The Motor City Madman isn't about soft messages. Ted Nugent, the self-proclaimed “Great White Buffalo,” performed a flawless show Thursday night with his ear-piercing band the Nigerian Rebels to a sold out crowd at the .
A mountain of stacked Bad Cat and Eddie Van Halen 5150 signature amplifiers were creatively decorated with two lifelike AR-15 assault rifles that reassured the audience of second amendment advocates that this was, indeed, a Ted Nugent show.
“Hey Coach House, I just go to work everyday and [tick] off [people] without even trying,” screamed Nugent halfway into the song Doctor, the second of the set.
Despite the regarding Nugent’s comment at the National Rifle Association convention in St. Louis—where he compared the Obama administration to "coyotes" that needed to be shot and encouraged voters to "chop the heads off Democrats in November"—the crowd seemed to be there for only one reason: To hear Nugent’s shattering sound and to see his rebel antics.
Before the concert, rumors circulated amongst the Nugent fans that there would be a group of protestors outside the show, and Coach House waitress Hannah Kunik said the venue had been receiving calls all week with people complaining about Nugent performing. The Coach House even supplied extra bouncers who were armed, at Nugent’s request, because he was so upset to hear people complaining.
Nugent also had a contract forbidding the sales of glass beer bottles because of fears they might be thrown at the stage during the performance.
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Despite expectations of protestors, there were no picket signs, just good old fashioned rock n’ roll. Nugent did mention there may be some secret service agents in the audience and ridiculed them for failing to identify themselves when Nugent asked.
Nugent’s signature sound comes from the arena rock era of Van Halen, Boston, Styx, Aerosmith and Cheap Trick, said long-time fan Ram Snower.
“I saw Nugent play at the Silverdome in Detroit Michigan in 1977," Snower said. "Ted stole the show that night even though he was opening up for Aerosmith and Robin Trower, who was supposed to be the next Jimi Hendrix. Nugent called Trower out to a jam out during the his performance.”
Nugent filtered through an arsenal of guitars during the evening's performance, including an American flag Gibson Les Paul and a black 1961 hollow body Les Paul. He played a 14-song set that included his most acclaimed song, Cat Scratch Fever.
Nugent plans to play rock n’ roll all summer long and tour the United States. His goal: "Kill [stuff] and send some of the best venison jerky to troops in Iraq.”
The tour continues at the Edgewater Casino in Laughlin, Nev. before going to Tucson, Ariz. for the Pima County Fair.
For more information about Nugent and his current tour check out the official website.
