I had never been to the Highline Ballroom, but knew you could catch Kanye West and other mainstream acts play “secret” shows here…if you’re cool enough to get invited. The sound was good, but the venue itself felt a little too upscale to host a real rock n roll show. Especially with beers at the very un-rock n roll price of $8. I wasn’t a fan of the candle-lit VIP table service going on upstairs either, but that’s just me.

Of course, none of that mattered to the Reverend Horton Heat. They came out and played a blistering 2 hour set covering a song or two from all their albums (except for 2000’s overlooked “Spend a Night in the Box”). I was especially stoked to hear rarely played gems “I’m Mad” and “Love Whip.” The sparse crowd on this night did little to dampen the intensity, and the band played the room like it was packed to the gills. After the show, the band stayed on stage and signed autographs and took pictures for whoever asked. 

Highline Ballroom 05-27-10

Setlist
– Reverend Horton Heat’s Big Blue Car
– Now Right Now
– I’m Mad
– Callin’ in Twisted
– Indigo Friends
– Galaxy 500
– Bales of Cocaine
– It’s Martini Time
– Big Little Baby
– Psychobilly Freakout
– Ain’t No Saguaro in Texas
– Drinkin’ And Smokin’ Cigarettes
– Rural Point of View
– Please Don’t Take the Baby to the Liquor Store
– Death Metal Guys
– Love Whip
– Rock the Joint
– Big Sky
– Baddest of the Bad
– Five-O Ford
– 400 Bucks
– Jimbo Song
– The Devil’s Chasin’ Me

– Big Red Rocket of Love
– Folsom Prison Blues
– Big Red Rocket Of Love (Reprise)

Download: Reverend Horton Heat – I’m Mad (Live)

[audio: http://www.thesoundofindie.com/archive/2010/20100804/RHH-ImMad.mp3|titles=I’m Mad (Live)|artists=Reverend Horton Heat]

Download: Reverend Horton Heat – It’s Martini Time (Live)

[audio: http://www.thesoundofindie.com/archive/2010/20100804/RHH-ItsMartiniTime.mp3|titles=It’s Martini Time (Live)|artists=Reverend Horton Heat]

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