The Stompers ~ 2018 November 24 ~ Bull Run Restaurant ~ Shirley, MA
Band Personnel: Sal Baglio, guitar, lead vocals; Jeremy Brown, piano, vocals; Steve Gilligan, bass, vocals; Dave Fox, drums; John Biafore, guitar, vocals; Dave Friedman, organ, vocals.
Set List
American Fun - Rock Jump & Holler - Shutdown - Let's Rock 'n' Roll {Rock E. Rollins} - First Kiss - You're The One - Temptation - The Weight {The Band} - Good News Now - Summer Girls - Palisades Park - Never Tell An Angel - Coast to Coast - This Is Rock 'n' Roll ... encore ... Santa Claus is Back in Town - All I Want For Christmas is a Rock 'n' Roll Guitar
Videos
Scroll down past the videos for review.
Rock Jump & Holler
Shutdown
The Weight
Good News Now
Palisades Park
Review
The annual post-Thanksgiving Stompers show at the Bull Run in remote Shirley, MA is more than a fab rock 'n' roll show. It's a celebration of all things musical, all things joyful, all things reminiscent of simply having a ball.
Lead Stomp Sal was a little less nostalgic than sometimes, although he couldn't help himself from a brief recitation of some of the Boston area venues where he and the boys played back in the day, with occasional queries of "were you there?" tossed in. He was a ball of fire on stage, indulging in an occasional rock star leap, and heaping praise and a generous amount of teasing on his bandmates.
I imagine everyone reading this is acquainted with The Stompers. If you're not, well, they were a big deal in the Boston and New England rock scene back in the late '70s and early '80s, playing straight-ahead, non-pretentious, melodic, danceable rock 'n' roll. They were the best live band around, and their music was played on the radio on all the best local stations. Their own Sal Baglio originals, created straight from Sal's rock 'n' heart, mingled with a selection of covers from the good time end of rock music from the '50s through the '80s.
Tonight's show didn't stray from the classic Stompers playlist. Perhaps the presence of newly minted drummer Dave Fox discouraged the band from unearthing any obscure cover tunes, as they sometimes do. Dave has played with Sal in other bands, and he fit right in the band immediately.
Every member of The Stompers has their own special contribution to the show, not just in their excellent musicianship. Dave Friedman does the softshoe; Steve Gilligan breaks his face from grinning all night (Sal referred to him as the "happiest man alive"). Sal said that his mission in life is for people to feel better when they leave than when they come in to the show. Mission accomplished.
More Stompers
Here is a page with a handy list of links to all pages on this website with content relating to The Stompers and individual members of the band.
Click for 2016 Concert Page with links to all 2018 concerts ... Click for Main Concert Page with links to all years