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Words by: Eric
Podolsky | Images by: Brian
Spady
30db :: 05.20.10 :: Great American Music Hall :: San Francisco,
CA
 Austin & Bayliss - 30db :: 05.20 |
"This is the fifth show we've ever played," mandolinist Jeff Austin told
the crowd at Great American
Music Hall shortly after his new band 30db finished its
second song. Considering this fact, the impressive size of the audience showed that these
musicians' reputations precede them. 30db's roots stem from a casual musical relationship
which formed between Yonder Mountain String Band's Austin and Umphrey's McGee's
Brendan
Bayliss, eventually growing into a supergroup of sorts as their music called to be
fleshed out. So, they recruited Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi
Allstars/Hill
Country Revue) to rock the drums, Nick Forster of Hot Rize to bring his
professionalism on guitar and lap steel, and bassist Eric Thorin of Open Road to complete
a fully-formed, well-oiled rock band.
Taking the stage to a casual, if not curious, audience, 30db introduced their music to our
ears for the first time, and let the strength of the well-crafted songs from their debut
album One Man Show do the heavy lifting throughout the night. First and foremost,
Austin's good-humored vocal delivery and excellent harmonizing with Bayliss stood out as
the backbone of the music. The tunes were delivered in a straightforward rock format,
notably punctuated by the hard strumming of Austin, whose mandolin sprinkles were just
audible poking over the top of the music. Bayliss and Forster shared some soaring guitar
line harmonies, though for much of the set Bayliss played acoustic and Forster shone on
slide lap steel. Dickinson's rock-solid drumming was the driving force in the band as
they powered their way though the catchy, almost radio-friendly choruses of songs like
"One Man Show," "Liar," and "Susannah," arguably their strongest tune.
Other times, the band brought it down and let the music breathe, evoking almost U2-like
wide open spaces with the lap steel and mandolin taking the forefront. A spot-on cover of
The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" had Austin and Bayliss nailing the vocal harmonies. When
the rock was brought back, the band used the rollicking, Southern-tinged tune "Grave" as
their jam vehicle for the night, and everyone got some time in the spotlight, notably
Forster, who ripped it on the lap steel.
After a single set, Austin and Bayliss reemerged on their own for an acoustic mini-set
"encore," which was arguably the highlight of the night. Their chemistry was uncanny, and
it was very apparent that these guys get off on each other musically, both backstage and
onstage. Introducing a gorgeous instrumental as "Psychotic Dive Bombing Hummingbirds of
Colorado," their combined acoustic chops were fluid, rapid, and playful. After a few more
well-crafted, smile-inducing tunes and a couple of dueling solos, the rest of the band
returned to flesh out the music, with Forster's lap steel chiming and echoing though the
open spaces of the music (think Chris Isaak). This segued into a sped-up, chugging modern
rock take on Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," which closed the show with abandon as
Austin's yearning tenor yelped out each verse one by one.
This band has only begun to realize its potential. Interestingly enough, its quality
brand of catchy melodic rock is probably more accessible to the masses than its members'
full-time bands. Here's hoping they treat this group as more than just a side-project and
give the music the time it needs to mature.
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