Dave Bailin & The Bailouts appeared at the well liked restaurant and pub called In A Pig’s Eye in Salem, Massachusetts last Sunday night. A strong turnout was par for the course at that room, and the band played to it well. Dave Bailin & The Bailouts draw a lot of their influences from classic rock, especially late 1960s and early 1970s bands that incorporated country music styles. This gives the Bailouts plenty to work with, keeping their guitar lines pretty and their rhythm section shuffling.
A mellow opening number allowed lead guitarist Eric Reardon to press out a sweet whistling country melody. Together with Bailin’s warm, raspy vocal, the gliding number enticed the audience with its wide horizon of sound. One could feel the band walking them across the range, almost like a film score, and it times it felt as if we were all in a saloon in another place and time in American history.
The band is also unafraid to mix up their set list with unexpected covers. Drummer Steven Peabody turned in a solid vocal performance on a rendition of Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns, And Money” showing he’s more than just an apt pupil of the skins. Next, the band went into one of their newest songs, “Tell,” a number with a climbing groove that made the number move forward with muscular authority. Meanwhile, bits of slide guitar from Reardon made the song cry its message home.
The boys played a likable version of “Save The Last Dance For Me,” with jagged guitar chords bringing forth its oldie’s charm. Shortly later, low end man Steve Burke played some rangy runs on The Rolling Stones’ classic “Torn And Frayed.” Reardon’s on the money high notes injected a soulful country feeling, that again, took listeners into the heart of the song.
Bailin’s warm gravelly vocal on “No You Don’t” from their recent debut studio album was another plus. Its swaying guitars and rhythm section made it another fine Bailing moment in which listener’s could feel the motion of the song. Peabody then sang a chirpy lead vocal on Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Looking Out My Backdoor. It’s uncanny how well this band recreated CCR’s lazing country influence.
The crowd was receptive to every new twist DB&TB brought to some of their selected standards, especially to a down tempo version of The Grateful Dead’s “Friend Of The Devil,’ a rendition that found the rhythm section in the driver’s seat. Their pulpy groove kept the tune anchored and it enticed several dancers with its swaying groove. Reardon’s freestyle guitar made its beauteous melody cry its way into the listener’s heart, making people feel it.
Burke played a brief slappy bass guitar solo that got everyone’s attention leading into a recent Tom Petty song, “U Get Me High.” Its changes revealed a classic rock influence, and the guitar work got more exciting as the four players went along. Another original from the recent Bailout debut studio CD, “Roll It Up’ boasted a thumping shuffle beat while Bailin finessed the humorous lyrics. Reardon’s near country twang was another plus.
It was a good first set, and the Bailouts’ Sunday night supporters were very enthusiastic. I had to leave before the next set so I could get back to New Hampshire. But, gentle readers, you might be hearing more from Dave Bailin & The Bailouts in these pages.
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