Review by Alan Steenson for MPM
The Rock Gods decided that I didn’t do enough hard rock reviews so they twisted my arm to go and see Nashville Pussy a four piece outfit from Atlanta, Georgia.
The band’s lyrical themes mostly revolve around sex, drugs, drinking, fighting, and rock ‘n’ roll. Initially called Hell’s Half-Acre, the band’s name comes from Ted Nugent’s introduction to “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” on the Double Live Gonzo album. With only a few days to cram in some essential tunes in preparation for this gig I hot footed it along to see the ‘Pussy’ (for indeed it sounds a lot better than calling them the ‘Nashville’)
Turnout was down to what I expected given the reputation of this band but nonetheless those that turned up created a great atmosphere for the band as the entered the stage to the random sound of ‘Hocus Pocus by 70s rock band Focus, a great sound that matches what Pussy have been known form (apart from the yodelling that is)
The Pussy have been compared to ACDC and Motorhead and many others (and during the gig I did hear some other inspirations) first up for the evening was Pussy’s not a Dirty Word which as you can imagine does what it says on the tin lyrically, with a long intro and various pointing to the sound desk to fix some initial sound issues the song started the nonstop hundred miles an hour hard rock set with long instrumental parts the song set up the crowds mood and judging by the reaction most (unlike me) were diehard fans.
Piece of Ass followed without a breather or stop in the high intensity drums even though it sounded great to me the drummer still wasn’t happy with bass feedback and was still trying to get it sorted as the lead vocalist Blaine Cartwright and lead guitarist Ruyter Suys shared the microphone during the chorusshowing that you can work with your wife and enjoy your job.
You can clearly see how Suys gives the band the ACDC sound reference with her acting and sounding like Angus Young, something I can only imagine she would love. Blaine addressed the fans talking about their new single called Come On, Come On from their album Ten Years of Pussy and encouraged them to join in on the chorus with a ‘fuck yeah’after singing come on come on, which they duly did to a strong classic sounding rock song with a self-assessment of them being the last of a dying breed.
Speed Machine with its slow drum intro then with Blaine pointing to his right and they launched into heavy bass line supplied by the ever smiling, Bonnie Buitrago a classic sounding rock track and the first song of the evening seeing Blaine push off the mic stand forwards and back again in between lyrics, I wondered if he ever twatted a fan in the head with that trick before he mastered it… anyway on with the rock onslaught with High as Hell a real mix of sounds with a catch riff reminiscent of ZZ Top but vocally it was Captain Beef heart, Ain’t Your Business followed with Blaine chatting to the crowd and telling us how he was Gonna Hitchhike Down to Cincinnati and Kick the Shit Outta Your Drunk Daddy as powered through the vengeance song.
You Give Drugs a Bad Name sounded like it may be from a Bon Jovi Album, but thankfully that one word was enough to make this a proper rock song with Blaine and Ruyter sharing the mic again with lots of stage movement between the two despite its size.
Going Down probably the fastest song of the evening was followed by Blaine drinking some JD and describing it as Tennessee Irish Whiskey, Testify and Everybody’s Fault but Mine proceeded a fine drum solo by Dusty Watson that started Strutting Cock with the crowd goaded into shouting ‘heyheyhey’ back to the band by Suys, with the skins getting a powerful battering by Dusty.
Blaine announced that he wasn’t going to drink anymore whiskey, so Ruyter took it off him and necked it while Blaine announced ‘a bit of Southern Rock for you fuckers’ as they set about the blues inspired Hate and Whiskey, Pillbilly Blues with its great guitar solo start proceeded Blaine apologising to the crowd for not coming back earlier and asked them to boo the band for a bit… but he pointed out that what was important was they were here now, and announced the next song about marijuana and BBQ’s called Til the Meat Falls Off the Bone during this song Blaine introduced the band, and for me the best introductions I’ve ever heard, during the song Blaine pointed to Bonnie calling her the rock n roll queen from South California then onto the drums calling him the big bear and then onto his other half who by now was on the floor making the guitar scream calling her the Canadian cannonball and then Blaine walked to back of stage where upon he picked up three bottles of beer, uncapped and then took off his signature hat to reveal his bald top, pouring the beer into his hat he then downed as much as he could onto him and the crowd in front.. he then introduced himself with his self-proclaimed the Jesus Christ of Rock n Roll… the song finally finished the main set as the band walked off for a few minutes.
Out for some fresh air then returned for three more songs, Rub to Death, Why Why Why and to finish off the evening the classic Go Motherfucker Go a hundred mile an hour song that leaves you breathless when finished.
After the gig we were fortunate to meet Suyter outside and she was appreciative of our enthusiastic reaction to what was a face paced rock n roll treat of an evening.
Despite not knowing the band two weeks ago, I love it when you go to a gig and have that feeling of ‘I will be back’ and hopefully ‘the Pussy’ will be back sooner rather than later… I will be there, and I will be a lot more prepared to join in the madness!
Photography by Darren McVeigh for MPM
