Raunchy-Tonk Heroes

Russ T. Nutz is not for the faint of heart. The crude country cruner and his band play a unique blend of X-rated “Raunchy-tonk” music. Russ T. Nutz is many things: obviously satirical, intentionally crude and universally offensive. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s hard to tell where the joke ends and reality begins with Mr. Nutz, and it’s equally difficult to know whether to laugh or be appalled by he and his band’s antics. You can choose for yourself Wednesday, Oct. 19 when they play Tin Roof in West Ashley.
Much of the band’s catalog aims simply to shock and get a rise out of the audience. However, one could argue that tracks like “Black, White or Gay,” which includes lyrics and slurs that are reprehensible at face value, but actually contain a backhanded message of tolerance, albeit hidden within the inflammatory rhetoric and satirical context. It’s murky water, no doubt, but Russ T. Nutz walks the line. While it may seem the band just doesn’t care, they seem to have a knack for pushing things just far enough. The endless shenanigans certainly keep the audience guessing.
Russ T Nutz plays Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Tin Roof, located at 1119 Mangolia Road. For more infomration, call 571-0775 or visit www.charlestontinroof.com.