It was Labor Day weekend and Motorhead decided to ring in the American holiday and "so long to summer" celebration at Atlantic City's House of Blues. Maybe in theory, it was a good time for a show, but in actuality hardly anyone showed up to see one of the coolest bills this year.

My dislike for the House of Blues venue is known. It has awful sight lines, terrible sound and a horrible layout. I haven't really seen a good show at this venue due either to sound problems or sight line problems. I was analyzing the place more this time and I think it is because the balcony is too high and the speakers are positioned such that the sound hits the front rows and the middle to back rows get the shaft. The floor people have to be standing near the sound booth to have good sound.

Then you have a lot of fans who were given complimentary tickets courtesy of the casino. They inevitably leave early and never get into the show because they never liked the band to begin with. Such was the case with the three Pink Tacos in front of me. They were sarcastically throwing devil horns in the air, fake headbanging. This display went on all during the Reverend's performance. The best part was when Motorhead opened with Iron Fist. The fingers went immediately to the ears and the noses crunched up as if to ask "Who Farted, ya'll?" Yea high rollers, welcome to Motorhead. They left shortly after Iron Fist.

Despite the problems, this show was too good to pass up - Nashville Pussy, The Reverend Horton Heat, and Motorhead. I was standing in between two drunk friends who had never heard of Nashville Pussy. They enjoyed the name, but thought that they might suck "All name no substance." I spoke up and said, "You need three more beers and they will be the best moment of the show for you. Do you remember seeing Phoebe Cates breasts in Fast Times at Ridgemont High? Remember when your jaw was open and you were in complete awe of how awesome she was? Yea, you will be like that tonight, try to soak it all in" They immediately went to the bar.

Nashville Pussy put on a great performance - a typical performance, but it wasn't as great as I wanted it to be. They played a lot of newer songs, Ruter didn't get too disgusting, and there was really minimal interaction with them and the crowd (on stage). They may be getting more money and larger exposure on these tours, but they are still a drunk bar band. See them in a dark, hot bar with your closest friends. That is where Nashville Pussy shines like a Golden vagina.



The RHH was great; he's simply an amazing guitar player. He is pulling off these blistering guitar licks as he is winking like a creepy old man at the women in the audience. His backing band is stupendous as well. Jimbo, on the bass, might be the best slap/finger picking player in rockabilly. He really has to be since the Rev is damn good.



Motorhead...is Motorhead. They play loud, fast, hard....just like my sexual talents. I enjoyed this Motorhead show for two reasons, one I got to meet Phil Campbell. He sat right next to me during Nashville Pussy's set. He couldn't be a cooler dude. Two...Motorhead played some songs I haven't heard them play live EVER. I Got Mine and Another Perfect Day from 1983's album Another Perfect Day. This was a great change of pace from the usual ones: Bomber, Iron Fist, Overkill, Ace of Spades.

Motorhead is one of the few bands that has been around forever and are still putting out great albums. Inferno, Kiss of Death, and Motorizer are just great Motorhead records and are easily some of their best. Sure the crowd goes crazy for Ace of Spades, but I enjoy hearing In the Name of Tragedy, Be My Baby, and The Thousand Names of God just as much as Metropolis, Iron Fist, et al.



I have always been impressed with the lack of security in the front of the stage at the House of Blues, but I guess they figured no one would try and get on stage. Three security guards blocking the stage is not enough even for crowd surfing, let alone stopping someone from running on stage. Well some burly, very inebriated mouth breather decided to try it on Saturday night. The strange part was he ran right past Lemmy and bee lined for Phil. He ran over and started slapping Phil's back as Phil attempted to run off stage. The security guards fought this dude for several minutes as he attempted to grab what he could, microphone stand, beer cups, and guitar picks. Motorhead never missed a beat, but as they were pulling this dude off stage they rolled into the back of Lemmy's legs, which could have been very dangerous.

Look the whole situation was innocuous, but I had flashes of Dimebag. The security in the front was lax, I walked in with two cameras and no one even gave me the metal wand. I didn't have my press credentials with me. The House of Blues needs to up the security depending on the show. You don't need heavy security for Brian Wilson, but you do when there is going to be potential for mosh pits.

Motorhead setlist:

Iron Fist
Stay Clean
Be My Baby
Rock Out
Metropolis
Over the Top
One Night Stand
I Got Mine
Phil Guitar Solo
The Thousand Names of God
Another Perfect Day
In the Name of Tragedy
Just Cuz You Got the Power
Mikkey Dee Drum Solo
Going to Brazil
Killed By Death
Bomber

Encore
Whorehouse Blues
Ace of Spades
Overkill

Reverend Horton Heat setlist

Reverend Horton Heat Big Blue Car
Now, Right Now
I'm Mad
Ain't No Saguaro in Texas
Drinkin' and Smokin' Cigarettes
Please Don't Take the Baby to the Liquor Store
Death Metal Guys
Psychobilly Freakout
Baddest of the Bad
400 Bucks
The Jimbo Song
Devil's Chasin' Me

Nashville Pussy setlist

Speed Machine
High as Hell
Come On Come On
Ain't Your Business
Late Great USA
I'm So High
Hate and Whiskey
Drunk Driving Man
Go Motherfucker Go
You're Goin' Down