SHIRLEY, Mass. —When he’s not patrolling the streets of Fitchburg, Officer Dave Gordon pulls on his cowboy hat and soulfully strums his acoustic Gretsch Rancher Falcon.

He’s the lead singer of Big Dave and The Captain, a cover band he’s been in with Gardner-based guitarist Chris “The Captain” Coombs for six years.

“I look at playing the guitar and singing as a hobby, which is a nice release from the pressures of being a police officer,” said Gordon. “We have fun with the crowd. They sometimes get up on the stage and sing with us.”

Earlier this month, the duo performed outside at The Brookside Grill in Shirley, which holds a concert series every Thursday through Sunday from May until around Halloween. 

“The music is very helpful,” said Tracey DeWolf, co-owner of The Brookside Grill, highlighting the band’s boom for business. “We are non-stop today, we are going to be non-stop tomorrow — we’ve had it all week.”

Big Dave and The Captain played from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., performing their renditions of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver, “Lonely Ol’ Night” by John Mellencamp and Van Morrison’s “Wild Night.” They cover a wide range of music, from country to 70s and 80s rock. 

“They’re great, and we love being able to come right down the street and listen to great music and enjoy good food,” said Michelle Twiss, a Shirley resident who heard the band for the first time Saturday. 

For more on Big Dave and The Captain please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bigdaveandthecaptain.