Show: House of Pain
Date: March 18, 2011
Venue: House of Blues
City: West Hollywood, CA
House of Pain
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Michelle Oberg
After a pre-show chat with Danny Boy, House of Pain took to the stage at House of Blues in Hollywood with the energy of their younger selves. This is not only their 20 year anniversary, but also a reunion tour — 15 years after their ’96 break up. Prior to the interview, the venue only held a small number of patrons, but come their stage entrance, the venue generated enough body heat to speed up global warming. The Irish-American hooligans put their alternate projects on the side burner — Everlast with his multi-platinum solo career, and Danny Boy’s successful graphic design company (DJ Lethal is absent due to prior obligations with Limp Bizkit), and all three also perform with the group La Coka Nostra — to spend 4 months touring and reminiscing of when they used to…jump around.
The stage was set-up for a live band — complete with ivories, skins, and strings — and the band opened with Sugarhill Gang’s “Apache.” The talented, young keyboardist certainly gained attention with his sloppy looks, but was undeniably entertaining while never missing a beat while simultaneously smashing his hands, elbows, and any other available appendages he could utilize onto the keys. Everlast strummed his guitar while singing and Danny Boy aggressively paced the stage rapping to each tune, amplifying crowd energies. After playing “Danny Boy,” the room went silent as the music cut flat. A rambunctious patron chose to toss his drink on stage causing Everlast to become infuriated and question the nature of the aforementioned bonehead. Easily enough, fellow fans surrounded, pummeled, and tossed him out on his hind haunches. As if nothing happened, the record started spinning again, so to speak, and the frontman went on to mourn Nate Dogg’s recent passing. The group performed “Next Episode” off Dr. Dre’s Chronic 2001, with a minor change to the lyrics; being altered from “smoke weed everyday” to “Nate Dogg was L.A.”
The interactive audience remained constantly moving, enjoying the anecdotes and gibber-gabber coming from the rhythmic sample-masters. One in particular, acknowledging the 17 years it had been since they have performed on the stage at The House of Blues, including talk of the kiss Everlast received from none other than Gene Simmons.
Each of the artists earnestly felt the music as they visibly portrayed the love of their trade with individuality with their dance moves and head bobbing. The fan favorites “Who’s The Man” and their hit song “Jump Around” kept blood pressure rising and screams terrifying. My personal moment of utter appreciation came with the entrance of rapper Big B. He joined House of Pain on stage to perform his track, “Before I Leave This Place,” which features Everlast. The chemistry they invoked and emitted on stage resulted in a performance that may never be recreated again after their tour ends.
House of Pain came together to reinforce their support for each other’s solo achievement as evidenced by performing the Grammy winning song, “What It’s Like.” They hit all highs that night of summoning up the finer memories of hip hop; before the likes of Drake and the minions of today. While Danny Boy’s interview (upcoming May Issue) sheds light on the future of House of Pain, take no risks in assuming they will last. Take advantage of the anniversary/reunion and go check out what music has been missing for the past decade.