6511.  That is the exact number that Ted Nugent proclaimed of how many gigs he has hit the stage in his long and rockin’ career as he strutted out at the packed House of Blues in Houston, Texas.  

Well I’ve been to at least 11 of those and tonight he was backing his latest release “Shut Up and Jam”.  A very weird title for a dude who does a lot of the latter, but not enough of the former – per himself ! 

Nugent was a staple for me back in the 70’s working in the steel mills of Northeastern Ohio where the heavy Harley crowd ruled and his down to earth no frills rock filled the airwaves. Some of the pure nuggets from that era were of course on display tonight from the get go with a storming triple shot of  “Gonzo”, “Just What the Doctor Ordered” and “Free For All” !  

What made this evening’s gig much better was the addition of original vocalist/guitar player, Derek St. Holmes, who took over the reins of singing on at least half the songs. Maybe control crazy Ted has mellowed a tad and realized the songs are just better that way. Bassist Greg Smith from Alice Cooper thumped away along with skin slammin’ “Wild” Mick Brown of Dokken fame keepin’ the back-up solid. 

Of course the volume was turned to “11” and TN kept it old school for most of the night albeit the title cut from the new one which was well received. Thankfully tonight Nugent kept the chatter more to the vain of pro-Texas and pro-USA versus bad mouthing everyone and everything in the government in power. That stuff just gets in the way to this reviewer and I always prefer to hear just more songs.

He definitely satisfied me and my bud Dr.Ray with the “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang / Blues Jam” he did midway thru and crushed the crowd with the five bagger of “Hey Baby”, big crowd fave “Fred Bear”, red hot “Cat Scratch Fever”, mind bending “Stranglehold” and on your feet encore of my personal best “Great White Buffalo”.  

The band killed it all night and the 100 minute set sped by quickly.  Holmes’ singing sounded as good as the 70’s and Nugent can still play a guitar fast as he can rap out the chatter!   His TV show “Spirit of the Wild” keeps him busy as he proclaims he tours May thru August and “kills shit” the rest of the year.  

Love him or loathe him the man looks damn good for being in his mid sixties…………….until the next time I’m out   Eddie “Edge” Ferranti Senior Editor Houston Music Review