Reverend Horton Heat @ Irving Plaza

Reverend Horton Heat

@ Irving Plaza

New York, NY - December 15, 2017

Christmas time is not what it used to be but Horton, Jimbo, and their new (TWO!) helpers (including drummer RJ Contreras) made the most of it with their "Holiday Hayride". The Rev appears to be taking it easy these days, ceding singing duties to his pal Big Sandy this particular night (more on that later) and to new keyboardist Matt Jordan on "Martini Time" (what?) and telling stories in length greater than most of the set. Highlights include a Chuck tribute of "Havana Moon" (with Sandy), "Ace of Spades", "Jimbo's song" (accordingly)" and "Cowboy Love". Also there were Christmas songs.

A scheduling mishap resulted in missing the Blasters. The bill was mislabeled as Big Sandy did not play with his own band and Junior Brown I am told did not appear, leaving only the Blasters as openers, despite what the bill said. Yours truly didn't help matters by taking one's sweet time in the snow and so I missed Phil and the gang. This is beyond too bad. In addition to being favorites in this parish, it was a dream double bill. Horton spent of some his chatter remarking on early Rev visits to Los Angeles and seeing these cats who they very quickly looked up to and learned from. Sigh.