Concerts slowing coming back — Bonedryver play their first live gig after Covid-19 pandemic shutdown

Concerts slowing coming back — Bonedryver play their first live gig after Covid-19 pandemic shutdown

North Carolina, USA rockers Bonedryver consisting of lead vocalist Mark Michaels, guitarist Jimmy Penland, bassist Kevin Freeman and drummer Jeff Price played their first live gig since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown yesterday night (on May 30, 2020) at Corner Pockets in Hickory, North Carolina, USA.

Bonedryver ended up playing three one-hour sets of covers along with six of their own original songs. The group played two new tracks titled “Cock In A Henhouse” and “Live It Up (It’s Dying Time)” from its upcoming new album Valley of Bones plus four songs — “God Bless America,” “No Man’s Land,” “Dr. Moonshine” and “White Trash” — from its current album Ain’t Too Pretty, Ain’t Too Proud.

Speaking exclusively to Sleaze Roxx, Michaels was asked how it felt to be back playing a live show to which he replied: “It felt incredible. It’s been several months for us. We’ve obviously lost shows like every other band out there while trying to promote our album Ain’t Too Pretty, Ain’t Too Proud. So, for the opportunity to get back out there and play, it was simply amazing.”

In terms of whether there was any social distancing in place and being implemented during Bonedryver‘s sets, Michaels indicated: “The club we played at had precautions in place, but it seemed to me that everyone was pretty lost in the moment and I didn’t see a lot of “social distancing.” There was hand sanitizer available and signs up about keeping six feet apart, but I didn’t notice a lot of that.”

Setlist for Bonedryver’s first set on May 30, 2020:
01. Homesick (Atlanta Rhythm Section cover / Ron Keel Band version)
02. Bounty Hunter (Molly Hatchet cover)
03. Wishing Well (Free cover / Blackfoot version)
04. Gimme Back My Bullets (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)
05. Mainstreet (Bob Seger cover)
06. Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ (Journey cover)
07. Tennessee Whiskey (Chris Stapleton cover)
08. Drift Away (Doobie Gray cover / Copperhead version)
09. Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry cover)
10. Back In Black (AC/DC cover)
11. Snortin’ Whiskey (Pat Travers cover)
12. Cock In A Henhouse
13. Live It Up (It’s Dying Time)
14. Pink Houses (John Cougar Mellencamp cover)
15. Train Kept A-Rollin’ (Tina Bradshaw cover)

With respect to Corner Pockets‘ capacity and how many people were in attendance, Michaels advised: “I’d estimate that there were about 100 people there throughout the evening. People kind of came and went, but the bulk stayed for the whole show. I think the Corner Pockets holds about 200, so we were at half capacity. They were able to remain open because they are also a restaurant, and while bars and clubs remain closed, restaurants were able to reopen. People seemed to be hungry — no pun intended — for live rock and roll, and we served it up to ’em.”

Setlist for Bonedryver’s second set on May 30, 2020:
01. Long Long Way From Home (Foreigner cover)
02. Jukebox Hero (Foreigner cover)
03. Burnin’ For You (Blue Oyster Cult cover)
04. Hysteria (Def Leppard cover)
05. Don’t Tell Me You Love Me (Night Ranger cover)
06. There’s One Way To Rock (Sammy Hagar cover)
07. God Bless America
08. No Man’s Land
09. Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)
10. Rock Steady (Bad Company cover)
11. Heard It On The X / Tush (ZZ Top covers)
12. Rockin’ Is Ma Business (The Four Horsemen cover)
13. Let There Be Rock (AC/DC cover)

In regard to whether the Bonedryver members had any concerns about playing a live show amid the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, Michaels stated: “Actually, we were not that concerned although we remained smart about it. We’ve all seen the people who are getting back to some semblance of normal. We go to the stores and see people walking around and not many around here are wearing masks. Our area in Western North Carolina didn’t get hit as hard as some of the other places around the county, [and] the world. Less than a tenth of a percent even caught it, but unfortunately some did indeed pass. That said, I didn’t see one mask all evening. Look, we know the virus is real, and the victims of Covid-19 are real. We also know we can’t live like this forever. With everything this country is going though right now with coming out of a pandemic, and now the riots all over the big cities — I don’t see many rioters on TV with masks, either — I think people need an escape. People need a bit of happiness and fun back in their lives. I’m grateful for the chance to be able to provide a few hours of that for some.”

Setlist for Bonedryver’s third set on May 30, 2020:
01. Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
02. Outshined (Soundgarden cover)
03. Dr. Moonshine
04. White Trash
05. Enter Sandman (Metallica cover)
06. Symphony of Destruction (Megadeth cover)
07. Man In The Box (Alice In Chains cover)
08. Would? (Alice In Chains cover)
09. Turn The Page (Bob Seger cover)
10. Beatin’ Around The Bush (AC/DC cover)
11. TNT (AC/DC cover)
12. Have A Drink On Me (AC/DC cover)
13. Sin City (AC/DC cover)
Encore:
14. For Whom The Bells Toll (Metallica cover)