Yes, I’m a bit late in posting this but I hope y’all will be understanding.  I got home last night at about 0130 and was just flat worn out.  I spent most of this morning going through about 600 pictures from last night to find the best ones.  I don’t normally take this many pictures, but the only way to get some good pics in a place like the Double Down (very dimly lit and with moving subjects) is to crank up the “film speed,” put the camera on full auto, and let it run for a bit each time.  I think I got some really good pics, but it did take time to get them sorted.

Hogjaw is one of my favorite groups.  Their straight up Southern Rock has the feel of coming from the heart and I can say that even though I’ve only ever heard them do one cover (East Bound and Down from Smokey and the Bandit on their current album), I feel like I know their music.  All the rest is original.  You don’t find that too often these days.  It’s about bootlegging moonshine, gunfights in the old west, the spirit of independence, four wheeling, and good old fashioned fun.  Check out their page on myspace and if you like what you hear, hit up CD Baby to buy the album or just a song or two 8)  They’re not signed on a major record label yet, but they’re doing all they can to live the dream.  Anything you can do to help support them would surely be appreciated

JB, Elvis, Craig, and Killer put on a helluva show   They had a longer time slot than last time and they didn’t have to run the bass through the PA system, so the sound was better, too.  They were firs on the bill so setup wasn’t hurried and it was much easier to get everything into the place without someone else getting out and clearing their stuff.

One of the new items in the merchandise lineup is a this T-shirt styled along the lines of the song Gitsum 8)  I’d have bought one last night, but I’m that short on cash at the moment.  I’ll get one via email next month, though.  I did get something from the band which is pretty darn cool, but that’s for later in the post

Here’s the whole crew getting ready to go.  Elvis is on the left – he’s the bassist.  In the back is KWALL on drums, JB is next and closest on guitars and lead vocals, and Craig is on the right on lead guitar.

I thought I’d show just a couple of pictures of the Double Down.  Yes, that’s actually a cigarette vending machine.  They do still exist.  And no, your eyes do not deceive you, that is actually a giant, metal cockroach on the ceiling.  I love this place.  It’s like walking into a scene from a Quentin Tarantino movie

As I said, the show absolutely ROCKED   The set list included 4Lo, Junga, and of course Gitsum from their current album along with a few tracks from their next album, Ironwood, which is due out sometime around March of 2010.  I’d heard Thunder Road and Two Guns before, but they played 357 for the first time in Vegas and it is smokin’ hot

Remember that souvenir I mentioned receiving at the concert?  Well, here it is   The members of Hogjaw were kind enough to give me an autographed picture of the band 8)  They tell me it’s an old picture that was taken in a little town called Two Guns which was the inspiration for the song by the same name.  You can tell it’s been a while – just look at JB’s beard

I wanted to take my time and do this post right because I think JB, KWALL, Craig, and Elvis deserve it.  Thanks again for a great show and lots of fun hangin’ out at the Double Down

So there’s another night in Vegas and a bit of the fun this Capitol of  Entertainment can dish up.  That’s what I call a great time

I’ve only included a few pictures above, but there’s many more good ones that came out of the concert.  Rather than make an ungainly long post again, I figured I’d put the rest of the pictures (along with the ones already included in this post) into a gallery.  Just click on the image to see the full size picture

I’d like to thank all the guys in Hogjaw one more time for a really great night – you guys really do ROCK!!!

Have a great night, everyone