A band from Boston who has a close affinity with Buffalo is the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Even though the band does very sporadic shows, about 15 a year at best, they always make it a point to include a stop in Buffalo. The 8-piece band, all dressed in matching red sport coats, took the stage and went right into “The Old School Off the Right,” kind of an appropriate song considering what I stated earlier. Led by the charismatic front man Dickety Barrett, the band played an impressive 25-song set list from 9 studio albums that spanned their entire 30 year career.
There isn’t many horn sections that can match Tim “Johnny Vegas” Burton (saxophone), Kevin Lenear (Alto & baritone saxaphones) and Chris Rhodes (trombone.) Each plays in perfect harmony. Rhodes handles most of the background vocals as well throughout the set. Johnny Vegas handled most of the vocals on “He’s Back.”
There is just so much going on at a Mighty Might Bosstones show. Between the interactions of Barrett and the crowd and each member taking a turn at the forefront , it really makes for quite an entertaining evening. During the beginning of the show Barrett addressed the staff of the Canalside venue, wanting to know why a certain roped off area wasn’t being utilized by the fans? He talked the staff into opening the restricted area in front of the stage, that was apparently off limits due to the ground being soaked from previous rain storms. He made the crowd promise the staff that no mud would be thrown and that the fans would behave. It was quite comical actually.
The songs were quick but each one was very infectious. They all kept the crowd dancing and moving the entire night. Barrett came on stage even wearing a Buffalo Bills hat before the boys performed their biggest hit “The Impression That I Get.”
The Bosstones are the brainchild of bassist Joe Gittleman, and after 30 plus years, its evident that the fans still enjoy the sights and sounds of the mighty, mighty ones.
Setlist:
The Old School Off the Bright
Graffiti Worth Reading
The Skeleton Song
He’s Back
Someday I Suppose
The Daylights
So Sad to Say
The Rascal King
Illegal Left
She Just Happened
I Wrote It
Mr. Moran
The One With the Woes All Over It
Sunday Afternoons on Wisdom Ave.
Numbered Days
Hope I Never Lose My Wallet
The Bricklayer’s Story
Nevermind Me
Don’t Worry Desmond Dekker
They Will Need Music
The Impression That I Get
Impossible Dream
Encore:
Where’d You Go?
A Pretty Sad Excuse
Encore 2:
Rudie Can’t Fail (The Clash cover)
We would like to thank Sara Serafin from Canalside for the credentials to review the show.
