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Because of the almost four hour trip from Rhode Island to The Paradise (one that included traffic, stopping to wait for a friend who backed out and almost an hour walk due to the T making me feel hungover), I got to the show just as Psyopus was finishing up. They were starting to pack up their gear as I curiously made my way towards the stage room. I was bummed I missed them, especially since I was dying to see the crowd's reaction to their style of extreme technical metal. I was also interested in seeing what type of crowd would be at the show, seeing as Hank III attracts a very diverse demographic (everyone from punks to metal heads to hardcore kids to country fans). There was more of an older crowd (late 25-40, which is an older crowd as far as concerts go), but every type of person I expected to be there was, and they all had a damn good time.
The crowd was very excited and lively while the band was setting up, with the very site of Hank III setting up his guitar on stage brought an onslaught of cheers and screams that were comparable to the after song reactions.
There was a lot of screaming when the lights went dim, and crowd at The Paradise got even louder when the lights dimmed further, seconds before Hank III and company took the stage. He welcomed the crowd with such a raspy voice-one of the coolest speaking voices I've ever heard; one I could listen to all day-and went into "Straight to Hell," which had most of the crowd singing along to every word, and he didn't stop the music for over an hour (see set list below) before taking a five minute break leading up to an Assjack set.
Hank III's talents go without saying, but he took an impressive troupe of musicians with him on tour that made his songs sound so good in a live setting. The (stand up) bassist did a good job of laying down the low end, but didn't stick out all that much. The drummer went insane, playing a lot of fills and fast tempos while not seeming to tire at all. The slide guitarist had some pretty cool solos, in addition to playing a rad instrument. The fiddler played so fast fact and had so many great parts, adding a lot to the already great songs Hank III was playing.
I was not expecting to like Assjack, as the songs I heard on Myspace (although I can't find the site now) didn't sound that great, but they ripped me a new asshole with their set that sounded like a mixture of Cro Mags, speed metal and early 80s hardcore with mosh parts (with some mind blowing lead guitar from Psyopus axe man Christopher Arp). Worried about catching a train home, I only planned on staying for a couple songs, but they sucked me in and forced me to stay there until they finished their last note, which caused me to miss the train, walk as far down Massachusetts Ave as possible to try and save some cab fare (I must've walked a few miles by myself after 1 a.m.-probably not the smartest move, but I made it home okay), and spending $40 to get to my car before finally getting home at about 3. But, I had no regrets and wouldn't change anything if I had to do it again. Everything was well worth it.
SET LIST (as best I can remember it-he played three or four other songs, but I didn't catch the names):
Straight to Hell
Thrown Out of the Bar
Smoke & Wine
Pills I Took
Old Rising Outlaw
Country Heroes
Dick in Dixie
Trashville
Mississippi Mud
D. Ray White
Country DJ
I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (Hank Williams)
Cocaine Blues (Johnny Cash)
Cecil Brown
Crazed Country Rebels
Not Everybody Likes Us
Written by: RF