Buckcherry Answers the Question - Who Says Rock Can't Happen on a Tuesday
With support from Stretch and Lips Speak Louder in Sioux Falls, South Dakota • July 21, 2026
Nothing quite like a school night rock show at The District to throw your sleep schedule into absolute ruin early in the week. On this Tuesday night, though, every lost hour of sleep was worth it as Lips Speak Louder, Stretch, and Buckcherry turned an ordinary weeknight into a memorable evening of rock music.
As is tradition, I walked through the doors, made a beeline for the merchandise tables, and prepared myself for the usual temptation of T-shirts, vinyl records, CDs, and maybe a signed poster or album. Instead, I found one of the most unusual collections of tour merchandise I’ve seen in quite some time. Before a single note had been played, I already knew this wasn’t going to be an average concert.
Merch Tables Full of Surprises
Stretch’s merchandise booth immediately caught my attention. Sitting alongside the normal assortment of shirts were bottles of sauces and spices.
At first, it seemed completely random. Was this some side business? A joke? A promotional gimmick?
By the end of their performance, however, it made perfect sense. Their personality was so over the top and unpredictable that selling hot sauce almost felt tame compared to everything else they brought to the stage.
Buckcherry’s table had its own surprises. Instead of just signed CDs and apparel, fans with deep pockets could purchase one of two autographed guitars, a signed cymbal that had actually been used during a full tour, and even a show worn bandana. These weren’t inexpensive collectibles either. The least expensive of the unique items started around $450, making them true collector’s pieces rather than impulse purchases.
Even before the house lights dimmed, the evening had already proven itself to be a little different.
Lips Speak Louder Opens with Confidence
The first act of the evening came from Minneapolis based duo Lips Speak Louder, making their Sioux Falls debut.
It’s always refreshing to hear an artist mention it’s their first visit to town because there’s a certain excitement that comes with trying to win over a brand new audience. Based on the response they received, I’d be surprised if this ends up being their last stop in Sioux Falls.
Their setup couldn’t have been much simpler. Armed with only a guitar and a drum kit, they demonstrated that a full wall of instruments isn’t necessary to create a compelling rock performance.
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Simplicity That Never Felt Small
One of the biggest compliments I can give Lips Speak Louder is that the set never felt repetitive.
With only two musicians on stage, it would have been easy for songs to begin blending together. Instead, each track carried its own identity, keeping the audience engaged throughout the performance.
The lighting production also stood out. Opening acts often receive a stripped down version of the production package, but this felt more polished than expected. The added visual energy elevated the performance and made the duo feel every bit deserving of their spot on the stage.
By the time they wrapped up, they had earned plenty of new fans.
Stretch Delivers Pure Entertainment
Then came Stretch.
I can honestly say I’ve never seen another performer quite like him, at least not recently. The only artist that even comes close in terms of unpredictability is Weird Al Yankovic, and that’s saying something.
Almost immediately after Stretch walked on stage, another photographer leaned over and pointed out something I couldn’t ignore for the rest of the night.
“He looks like Danny DeVito from Batman Returns.”
Minus the pale makeup, dark eyeliner, and pointed nose, the comparison was surprisingly accurate, and once that image entered my head, there was no getting rid of it.
Thankfully, it only added to the fun.
You Never Knew What Would Happen Next
Calling Stretch simply a musician doesn’t really capture what he does.
He’s an entertainer in every sense of the word.
At one point, he tossed Slim Jims into the crowd after performing “Flavortown.” Moments later, kazoos began flying toward audience members for them to play during the following song. Then came full sized boxing gloves chucked into the crowd.
He even handed a fan an actual cowbell so they could participate during a song.
Every few minutes something unexpected happened, making it nearly impossible to lower my camera. Normally photographers can anticipate the big moments of a performance, but with Stretch, every second felt like it could become the next memorable image.
A Bubble-Filled Finale
Just when it seemed like the performance couldn’t become any more ridiculous, the finale arrived. A commercial sized bubble machine erupted near the end of the set, sending thousands of tiny bubbles floating throughout the venue.
It was wonderfully absurd.
Sometimes opening acts simply warm up the crowd. Other times they steal the show.
For me, Stretch delivered my favorite performance of the entire evening. The combination of comedy, audience interaction, musicianship, and complete unpredictability made every song feel like its own event.
Buckcherry Closes Out the Night
As the evening pushed later into the night, Buckcherry finally took the stage.
I was never the biggest Buckcherry fan growing up, but like many people from my generation, there were a handful of songs that found their way into playlists during my high school years.
Thankfully, they played both of those favorites.
The band delivered exactly what longtime fans would expect with loud guitars, infectious hooks, and enough energy to make everyone forget it was only Tuesday.
The Surprise Emotional Highlight
Ironically, my favorite Buckcherry song of the night wasn’t one of their hard hitting rock anthems.
It was a ballad.
When the opening notes of “Sorry” began, I realized I had completely forgotten about the song. Then, almost magically, every lyric returned as if I had been listening to it right before the show.
Music has a funny way of unlocking memories like that.
One familiar melody can transport you years into the past, and for a few minutes, I wasn’t standing inside The District. I was back in high school discovering the song for the first time.
Those moments are part of what makes live music so special.
Josh Todd Still Owns the Stage
Josh Todd remains one of rock’s most charismatic frontmen.
His trademark gradual transformation throughout the set made another appearance. Rather than immediately tearing off his shirt, he slowly worked toward it over the course of the performance, beginning fully dressed, then opening the buttons, and finally finishing shirtless by the end of the night.
It almost became its own visual storyline that evolved alongside the setlist.
Meanwhile, the rest of the band maintained relentless energy, keeping the crowd fully engaged until the final notes echoed through the venue.
Judging by the audience reaction, nobody was ready for the night to end. Unfortunately, reality had other plans.
It was still a Tuesday.
Afterglow
One of my favorite things about touring packages is discovering artists I probably never would have sought out on my own.
Buckcherry may have been the headliner that sold the tickets, but both opening acts proved why they deserved to share the stage.
Lips Speak Louder showcased how much power can come from simplicity. Stretch reminded everyone that concerts can still surprise us and be genuinely fun in unexpected ways. Buckcherry delivered the nostalgic, high energy rock show longtime fans came to see.
Each band represented a different corner of the rock genre, creating a lineup that offered something for nearly everyone in attendance.
Tuesday nights may not be ideal for staying out late, but concerts like this remind me why it’s worth sacrificing a little sleep.
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