Hank III | September 24, 2011
by Alan on Sep.25, 2011, under Photos, Regency Ballroom, Reviews
Hank III is one of those few entertainers where it’s okay for punks and metal heads to admit they like country music. So it was no surprise when San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom drew a sold out show hosting everything from cow pokes sporting ten-gallon hats to studded punks with mohawks. It could also be the reason the SFPD preemptively parked a paddy wagon and a pair of uniformed officers out in front of the venue. The SFPD may have been expecting some trouble, but anyone that knows Hank knew what they were getting themselves into when they stepped inside that door. Let’s face it, it shouldn’t be a surprise to find a mosh pit and crowd surfers during the show of the guy who sings Pop Country Really Sucks.
And let’s just say that Shelton Hank Williams III is not one for sticking with the status-quo. Already known for having a diverse set of influences spanning country, punk and metal, Hank took once again bucked the establishment by simultaneously releasing a total of four albums (Ghost To A Ghost, Guttertown, Attention Deficit Domination, Cattle Callin’) last month on his own label.
Known by his fans by consistently providing one of the best values in live music, there was a healthy air of anticipation as the set kicked off shortly after 9 pm with nearly two hours of classic country tunes covering fan favorites such as Punch, Fight, Fu©% and highlighted by a haunting rendition of 3 Shades of Black. The fans of the new material weren’t disappointed, either; between Ghost to a Ghost and Guttertown, Hank has put out some of the best material he’s ever done and, despite the newness of the release, the crowd was right there singing along word for word.
After a short break, Hank returned to a stage accompanied by his drummer for a deep, doomy, drone of the Attention Deficit Domination material. Mood appropriately lit by a single green light attached to his mic stand as well as the video being projected behind him, this provided a cue for the country crew to shuffle off for a beer or a smoke while the headbangers took over the center of the barrier.
Coming into the show, I was particularly curious about how (or if) the material from Cattle Callin’ would be integrated into the set. It was hard to imagine what Hank would do with the material from the concept album with ferocious metal riffs backing … well, a caller from a cattle auction? The answer came three hours into the show with Hank bringing out what I can only assume was an actual auctioneer, rapid-firing lyrics over the din. It didn’t come as a surprise that only the die-hards stuck it out to the end of the three and a half hour performance.
There’s certainly no need for an opening act when the headliner is three acts in one and wears down the crowd with a three and a half hour barrage. And that paddy wagon that I mentioned? As far as I can tell it went home empty.
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September 27th, 2011 on 1:21 am
Hey, great pictures and story! Thanks for documenting this! You have any shots of the crowd?
-JB