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DAN BAIRD & THE HOMEMADE SIN
Borderline, London 4 July 2010

Photos by Noel Buckley

Dan Baird was at this very venue the year before on a double headliner with the Quireboys.  Tonight the former Georgia Satellites frontman is performing to a sold out crowd without any support to give the Borderline a value for money two hour set.

It has to be said that one of the best ever festival appearences I have ever seen was when the Georgia Satellites played Reading Festival back in 1987.  The band were absolutely cooking that day.  Since then, their fire died a little and after three albums the band split in two.

The Georgia Satellites still perform today with Rick Richards and Rick Price but if you want the true Satellite experience then Dan is your man who along with himself has two other original Satellites in his band: Mauro Magellan on the drums and bassist Keith Christopher who was a Satellite before the band broke big.

Guitar duties and shared by Dan Baird and Warner E. Hodges who recently seen on these shores touring with Jason & The Scorchers (Now there's a double bill I'd like to see.).

Keeping the faith with opener 'Six Years Gone' Dan takes us way back to the beginning of his career, before giving us a couple of tracks from the excellent self-titled release of 2008 in the shape of 'Just Can't Wait' and 'Crooked Smile'.

It shows what confidence you have in your own material when the Top 2 US smash for the Satellites 'Keep Your Hands To Yourself'' is only the fourth song into the set which ensured an early sing-along.

My favourite track from the latest album is 'Two For Tuesday' is a heavy strumming crowd pleaser that Tom Petty would've been proud of writing.  Even a cover of 'Tears Of A Clown' gets the Dan treatment in a new punk-country vibe.

From Dan's first solo album 91's 'Love Songs For The Hearing Impaired' came the happy funky 'Julie + Lucky' which got me jiving and the single 'I Love You Period'.

Some of the best songs the Satellites ever did were from the criminally underrated album from '89 'In The Land Of Salvation And Sin' from where came the excellent 'All Over But The Cryin'' and 'Another Chance' as well as other Satellites classics such as the steaming 'Railroad Steel' and 'Shelia' , but no 'Battleship Chains', not that many noticed tonight - too busy enjoying themsleves.

Fellow touring mate from last year Quireboy Paul Guerin joined the band for a rocking cover of Little Richard's 'Keep A Knockin' which ended the mammoth set on a high and finally gave the sweet soaked Borderline crowd a chance to get some air.

The gap toothed wonder played a blinding set that didn't need any filling. This is how rock 'n roll should be played at it's best.

Set list : Six Years Gone/ Just Can't Wait/ Crooked Smile/ Keep Your Hands To Yourself/ Lazy Monday/ Lil Bit/ Two For Tuesday/ Tears Of A Clown/ She Dug Me Up/ Julie + Lucky/ I Love You Period/ All Over But The Cryin'/ Dan Takes Five/ Cryin' To Me/ Damn Things To Be Done/ From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)/ Railroad Steel/ Another Chance/ Younger Face/ Sheila/ I Dunno

Encores ... Dixie Beauxderaunt/ Like A Rolling Stone/ Keep A Knockin'
 

Review by Mark Taylor

Photos by Noel Buckley