Rev Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Tuning Fork February 23, 2018

Two years, almost to the day, after their first visit to Auckland’s Tuning Fork, Rev Peyton and his Big Damn Band made their way from Brown County, Indiana to play a little country blues.

Old time blues and roots music seems to have struck a chord with Auckland music fans. A couple of weeks ago Blind Boy Paxton stole the show when opening for Kitty, Daisy & Lewis and The Powerstation, and now Rev Peyton and his crew have filled up The Tuning Fork after delivering the goods there two years previously.

For the uninitiated, Reverend Peyton plays old time country blues on a variety of stringed instruments, many of which he has made himself. His slide playing is world class and his own songs, with titles like Pot Roast & Kisses and My Old Man Boogie, sound like they were written a hundred years ago. A few of the covers they played last night…Furry Lewis’ When My Baby Left Me and Charley Patton’s Mississippi Boll Weevil Blues were.

Peyton is accompanied by his wife “Washboard” Breezy Peyton, who, you might have guessed, played the washboard and adds a few backing vocals all while serving up a wide array of entertaining facial expressions that range from google-eyed crazy to big, broad smiles.

Meanwhile new drummer Max Senteney keeps the beat, playing a small kit fitted with a five gallon plastic bucket.

As the reverend’s slide guitar rings out to commence the first song, Aberdeen, the audience whoops and hollers in anticipation.

They are not disappointed.

In addition to playing a mean slide guitar, Peyton is a consummate showman, telling stories and urging the audience to clap or sing along as required.

They play a couple of songs from their latest album, Front Porch Sessions, throw in a few tasty covers and generally have a good time on stage.

That attitude is infectious and by the time they finish up with Willie Dixon’s You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover, everyone…band and audience…is up for one more tune before closing time.

The trio returns with Two Bottles Of Wine…that’s the name of the song…and the Reverend leads the audience through one last sing-along.

The acts usually close their shows with Peyton playing his axe guitar, but travelling restrictions keep that from happening. They do close  the show in a literal blaze of glory as Breezy sets her washboard on fire for the finale.

If you missed it…catch Reverend Peyton & His Big Damn Band at Splore today at 6pm.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Veronica McLaughlin:

Rev. Peyton & His Big Damn Band set list:

  1. Aberdeen
  2. My Old Man Boogie
  3. Something For Nothing
  4. Front Porch Trained
  5. When My Baby Left Me
  6. We Deserve A Happy Ending
  7. Pot Roast & Kisses
  8. The Creeks Are All Bad
  9. Mississippi Boll Weevil Blues
  10. Bean Blossom Boogie
  11. Clap Your Hands
  12. Poor Until Payday
  13. You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover
  14. Two Bottle Of Wine