The Hives & The Chats @ Citizens House of Blues

The Chats Setlist


The Hives Setlist

The Crap Facts
This is my 541st concert.
Citizens House of Blues is the 144th venue I've seen a concert in.
Boston is the 59th city I've seen a concert in.
Massachusetts is the 18 state I've seen a concert in.
This is my 341st concert in the USA.
This is my 5th Chats concert.
This is my 5th Hives concert.

The Hives & The Chats @ The Orange Peel

Back in September of 2023 The Hives were supposed to play the Peel, but Hurricane Helene had other plans.  The tour couldn't be rerouted, so this is a show I have been waiting for for over 18 months.  I'm just glad they came back (hint! hint! Violent Femmes).

And they've bought new Aussie legends The Chats with them.  As if I was ever going to miss this.  I drove up and back tonight, as I knew there was no way I was going to be asleep before 2am anyway.  Might as well get back and do it in my own bed.

A quick burger at Daddy Macs, and I'm in the venue 10 minutes before The Chats hit the stage.  Got myself a good spot, half way up the floor on the left.  And The Chats did, what the Chats do best.  Short, fast, aggressive punk rock.  Very much in a Australian pub rock sense.  I love how they have such a great following in the US, as there wording definitely lilts towards the Ocker way.  To see Americans shout out the words to 6L GTR. is amazing.  I don't even know how to convert that into American.  The Price of Smokes is another example of things no one else is singing about.  But the song is a classic.  And all played on borrowed gear, as singer Eamon Sandwith told us that none of their gear had arrived from home.  But for me it was 2 of the last 3 songs that are their best.  Smoko should be the new Australian National Anthem, and Pub Feed is the thought of every bloke after finishing a days work/  The Chats continue to impress, even without any new songs (for me) to throw into their setlist.

The Chats Setlist

The Hives have the best front man in rock today, maybe of all time.  Howlin' Pelle Almqvist has all the moves, charisma, humor and vibes in general to lead this great band.  And tonight he did it in his usual style again.  I was fully charged into the 2nd song, Walk Idiot Walk.  There was a lot of new stuff for me to hear, but it all fit the Hives sound perfectly.  An early Main Offender was definitely a highlight.  Veni Vidi Vicious is my favorite album of theirs, but as time goes on, I hear less of it live.  So it goes without saying that Hate To Say I Told So was another absolute banger.  And Come On! and Tick Tick Boom was a great ending to a short, sharp set.  A 3 song encore only covered their last 2 albums, but The Hives Forever, Forever The Hives was an appropriate ending to a great set.

I walked out with The Chats Get Fucked LP.  I'm sure it will go onto heavy rotation in the near future.  And even better, I'm meeting Erik in Boston next weekend and we're going to see them again at the House of Blues.

The Hives @ The Orange Peel

The Hives Setlist

The Crap Facts

This is my 540th concert.
This is my 7th concert at the Orange Peel.
This is my 18th concert in Asheville.
This is my 161st concert in North Carolina.
This is my 340th concert in the USA.
This is my 4th Chats concert.

This is my 4th Hives concert.

Los Straitjackets with Deke Dickerson @ Neighborhood Theater

I can't believe it's been 7 years since Mike and I made our discovery of Los Straitjackets at the Free Range Brewery.  When they were coming through Charlotte again, there was no way I was going to miss them.  And I get to find out about Deke Dickerson as well.

I was excited when I arrived at the Neighborhood to see the band was set up on the side stage, in front of the bar.  While I hate that tickets didn't sell enough to get them in the big room, the thought of another show near that stage was awesome.  And that was the case.  I was 3 rows from the stage with plenty of room to groove.  And plenty of dancing was done!

The masked Straitjackets came out and played 5 of their own songs before being joined on stage by Dickerson.  From there on there were classic covers done in the great surf-rock style.  Dickerson, who sadly I knew nothing of, is a rockabilly / surf-rock cult hero.  And a frontman who knows how to engage with a crowd.  His stories between songs, tells of a well travelled man, who spent his life surrounded by great musicians.  California Sun, King Of The Surf and Have love Will Travel was an awesome trio of songs early in the set.  I loved their Hawaii Five O cover, as well as their take on Link Wray's The Rumble in medley of 3 of his songs.  Have to mention singing What's So Funny Bout Peace Love & Understanding at the top of my lungs, and John Travolta-ing to Misrilou.  I was bummed to hear they were leaving the stage, only to find out they be back in 15 minutes to play a 2nd set.

The 2nd set, like the first, had Los Straitjakets come out on their own and play, including an instrumental My Heart Will Go On, a drummer-sung A Cry For A Beatle and an awesomely minimally choreographed Driving Guitars.  Dickerson rejoined them and straight into Bad Reputation meant no one wanted the night to end.  Every song was more fun than the last.  Mr Moto bought a shoutout for NC legend, the late Dex Romweber.  Beach Boys In My Room saw some great harmonies from all and sundry.  Gusto in IU Fought The Law and a finale of Woolly Bully put an end to 30 great songs.  But it wasn't over.  Exhausted, band and crowd also had to dance off to Surfing Bird & Louie Louie.

I know at my age it's hard to find people to hang and enjoy the music I like, but I wish people had listened to me tonight, because Los Straitjackets only means fun and happiness.  And everyone needs that.  I'm glad going to concerts on my own is something I enjoy, but if you weren't here tonight, you missed a great night.

Come back soon Los Straitjackets!

Deke Dickerson & Los Straitjackets @ Neighborhood Theatre

Set 1 Setlist

Set 2 Setlist

Los Straitjackets Setlist

The Crap Facts
This is my 539th concert.
This is my 13th concert at the Neighborhood Theater.

This is my 134th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 160th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 339th concert in the USA.
This is my 2nd Los Straitjackets concert.