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Jeff Moehlis: Ted Nugent Is ‘Still Raising Hell’
At Friday night’s concert at the Chumash Casino, Ted Nugent bombarded the audience with killer guitar playing and over-the-top anti-liberal, pro-gun/pro-hunting zingers.
Some of the latter were actually pretty amusing. For example, Nugent said that “in Texas [where he lives], we don’t have a mountain lion problem. The mountain lions have a Ted problem.” Another example: Detroit [where he used to live] is “not the murder capital because we’re more violent; we’re just better shots.”
Other statements directed at specific politicians were a bit too raw, certainly doing little to raise the level of political discourse in the United States. For example, Nugent invited Barbara Boxer to come onstage to suck one of the (real) machine guns that were on display. He also claimed derisively to have shot a large blacktail deer for Dianne Feinstein, and said “when Ted Kennedy had that aneurysm — that was me.”
Such statements were reflections of his early claim that “I get up every day just to make liberals s*** blood.” Personally — and don’t think this is a call for the irrepressible Nugent to be censored in anyway — the comments made the title of a Frank Zappa album spring into my head: Shut Up ‘N Play Yer Guitar.
Why? Well, unlike his cheap shots at politicians, his guitar playing is truly spectacular.
Nugent kicked off the concert with a Jimi Hendrix-esque wah-wah-heavy guitar instrumental version of the “Star Spangled Banner,” punctuated by comments such as “You can’t do this in France,” and he and his “greasy little Motor City fingers” never looked back.
He shredded through such Nugent classics as “Wango Tango,” “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang,” “Cat Scratch Fever” and “Stranglehold,” plus a cover of Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man.” Particularly notable was “Just What the Doctor Ordered,” during which the previously subdued crowd left their seats and rushed to the stage.
Nugent alternately described his music as “Motor City high energy s***” and “soul music,” and made several amusing statements about his songs, such as calling “Rawdogs & Warthogs” “just another love song,” and saying that the metal-ish “KLSTRPHNKY” was the “only country and western song we do.”
Call the music what you will, but Nugent’s passion for the music of Detroit was apparent — including his reference to bassist (and sometimes lead vocalist) Greg Smith and drummer Mick Brown as the Funk Brothers, in homage to the legendary Motown rhythm section. This was a power trio of the first order.
Nugent’s passion for hunting also came through loud and clear, with the song “Fred Bear” complemented by footage of deer getting shot by the bow-hunting Nugent mixed with vintage footage of his bow-hunting friend Fred Bear. The encore had Nugent in the headdress of a Native American chief shooting a flaming arrow at his guitar, which represented a white buffalo. Good theater.
At age 61 and having played more than 6,000 concerts during his lifetime, Nugent shows no sign of slowing down. I certainly don’t want to be the one who tries to stop him.
Setlist
Snakeskin Cowboys
Wango Tango
Free-For-All
Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
Rawdogs & Warthogs
Still Raising Hell
I Need You Bad
Love Grenade
Soul Man
Hey Baby
Just What the Doctor Ordered
KLSTRPHNKY
Trample The Weak, Hurdle The Dead
Fred Bear
Cat Scratch Fever
Stranglehold
Great White Buffalo
Spirit of the Wild
— Noozhawk contributor Jeff Moehlis is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at UCSB.
Comments
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» on 01.25.10 @ 09:57 PM
Go Ted! Love that guy and I still have his old Stranglehold CD playing in my truck. Now if only Diane would…
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» on 01.26.10 @ 08:10 AM
Who is actually a fan of this guys music? Really? Come on, there were a few years in the 70’s and early 80’s where the country was confused enough to allow him to rise to fame but with the invention of Taste in the mid 80’s he really should have dried up and withered away. Somehow the far right adopted this maniac as their NRA spokesperson and he now enjoys more fame than should honestly be allowed.
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» on 02.03.10 @ 05:59 AM
Technically, Nugent is a terrific guitarist. But let’s be honest; his songwriting skills are uneven at best. He hasn’t really produced much in the way of memorable music at all for nearly 25 years. That said, as an entertainer, he is relatively accomplished, and would do quite well as a regular attraction in Las Vegas or Reno.
On the other hand, one might reasonably ask what his listeners are supposed to derive from songs like “Stranglehold” (a song that patently celebrates and endorses the threat of sexual assault and arson). Such songs might be understandable coming from the pen of a 7th grader. What can this man be thinking singing this unregenerative, spiteful stuff at the age of 61???
As for Mr. Nugent’s political insights are (again, let us be honest), they are pretty simple-minded and reductive (as the even-handed commentator observes). He does little to advance political discourse, though he is no doubt effective at providing those who already share his views confirmation that their views are not held in isolation. Beyond that, Nugent really presents little in the way of reasoned argument in support of his political theater. Therefore, there is nothing of substance to respond to.
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» on 02.20.10 @ 01:19 PM
Love me some Nooooge! His music, his attitude, his politics. OK, so he hasn’t made interesting music in a while, but he is an interesting person. Agree or not with his politics, at least he gets people talking. Ted is REAL. More honest and in better shape than any vegetarian, Ted loves this country and knows it can be even better.
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