The Acropolis of rock & roll: Boot Hill to play Groundhog

By: Camille Izlar

Posted: 1/27/09

The stage lights go on and Lynch Auditorium is suddenly transformed. The faceless silhouettes created such a sound that it reverberated from the walls to my toes. Ever had that experience when you pull up to a stoplight and somebody's bass seems to pump your own blood for you? Well, this time the music is good. And who, I ask you, could achieve this but UD's very own Boot Hill?

This eclectic bluesy-rock band recently won the Battle of the Bands, securing a coveted spot on the Groundhog stage alongside A Hard Days Night and Holiday. The band consists of David Ring on guitar, although he can make it sound like pretty much anything he wants, Bill Farris on bass, Johnny "Rivs" Riviera as vocal expert, Ben White harmonizing on harmonica and keyboard, and, last but certainly not least, the unforgettable drummer, Alan Charnock. On the surface their goal is "being bad at being a boy band" but once one looks beyond their glib remarks, they will find some very committed musicians. Riviera characterized the band as "straight forward regular guys who play not to perform but simply because we love the music." Well, I am not so sure about the straight-forward-regular-guy bit, but I certainly can accept their zeal as well as their extraordinary talent. Riviera also said that they were "girlishly excited to play with A Hard Days Night." Similarly to the Beatles cover band, Boot Hill plans on playing covers.

These bluesy-rock songs are a winning combination as many of their songs, like Hendrix's "Foxy Lady," are universally known but rarely performed live. However, the band was very secretive about their set and will only tell those who come to Groundhog.
The band's name apparently derives from an old school blues song about a man who is about to kill his wife and bury her in the Boot Hill cemetery, which is certainly a warning to all those who might be about to marry members of the band. This was the name David Ring submitted for the Battle of the Bands t-shirt, before they had even practiced once. However, over the course of a week and a half they picked up Riviera as the vocalist and put together an amazing set to win the night. It seems, however, that their fate was written in the stars before that as they had all dreamed of playing their respective parts in a blues band from the time they were but wee lads. They all had a strong attraction to blues, especially Mississippi style and, considering the tradition of folk music at UD, a representative of this style is appropriate and awesome.

So, if you hate the Beatles and Emmel's brother is too tall for you, at least come to Groundhog to see the pulsing and wailing Boot Hill.