Buckcherry: Ready to rock an arena

By John Benson

entertainmentvindy.com

Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson has traveled the planet playing some of the biggest music venues around; however, he can’t forget about good times spent rocking audiences in Youngstown.

“Oh, dude, how many shows have we played at The Wedge [now Club Gossip]?” said Nelson, calling from his Los Angeles home. “The fact that the bar was right in front of the stage was definitely unexpected. I’ve never been able to loogie on a bartender with such ease. It was awesome. I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, so Youngstown is a place I’m very familiar with. I have a lot of family in Cleveland and the area, so these are always hometown shows for me.”

In that case, Nelson and his rock act Buckcherry are coming home yet again, this time as part of the 2011 J §germeister Music Tour. With openers Hellyeah, All That Remains and The Damned Things, the bill rolls into Covelli Centre on Tuesday.

This is an interesting time for Buckcherry, which has a well-documented history. Though the rock outfit burst onto the scene around the turn of the century, it fizzled a few years later before Nelson and singer Josh Todd reemerged with 2006 platinum album “15,” which included massive radio hits “Crazy B****” and “Sorry.” The act’s follow-up release, 2008’s “Black Butterfly,” earned the band its first top-10 Billboard album debut.

The group is supporting its fifth album, “All Night Long,” which harkens back to the same reckless abandon felt on the band’s 1999 self-titled debut effort. Nelson said the group got the idea while touring with a rock ’n’ roll legend.

“We really try not to over-think it a whole lot, but my initial conversations with Josh about ‘All Night Long’ were really just about making a great rock ’n’ roll record that had some anthemic qualities to it,” Nelson said. “We had just gotten off the road with Kiss. We played two months with those guys and watched them go out every night and fill an arena with people from 8 to 80 playing rocking hits every night. It really was pretty awe-inspiring that they had that body of work and the way their music moved people. So that was definitely in our subconscious when we were moving forward with the writing process.”

Nelson points to new songs such as the title track and “Oh My Lord” as being big arena-rocking tunes he can’t wait to play for Northeast Ohio. Speaking of which, looging on bartenders may be tough at the Covelli Centre. Does he have any other ideas?

“I would never spit on anybody on purpose,” Nelson said, laughing. “The last time we were there, I believe Kelly ‘The Ghost’ Pavlik came down and announced us. So, hopefully, Kelly will come back. We’re big supporters, and Youngstown is always fun. We’re actually playing there on my birthday, so it should be a pretty interesting evening.”

What does one get a rock star for his birthday?

“It’s pretty obvious what a guy like me likes,” Nelson said.

Perhaps the sponsor of the band’s current tour answers part of that question. The other half may have something to do with pole dancing.

“The more the merrier,” Nelson said. “That’s all I can say.”