America's Least Wanted Drop Into H-Town For The First Time In Nearly 3 Decades

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All Photos By Larry Petro/Petrofyed Photography

As the summer concert season starts to get cranked up nationwide this show has been on the calendar since January when it was first announced that UGLY KID JOE would be once again gracing the shores of North America for the first time in 27 years. Armed with a new studio album Rad Wings Of Destiny which was released last October, vocalist Whitfield Crane and company rolled into town on May 11th with direct support on the tour from FOZZY and openers PISTOLS AT DAWN.

First up was Atlanta, GA rockers PISTOLS OF DAWN who have been really making the concert circuit of late, only recently landing a spot on the first leg of the Pawns & Kings Tour with ALTER BRIDGE and just prior to that released their first full-length album Ascension. With vocalist Cris Hodges leading the band, they charged through their brief opening set with songs such as "Gauntlet", "Voices" and set closer "Under The Surface". This is a band definitely worth checking out!

Next up was FOZZY (it still sounds funny saying the band name even now), the hard rock quintet led by wrestling phenom Chris Jericho. Together with guitarists Billy Grey and Rich Ward, bassist PJ Farley and drummer Grant Brooks, FOZZY has also been out touring extensively recently on their own Save The World Tour in support of their latest opus Boombox. It seemed just a tad strange to see them as a support act after their last two performances in Houston as headliners but whether they open or close a show they always bring high intensity energy and tonight was no exception. Opening with a track from that album, "Sane", the band steamrolled their way through a 12 song performance highlighted with songs "Do You Wanna Start A War", "Relax" (the FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD cover), "Burn Me Out" and "Purifier" (a personal favorite). During "Enemy" guitarists Billy Grey and Rich Ward ripped through and extended, blistering guitar solo duel that lasted for several minutes and left those in attendence gaping in awe. FOZZY then closed their set with probably their biggest hit, "Judas".

I've said it before and I'll say it again, say what you like about this band, love 'em or hate 'em, they are definitely worth every penny you would spend to see them.

Setlist:

• "Sane"
• "Lights Go Out"
• "Do You Wanna Start A War"
• "Nowhere To Run"
• "Relax" (FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD)
• "I Still Burn"
• "Burn Me Out"
• "Spider In My Mouth"
• "God Pounds His Nails"
• "Purifier"
• "Enemy"
• "Judas"

And then it was time....it's hard to fathom that UGLY KID JOE hadn't toured the U.S. since the mid-90s but here they were. The crowd was primed and ready as original members Whitfield Crane and Klaus Eichstadt (guitars), along with longtime guitarist Dave Fortman took the stage and took us on a journey spanning nearly 35 years, opening with "That Ain't Livin'" from the aforementioned newest release Rad Wings Of Destiny. UGLY KID JOE treated the Houston crowd to at least one song from each of their six studio albums, with 1992's America's Least Wanted getting 5 songs, including "Neighbor", "Goddamn Devil" and "Busy Bee" and 4 tracks from 1995's Menace To Sobriety, such as "C.U.S.T." and "Jesus Rode A Harley" . The crowd, of which unbelievably almost half had chose to leave after FOZZY, was amped and ready and definitely made up for those that had left early and admittedly I was actually surprised at how much of their material I recognized as their set dusted off cobwebs that had long taken over.

Of course the band played two covers, one everyone knows, "Cats In the Cradle", the legendary Harry Chapin song, and MOTORHEAD's "Ace Of Spades", during which FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho returned to the stage for the song's performance. The band then ended their 17 song set with arguably their biggest hit, "Everything About You".

The current tour runs through June 10th in San Antonio, Texas so if you've ever wanted to see the band you never got a chance to back in the day, you better hurry because who knows, this might just be the last chance you get!

Remaining Dates:

• 5.16 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater*
• 5.18 St Charles, IL @ Arcada Theater^
• 5.19 Green Bay, WI @ Epic Events Center^
• 5.20 Turtle Lake, WI @ St Croix Casino^
• 5.21 Indianapolis, IN @ Hi Fi Annex^
• 5.22 Moline, IL @ Rust Belt^
• 5.24 Flint, MI @ Machine Shop*
• 5.25 Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater*
• 5.26 Mechanicsburg, PA @ Lovedrafts*
• 5.27 Pittsburgh, PA @ Jergels*
• 5.28 Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theater*
• 5.30 Winston-Salem, NC @ The Ramkat*
• 6.1 Atlanta, GA @ Centerstage^
• 6.2 Cottonwood, AL @ Yellow Rose Theater^
• 6.3 FT Myers, FL @ The Ranch^
• 6.4 Tampa, FL @ Jannus Live^
• 6.5 Destin, FL @ Club LA^
• 6.7 New Orleans @ LA House Of Blues,*
• 6.9 Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live*
• 6.10 San Antonio, TX @ Rockbox*

^ With FOZZY, PISTOLS AT DAWN
* With PISTOLS AT DAWN

Setlist:

• "That Ain't Livin'"
• "V.I.P."
• "Neighbor"
• "Jesus Rode A Harley"
• "C.U.S.T."
• "Panhandlin' Prince"
• "No One Survives"
• "Devil's Paradise"
• "So Damn Cool"
• "Cat's In The Cradle" (HARRY CHAPIN)
• "I'm Alright"
• "Failure"
• "Milkman's Son"
• "Busy Bee"
• "Goddamn Devil"
• "Ace Of Spades" (MOTORHEAD)
• "Everything About You"

Check out some more photos from the show!
All Photos By Larry Petro/Petrofyed Photography