Will’s Pub New Years Eve Party

Reverend Horton Heat w/Jello Biafra

The Legendary Shackshakers, The Woolly Bushmen, The Wildtones, Kidney Stones, The Smash, and Giddy Up Go

December 31, Will’s Pub, Orlando, FL

2016 was a ball buster of a year. Bowie, Prince, and what felt like a million others all gone. A seemingly endless roll call of shit news. And no matter where you stood on the election, it was emotionally taxing. So a healthy blow out to leave all that ick behind was on order. And that’s exactly what Will’s Pub did.

With two stages, indoor and out naturally, there was a seriously great line-up and even better performances from new and old artists alike. Outside, Giddy-up Go were running down classic country numbers, in their own inimitable style.

The Wildtones were a pleasant surprise. Revamped and greatly improved with new drummer Kristin Howard, the band swung effortlessly and made a delightful noise. They are on my shortlist of bands to see again soon.

The Kidney Stones channeled everyone’s inner drunken Irishman with upbeat shanty’s and reels doused with lighter fluid and Guinness. They were irresistible, and it’s easy to automatically feel like kindred spirits, as one often does after surviving a shared mishap or drinking all night with strangers.

Th’ Legendary Shackshakers kicked off their set with a tense reading of Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips,” slamming the show into high gear. The band is whip smart and expands and contracts from loose jamming to squeaky tight passages effortlessly. Fronted by the peerless Colonel J.D. Wilkes, his performance ranged from manic to transcendent.

Jim Heath, A.K.A The Reverend Horton Heat took the stage accompanied by longtime bassist and drummer Jimbo Wallace and Scott Churilla. The trio set a course with “Psychobilly Freakout,” “The Devils Chasing Me,” and “ Bales of Cocaine”. They wound their way through surf, Western swing and of course rockabilly before bringing up infamous singer and professional malcontent, Jello Biafra.

Jello did 5 dongs with the band; “Jezebel,” “John Dillinger,” a great reading of “House of the Rising Sun,” before closing out with back to back Dead Kennedy’s numbers, “Holiday in Cambodia,” and “Too Drunk To Fuck.” The audience response was nothing short of crazed.

At Midnight, Jello and Wilkes joined the band onstage and played a polka rendition of “Auld Lange Syne.” Wilkes played the melody on harmonica while Biafra was heard more than once saying, “I don’t know the words. You all sing it.” as he held his mic over the audience. The moment felt cathartic.

The show continued with Heath eulogizing the late Lemmy Kimister the best way he knew how, plowing through a blinding rendition of “Ace of Spades.” Biafra re-joined the band for the encore, a stunning rendition of “Viva Las Vegas.”

The Woolly Bushmen, working the inside stage at the start of 2017, were just killing it. They have the world by the tail and now deliver soulfully delirious performances.

Tonight at least, 2017 feels hopeful. As though we may collectively be able to put the difficulties of the past year behind us and not feel bested by the world around us. That’s what a great party should do. Clear the clutter and dust and prepare us for the challenges ahead. Bravo Will’s. It was all that and more.