The opening band were The Raskins (Lead Singer- Logan Raskin,Singer/Guitar- Roger Raskin, Lead Guitar- Jet Lopez, Drummer- Troy Patrick Farrell, Bass- Michael Reynoso. This was a ballsey, well dressed and confident band playing true rock n roll music to a slightly mature crowd and even rousing them to sing back “yeah” to one of their songs. Their set list as direct support was: “Save Me Now”, “Wasted Time”, “The Break Up Song”, “What About Us”,“On the Radio”,“We Had It All”and “Heartbreaker”. Ted Nugent is just Ted Nugent, what can you say –along with Greg Smith on bass and Jason Heartless on drums –, he always delivers and that is why he is called “Terrible Ted”– Ted is up for the challenge and he is never disappointing . The shows set list was “The Star-Spangled Banner” ,(John Stafford Smith cover) (dedicated to the Dallas police),“ Gonzo”, “Free”, “Cowboys”, “Yank”, “Wang” Jam“ Hey! Bo Diddley”/Johnny B. Goode “Stormtroopin”’,“Never Stop Believing” (Blues),“Baby”,“Good”, “Fred”,“ Fever”, “Stranglehold”, Encore: “The Great White Buffalo”. Ted gets so many words in between songs it’s like you are at a Republican convention where Ted is running for president. The anti-drug and anti-alcohol Ted always has his combat boots on and is ready to hunt (this night, his snakeskin cowboy boots). He played out on his new guitar, but when he pulled out his “Blackie” the show became epic. Okay, Ted didn’t play “Dog Eat Dog”, or “Weekend Warriors” but this was forgiven with his Encore his classic “Buffalo”. Let’s hear it for my boys…I know Houston loves guitar music – who loves guitar music? I’m gonna play notes you never heard before. So it is 2016 and Ted Nugent is still playing?” Ted is so proud that he is 68 and still on stage and so is his audience. The audience love him and hands go up when he asks “How many of you have been with me for the past 40 years?” “Keep guns in your hand” he croons ‘You gotta stand up for what you believe in !” “Never Stop Believing” (Blues) was a beautiful and heartfelt ballad and he held his audience in his hands with his big smile and pure joy of being alive and being American. This was a well run event with awesome ushers and staff in a classic club treasure Billy Bobs in Fort Worth and the inspiring warmth of Ted and band mates I am sure left in the hearts of many when the show was done.
