GHOST HOUNDS / DALTON & THE SHERIFFS – HOB – BOSTON
By Rick Fleck
On a frigid Boston night, in the shadows of Fenway Park’s Green Monster, the rock, country, and blues band Ghost Hounds, with very special guest Dalton & the Sheriffs, played a benefit concert for Boston Children’s Hospital and The Ryan Seacrest Foundation at the House of Blues.
Ghost Hounds consist of lead singer and frontman SAVNT, guitarists Thomas Tull and Tyler Chiarelli, pianist/keyboardist Joe Munroe, fiddler Kristin Weber, bassist Bennett Miller, and drummer Sydney Drive.
Ghost Hounds opened the show with “She Runs Hot,” the first single from their 2025 album Almost Home. It was an excellent choice, as the popular, upbeat song had the crowd engaged from the first note. They followed it with “Little Calamity” from 2021’s A Little Calamity, an album that featured the band’s previous lead singer, Tré Nation, who brought SAVNT into Ghost Hounds as his replacement in 2024. “Little Calamity” highlighted what an entertaining frontman SAVNT is and what a seamless transition he provided as the new singer for the band.
Photos Rick Fleck
“Baby We’re Through,” the hit lead track from 2022’s You Broke Me, provided an opportunity for raucous banter with the audience, proving SAVNT to be a skilled entertainer as well as a talented singer. “Devil Woman,” originally recorded as a single by British singer Cliff Richard in 1976, was Ghost Hounds’ first cover of the night.
Though somewhat buried on their 2019 album Roses Are Black, the song was plucked from the record and perfectly placed in the set. It was a dramatic rendition, powerfully played, infused with added soul and a touch of the sinister. SAVNT also threw in some slick dance moves. The well known song provided additional appeal for the boomers and Gen Z attendees.
“Half My Fault” was a scorcher, an absolute barn burner. It was followed by “First Last Time,” a yearning, hopeful, and heartfelt song that built to a strong crescendo. “Past the Point of Rescue,” another track from 2025’s Almost Home, perfectly showcased the band’s current country-leaning style, featuring a twangy, Johnny Cash–inspired guitar sound. The wide range of song styles underscored SAVNT’s adaptability and flexibility, showcasing a voice and talent that blend effortlessly with many genres, making it all seem so easy.
“Long Ride Home,” released as a single duet with folk-rock / alt-country legend Patty Griffin, was deeply emotive and expressive, with SAVNT fully embodying the song through both his voice and his theatrical gestures. SAVNT doesn’t just stand at the mic and sing—he expresses, dances, and prowls the stage, putting himself physically into every song.
Paradoxically, despite looking like a Marvel Comic’s superhero, he is disarmingly soft-spoken. After belting out songs, I sometimes found myself leaning in to catch his between-song banter. He also possesses a magnetic presence that makes him instantly open and likable.
A song simply titled “Paganini,” named after the early 19th century Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini, gave fiddler Kristin Weber a chance to showcase her impressive, classically trained chops. “Between Me and the Devil” was the heaviest song of the night, featuring thick chords, a dark sound, and a thrilling guitar solo from Tyler Chiarelli.
Chiarelli and guitarist Thomas Tull made perfect foils—Chiarelli moving around the stage and playing fiery solos, while Tull stood stage right in front of the three background singers, reminiscent of the famously stoic John Entwistle of The Who. Primary songwriter and lyricist Tull, however, is clearly the band’s leader and anchor, the glue that holds each song together musically and guides Ghost Hounds through their set.
At this point of the show, Chanel Haynes was introduced. Haynes played Tina Turner in the West End UK production of “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”. In 2023, Haynes also began touring as a backup vocalist for The Rolling Stones during their Hackney Diamonds Tour.
The first duet with SAVNT was “Justified,” and it showed the two had natural chemistry. This was followed by B.B. King’s “The Thrill is Gone” with someone in the audience yelling out “I love this John Mayer song!” “The Thrill is Gone” provided the opportunity for another terrific solo from Chiarelli.
“Last Train to Nowhere” was a fun, foot-stomping country-blues number. In a perfect world, “You’ll Never Find Me” would be a #1 country hit. It’s a fist-pumping, beer-drinking, hell-raising anthem. The chorus—“Just remember that you’ll / never find another lover quite like me / No, you’ll never find me, I’m a renegade”—makes you want to throw your fist in the air and take on the world. The song is a true show-stopper.
Haynes returned to the stage for an exuberant cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” Joining SAVNT on vocals, she delivered a performance that honored the song’s original, unmatched vocals by Merry Clayton, and together they brought down the house. Overall, it was a remarkable show from an immensely talented band that’s clearly on the rise, all for two great causes: Boston Children’s Hospital and The Ryan Seacrest Foundation.
Brian Scully of Boston’s own Dalton & the Sheriffs opened the concert with a solo acoustic performance. He began his set with “The Freshman” by American alt rock band The Verve Pipe. It was not a choice I expected, but he reimagined it as an intimate, stripped down, folk-like rendition that worked surprisingly well.
Scully’s second song was a brilliant mash-up, playfully introduced as something he hadn’t played live in 20 years and which had grown by “a couple of songs” during the interval. The medley began with Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” wove through several other songs, and concluded with “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon, proving that despite the folk rock presentation and his band’s country credentials, Scully casts a wide net for his inspirations. He radiates warmth and friendliness and feels genuinely approachable.
Gravel-voiced, with a rich baritone and a country holler, he sings with soul—an authentic voice full of experience. Remarkably, Scully said it was his 31st time plying the boards at the HoB. He closed his set in the spirit of the season with his “favorite” Christmas song, “O Holy Night.”
The final act of the night was Dalton & the Sheriffs with opener Brian Scully on lead vocals and guitar, joined by Joey Pantaleo (backup vocals, guitar, and keyboards), Dennis Walsh (bass), Jay Tagg (guitar), and Dan Vassallo (drums). D&TS have a loyal contingent of deeply dedicated fans, and they showed up in force.
Photos Rick Fleck
The audience was energetic and clearly enamored. Their music is top-shelf, crowd-pleasing country music and country rock. They are a perfect fit for any honky tonk anywhere in the country. Having just returned from a week in Nashville, I can safely say they were as good or better than any of the bands I saw on Broadway.
D&TS write well crafted songs with relatable lyrics and combine them with their distinctive brand of rowdy country rock. They bring something to the Boston music scene that is clearly in demand and conversely, in very short supply. Lamentably, Scully announced that the show would be the last performance before an “indefinite hiatus.” I hope that hiatus is short-lived, as the Boston music scene needs bands like D&TS. Here’s hoping they find a way to make it work and continue entertaining us for years to come.
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