The Stompers ~ 2011 November 26 ~ Bull Run Restaurant, Shirley, MA
Band Personnel: Sal Baglio, lead vocals, lead guitar; Jeremy Brown, electric piano, backing vocals; Dave Friedman, electric organ, backing vocals; Steve Gilligan, electric bass, backing vocals; Lenny Shea, drums
Set List
She's An Angel - Streetrebel Blue - Rock Jump & Holler - One Heart For Sale - Shutdown - First Kiss - You're the One - Temptation - Suitcase Song [Dave Friedman] - Good News Now - Teardrops in My Coffee - The Weight {Band cover} - Nineteen & Counting - Summer Girls - Palisades Park - American Fun - Never Tell An Angel - This is Rock 'n' Roll ... encore ... Coast to Coast - All I Want For Christmas is a Rock 'n' Roll Guitar - Any Way You Want It {Dave Clark Five} - Hippy Hippy Shake {Swinging Blue Jeans} - Can't Sit Down {the Dovells}
Scroll down past the videos for review; photo gallery to the right.
Videos
"Shutdown":
"Suitcase Song":
"Coast to Coast / Rock 'n' Roll Guitar":
"Can't Sit Down" (cover of an obscure song by a band called The Dovells):
Review
Long-time Boston area favorites played their annual Thanksgiving season show at the Bull Run. The venue has class, with its white tablecloths and great lighting. The constantly shifting lighting being projected onto the stage added to the fun and frolic that always happens when the Stompers come to town.
The "bull" stationed on the roof of the place was wearing a Christmas wreath, getting in the Christmas season, and there was a Christmas tree on stage. The Bull Run has been a major music venue, despite its remote location, for a number of years, but the structure goes back a number of hundreds of years, having served as a stagecoach waystation a long time ago. I always appreciate visiting a place that has such a history.
The Stompers are a reliable good time. We had a couple sitting at our table consisting of a long-term, hardcore Stompers fan and his date who had never seen them. At the Bull Run you get friendly with the people at your table since the tables seat 8 and unless you bring a group of that size you'll be introducing yourself around. The place serves reasonably good pub food and good desserts, and they don't enforce any sort of food minimum, so you can go somewhere else before the show, but what else is there in Shirley, Mass., I ask you?
It was a great show, even better than last year's Stompers show at the Bull Run, if that is possible. (Read about that show at this page.) The Stompers ran through selections from their own catalog and a good number of songs from the deep well of rock 'n' roll which lives in Sal Baglio's brain. Sometimes overlooked in the hype about how much fun they are is the fact that Sal is a truly spectacular guitarist. You can tell the guy grew up listening to the Kinks. He knows just what to play, and what not to play, knowing that the guitar (as well as all the other instruments) is there to support the song. And I seldom hear him make any sort of mistake.
Dave Friedman got to sing a song. It was a novelty song called "Suitcase Song" which consists of lines that sound awfully suggestive until you add the final syllable or word. It's hard to explain ... just watch the video (scroll up to find it).
Among other cover tunes, one highlight was "The Weight" by the Band. This is the song that goes: "take a load off Annie, take a load for free." Although I'm not a huge fan of this song, different members of the band got to sing a verse, and that was nice. Jeremy and Steve both have very nice voices and it's a real thrill to hear them sing.
A highlight of this, as in many Stompers shows, is "Palisades Park" when every member of the band gets up on the front of the stage and gyrates around to illustrate the lyrics of the songs. These five old friends have such fun doing all this. Dave Friedman (keyboards) flew in special from California to join the gig. Steve Gilligan (bass) must have a sore face by the end of night, from all that grinning. Lenny Shea (drums) is still rock solid on the kit and sends beams of love toward the audience. They're a great bunch of guys, and they have retained a loyal fan base who have followed them since the days of the Channel and the Paradise and the other grimy venues in the '80s.
This show included a special bonus. After the two songs that one might expect them to play as an encore ("Coast To Coast" and "All I Want For Christmas is a Rock 'n' Roll Guitar") they dipped back into the deep well of rock 'n' roll for three more covers. Sal said they wanted to end the show by playing covers of some of their favorite songs. Such a delight!
Click for 2011 Concert Page with links to all 2011 concerts ... Click for Main Concert Page with links to all years