I was very excited to see this show at Brighton Music Hall; I bought Rayland Baxter’s album when I was in Nashville last year (he was in the local artists section) and it has been on regular rotation on my iPod since then.

Rayland Baxter

Rayland (sometimes stylized as rayLand) is an alt-country musician who has recently broken into the national scene. I believe he played at the Newport Folk Festival in 2014 or 2015, but did not release an album until last year.

While Imaginary Man is Rayland’s sophomore release, it is the first to get such widespread attention. There is not a weak song on the album and I cannot say which song is my favorite because they are all wonderful songs.

Rayland Baxter

I enjoyed his performance style. He connected with the audience without being distracted by or responding to the young (under 21) women who crowded the stage and attempted to flirt with him. I thoroughly appreciated that as I was there to hear his music.

Rayland Baxter

I was a bit apprehensive when the crowd moved toward the stage before his set started (it was blissfully empty near the stage for the two openers), but the crowd was well-behaved which is not something that happens at a lot of shows that attract a much younger (than I) audience.

Jaan Cohan, Rayland Baxter

Rayland was joined by Doni Schroeder on drums, Jeremy Clark on keyboard, and Tyler Osmond on bass. I especially enjoyed guitarist Jaan Cohan who was given a number of solos during the set.

Doni Schroeder

Tyler Osmond

Jeremy Clark

Jaan Cohan

The first opener was Last Good Tooth, a band from Rhode Island. I knew nothing about them, but any band that has MorganEve Swain (of brown bird and The Huntress and Holder of Hands) playing fiddle with them will catch my attention.

Penn Sultan

MorganEve Swain

Kevin Sullivan on bass, Arthur Kapp on drums, and Penn Sultan on guitar comprise the band whose style they describe as “musical docu-drama”. I can honestly say I have never seen that as a way to describe music!

Arthur Kapp

Kevin Sullivan

The main opener was Margaret Glaspy, a singer-songwriter based in New York. I first saw Margaret perform at Club Passim so I knew more or less what to expect.

Margaret Glaspy

Recently signed to a new record label (ATO Records, which is also Rayland’s label), Margaret’s solo set consisted of songs that will appear on her album to be released in June 2016. Unfortunately there was a lot of crowd noise from people who at least had the good sense to stand at the back of the room and talk. Those of us standing close to the stage were treated to a lovely performance by a talented musician.

Margaret Glaspy

This was yet another evening of excellent music, enhanced by the new sound and light systems! Perhaps The Paradise, owned or operated by the same group, will follow suit.

Rayland Baxter

I am thrilled I was able to see Rayland at a small venue before his popularity soars and he is playing larger venues with less intimacy.

Thanks to Rayland Baxter for the ticket; all opinions are my own.