Buckethead, House of Blues
Coast Observer
New Orleans, LA
Photos and Words by: Canonblue Lalley
First, it would be poignant to say that Buckethead put on one of the greatest shows this photographer has ever captured. The perfect mix of melodic and technical rifts, Buckethead captivated the crowd from start to finish. Kicking off with "Jowls" and my personal favorite, "Soothsayer" Buckethead kept the entirety of the House of Blues engaged and entranced (even passing his guitar down to be played by fans).
It's difficult to describe how truly incredible of a sight Buckethead is to non-fans. Mysterious, enigmatic and overtly talented, Buckethead stands a solid 7 feet tall, black on black clothing, his kabuki mask and signature whitewashed bucket adorning his head. Always the enigma, he commands the stage with his deliberate but erratically robotic movements that are in perfect inflection and reaction to the music. It's hard to not be entranced by both the music and the man himself.
Unlike most musicians and bands, who feed off of the crowd energy to create the experience, fan interaction seems to stem directly from Buckethead himself. It is safe to say that almost every type of fan demographic was represented in the HOB that night. Young, old, metal heads, millennials and stoner-rockers all stood shoulder to shoulder hypnotized by the art of it all. His hour long set dipped into songs mastered over his almost thirty studio albums, each coming from a different era of Buckethead but still flowing together just the same. In the midst of his first tour in four years, if you get the chance, get to a show. You will not leave disappointed.
