Nashville Pussy with the Quacks and First Sun at Backstage Bar and Billiards, Tuesday Feb 12, 2019

I guess it's been around 20 years or so since I first was knocked out by Nashville Pussy's insane southern rock'n'punk'n'roll show and, while I haven't followed everything that they've done, I have tried to see them whenever they come through town. Their early shows in LA with Cory Parks were completely nutz with fire, lesbian kisses and Ruyter's wild guitar antics. Although they never had another fire breather, Ruyter continues to be a wild rock'n'roll animal and the band continues to be a ferociously rockin' combo.

I think that I might have missed an opening act, but I got there is time to catch the Quacks, a band of young, slightly dorky kids performing a kinda nondescript, alt-rock/new wave music. Not bad, really, just not terribly interesting and an odd choice for an opener for Nashville Pussy.

First Sun followed, an acoustic guitar/drum duo with some fine vocals that ranged from falsetto harmonies to screams and pretty compelling songs that were very different and original, in an unusual, more rockin' singer/songwriter style. The drummer did a damn good job of making us forget that there wasn't a bassist as he handled the harmony vocals. The guitarist picked up an electric for a few numbers that were a bit more 50's-styled and they also had pre-recorded snippets in between songs, including some Cheech and Chong skits. So, they were a bit all over the place, but not in a bad way - I think they just need to pin down exactly what they are going for. Another somewhat peculiar choice to open for NP, but then I can't say what Vegas band would have been appropriate.

Walking on stage to the strains of Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold" (there were named after one of his introductions on his live album) the Pussy blasted through a number of their most potent tunes, with "Say Something Nasty", "Pussy Time" and "Piece of Ass" showing how tight this latest line up is. Guitarist/lead shouter Blaine and lead shredder Ruyter are joined by now-long-time bassist Bonnie and great, new drummer, Ben, who propelled them through a wild, rockin' set. There were new numbers like "Go Home and Die" from their latest album, Pleased to Eat You, mixed in with their greatest "hits" like "Wrong Side of the Gun', "Go To Hell", "Struttin' Cock" and "Go Motherfucker Go". The pacing was good, with the drummer filling in during tuning breaks as well as giving a full-fledged, 70's-styled drum solo, Blaine and Ruyter tearin' out dual leads on their new Destroyer and SG, respectively, and performance pieces like Blaine drinking out of his cowboy hat and Ruyter posing and shreddin' like the rock goddess she is while flailin' about the stage. She does keep her clothes on now (such as they are) and she does not tear apart her guitar at the end of the night, but she is still sexy as hell and a terrific show-person. The night ended with them asking for requests and rejecting most of them saying that this line-up didn't know them before they ended with a long, rockin'ly terrific jam that had them all pulling from a Jack Daniels bottle and Ruyter spittin' booze into the audience.

As I said on Facebook, they might not rock with the wild abandon of youth, but they are still an excellent punk/rock'n'roll show and one of the best live bands out there. Still a highly recommended and entertaining combo.

Thank you to Backstage Bar and Billiards for yet another amazing rock'n'roll show! I hope that they keep up with the stellar bookings that they've had lately!