The Stompers ~ 2019 March 16 ~ Spire Center for the Performing Arts ~ Plymouth, MA
Band Personnel: Sal Baglio, guitar, lead vocals; Jeremy Brown, piano, vocals; Steve Gilligan, bass, vocals; Dave Fox, drums, vocals; John Biafore, guitar, vocals.
Set List
21st Century Rock 'n' Roll Boy {Rock E. Rollins} - Let's Rock and Roll {Rock E. Rollins} - Rock Jump & Holler - Shutdown - First Kiss - East Side Girl - Skin Deep [Dave Fox sings] - Good News Now - Record Store - The Weight {The Band} - Temptation - Wilcox County Rock - Never Tell An Angel - Coast to Coast - American Fun ... encore ... Happy {Rolling Stones}
Videos
Scroll down past the videos for review.
Shutdown
East Side Girl
Wilcox County Rock
Review
What fun it was to attend The Stompers' first show of 2019, the first of several shows the band has planned for the year, according to lead Stomper Sal Baglio.
Sal, looking debonaire in a derby hat, along with bandmates Steve Gilligan on bass and John Biafore on second guitar, didn't stay still very much. They romped around the stage with a lot of energy, for a bunch of guys of a certain age, as Sal himself would say. The setlist included the usual range of Stompers crowd-pleasing classics as well as a few surprises. They opened with two solid rockers from 21st Century Rock 'n' Roll Boy, the solo album recorded a decade or more ago by Sal Baglio using the alias Rock E. Rollins. These songs were the title cut from the album and a song I've heard the Stompers play a number of times, "Let's Rock 'n' Roll." The fact that the first three songs played tonight had the word rock in the title told you all you needed to know about what was in store.
Drummer Dave Fox was summoned by Sal up to the microphone to sing a song probably called "Skin Deep." Sal tossed in a solo rendition of his nostalgic song "Record Store." The encore song was a rippin' version of The Rolling Stones' "Happy."
The absence of California-based Dave Friedman on electric organ didn't slow down the show. Jeremy Brown took the keyboard solo during "Temptation" that is usually owned by Dave. Sal tells us that Dave will be here for other Stompers shows later in the year, which will include the already sold-out annual celebration in Salisbury, MA as well as a show that's more local for me at a club in Marshfield, MA. Last time the Stompers played this Marshfield gig, it sold out immediately (I mean, within ten minutes).
During "Temptation," Sal made good use of having a cordless guitar connection, and made a circuit around the perimeter of the sold-out audience soloing all the way. The fans loved it. Of course, the fans love a Stompers show. There was lots of singing along, lots of screeching and hollering, and a pretty good party atmosphere. At one point a fellow in the second row shouted out "Come on Sal!" He didn't mean anything bad by this, but Sal took the opportunity to razz the guy and say: "what, do I suck? Have we just been playing ballads?" After the laughter died down, Sal played a ballad ("Record Store"). During the vigorous singalong "Good News Now" Jeremy and Steve got together at stage right to do some hilarious synchronized dance moves.
I've seen quite a few shows at The Spire, but this was the first time I've seen a band that I have seen many times in other places. The sound was obviously better here than at some of the other venues. (I'm not talking about the Compass Lounge years.) It was a total delight to hear this music with such crystal clear sound quality, and helped me realize what a quality venue this really is.
The Spire uses a rotating light show during the music. The lighting goes from red to blue to green to a natural light, with some swirling effects thrown in. It adds to the festive feeling at the show, but makes for some funky effects in the pictures! I still got a few good ones -- click on the thumbnail to the upper right to see the whole gallery of photos.
The show was opened by a four piece local band called, appropriately, The Locals. Sometimes The Spire slots a winner of their frequent open-mike competitions as an opener, and that was the case here. The band consisted of three guitarists and a drummer. I thought their best song was the last one, a song about food with an easy singalong, the word "burrito!" occurring in multiple places during the song.
More Stompers
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Click for 2019 Concert Page with links to all 2019 concerts ... Click for Main Concert Page with links to all years