Danny Click + The Hell Yeahs 9.6.14 San Francisco

Words + Photos by Tom Dellinger

It was an evening featuring two formidable acts from north of the Golden Gate at the Great American Music Hall this past Saturday as Danny Click and The Hell Yeahs, along with openers San Geronimo brought their well honed shows to the city. Also opening was Jeff Bridges’ daughter, Jessie, who started the evening on a softer note.

Joined by fellow artist, Megan Keely, Bridges kicked off the night by delivering an acoustic set of her own original songs. There was an instant celebratory vibe, as she had many friends and supporters in the house. As for the crowd, she easily charmed them too while she rambled through her set, showing a prowess for solid songwriting.

Things quickly picked up when San Geronimo took the stage next. Based in west Marin County, San Geronimo has been busy with a residency at Phil Lesh’s Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, and have established themselves as a band-to-see. Tonight they let loose with an explosive set characterized by a driving rhythm section with tasty vocals, guitar and pedal steel playing. The crowd was into it from the start and by the end, there was a sense, a knowing that they had caught a band very much in their prime. San Geronimo played it hard and with their hearts in it all the way.

Also based in San Rafael, Danny Click and The Hell Yeahs have been busy over the past couple of years playing many shows all over the Bay area and the West coast, including dates in Santa Barbara and Portland. Many long-time fans filled the crowd as the band launched into another of their trademark performances to close out the night. Covering a broad range of styles from country to rock to blues, the band deftly moved through their set. Click came armed with a fine voice and deep technique on guitar, which instantly resonated with fans on Saturday night. Jessie Bridges and members from San Geronimo joined the headliner onstage to end the show on a celebratory note with one of Danny’s standard closers, a cover of Tom Petty’s, ‘Swingin’.