Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Thursday 5th December - Face Bar, Reading

Brief review: A rearranged show in Reading. No London date on this batch of shows, so the joys of GWR were bought into play. Good fun as always with the band - and although nothing was mentioned at the show - rumours abound that this was a "farewell" as Dan is retiring. That would be really sad as his music has been part of my life for over 30 years. There is a certain rounding of the circle if it is true though, having first seen Dan in The Georgia Satellites at the Reading Festival in 1987.

All the best for your retirement Dan!

Setlist
?

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Sunday 9th December - Bush Hall, Shepherd's Bush

The now regular December show for Mr Baird and band. Setlist a bit mixed up and, apart from a far too long Crooked Smile, excellent as always. Joe Blanton provided a decent warmup (backed by Homemade Sin) and popped up throughout the main set too.

Setlist
Two For Tuesday
You Broke It
Golden Light 
Dixie Beauxderaunt 
Up In Your Kitchen
Open All Night 
All Over But the Cryin' 
Dan Takes Five 
Runnin' Outta Time
Mister & Ma'am
Crooked Smile
Something Like Love
Shake It Til It's Sore
Another Chance 
Younger Face 
Keep Your Hands to Yourself 
Julie + Lucky 
I Love You Period 
Damn Thing To Be Done
Going Down the Road Feelin' Bad 

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Monday 21st May, Boom Boom Club, Sutton

Some excellent news in that Dan Baird is over his recent health scare which forced him to miss the last tour. I believe this was only his second show back and it was a belter. Decent set, great band as always and fantastic to see Dan looking so healthy.

One very pedantic point - Dan usually does a CCR or John Fogerty cover in "Two For Tuesday"- often "Proud Mary", occasionally something else. To fit the song lyrics, why doesn't he do 2?

Setlist
Dixie Beauxderaunt 
Knocked Out Cold
Sheila / Do You Wanna Dance
Damn Thing to Be Done
Two for Tuesday / Proud Mary
All Over But the Cryin' 
Dan Takes Five 
Nothing Left to Lose
Crooked Smile
Julie + Lucky 
I Love You Period
Shake It Til It's Sore
Keep Your Hands to Yourself 
Dang Me 
Mon Cheri 
Moving Right Along
Licka Sense
Runnin' Outta Time
Railroad Steel 

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Monday 19th June - Boom Boom Club, Sutton Utd FC

A Monday night - never the best time for a gig, but this is one of my favourite artists and kind enough to play 15 minutes from home! Therefore on a very warm summer evening it was off to an indoor gig.

Unfortunately the venue was not as packed as the band deserve, but predictably we got a hot and sweaty romp through a mixture of Dan's material from across the years. I do get what he says about "New Is Good", but feel like the older material (especially Georgia Satellites stuff with which he made his name) is relegated slightly too much into the set and I would be among the minority who see him enough to recognise the more obscure material. Certainly by the number of GS T shirts in the crowd, and the fact that it's a venue he hasn't played before, I would have thought a few more well known older songs would have been appropriate.

That said, it was nice to hear Warner E Hodges take the vocals for "Don't Pass Me By".

Dan is legendary for cutting from the set any songs that are requested from the crowd. I am considering using this to my advantage next time I see him by calling for those I don't want to hear!

Anyway, all this is being slightly picky. As is usually the case, this was a great evening of Rock N Roll in suburbia and the merchandise stall seemed to be doing good business afterwards. Come back soon Dan.

Setlist anyone please?

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Saturday 5th November, Bush Hall

Who's Got The Hat?

The now (at least) annual London show from Dan and the boys. Back to Bush Hall, where a slightly stressful 5-modes of transport journey got us there slightly after nine. Thankfully proceedings seemed to be running a bit late and we caught half of the main support act with Warner E Hodges on guitar. They had a couple of catchy numbers, but the main vocals were a slightly acquired taste.

The late start and strict curfew meant a reduced headline set. Dan prides himself on choosing the set each night (and mixing it up on the fly). In general, this works really well, but tonight it didn't quite have the desired effect for me - probably the weakest show I've seen from the guys for a while. Quite a lot of similar songs and too many elongated. Surely a 12 minute version of Railroad Steel to finish was not the best use of limited time especially when it followed a lengthy "Dan Takes Five" (which is basically the same song!)

Still, "Mon Cheri", "Sheila" & "I Love You Period" were great. "Two for Tuesday" was a sad omission, but to be fair, even a slightly under-par show from this band is still good.

Dan was kind enough to sign a copy of the new Live DVD/CD - "Live At The Sweden Rock Festival" for me which was much appreciated.

I didn't note the exact set, so if anyone did - could they please post?

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Thursday 29th October - Winchester Railway Inn

A new venue for me - the Railway Inn in Winchester. Earlier in the day we'd had a wander around the Cathedral town and despite the rainy weather found it very pleasant. Highlight was "The Black Boy" pub where we had our first ever game (in 30 years of pub going!) of "Ringing The Bull". See links below.

The venue at the Railway Inn was smaller than I'd expected - I guess it holds around 125 when full? There we around 90 tonight (including some familiar faces from London shows) and it was bl**dy loud! Indeed my ears were still ringing well into Friday, but then again we were very near to Warner's speakers.

Dan and the boys never play a dud show, but this one had less in the 2 hour setlist for me than previous years. That is not a complaint - I love the way the band mix up the set tour after tour and even show after show. What was interesting was the lack of covers thrown into the middle of other songs - for instance this must be the first version of "Sheila" without a break into anything else that I've heard since about 1990! That said, maybe that is the norm for shows outside of London?

"I Love You Period" and "Mon Cherie" saw the audience in fine voice - but I'm now wishing I'd written the setlist down. Anyone out there have it please?

I'll have to pick up my merchandise (new CD and Vinyl) at next week's London show due to a quick dash for the fast London-bound train. A good day.

http://www.mastersgames.com/rules/ringing-bull-rules.htm
http://www.theblackboypub.com/
[of 15 throws, score is MB 1, RB 2 - seems we need 21 to make a game]

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Wednesday 3rd December - St Pancras Old Church

So, this is the year of the acoustic shows. I've seen Bryan Adams and Status Quo recently "unplugged", but there's probably none more surprising to see in this format than Dan Baird & Homemade Sin, playing their first ever acoustic concert.

The setting is the St Pancras Old Church - a real operating church with a seated capacity of 110!

We got there early before the doors opened and were able to grab a front row seat on surprisingly low church chairs. The evening was to be split into 2 sets (to allow an interval to use the outside portaloos!) and gather drinks from the "refreshment table".

The sound was good, although maybe the drums had a bit of an echo - it must be a nightmare being the sound guy somewhere like this. The material was obviously carefully chosen to match the instrumentation (guitars borrowed from Ian Hunter apparently), although there were a number where Warner E. Hodges swapped to an electric telecaster. His playing was exemplary as normal, as was the rest of the band, although they all fell about on the odd occasion there was a mistake. You got a true sense of the band enjoying playing together.

The second half got off to an emotional start as Dan had just received word that Faces musician and friend Ian McLagan had died in the US, one day after another friend, Bobby Keys. A solo version of "Another Chance" was a fitting tribute.

The rest of the set was really enjoyable. If you were ultra-picky, you could say that a couple of songs were a bit too long and others could have been added if they'd been shorter, but I didn't see any faces who didn't seem to have really enjoyed the evening. Dan and Warner were kind enough to sign CDs and setlists at the end too. Top guys one and all.

Setlist
Myth of Love
Little Darlin
Crooked Smile
Trivial As The Truth
Love And Rockets (Mauro on vocals, Dan on Drums!)
Knocked Up
Runnin' Outta Time
Younger Face
Thousand Little Pieces
Six Years Gone
+
Another Chance (Dan solo)
Golden Light
Two For Tuesday
Sweet Blue Midnight
Hell To Pay
Long Way Down
Hard Luck Boy
Lazy Monday
Julie & Lucky
Damn Thing To Be Done / Goin' Down The Road

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Friday 28th November - Bush Hall

Warner E Hodges, Dan Baird & Mauro Magellan

Dan and the boys return to the UK and play their first ever show at Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush. This comes in under the heading of "intimate", but as the band point out, it's nice to play London without being in a basement!

The show is as you've come to expect from Homemade Sin - excellent. Sound was good (and loud) - in fact I was a bit deaf the next morning and it was nice to hear "Mon Cheri" back in the set. I had been hoping to hear a bit of Baba O'Riley in "Two For Tuesday", but we got "Proud Mary" instead which was fine. Lots of tracks from the last album "Circus Life" which is growing on me after a slow start.

I purchased the signed vinyl version at the show - JCPL have produced a really nice item. Apparently limited to 200 copies - grab 'em while you can!

Unfortunately, I can't find a setlist anywhere, so please post if you know what was played and when!
[updated - thanks very much to Humbug66 for the setlist]

Looking forward to "the Church" next week for the acoustic show!

Setlist
Hard Luck Boy 
Fall Apart On Me
Crooked Smile
Mon Cheri 
Little Darlin'
Hell To Pay
Two For Tuesday (including Proud Mary)
Worse For The Wear And Tear 
I Dunno
Sweet Blue Midnight 
Damn Thing To Be Done
Julie & Lucky
I Love You Period 
Outlivin' 
Railroad Steel (including Route 66)
Lazy Monday
The Myth Of Love
Mess With My Cranium Girl [Warner vocals]
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Sheila (including Do You Wanna Dance)
+
Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) 
Don't Pass Me By [Warner vocals]

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Sunday 1st December - 100 Club

Disaster! We found the venue this time, but the CD was sold out (bloke in front of me got the last one - grrrr!) I consoled myself with a DVD which Dan kindly signed later. Much emptier than last night and a support band too, meaning a shorter set from the headliners, which was a shame.  They mixed the set up a bit and a few songs were quite a bit shorter - indeed neither of us could recall the last time we heard 'Sheila' played without snippets from other songs in the middle. Still, another good show - hopefully more of the same for 2014?

Setlist anyone?

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Saturday 30th November - 100 Club

Now, how difficult can it be to find a venue on Oxford Street? Particularly one you've been to before and know where it is? And know it's number 100. "Very" would appear to be the answer as we walked past the narrow, unlit entrance 3 times!!!

Once in however, a full house was craning for a decent view of the side-on stage. Not easy with 2 massive pillars in front, but we found a central point with a half decent view. The show was good (it always is with this band) and the songs from the new CD ("Circus Life") went down well. Will look to purchase the standard version of the CD tomorrow and get it signed. 

The Bluefields / Mick Ralphs Blues Band - Friday 12th April - Borderline

The Bluefields are yet another band of blog favourite Dan Baird. Having not purchased with or the band's CDs (until tonight), I wasn't disappointed with the blend of country / southern rock that wouldn't have been out of place with most of Dan's other projects. What was bizarre was to see him on bass though.

The evening had started with the excellent Mick Ralphs and his Blues band, making this an exceptional value ticket. Mick even through in a pair of Bad Company Songs which was certainly appreciated by many of us.

One interesting touch from the headliners was the encore of 4 covers - each chosen by a member of the band. All good fun and a bonus "Ling point" too. The band very kindly stopped for a chat after the show and signed my 2 new purchases.

Setlist *
If Not Now When
Don't Blame Me
Don't Let Me Fall
Bad Old Days
What You Won't Do
Lay It On The Line
Flat Out Gone
Trainwreck
Nobody Loves You
Sweet Medusa
She's So Sick/100 Watt Girl
Suicide Doors
Belong
Wake It Up
Repair My Soul
+
Sin City
California Man
Jesus Just Left Chicago
I Fought The Law

*Setlist not 100% confirmed, but this isn't far off!

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Saturday 15th December - Borderline, London

Dan Baird - Borderline night 2

Night 2 of 2 and a similar position on the floor. Despite my words yesterday, the set wasn't quite as different as you may have expected, but the show of hands from the audience suggested around a 25% "return rate". Few will have left disappointed after another top notch performance.

Same again next year please!

Setlist

Dixie Beauxderaunt
Open All Night
L'il Bit
Crooked Smile
Fall On Me
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Lazy Monday
Railroad Steel
1000 Promises
Don't Pass Me By
Two For Tuesday (inc Hey, Tonight / Proud Mary)
I Dunno
Julie & Lucky
I Love You Period
On My Way
She Dug Me Up
Sheila (inc I Wanna Be Sedated)
+
All Over But The Cryin'
Dan Takes 5

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Friday 14th December - Borderline, London

Dan Baird - Borderline night 1

The first of 2 nights of Dan Baird & Homemade Sin at the Borderline. Going both nights you ask? Of course! Why? Because tomorrow will almost certainly be a completely different set.

Those "veterans" of this seemingly now annual double headers will know what to expect. A hot sweaty venue, loud rock 'n' roll and a great time. This didn't disappoint and it was actually a little more comfortable on the floor than normal.

Setlist
Well Enough Alone
I Dunno
Crooked Smile
Nights of Mystery (inc Get It On)
1000 Promises
Julie & Lucky
I Love You Period
I Want You Bad
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Two For Tuesday (inc Hey, Tonight / Proud Mary)
Dunk 'n' Dine
She Dug Me Up
Worse For Wear & Tear
All Over But The Cryin'
Dan Takes 5
Younger Face
Railroad Steel
+
Sheila (inc Do You Wanna Dance)

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Friday 2nd December - Borderline

Dan and the boys at the Borderline - becoming a nice annual event. You know it'll be packed (it was!), you know it'll be loud (it was!) and you know it'll be good (it was!).

We managed to get our normal nice spot in front of the stage, which is great until you need the gents! That is not a trip for the faint hearted due to the density of the crowd and the blind steps you encounter. Previously unheard highlight for me was the excellent cover of Bad Company's "Can't Get Enough" - whether Dan's story about Mick Ralphs meaning to be there to play it was true, well who knows? "Proud Mary" in "Two For Tuesday" was pretty good too!

Only downside is that Dan does attract a couple of regular strange people to his shows and they get a little errr.. overexcited. Limb control people, limb control....

Good evening, followed off by a beverage or 2 in the "Intrepid Fox". I could swear those "Rock Chicks" are getting younger...

Dan Baird - Sunday 4th July - Borderline, London

A "double header" today - Twenty20 Cricket at the Oval (Surrey losing badly to Middlesex) and Mr Baird at a hot, sweaty and packed Borderline. And combined with a few "new" pubs too, a very pleasant afternoon and evening.

You know what you are going to get with Dan and his Homemade Sin band and they were on good form as always with a selection of solo, band and Georgia Satellites material. Only downside was once you went to the gents or the bar, you couldn't get back to near the stage! Somewhere a bit bigger next time would be good!

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Sunday 26th July - Borderline

Mr Baird and friends at the intimate Borderline. When we got there for the early start, the place was empty. By the time the show was 30 minutes in, it was totally rammed. Great band, great set with some unusual covers. 2 hrs 25 minutes almost non-stop and we even made the tube!

Anyone got the setlist?

Dan Baird / Quireboys - Monday 26th May - Borderline

As I said, you can't go wrong with these, so it was back to the Borderline for day 2, with the headline acts swapped around. The Quireboys repeated their excellent set from last night with just one minor change and once again it was very good.

Dan Baird on the other hand changed the set entirely with nearly everything different except for "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" and the excellent new track, "Two For Tuesday". Over the years, this is something he has always done really well. The evening ended with a rendition of "Battleship Chains" with Spike on vocals and a raucous crowd singalong.

Marvellous!

If you want the new CDS:-
http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/product.php?pType=1&pId=10002967
http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/product.php?pType=1&pId=10002966

Quireboys / Dan Baird - Sunday 25th May - Borderline

This show was moved from the Garage in Highbury & Islington due to ominous "health and safety" reasons. That meant a packed Borderline for the first of a 2 night "double header" of The Quireboys and Dan Baird & Homemade Sin.

The latter opened the show with a solid selection of their new album, Baird solo favourites and Georgia Satellites hits. Having seen Dan a number of times, he never fails to deliver a fun set and this was no exception.

Next up were the Quireboys. Again, a favourite act of mine and they gave a solid set of hits and selections from the new CD, "Homewreckers & Heartbreakers". We'd already seen the 2 guitarists in the pub pre-gig, but there was noticeably less "on stage" drinking than normal - maybe a sign of how seriously they are treating the new record.

As Spike always likes to remind us - "We're the Quireboys and this is Rock and Roll!". All in all for £17.50, you couldn't go wrong.

Dan Baird - The Borderline - Friday 20th October

I'm writing this weeks after the event, but from what I can remember it was excellent!