Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band at The Wilbur, 3-27-25 Concert Review

photo by Tim Doherty

Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band is on tour, celebrating the release of Honeysuckle, the excellent new album which came out just about a month ago. On this tour, they've been supporting Gaelic Storm, the ol' darlings of Santa Monica who once upon a time had a regular gig at O'Brien's Pub. Both bands are known for their fun, energetic performances, and they delivered an outstanding show at The Wilbur in Boston last night.

Though Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band was scheduled to open the night, the crowd was first treated to a special performance by Boston Police Gaelic Column, all pipes and percussion, a wonderful surprise. At one point, they did "Rattlin' Bog" straight into "I'll Tell Me Ma." Their set was just sixteen minutes, and two minutes later, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band was taking the stage. Drummer Jacob Powell took his spot behind the kit, and immediately established a beat, announcing the celebration had begun, that these special spiritual services were now about to launch us all into another space. Reverend Peyton and Breezy Peyton took their positions, and, bam, a hole burst open, and a raw power erupted, coming forth through the opening, the three musicians acting as emissaries sent here by some otherworldly force to rock us. They started the set with "My Old Man Boogie," Reverend Peyton's guitar a glittery gold in the lights, Breezy's boots also shining, a sparkling silver. And the headlights of the car pictured on the backdrop behind the drum kit were shining in time with the beat, that car aimed at the audience, ready to run us down should we prove unworthy. This opening number featured some great stuff on guitar.

"We are so happy to be here," Reverend Peyton said after that first song, also mentioning that they were getting near the end of the tour. He then got out his harmonica, and tested it. "It's working pretty good," he determined. Indeed! The band then began "Poor Until Payday," some good swampy blues with a serious power. It was a fun number featuring some totally delicious work on harmonica. But, truly, everything is fun when these guys are on the stage. "Well, I'm starting to get warmed up," Reverend Peyton told the crowd, and then introduced the band while switching guitars. "On bass, my thumb," he said, mentioning that there were no tricks up there, no hidden laptop computers adding to the sound. No, everything there was real, was honest, was true. And he made that guitar sound like two or three guitars playing simultaneously, including bass guitar. The song they were playing then was "Pot Roast And Kisses," and, yes, it was clear they were warmed up, the heat pouring off the stage. I love that song. After that one, Reverend Peyton had everyone in the audience stand, and quickly got them involved in the next song, "Clap Your Hands." teaching them when to clap on the first verse. It was on the 1, 2, 3 and 4, not on the 5, 6, 7, and 8, though he said he appreciated their enthusiasm. The bass player (his thumb) got that song started. During the number, he switched to a guitar that looked like an actual axe. Hey, it was on the third verse that the audience was supposed to scream, and that axe seemed to promise some incentive to take those screams further.

photo by Tim Doherty

Breezy and Jacob left the stage, so that Reverend Peyton could perform "Honeysuckle" solo. That's the title track (and also opening track) from the new album. What a great, raw performance. "Trouble, trouble, but it's all mine." The band then followed that with another song from the new album, "Like A Treasure," which is one of my personal favorites. "I want to stay in this moment forever," Rev. Peyton sings in that one, and the desire to remain in the moment must have been felt by many (if not all) in the crowd. These are the moments we live for, these great concert performances where the energy and joy are felt by everyone in the room. Reverend Peyton got out his resonator guitar for "Something For Nothing," and there was an adjustment to the drum kit, leading Breezy to joke that she had told Jacob that whenever he's bad she'd take one drum away. When the hi-hat was returned, Breezy said, "He gets one back when he gets it right." The band then wrapped up the set with a fantastic rendition of "Rattle Can," that featured some great drumming from Jacob. Breezy beat that Big Damn Band drum near the edge of the stage and set her washboard aflame during that incredible jam. What a way to finish a set! The set concluded at 8:53 p.m., but that wasn't the last we heard from Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band. 

photo by Tim Doherty

After an incredibly fun set by Gaelic Storm that included a whole lot of interaction with the audience, just like the old days, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band joined that band for the night's encore, which began with a cover of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." The audience sang along (this is one of those songs that everyone loves), and at the end, the band sang "Massachusetts" in place of "West Virginia," which, of course, received a cheer from the crowd. Rev. Peyton then led the bands in a rendition of "Freeborn Man," a song written by Mark Lindsay and Keith Allison, and recorded by Paul Revere & The Raiders for Alias Pink Puzz. It is a song that Rev. Peyton covers on his new album, and last night he delivered some great, mean work on harmonica. The encore concluded with an energetic "I'll Tell Me Ma," always a crowd-pleaser. Clearly the two bands were having great fun performing together, and that encore was a special treat. The show ended at 10:55 p.m.

Set List

1. My Old Man Boogie
2. Poor Until Payday
3. Pot Roast And Kisses
4. Clap Your Hands
5. Honeysuckle
6. Like A Treasure
7. Something For Nothing
8. Rattle Can

Gaelic Storm Encore

1. Take Me Home, Country Roads
2. Freeborn Man
3. I'll Tell Me Ma

The Wilbur is located at 246 Tremont St. in Boston, Massachusetts.