Wow! These guys are really good. Maybe it’s the way Grey Dealer came together in 2005: drum and guitar first, then auditioning for bass, and finally adding lead singer, or maybe their talent is a measure of their motivation, but they are each and all exceptional.

One can’t help but notice lead singer Chuck Shaffer (Anthony?) first; after all, he’s in front, he has a dynamic stage presence, and his voice conjures images of a young Pavarotti in power, range, clarity and depth.

Then, when drummer Tim Harrigan and bassist Patrik Lane (James?) add backups, the melody line gets even better, and one realizes they are also excellent on their instruments (Harrigan did all the vocals in the beginning).

And the best may be the last. There is no ‘show’ in Jim Putnam; you have to search to find him standing over in the corner, and further to realize he’s actually the one making those incredible guitar sounds while hardly moving any part of his body. During one extended set, recently, he rolled his eyes to the ceiling twice, and his facial expression changed only when smoke from his dangling cigarette got in this eyes. But boy can he play.

Grey Dealer plays classic rock covers and original progressive rock, and they have clearly spent a lot of time practicing and playing together. They are tight.

Most revealing about them, though, might be their version of Cream’s “White Room,” not because they sound so much like Cream — although there are certainly similarities — but because you almost can’t help but wonder if they’re as good.