Most times I really don’t know what ol’ Uncle Ted
Nugent is on about. He’s either wailing away on his big hollow-body
guitar, espousing the benefits of hunting (with bow in hand more often than
not), or shilling for the latest conservative candidate. He definitely is
in a class all his own, and as his latest DVD, Sweden Rocks,
attests. Even when the man is playing far from our shores he still carries
on like the best of them.
With a band consisting of former Dokken drummer Mick Brown and bassist Barry
Sparks, Nugent more or less wails through a 13-song set recorded in 2006 in
the land of the midnight blonde. Certainly not at the top of the bill at this
particular show, the Motor City Madman still manages to kick ass through some
old hits, screaming a little more than necessary, but still rocking the crowd
with his sheer bravado.
Opening with the double wallop of “Stormtroopin’” and “Wango
Tango” Nuge’s set includes the expletive-laden “Free For
All” (as heavy a rocker I have ever heard from Nugent), a cover of “Soul
Man,” the bluesy “Hey Baby,” and a newer song called “Still
Raising Hell.” For me, the best tune here, other than the hits, is “Snakeskin
Cowboy,” but by the time the band is blasting into the trio that ends
the DVD — “Cat Scratch Fever,” “Stranglehold”
and “Great White Buffalo” — I was as sweaty as Nugent from
watching all that guitar wrastlin’ and listening to him growl.
Has Ted Nugent ever been recognized as a great guitarist? In fact, is he
really a great guitarist? I have no idea — and who am I to judge, really?
— but the guy has always come across as a master showman, with a willful
alpha-male presence on stage. I can’t tell if he’s improved as
a player over the years or if he has maintained his dexterity, but it’s
of little importance. He might be a little thicker through the middle these
days and the I-can’t-stand-myself swagger might fit better on a guy
30 younger, but the Nuge is a force of nature as much now as he’s ever
been.
The extras on the DVD are pretty interesting. There are some interviews with
Nugent’s band members during the making of his then new album and there
are additional live performance clips of “Journey To The Center Of The
Mind,” “Weekend Warriors” and “Love Grenade.”
There’s even footage of Nugent and his band members shooting bows and
guns. Altogether, Sweden Rocks is a fun DVD — nothing
to “get heavy and hung about,” just some fast guitar playing,
screaming vocals, and straight ahead rock and roll. Believe the hype —
Ted Nugent certainly does.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
