Buckeye Randy
Member
Who: Teenage Bottlerocket
When: June 25, 2026
Where: The Grog Shop (Cleveland Heights, Ohio)
Less than two years ago I was a very casual fan of Teenage Bottlerocket. That all changed after my son suggested we see them live. My fandom is now north of casual and I’m ready for my second show with the band. Woohoo!
Who and what are Teenage Bottlerocket? They are a band from Laramie (Wyoming) that formed in 2000. The band has 10 albums with the most recent being 2025’s “Rock and Roll”. The band has a Ramonesy sound but that’s just a broad brush description and doesn’t really paint a complete picture. Their matter-of-fact observations and infectious melodies are as endearing as they are contagious. Is it dumb guy music? You calling me dumb? That’s what I thought! (smiling)
The Grog shop is your basic standing type venue with a capacity of 400 and a bar in the back. The club features up and comers plus established acts that love an intimate atmosphere. This will be my third time at The Grog Shop this year so there is comfort in familiarity. The only drawback about the place is a low stage which means that sight lines can be challenging if not impossible when standing at the rear of the venue. The good thing is free illegal parking!
My fellow concert goers this evening are my oldest son plus a co-worker I’ve known for five years or so. This will be the 7th show in the last 14 months between the two of them but the first with all of us together. All I know is that the old man has not one but two designated drivers and if my math is correct, I’ll be drinking two fisted. Remember kids, math is something you’ll use your whole life; stay in school.
Dozens of people congregating on the sidewalk in the general area of the entrance but no real line per se. That changed as soon as the doors opened at 7PM and people quickly and orderly assembled to file in. We were in the first wave of people to enter and after a quick stop at the merch table we staked our place at the stage. This had a different feel than we saw the band two years ago. There were clearly more early arrivers as the club steadily filled.
Opening was Cleveland’s Whatever followed by Sludgeworth from Chicago. Notable was that Sludgeworth brought 30 people with them that knew every word of their high energy songs. Totally enjoyable sets and I wouldn’t shy away from seeing either band again. During these sets the venue went from crowded with minimal body space to a real pit atmosphere. Certainly, a ton of energy on a Thursday night.
Teenage Bottlerocket took the stage and the area in front of the stage turned into a full contact area. For those who aren’t accustomed to being in a pit, I’ll take a shot at describing it for you. It’s like being on one of those old wooden rollercoasters where you try to brace yourself as your body gets tossed around and rattled. There’s a little dose of self-preservation type fear but it is overcome with pure exhilaration. You know that there will be a few bruises but it’s all in fun. That’s my interpretation of Thursday night’s pit at The Grog Shop.
The first time I saw the band 22 months ago there were probably two or three songs I considered essential. Last night, I went into the show needing to hear double digit songs and they played nearly every one of them. The band rifled through fan favorites plus several from their latest album including my recent favorite, “She’s The Shit”. Not as many stories or between song banter as the last time I saw them. It’s tough to fit in nearly 30 songs if you’re blabbing away.
If forced to give musical highlights I could list half the set list. I won’t do that, I’ll just say that my favorites were “Bigger Than Kiss”, “They Call Me Steve” and “Blood Bath At Burger King”.
The most memorable thing of the evening had less to do with music and more to do with two fellow concert goers. There was a Mom and her 13 year old daughter at the front. All the people near and around them did their best to keep the pit from collapsing on these two. Who says chivalry is dead? Near the end of the show I snagged a setlist from the stage and handed it to the young fan. The Mom was prepared for such an opportunity evidenced by the Sharpie in hand. As soon as the show ended, the band traded fist bumps with all the people against the stage and signed the young fan’s setlist. That’s a pretty cool evening!
I’m looking forward to seeing Teenage Bottlerocket a third time when and if the opportunity presents itself. Well Done!
When: June 25, 2026
Where: The Grog Shop (Cleveland Heights, Ohio)
Less than two years ago I was a very casual fan of Teenage Bottlerocket. That all changed after my son suggested we see them live. My fandom is now north of casual and I’m ready for my second show with the band. Woohoo!
Who and what are Teenage Bottlerocket? They are a band from Laramie (Wyoming) that formed in 2000. The band has 10 albums with the most recent being 2025’s “Rock and Roll”. The band has a Ramonesy sound but that’s just a broad brush description and doesn’t really paint a complete picture. Their matter-of-fact observations and infectious melodies are as endearing as they are contagious. Is it dumb guy music? You calling me dumb? That’s what I thought! (smiling)
The Grog shop is your basic standing type venue with a capacity of 400 and a bar in the back. The club features up and comers plus established acts that love an intimate atmosphere. This will be my third time at The Grog Shop this year so there is comfort in familiarity. The only drawback about the place is a low stage which means that sight lines can be challenging if not impossible when standing at the rear of the venue. The good thing is free illegal parking!
My fellow concert goers this evening are my oldest son plus a co-worker I’ve known for five years or so. This will be the 7th show in the last 14 months between the two of them but the first with all of us together. All I know is that the old man has not one but two designated drivers and if my math is correct, I’ll be drinking two fisted. Remember kids, math is something you’ll use your whole life; stay in school.
Dozens of people congregating on the sidewalk in the general area of the entrance but no real line per se. That changed as soon as the doors opened at 7PM and people quickly and orderly assembled to file in. We were in the first wave of people to enter and after a quick stop at the merch table we staked our place at the stage. This had a different feel than we saw the band two years ago. There were clearly more early arrivers as the club steadily filled.
Opening was Cleveland’s Whatever followed by Sludgeworth from Chicago. Notable was that Sludgeworth brought 30 people with them that knew every word of their high energy songs. Totally enjoyable sets and I wouldn’t shy away from seeing either band again. During these sets the venue went from crowded with minimal body space to a real pit atmosphere. Certainly, a ton of energy on a Thursday night.
Teenage Bottlerocket took the stage and the area in front of the stage turned into a full contact area. For those who aren’t accustomed to being in a pit, I’ll take a shot at describing it for you. It’s like being on one of those old wooden rollercoasters where you try to brace yourself as your body gets tossed around and rattled. There’s a little dose of self-preservation type fear but it is overcome with pure exhilaration. You know that there will be a few bruises but it’s all in fun. That’s my interpretation of Thursday night’s pit at The Grog Shop.
The first time I saw the band 22 months ago there were probably two or three songs I considered essential. Last night, I went into the show needing to hear double digit songs and they played nearly every one of them. The band rifled through fan favorites plus several from their latest album including my recent favorite, “She’s The Shit”. Not as many stories or between song banter as the last time I saw them. It’s tough to fit in nearly 30 songs if you’re blabbing away.
If forced to give musical highlights I could list half the set list. I won’t do that, I’ll just say that my favorites were “Bigger Than Kiss”, “They Call Me Steve” and “Blood Bath At Burger King”.
The most memorable thing of the evening had less to do with music and more to do with two fellow concert goers. There was a Mom and her 13 year old daughter at the front. All the people near and around them did their best to keep the pit from collapsing on these two. Who says chivalry is dead? Near the end of the show I snagged a setlist from the stage and handed it to the young fan. The Mom was prepared for such an opportunity evidenced by the Sharpie in hand. As soon as the show ended, the band traded fist bumps with all the people against the stage and signed the young fan’s setlist. That’s a pretty cool evening!
I’m looking forward to seeing Teenage Bottlerocket a third time when and if the opportunity presents itself. Well Done!
