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 - 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 - Friday 6th November - Bush Hall

My second of the-end-of-year Homemade Sin shows - back at the Bush Hall which it has to be said was considerably less busy than last years equivalent show. It was what you'd expect though - loud, sweaty and good.

Shame the bar isn't up to much - overpriced bottles only (of Meantime) - but we're not here for the drink, it's the music that was key. Different setlist from Winchester (again sadly not recorded by me) and my ears were ringing afterwards. I purchased the new CD and Vinyl on the way out which Dan was kind enough to sign for me. Must have a look through his solo stuff that I own - I probably now have more signed than not!

Same again next year?

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]