On May 19, 2009, Buckcherry made their way to Allentown for a show at the Crocodile Rock Cafe downtown – a night that set me on the path to becoming the photographer and reviewer I am today. I took some less-than-professional photos from the crowd with a point-and-shoot camera. The next day, I saw the professional photos on the local newspaper’s website, and it set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead me back to Buckcherry in Allentown on May 19, 2026, at the brand new Archer Music Hall – 17 years to the day, about three blocks down the street from the former Crocodile Rock Cafe.
In that time, the band has come through the area a dozen times and has consistently released new material that has helped keep them at the forefront as one of the last true rock bands of their era.
A midweek show has a different kind of pulse. Strip away the weekend warriors and the bar-hoppers looking for background noise, and what’s left is a room full of people who genuinely chose to be there -who rearranged their week, set an early alarm for Wednesday, and showed up anyway because this is what they do. That’s the crowd Buckcherry drew on a Tuesday night, and they fed off every bit of it.
Twenty-seven years into their run and they still play like they have something to prove. “Lit Up” kicked things off and the room shifted instantly – that familiar riff hit like muscle memory, comfortable and dangerous at the same time. They didn’t hide behind deep cuts or new album showcases; the setlist was a reminder of why people have been following this band for two decades, with “Ridin’,” “Pornostar,” and “Too Drunk” all earning their spots. Buried in the mix, “Blackout” surfaced as a pleasant curveball for the diehards. The newer material held its own alongside the classics, and “Somebody Fucked With My Head” emerged early as an unexpected highlight – the kind of moment that makes you sit up a little straighter. Then came “Crazy Bitch,” which at this point needs no introduction and no justification. It’s bigger than the band, bigger than the era it came from. They stretched it into a sprawling medley, weaving in “Bad Girl” and “Proud Mary” before dragging it back home – chaotic, unashamed, and completely earned.
As the night ended, it was hard not to let nostalgia cloud my judgment, but anyone who has seen this band over the past nearly 20 years will agree that they are still as sharp as ever. I’d go as far as arguing that Josh Todd hasn’t aged a day since 2009, and their music is just as relevant as it was then.
Buckcherry have made a career out of living on the edge and selling out club venues – hopefully I don’t have to wait another 17 years to see them in Allentown, but if I do, I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait.
Buckcherry Tour
