Tristan Prettyman at the Brighton Music Hall in Brighton, MA

Raw emotion and truly heartfelt lyrics encompassed the stage at the Brighton Music Hall on Friday, March 15. Tristan Prettyman, the 30 year old singer/songwriter from San Diego, California, put on a great show for a sold out house.

Tristan’s music is very easy to relate to as her songs surround events that have actually happened in her life – from surgery to a difficult breakup with her fiance. I had only just recently started listening to Tristan’s music when I learned she was coming to Brighton. Tickets were inexpensive, and I had never been to the Brighton Music Hall.

The Brighton Music Hall is in a great location with many restaurants within walking distance. Tavern in the Square is right across the street, offering American food. They also have a large parking garage in the back. My friends and I were dropped off, but if we were to drive, parking would not have been impossible.

The music hall itself is an intimate venue. Holding up to 476 people, the hall is general admission only. With two bars, one in the front and one in the back, getting a drink was never more than a five minute wait. Drinks were very reasonably priced; a glass of wine was only $5. Near the back bar, they also have a small room with pool tables, giving an option of entertainment as the artists set up or change sets. They also offer a coat check for only $2 which came in handy with the unpredictable New England Weather.

The show opened up with Anya Marina, a 36 year old singer/songwriter from Portland, Oregon. Anya was a great performer – very comical, interacting with the crowd in between each song. One of her more popular songs is “Satellite Heart” which is featured on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack. She currently has three albums out, including Miss Halfway, Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II and Felony Flats.

After a short intermission Tristan Prettyman came on stage and began performing right away. Amongst the many songs Tristan performed, my favorites were “Love, Love, Love,” “Say Anything” and “I Was Gonna Marry You.” Tristan and Anya also performed a few songs together. The duo was very entertaining.

As I mentioned previously, Tristan really incorporates her personal experiences into her music. Tristan was engaged to her long time boyfriend, Jason Mraz, when he called off the engagement, leaving her incredibly hurt and feeling lost. She explained to the audience that through her music, she was able to heal from this experience. According to her website, tristanprettyman.com, she even questioned if she wanted to continue pursuing music at all! But, music ended up being her outlet, as she saved all her emotions for her music.

After the show, I was disappointed that Tristan did not come out to meet fans and sign autographs. Especially at smaller venues like the Brighton Music Hall, I have almost come to expect it! Anya, however, was at the merchandise table selling CDs, taking pictures and signing autographs. We ended up buying Tristan’s CDs and Anya’s CD, Felony Flats.

I really enjoyed seeing Tristan Prettyman perform live!

The Tom Dixon Band at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill – Foxborough, MA

Free concert? Live music? Huge Bar? Any music lover would be extremely enthusiastic about these qualities at a venue. At Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill in Foxborough, MA, this is a usual occurrence. For me,  it was a unique experience.

Last Saturday I was able to combine a great atmosphere with a great band – The Tom Dixon Band – for a GREAT experience. The Tom Dixon Band is a local country band that performs around the New England area, playing their own music as well as cover songs. I had run into their name via friends, and I had previewed a bit of their music. When I found out they were coming to my area, I immediately marked my calender for the event. Overall, I was thrilled with the combination of soulful, country music, amazing crowd interaction, and unique venue.

Prior to this event, I had attended Toby Keith’s once before in 2012. The song “I Love This Bar” by Toby Keith fully encapsulates the atmosphere of the bar.  I remember my amazement as I walked into the bar/venue. Not only was there a huge guitar shaped bar that allowed for ample access, but at the end of the bar was a huge stage for live performances! As an avid country fan, I knew I was in my element. I had never been to a bar that also truly focused on live music as their niche. Yes, I have been to places where live music is a plus, but at Toby Keith’s, that’s one of the main reasons to attend!

I knew I wanted to see a good up and coming band at this venue. When a friend mentioned that The Tom Dixon Band was to perform in mid February, I gathered up a group of friends, and we set out for the event.

We met up at Toby Keith’s around 8:45 pm.  Parking was extremely easy; there is free parking available alongside the entire Patriot Place. When we walked in the front door, there was a $5 cover charge… which isn’t much, considering you will be seeing live music for hours on end!

The Tom Dixon band was to perform at 9 pm, so we had a few moments to spare. We approached the bar, which, to my surprise, was not too long of a wait for a drink, and all order beer out of a mason jar based on the atmosphere. Country bar, country music, country drink…? Why not! These extra large beers were priced at $10/each.

We ran into a friend of mine who had seen The Tom Dixon Band perform previously, and he hinted that as soon as the band came on, people flocked to the stage. With only a few minutes to spare, we made our way up to the front to stake our ground.

As soon as the band came on stage, excitement and energy poured throughout the entire bar/venue. From the first song, it felt as though we were at attendance of a legitimate country concert that could cost a lot of dough! The Tom Dixon Band’s energy was astounding as they got the crowd dancing and singing right off the bat.

The Tom Dixon Band performed many famous country cover songs such as “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line, “Toes” by the Zac Brown Band, and “Honey Bee” by Blake Shelton. Alongside their cover songs which were a major hit amongst attendees, the band also played some of their own songs off their own album.

I had a lot of fun at the show; I did, however, wish that the band played more of their own music. According to the band’s website, tomdixonband.com, Tom, the lead singer, has opened up for many major country artists such as Eric Church, The Zac Brown Band, Sugerland, Kip Moore and Alan Jackson.  With these credentials, I was really hoping to come across a new song or two that I could share.

The Tom Dixon Band was full of energy and definitely put on a great show overall. Their energy was contagious as they spoke to the audience in between songs, and they seemed to really amp up the crowd’s attitude, creating a really fun environment. I loved the venue and really liked the artist.