Live Review: The Saints

The floor section is heavily populated so we wander up the stairs to the mezzanine viewing area. From here, many bald/thinning scalps are visible. As the lights dim, a bagpipe intro tape prepares us for The Saints (or Chris Bailey and co). The joint is jammed full of pumped punters. A female fan yells "SAAAAIIIINTS!" Immediately, riffs shimmer atop bassist Pat Bourke's twangy-but-precise playing. Know Your Product is equal parts dazzling and aggro and we thrash around wildly. Bailey sports Black Watch tartan pants. We spy a front-row gal dancing enthusiastically, punctuating every single cymbal clash and instrumental nuance, song after song. Bailey's voice has certainly held up, it's tonally top-notch. When it's time to remove his jacket, Bailey "dah-dah-dah"s his own 'stripper music'.

If only that screen on this venue's side wall was utilised to show what's happening on stage for the mezzanine viewers! Bailey's banter is truly exceptional. After someone yells out, "I LOVE YOOOOUUUU!" Bailey replies in that perfectly posh voice, "We love you in ways that you can't even imagine being loved." There's some very loud, enthusiastic double-clapping and we observe one gent up front absolutely losing his shit leading into Simple Love's chorus. The always dapper Davey Lane is brilliant and expertly utilises that impressive pedal station. His solos wow the crowd throughout the evening. After complaining about the size of his drink, a jug of G&T is delivered to the stage for Bailey. There's a kerfuffle (which is a word we're sure Bailey uses regularly) in the front stalls, which he notices, announcing, "It's going off!" And no one pronounces "fucking" quite like Bailey (although using the word procreating would better suit his vocabulary). Just Like Fire Would takes a nearby punter by surprise ("Is this their song?"). Tuuuuune! The descending, melancholy riffs and perfect key for drunken singalongs make us feel all nostalgic.    

After the band leave the stage, Bailey comes back out to commence the encore solo. There's a couple pashing as if their lives depend on it elevated on a podium, their silhouettes outlined by an arched multi-pane window. Bailey is rejoined by his bloody excellent backing band and we immediately regret not securing tickets to multiple shows. Bailey singles out a "cute person at the front" before Ghost Ships gets everyone riled up. The expressions on people's faces, gurning as they feel each lyric, are captivating. During his River Deep Mountain High cover, Bailey holds the mic out to a fan that isn't up to the challenge and waves him off. Wonderfully clamorous all night, Iain Shedden's drumming kicks up a further notch during this classic song.

Whispers of "Stranded?" lead to shots for "one more song!" But then the house sound system strikes up.