Randy J. Klodz - Josh Todd Forms Band, Goes Hard-Rock

June 17, 2004

Josh Todd Forms Band, Goes Hard-Rock

By Randy J. Klodz

The heavily-tattooed Josh Todd has since left his blues-tinged heavy-rock act Buckcherry and has formed his own band, releasing a full-length album, “You Made Me,” in January. His band will be making its lone Chicago date June 18 at the Bottom Lounge.

Josh Todd, the former Buckcherry frontman, now fronting a band with his namesake, is also joined by Mike Hewitt and Jesse Logan on guitars, Mark Letting on bass and Kent Ross on drums. With that, Todd has spent much time within the last year making certain that people don’t see this band as a solo effort. “It’s definitely a band, and when you come to the show you understand what it’s all about,” he said.

“You Made Me” has been in stores since the beginning of this year, but many radio outlets haven’t yet taken to the hard-rocking record. As Todd explained, some cities have run with the album, but there is still a lot of room for improvement.

“Radio has been soft,” he said. “We have a lot of radio stations on-board that are really excited and are playing our record, but it’s hard. Everybody and their mother is trying to get their song on the radio.”

Though many Josh Todd fans are converted Buckcherry fans, don’t expect Todd and his band to dish out a slab of Buckcherry songs. Though he plans for the band to play an 85-minute set, the lone Buckcherry song the band has been playing is, what Todd called a “heavy” version of the former band’s hit “Lit Up.” Todd holds great respect for his former band, but he stresses that Buckcherry is his past, and he’s no longer promoting that portion of his life.

Buckcherry fans may find a heavier band than they were used to with Josh Todd. Gone are the blues riffs. Enter distorted guitars and hard-rock beats. The infectious “Mind Infection,” the first track on “You Made Me” is sure to please rock fans around the world. Tracks like “Flowers and Cages” and “Straight Jacket” should appeal to fans of such bands as Papa Roach--and a harder version of Fuel, to name a few, with the head-nodding rock guitar, stomping drums and spitfire lyrics.

The Bottom Lounge is at 3206 N. Wilton Ave. The venue, at one time, was called Lakeview Links. Tickets for this 21+ show are listed for $7 each with a show start time of 10 p.m. Blackmaker and Novaseason are also scheduled to perform.