Ugly Kid Joe @ Copenhell 2022

2022-06-19

Some nice revisits; lots of filler

One might rightly question the relevancy – or lack thereof – of a band like Ugly Kid Joe in 2022. But there should be little doubt as to vocalist Whitfield Crane's skills as both a singer and a showman. As for the former, he's not only incredibly overlooked, but his characteristically primal, guttural sneer is still impeccable after all these years.

As for the latter, however, the Danish audience are hard to please today, even for a guy like Crane with such a confident demeanor and devil-may-care attitude who did such a superb job when I saw them at Wacken 2013. But let's face it: UKJ was never anyone's favorite band, so our enthusiasm for them on a Wednesday afternoon isn't exactly overwhelming.

Admittedly, yours truly belongs to a highly exclusive club who thinks that the bands almost cult-classic debut "America's Least Wanted" ('92) is vastly overrated in all its unambitious silliness, and that its harder follow-ups "Menace to Sobriety" ('95) and "Motel California" ('96) are sadly overlooked.

So when they grace us with the wonderful "Milkman's Son" from the former, I'm rocking out so hard it'd easily make for a viral YouTube clip entitled "This Guy Has His Own Party At An Ugly Kid Joe Concert". Same thing goes for the ever-solid heavy rocker "Jesus Rode a Harley" – not to mention the steel hammer heavy opening intro from the same album.

The biggest problem isn't everyone else's lack of engagement, but the lack of old songs. I know: Biggest fucking rock concert cliché ever. But especially in a case like this, it's legit.

For some reason, UKJ uses half a festival show to play four goddamn songs from 2015's "Stairway to Hell" EP. And while those aren't downright bad, none of them have any particular merit, either. To absolutely no-one's surprise, the biggest singalongs and crowd responses are during songs like "Neighbor" and "Cat's in the Cradle". And that'll probably never change.

For better or worse, I'm outta there during "Funky Fresh Country Club". For better, because that way I dodge the annoyingly puerile "Everything About You" – hard rock's most overrated song since "Enter Sandman". For worse, because I miss the ending cover of "Ace of Spades". However, I gotta have a decent spot for the next show with my old Danish heroes in Dizzy Mizz Lizzy.

So, would I see Ugly Kid Joe again, given the chance? Sure. But I probably wouldn't be expecting much.

Rating: 3.5 out of 6

Genre: Heavy metal / hard rock
Venue: Copenhell 2022, Hades Stage
Date: Wed., 15/6/2022

Setlist:

  1. Intro
  2. Neighbor
  3. Panhandlin' Prince
  4. Jesus Rode a Harley
  5. No One Survives
  6. Devil's Paradise
  7. Cat's in the Cradle (Harry Chapin cover)
  8. I'm Alright
  9. Milkman's Son
  10. Goddamn Devil
  11. Funky Fresh Country Club
  12. Everything About You
  13. Ace of Spades (Motörhead cover)
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