Music / Reviews
Review: Dan Baird + Homemade Sin, Thunderbolt
Some of Bristol’s best nights of greasy, gnarly rock’n’roll have been in the unlikely setting of Beese’s Tea Gardens and have invariably featured Mr Dan Baird (formerly of the Georgia Satellites) and Mr Warner E Hodges (on loan from Jason and the Scorchers) with either the Bluefields or Mr Baird’s Homemade Sin (and indeed Mr Hodges solo). The latter outfit have a superior new recording Get Loud, which they are touring, and the Bristol stopover took place at the equally excellent Thunderbolt rather than Beese’s.
The venue was rammed with Danoraks as the band hit the stage at 9pm sharp and proceeded to deliver two solid hours of Baird’s solo work, HMS originals and Satellites tunes. For those not familiar with them, they specialise in basic rock’n’roll, and basic is not meant to be derogatory here – it’s basic as in no frills, no nonsense superbly played, foot-tapping groovy rock. The tunes have an earthy twang, the choruses are all killer and there’s a sly humour at work behind the lyrics. Baird himself (mostly rhythm & occasional lead guitar, over-sized top hat) is an engaging front man, despite suffering a stinker picked up on the continental leg of the tour, his vocals hit the spot for the duration of the set – raspy and slurred in the best country tradition. He exchanged solos, riffs and banter with Hodges (mostly lead & occasional rhythm guitar, spurs) as the band ranged far and wide through Baird’s catalogue.
Micke Nilsson (bass, tattoos and on-stage electric fan wrangling) and Mauro Magellan (drums, drums and more drums) make for a formidable rhythm section, tight and funky, giving Baird and Hodges chance to weave their guitars together in a fashion that can only be described as tight but loose. Given the quality of the songs on display and the breadth of the catalogue it would be difficult to single out individual cuts…but All Over but the Crying was a gem, I Love You Period was crowd pleasing banger; Thin Disguise, Fairground People & Country Black from the new LP already sound like classics and it wouldn’t be a Baird show without Keep Your Hands to Yourself – which easily scored crowd sing-along of the night against some tough competition.
is needed now More than ever
If you’re not already a fan, I’d recommend you pick up some recordings as soon as you can and watch the listings here for their next show – they’re here annually and are guaranteed to put a country mile wide smile on your face. Top hats and spurs optional.
Photo credit: Trudi Knight
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