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The sound of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is not subtle. In that same spirit, neither would the opening night of the 2025 Harley-Davidson Homecoming festivities at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Between Wall of Death motorcycle shows, the revving of engines as they pulled into the lot on the museum campus, and a raucous crowd of bike enthusiasts, there was already plenty of noise and attitude. It was only fitting that a band like alt-rockers Buckcherry helped to kick off the party.
With rainclouds looming overhead, the band took the Rockford Fosgate stage on the museum campus, earlier than expected at 8 p.m. to avoid possible storms. They immediately dropped into “Roar Like Thunder,” fittingly, which also happens to be the title track from their latest album. If you weren’t paying attention, though, you might have missed it, as the crowd started to congregate during second song “Lit Up,” one of the band’s more commercially successful singles.
The remainder of their 80 minute set would weave through their 26 year career as a band like a biker weaving through traffic, with a swagger and attitude about nearly everything they did. Frontman Josh Todd moved like one of the last of a dying breed of devil-may-care rock and rollers, hopping along with songs and occasionally breaking out a tambourine to assist where he could in instrumental breaks.
When addressing the crowd, he was about as subtle as the band’s songwriting, explaining in detail that “Lit Up” was about his first time trying cocaine, and later that “Blackout” was about his days as a teenage alcoholic. All of that wear and tear may have taken a toll on Todd’s voice, however, as at times it felt like he was pushing himself to his vocal limits on Thursday.
Beyond the band’s catalog of care-free, unfiltered rock, there were some surprises that worked their way into the set as well. One of the biggest came midway through the show, when they busted out a cover of Icona Pop’s “I Don’t Care” that likely nobody in the crowd saw coming. This was, of course, with some modifications to the lyrics to fit the band’s style. Later on in the night, closer “Crazy Bitch” would become a medley that incorporated James Brown’s “Sex Machine,” Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls,” Prince’s “Irresistible Bitch” and finally Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” before returning to the original song. It was a strong choice, but one that seemed to fire up the H-D Museum crowd. Ultimately, both the band and the riders were there for a party, and the band could essentially do no wrong with the atmosphere that the Homecoming festivities presented.
While the rain likely put a damper on the crowd size, it certainly didn’t water down the enthusiasm of Buckcherry or their fans. In fact, many bands would not have conceded to play earlier in the night to satisfy their egos, so the notion of the band going on early to make the best of the situation was a commendable one. The rain mostly held off, and openers Hippies & Cowboys would actually get to play after Buckcherry under a tent on the museum campus instead of on the main stage. It all worked out in the end, and made for a lively start to a weekend full of activities throughout Milwaukee.
Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for even more from the 2025 Harley-Davidson Homecoming festival. For the full schedule of events, click here.
