By T.J. Tranchell

After 30 minutes of hard rock, Buckcherry vocalist Josh Todd announced to the crowd that he had been suffering from bronchitis for six days and that his voice was giving out. After playing their hit, “Crazy B—-,” another 2009 Rally headliner cut their time in Sturgis short.

The half hour Buckcherry was onstage was loud and fun, despite the swamp-like conditions of the Buffalo Chip lawn.  Buckcherry has the look of a biker band, except for guitarist Stevie D., who looks like an Asian Angus Young.

During the shortened set, Buckcherry did manage to play their other well-known song, the anthem to cocaine “Lit Up.”

All indications were that this would be a Friday night to remember. Todd and company gave no notice that things would end earlier than expected until Todd’s sudden announcement of his condition.

I don’t blame him for wanting to cut things short. It’s wet and he didn’t have a shirt on. Despite that, plenty of engines revved, showing the band some love.

Buckcherry did succeed in one area beyond expectation: They left the crowd wanting more.

I have never seen Tesla and Hinder in the same place at the same time. After seeing their respective performances Thursday night at the Buffalo Chip, I am convinced they are the same band.

Let’s look at the evidence, shall we? Both are five-piece groups consisiting of a vocalist, lead and rhythm guitarists, bassist and drummer. Each has mastered the power ballad and incorporating acoustic guitars into said ballads. They have each toured and been associated with various glam-metal bands.

Perhaps what happens is that between sets, Tesla goes backstage and unzips their middle aged costumes and return as the younger versions of themselves. If that isn’t the case, Hinder should be looking at Tesla closely. In 20 years, Hinder will have the same kind of loyal cult following Tesla enjoys and be opening for whatever band becomes the new them.

Speculation aside, each band gave a great performance, even in the fog/haze that engulfed the Chip.

Watching Tesla is a lesson in Riffology 101, right down to the iconinc instruments used. Guitarist Frank Hannon used the classic red Gibson SG and the white double-necked model. Hannon’s six-string sidekick Dave Rude sported a Gibson Les Paul. Bassist Brian Wheat occasional rocked the Hofner violin bass made famous by Paul McCartney.

Rude also employs the “Crash” Davis technique for guitar playing by looking like he is breathing through his eyelids.

Near the end of the set, Hannon and Rude traded solos before the rest of the band joined them for an instrumental “We Will Rock You.” The biggest reaction of the night came when Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider rushed on stage to shake hands with drummer Troy Luccketta.

Some of the crowd left between the two bands but any space left open was soon filled by a Hinder fan. Maybe it was frat night at the Chip, I don’t know. I do know that the beach balls and condom ballons did not apppear at any of the previous shows I have seen there.

Hinder did manage to win the biker crowd with their cover of Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.” The band sang their hits and the frat boys and their girlfriends sang along. The rest of the crowd seemed captured, as well, and did the best they could without actually knowing most of the lyrics. Frontman Austin Winkler made it easy to follow along and the set time seemed to go by faster than the hour and a half it was.

It would be interesting to have been backstage once Hinder said their goodbyes to the crowd. Maybe they shook the hands of their musical heroes, Tesla. Or, just maybe, they slipped back into their old skins and prepared to move on to the next city, with not a soul the wiser.

By T.J. Tranchell

I have a particular love for ’80s hair metal. It’s cheesy and often ridiculous and shallow, just like the decade from which it spawned. At times, the sub-genre can contradict itself to the point of absurdity. There are few paradoxes in the world quite like singing about strippers, motorcycles and knife fights while wearing Spandex and make-up then following it up a power ballad about having your heart broken.

Tesla, on the other hand, always managed to stay in their jeans and T-shirts for their songs about modern day cowboys and love being all around you. They still have big hair.

I’m anticipating Tesla playing better to the Buffalo Chip crowd than if they were one of glam bands they often toured with. I also expect to hear plenty of audience participation during “Signs,” the group’s biggest hit.

I could never grow my hair out like these guys, but there is a long-haired, freaky person inside me that sometimes escapes. And when it does, jeans and a T-shirt fit me just fine.

Steven Tyler’s mishap during Aerosmith’s performance at the Buffalo Chip Wednesday night has got to be the talk of the rally today. For those of you who haven’t heard about Tyler’s fall from stage, the Journal’s story is here.

Tyler apparently was not hurt badly, and some people have suggested the show should have gone on somehow, especially when the high ticket prices are considered.

In any case, your comments on the matter are welcome.

By T.J. Tranchell

You can only fit so many classic routines into one set. Cheech & Chong couldn’t fit the “Dave’s not here” bit into their performance Tuesday night at the Buffalo Chip, but the majority of the show was filled with sketches that felt more like flashbacks than anything else.

Tommy Chong’s wife Shelby started the show after a slight rain delay and did fine. Her jokes ranged from the political to the obscene. She nearly lost the crowd during some of the political material but always had a pot joke to fall back on. It’s difficult not to think she only landed this gig because she’s sleeping with the star. The funniest part of her act was watching her trying to keep her dress from flying up in the wind. Thankfully, she has another talent that came into play later.

Many of the bits Cheech & Chong performed were slightly updated versions of old routines. A current reference would be tossed in, like a picture of George W. Bush holding a stick of weed during the “Let’s Make a Dope Deal” bit. The material remains strong enough that it’s still funny, even without the updates.

Between bits, Chong did most of the talking, usually about his prison time. Even though he is getting good comedy out of it, he still sounds bitter about the ordeal.

There was no onstage bitterness between the two old friends. During Shelby’s act, she mentioned that the duo would be doing a new film and possibly a sitcom,  which she joked about titling “Grumpy Old Stoners.” Perhaps there is some disillusionment with the way life has gone for them. If that’s true, it didn’t show much during the performance.

Cheech fell back into his stereotypical Chicano role with ease, but had a breakout moment when he came onstage in a tattoo bodysuit and pink tutu for “Earache My Eye.” So the bit was lip-synced. It was still funny.

Chong had two moments of brilliance and both were examples of less publicized talents.

First, in the character of bluesman “Blind Melon” Chitlin, Chong exposed his abilities as a blues guitarist. If Steve Martin can make a banjo album, there is no reason Chong shouldn’t be able to record a blues album.

His second flash of brilliance came during the encore. As Cheech sang his anthem “Born in East L.A.,” the Chong couple danced a bit of salsa. Shelby redeemed herself of her previous showing as a comedienne by proving herself worthy of a “Dancing with the Stars” title. Her gray-bearded husband matched her step for step.

Cheech & Chong ended the night with the stoner national anthem “Up in Smoke.” What could have been a farce was instead two seasoned comedy professionals doing a show. Yes, the years apart show, but it adds to their humanity, making them sympathetic characters as opposed to mere shadows of their youthful selves.

If a new Cheech & Chong movie really is in the works, let us hope some of that sympathy is included and that it doesn’t turn into a bad joke.