The Headstones are a band from Kingston, Ontario who made a second home in the Western New York area years ago. Every time they play the area, it’s an event and this past Thursday at Canalside in Buffalo was no different. In the last few years the strictly 4 piece band consisting of original members vocalist Hugh Dillon, guitarist Trent Carr and bassist Tim White lost longtime drummer Dale Harrison. The makeup of the band has now changed as they added more sound to it with the additions of Steve Carron on keyboards, Richard Van Dyk on rhythm guitars and Lyle Molzan on drums.
The show started at 8:30pm as Dillon raising a toast to the audience as he and the rest of the band took their places to kick into “For Your Consideration.” This was the first cut off their latest effort “Little Army” which was released a little over a year ago. The Headstones focused heavy on this record as 4 tracks were played from it. It didn’t take long for Dillon to make his way (microphone with cord and all) into the pit then subsequently into the crowd for “When Something Stands for Nothing.” He did this again later in the set as this is a known staple for a Headstones show. Tossing out harmonicas to the crowd and many drinks into the pit after a few sips are also Dillon staples. Few command the stage like Dillon. He talked about the long-storied relationship with Buffalo as he named a few of the former places they played like The Tralf or the Gargoyle. It seems they played every nook and cranny over the years.
One of my favorite covers by any band is the Headstones version of the Traveling Wilburys “Tweeter and the Monkey Man.” It really sets the mood for their entire set. A funny cover that I have never seen them do was a song that Kenny Rogers made famous in The Gambler. The version was sped up and unless you paid attention, you may have not known what it was. Such a move the Headstones would make and I must say, they pulled it off.
This is a different band but the elements that are the Headstones still remain. Dillon remains a crowd favorite with his interaction with them, Buffalo will continue to remain a second home base for the Headstones!
Setlist:
For Your Consideration
Mystery to Me
When Something Stands for Nothing
Tweeter and the Monkey Man (Traveling Wilburys cover)
Broken
Settle
Losing Control
Cubically Contained
Captain of the Shit Out of Luck
O My God
Three Angels
Damned
Pinned You Down
Devils on Fire
Smile and Wave (Eve of Destruction -Barry McGuire snippet, Riders on the Storm – The Doors snippet)
Encore:
The Gambler (Don Schlitz cover)
One by One
Cemetery
We would like to thank Paige Gress for the credentials to review the show.
