Jeffrey Gaines
Daryl’s House – Pawling, NY – July 12, 2024
Review & Photos – Rebecca Wolf
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccawolfconcertphotos/
Daryl’s House, in Pawling, NY is a restaurant and live music club created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend, Daryl Hall. While it’s located in a small village about an hour and 45 minutes north of NYC, it’s become a popular destination for top artists and fans. With its wood paneled walls, wooden ceiling beams and tinware candelabra chandeliers, the venue provides a “homey” Early American cabin vibe, perfect for listening to great music in a cozy, warm, personal setting. The club was born out of Hall’s internet music show, Live From Daryl’s House, which premiered in Fall 2007. Hall’s goal for the show was to bring artists to him and give fans a glimpse into the musical and personal connections created between musicians in the comfort of his home environment. The show’s episodes were originally recorded in Hall’s house in Millerton, NY. In 2014, he opened Daryl’s House, his vision of the ideal locale for a range of musical artists to join Hall and his band to have a few drinks, eat some good food and make some great music. From its opening, all episodes of Live From Daryl’s House were filmed at the club. In total, 90 episodes were recorded between 2007 and 2023.
A mid-summer Friday night, did not deter fans from traveling to Pawling on July 12th to spend a musical evening with singer, songwriter, guitarist Jeffrey Gaines. Audience members filled the tables long before the start of the performance, settling in with food and drinks, while eagerly awaiting what was sure to be a passionate performance of Gaines’ soulful lyrics, gritty, heartfelt vocals and spirited guitar playing. The positive energy in the crowd was equally matched by Gaines, who arrived onstage sporting his signature black denim ensemble and his playful, mischievous grin. Acknowledging his appreciation for those who travelled to the show, himself having travelled several hours from South Jersey, Gaines stated, “Thank you for using your GPS and coming. I had to use mine as well.”
An up-close-and-personal music experience is perfect for Gaines, not solely because of his musical performance but equally due to his interaction style with the audience. Gaines loves to communicate with the crowd, to share stories, to laugh and to connect. He tells tales of his youth, his early years in the music industry, and shares bits about the man behind the music. “I got my first guitar in 1979. I got into this for fun. I’m in this for recess. I’m the king of recess!” he said with a chuckle. The Daryl’s House crowd laughed along with Gaines, who undoubtedly appeared to be enjoying himself throughout the performance. “I’m a folk singer with a lot more energy than a folk singer,” he noted. Gaines exuded energy and passion, while performing his music and equally while sharing his thoughts. “I made a social media post recently and someone commented that I provocative. But, that’s me, I am provocative!” Gaines performed a range of songs from his catalog, including “Toast and Tea,” “Beyond the Beginning,” “Didn’t Wanna Be Daddy, “Hero in Me,” “Scares Me,” and of course “In Your Eyes,” the song that first put him on the music map but one he says he does not personally connect to, as it’s not his song. If you look at the stage when Gaines performs, there’s no set list to be seen. That’s because Gaines does not come into a show with a preconceived set list. He goes with the flow of the crowd and his mood, and makes each performance one-of-a-kind.
I think one-of-a-kind is a perfect term to describe Jeffrey Gaines. He’s an incredibly talented singer, songwriter and musician who creates and performs music with gritty passion and soul, staying deeply connected to his musical roots, not the trappings of the music industry, and remaining humbly connected to his devoted fans. It’s not surprising that fans will drive from near and far to share a little “Toast and Tea” with Jeffrey.
