Sweden Rocks

Most times I really don’t know what ol’ Uncle Ted Nugent is on about. He’s either wailing away on his big hollow-body guitar, espousing the benefits of hunting (with bow in hand more often than not), or shilling for the latest conservative candidate. He definitely is in a class all his own, and as his latest DVD, Sweden Rocks, attests. Even when the man is playing far from our shores he still carries on like the best of them.

With a band consisting of former Dokken drummer Mick Brown and bassist Barry Sparks, Nugent more or less wails through a 13-song set recorded in 2006 in the land of the midnight blonde. Certainly not at the top of the bill at this particular show, the Motor City Madman still manages to kick ass through some old hits, screaming a little more than necessary, but still rocking the crowd with his sheer bravado.

Opening with the double wallop of “Stormtroopin’” and “Wango Tango” Nuge’s set includes the expletive-laden “Free For All” (as heavy a rocker I have ever heard from Nugent), a cover of “Soul Man,” the bluesy “Hey Baby,” and a newer song called “Still Raising Hell.” For me, the best tune here, other than the hits, is “Snakeskin Cowboy,” but by the time the band is blasting into the trio that ends the DVD — “Cat Scratch Fever,” “Stranglehold” and “Great White Buffalo” — I was as sweaty as Nugent from watching all that guitar wrastlin’ and listening to him growl.

Has Ted Nugent ever been recognized as a great guitarist? In fact, is he really a great guitarist? I have no idea — and who am I to judge, really? — but the guy has always come across as a master showman, with a willful alpha-male presence on stage. I can’t tell if he’s improved as a player over the years or if he has maintained his dexterity, but it’s of little importance. He might be a little thicker through the middle these days and the I-can’t-stand-myself swagger might fit better on a guy 30 younger, but the Nuge is a force of nature as much now as he’s ever been.

The extras on the DVD are pretty interesting. There are some interviews with Nugent’s band members during the making of his then new album and there are additional live performance clips of “Journey To The Center Of The Mind,” “Weekend Warriors” and “Love Grenade.” There’s even footage of Nugent and his band members shooting bows and guns. Altogether, Sweden Rocks is a fun DVD — nothing to “get heavy and hung about,” just some fast guitar playing, screaming vocals, and straight ahead rock and roll. Believe the hype — Ted Nugent certainly does.