar. The blonde hair rocker head banged on stage and drank a can of beer through each song. After her performance, one could find her at the meet and greet by the concession stand.
Nugent ‘s “Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead” tour started in April and will be traveling throughout the states until September. Nugent put out his current album of new material about two years ago called “Penetraitor” and showcases them all on the current tour. One of his latest is a masterpiece called “Cluster Fuck Me,” which tore the roof off the venue.
Nugent is quite a character and is better than ever. As he walked upon the stage, his guns and arrows surrounding him along with a deer head skull resting next to the drummer, Nugent started screaming at the top of his lungs as he opened with the national anthem. In the background, the band was framed by a tapestry that showed a cartoonish Nugent on a tank with machine guns in both hands running over Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton. Nugent was dressed in his typical uniform of an alligator cowboy hat, American made sneakers, blue jeans and a ripped flannel shirt. His long hair swayed back and forth as he rocked out with his guitar to the National Anthem.
The crowd went crazy, especially the man in the front row wearing a shirt that read, “Tobacco, Firearms, and Fireworks should be a convenience store not a government agency.”
As Nugent performed hits like ”Cat Scratch Fever” and “Strangle Hold, “ he made a tribute to our soldiers near and far. “Thank you for killing assholes! I like my assholes dead…”And if you were at the concert you would have gotten a special blessing from Nugent “I baptize you in the name of the motha fucka and the motha fucka…” As for the women, Nugent made the announcement that all women should have a gun. Needless to say that his wife has her own personal female clothes line for women hunters.
Nugent rocked out on stage for two hours strait with non- stop excitement and music. He delved into each song one right after the other with his sly jokes and comments in between bashing on our Illinois politics and our president. He ended the show playing the National Anthem just as he did when he first walked on stage.
As he exited the stage you could tell the crowd was amazed that he didn’t play his classic “The Great White Buffalo.” A few minutes later he immediately reappeared with an Indian headdress on and performed it much to everyone’s glee. Nugent’s rendition of “The Great White Buffalo” was the best I have ever seen and heard and a highlight of the show. The fans obviously agreed, as the fans sang in unison to all the words as if it was a prayer on Sunday.
Nugent has often stated, he has never done drugs and probably has only drank once in his life. Later on I had the privilege to meet with one of his band mates and even Teddy himself. I took the opportunity to ask one question (but only through his band mate). “Why does Ted write songs about drugs and drinking if he never did so in his life?” The answer I received was - “Cause he’s Ted fucking Nugent.”
Ted Nugent is a rock legend to some and a political leader to others. He stands by his beliefs and is truly an all around American Boy. He hunts, he sings, he’s sober, and he is faithful to the ones that he loves. And that’s not a bad way to be.
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