Double dose of Bottle Rockets at Blueberry Hill

(Credit: Bottle Rockets' MySpace page)

Jason Gonulsen
Special to Metromix

When I talked to Brian Henneman of the Bottle Rockets around a month and a half ago, he seemed excited about his band's new album, 'Lean Forward,' and ready to take the new tunes on the road. After all, it's been a good three years since we've heard anything new from one of St. Louis' best rock 'n' roll bands, so his itch to get them before a live audience was expected.

But when you listen to 'Lean Forward,' you immediately realize that this is an album made for the road. It's mostly electric, like their last album, 'Zoysia,' and it's just got that live feel to it. It's everything a Bottle Rockets album should be: loud, energetic, and fun.

And all those things usually happen at one of their shows. The good news is that you will have two chances to catch them this week at Blueberry Hill. So whether you're planning on Friday or Saturday night, the new tunes like "The Long Way," "Give Me Room" or "Hard Times" should be quite a treat, as well as older material like "Radar Gun," "Thousand Dollar Car," "Indianapolis," "Gas Girl" and "Welfare Music."

Just a side note: At one my first Bottle Rockets shows at Blueberry Hill in 2002, it was so freaking loud that my ears were ringing for days. Seriously, the guys know how to rock, so you might want to invest in some earplugs. I know they say that if it's too loud, you're too old...but I still want to be able to hear when I'm 40.

Are you going to the show? Leave a comment below!

Five Bottle Rockets videos: