WORDS MATTY BEZ / IMAGES DESH KAPUR
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On Saturday, January 27th, 2024, the Tivoli witnessed a rock revival, packed to the brim with rock, punk, and metal enthusiasts spanning generations. As a fervent rock aficionado myself, the sight of diverse rockers uniting in the name of music stirred a sense of pride.
The evening’s festivities featured special guests The Treatment and Rubikon, setting the stage for the main event — the return of LA rockers Buckcherry, gracing the Tivoli for the second time in just over four years.
In a world where venues, pubs and community centres are closing in their droves i feel it is important to give the Tivoli a well deserved bigging up, The Tivoli is a very special venue, old school and intimate, bringing you up close and personal with your music heroes. There are not many of these venues left, so we should cherish it. The Tiv has been a venue since the ’70s; Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin have both played there. In the ’90s, many Britpop bands performed there – The Charlatans, Shed Seven, Inspiral Carpets, even Oasis, who provided a very memorable set in 1994, later shown in their 2016 ” film Supersonic
While regrettably missing the Rubikon set due to my own tardiness, I was chuffed that I caught the second band, ‘The Treatment,’ ensuring the energy remained unabated. Hailing from Cambridge, these high-octane rockers exploded onto the stage, delivering a relentless onslaught of deftly crafted riffs and melodies reminiscent of classic rock legends like Def Leppard. Their magnetic performance, encouraging audience participation and sing-alongs, rocked relentlessly and did not let up until the last chord of their excellent set.
The stage hardly had time to cool down before Buckcherry… ignited the stage, opening with the fiery anthem ‘Lit Up,’ setting the tone with its provocative lyrics. Josh Todd, the epitome of a classic old-school punk rocker, bared his heavily tattooed torso mid-set, exuding the raw essence of unapologetic rock.
Buckcherry, stalwarts of the American rock scene since the mid-’90s, embody a no-frills approach to music that merges punk grit, gutter attitude, honest storytelling, and razor-sharp hooks. Led by Josh Todd’s unmistakable vocals and Stevie Dacanay’s commanding guitar, the quintet, including Billy Rowe (guitar), Kelly Lemieux (bass), and Francis Ruiz (drums), continue to defy conventions with style and swagger.
The pinnacle of the night came with their biggest hit, ‘Crazy Bitch,’ delivered near the end with its risqué yet humorous lyrics, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Buckcherry’s performance, fueled by decades of experience and an unyielding commitment to their craft, showcased the essence of old-school California punk rock.
As a seasoned force on their 10th studio album, Buckcherry proved they haven’t lost an ounce of their rebellious vigor. The Tivoli became a sonic battleground where timeless classics and new anthems collided, etching an indelible mark on the hearts of all who bore witness to this explosive resurgence. Top Night!!!
SET LIST
1/ LIT UP
2/ SO HOT
3/ SOMEBODY FD WITH ME
4/ WATIN NO MORE TIME
5/ RIDIN
6/ HELLBOUND
7/ PORNO START
8/ SUMMER OF 69
9/ PAIN
10/ SORRY
11/ GLUTTONY
12/ GOOD TIME
13/ CRAZY BITCH
14/ FEELS LIKE LOVE
15/ SAY FUCK IT
FOLLOW BUCKCHERRY
FOLLOW THE TREATMENT
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
