Hollerado @ The Horseshoe Tavern - Photo by Aviva Cohen

The Horseshoe Tavern was alive this past Saturday night, as three powerhouses took to the stage, offering packed set lists to the crowd.

First up was Philadelphia’s Free Energy. Although their music may have been a bit too mellow and “pop” for the Horseshoe crowd, the band’s performance, especially frontman Paul Spranger’s evident stage presence, brought out the intensity in songs like “Bang Pop” which are otherwise very simplistic.

Foxy Shazam followed the openers with their theatrical pop metal. Although it is at times difficult to determine what to make of their dated sound and style and frontman Eric Nally’s gender-ambiguous vocals, it is difficult to not at least appreciate their passion and the general catchiness of their songs, despite how seriously you may take them. The band also broke into an energetic cover of The Misfits’ “Hybrid Moments” after asking the crowd if they were into Simon and Garfunkel and Aaron Neville.

But when headliners Hollerado finally arrived onstage, it once again became apparent who still holds the title for one of the most talented and memorable acts our music scene has to offer.

As always, the blues-influenced riffs of “Americanarama” and the epic anthem-like chorus of “Fake Drugs” resonated with the thrilled crowd, as Hollerado can perform any of their songs countless times to the same people in the same city and they can always count on it having the effect of the first time.

Hollerado shared the stage with guests and friends, starting this pattern off by including Kids In The Hall legends Dave Foley and Kevin MacDonald onstage for “Got to Lose” and the angst and energy it entails. Members of The Balconies, Dinosaur Bones, and other local acts joined the band for one of their signature songs “Juliette” whose simple and addictive melody, which does not grow tiresome, was later contrasted with a fragmented and dissonant jam session moments after the song ended.

The night could not have ended in a more epic way, other than with a cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” which featured Hollerado’s lead guitarist Nixon Boyd on lead vocals, and all the previously mentioned guests onstage and then some. The confetti, beer, and Hollerado frontman Menno Versteeg’s jumping into the audience did not overshadow the fact that this effort was probably one of the greatest covers the legendary venue has seen to date and one of the most epic three minutes.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/hollerado

To see photos of Hollerado click HERE

To see photos of Foxy Shazam click HERE

To see photos of Free Energy click HERE