Tom Dixon Band dominated the Village Trestle in Goffstown, New Hampshire last Saturday night, earning playing their potpouri of modern country songs with a few of their originals thrown in for good measure. Every moment of their three sets was a foot stomping, rootin’ tootin’ hoedown. Dixon had remarked a few times that this Village Trestle gig marked only the second time they’d performed in Goffstown and only the first time he had played the Trestle. By the end of the evening, Trestle owner Steve Pascucci announced he’d be bringing the band back for future engagements.
Opening with Toby Keith’s “American Ride,” Dixon and his three backing musicians drove full speed into the night, turning the event into a real hootenanny right off the bat. Dixon’s acoustic guitar picking and strumming was perky and lead guitarist Dave Wilson paid out eloquently cool phrases. Next up was Blake Shelton’s “Hillbilly Bone” and the boys dove right into its muscular grooves.
As exciting as the boys were in up tempo thumping mode, they also played well with the slower, humorous songs. Bass player John “Crawdaddy” Crawford took to the microphone to voice “One More Drinking Song” with his gentlemanly charm.
Back into slamming mode with “How Country Boys Roll,” the boys were thumping out this one with machine precision. It’s really cool how well these musicians play together. They are tight as hell and that solid platform gives Wilson the space to set his guitar on fire with soaring, over the top high pitched phrases that made his axe scream.
Dixon sang “Thank You Mine” from his new CD and showed he has one of those powerful country vocals that can start out with an almost conversational chirpiness before suddenly launching upward in a sustained muscular belt. It draws all attention to him, demonstrating he can hold his own with the big names in the business.
Joe Nichols’ “Take It Off” and Dierks Bentley’s “Sideways” were pure country fun, hoedown in the barn material. But it was Dixon’s song about a girlfriend who stole his truck that got that best humor response in the first set.
The remainder of the first set was dedicated to songs like George Strait’s “Here For A Good Time” and the ever popular “Crazy Town.” The second set opened speedily with the tune “Truckin’” and hard rocking bass runs and snappy drum smacks and that crunchy electric guitar chord progression conveyed a sense of motion. Dixon applied his belty drawl to this one, and it probably made everyone in the room feel like barreling down the highway.
“Country Girl Shake It” found Dixon shooting off lyrics rapid style, and, like a pied piper he did get all the country girls to shake it while funky guitar notes darted around the moveable beat. Party favorite “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy” got everyone moving to this perennial modern country favorite with its funky low end. It certainly helps to have a skin smacker like Billy Ferraro on the drums who can play all kinds of beats and tempos and styles with pizzazz
The country humor came back into play on “Rain Is A Good Thing” which Dixon delivered in a folksie sing song pace and “Chickfried” elevated the energy level with the band’s tight, bouncy, two step shuffle. From there, Dixon’s honey smooth flow of a voice caressed the song. Wilson’s lead guitar chimed in with a chirpy joy ride melody that topped off the sound just right.
“Country Man” gave “Crawdaddy” Crawford a chance to showcase his bass talent. He can build an entire arc by himself while the others play off that monumental low end to insert their own colors and tones. The Tom Dixon Band whipped out a fun take on “Chattahoochie” before guest guitarist/vocalist Jerry Ray Basner came up to play guitar on “Sweet Home Alabama” and to play and sing on “Roadhouse Blues.” This informal session had a loose jam quality to it which inspired Trestle owner Steve Pascucci to join in on harmonica. Pascucci was either very inspired or he’s been practicing lately. He let loose a barrage of ripping bluesy notes.
The Tom Dixon band rock right out on hard-driving country numbers. “Shit Town” featured Wilson’s guitar wielding a fiery phrase while Dixon kept a country boy stamp on it with his personal charm. I don’t think that Dixon is actually from the south, but he sure seems like it sometimes. The band went into a couple rockers by the 1990s band Live that captured the nuanced flow of the originals.
Dixon and Wilson sang a a nice two-part harmony with bursts of staccato singing while the band showed their zest for playing. There were a truck load of new faces at The Village Trestle for this show, and they were friendly faces at that. The folks were line dancing during “8 Second Ride” to the fiery lead guitar and the steady flowing rhythm section.
Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” was foot stomping fun with Pascucci joining in again on harmonica while Wilson breathed edgy new life into that familiar guitar part. “Keep Me In Mind” showcased funk guitar riffs before Wilson launched his phrases into the stratosphere.
The night was simply an endless flow of driving country, sweet ballads, hoedown humor, and fantastic musicianship. First time at this club, The Tom Dixon Band filled the room with fine folks and kept them sweetly entertained for three hours.
i’LL NEVER FORGET THE TIME DAVE WILSON BELTED OUT THAT JOHNNY CASH SONG AND DEDICATED IT TO MY LATE HUSBAND AT A FAMILY FUNCTION. IT WAS THE GREATEST GIFT I EVER HAD. THANKS AGAIN, DAVE.