June 24, 1998

The crowd at the House of Blues was a "southern" rock and roll crowd as evidenced by the number of Lynyrd Skynyrd tee shirts and flags bearing the star and bars (the Confederate battle flag for you Yankees!!) and general presence of long hair, jeans and T-shirts with slogans on them.

Molly Hatchet, using the night as a record release party, was celebrating the release of their eleventh CD and hosted a CD signing party at the Virgin music store after the show. They played a couple of their hits in the early part of the show, such as "Gator County", but left the bulk of their hits for the end of the show. The crowd really warmed up for "Flirtin with Disaster" towards the end of the short 90 minute set. Of course the crowd went wild as the lead singer waved the stars and bars early on.

I love Southern Rock. I am a big fan of the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot and several others, and I even like listening to some of Molly Hatchet's songs. But if Southern Rock had a pro-wrestling division, Molly Hatchet would be at the fore front. The music was fine, except for occasional muddy vocals, but I felt the band was into way too much posing. Most of the stage moves were too contrived, too choreographed, and basically just too fake. That guy from the World Wrestling League with the bow tie and tuxedo would have fit right in. ("In this corner....wearing long hair and playing lead guitar....is....) The lead singer also sounds like a pro wrestler in his speech and mannerism. The energy seemed fake and contrived. I felt that if I saw their show the next night or next month that I would see "the exact same show" with the exact same posturing and same "dance" moves. The stage show is supposed to add to the music, not detract from it. The crowd started to thin out about 30 minutes before the end of Molly Hatchet's set.

Pat Travers, who's T-shirts proclaim "100% Rock, No Bullshit", proved it by putting on a smoking set of original music and covers. There were a LOT of people there just to see Pat Travers, and he did not disappoint. Playing songs from his most recent blues-rock CD's, and pulling from his older songs lists, he worked hard and really put on a show. His shirt was totally soaked in sweat by the time he finished his one hour and five minute set.

Travers used quite of bit of effects on his guitar, but at all times the effects added to the music, rather than take away. I've seen other artists who overuse effects to the point that it reduces the guitar to a mushy mess. Travers uses delay and leslie effects just enough to add character to the songs, but the guitar sound still stays clear and punchy in the mix. Travers got the crowd going early in the set and kept up the energy throughout the set. He did some really rocking tunes, such as "Too Much", and "Ice Queen", slow steamy blues in "The Pain", and tossed out "Stevie" towards the end of his set. He played his killer version of "Whippin Post" which has been getting airplay on 96.5 recently and then finished up with "Snortin Whiskey" and "Boom Boom, Out Go The Lights". This guy can play and put on a show, and do it without the posing that Molly Hatchet used.

Bottom Line: Molly Hatchet gets and 8 (2 point penalty for too much posing) and Pat Travers gets a Spinal Tap 11. (bonus point for the energy of the show)

Murf Murphy Murf is a registered professional engineer....(i.e. haircut and a real job) who loves to play guitar. Vist Murf's home page. He lives with (1) wife who wishes he would grow up, (1) teenager who wonders how his parents got to this point in their lives without his help, (2) dogs who sleep a lot, (1) ferret who attacks when not looking and (1) cat who is basically useless. Other Articles I've Written