Dylan Gossett in Boston – November 13, 2024
One of country’s freshest singer-songwriters, Dylan Gossett, just sold out the House of Blues on his very first visit to Boston. His unique blend of indie rock, folk, and Americana country had all 2,200 attendees captivated from start to finish. Fellow-Texan Coleman Jennings set the tone with his rich opening set and eased the crowd into a vibrant night of country music.
Coleman Jennings
New-on-the-scene Coleman Jennings engaged the full spectrum of the audience with his short yet impactful opening set. His unique sound, which resembles that of traditional outlaw country with infusions of classic rock, folk, and blues, grabbed the audience immediately. Coleman’s vibrato-heavy voice felt inherently familiar, and his lyrics fresh and innovative.
Joined on stage by a pedal steel, keyboard, bass, and drums, he also showed off his own guitar and banjo skills. Coleman played his only four released songs from his debut EP “Wildflowers & Tears” as well as unreleased originals. At just 23 years old, opening for a rising star like Dylan Gossett, it’s clear that Coleman Jennings is on the rise himself.
Dylan Gossett
Just a year after independently releasing his debut song “To Be Free,” Dylan Gossett has skyrocketed to country phenomenon. With his rustic, no-frills vocals and self-written lyrics that cut straight to the soul, his music brings a refreshing dose of wisdom and introspection to the genre, which seemed to sit especially well with Boston’s hometown energy. Lyrics like “They say pressure makes diamonds; How the hell am I still coal?” and “Smells like weed and gasoline” are a few of his hardest hitters.
From the second he took the stage, Gossett seemed entirely at home among his vibrant Boston fanbase. Joining him was older brother, Blake Gossett, who boasted his own incredible guitar skills and harmonies, Colton Hardy, who seamlessly alternated between banjo and keyboard, Justin Babineaux on bass, and Max Lang on drums. Their tight-knit closeness enlivened the show even further as they interacted with each other and the audience all night.
Gossett didn’t just sell out the House of Blues—he packed it to the brim with passionate, genuine fans of all ages. They sang their hearts out to every lyric, including to his newest song “Tree Birds,” which has barely been out a month. He spoke to the crowd like friends, sharing personal anecdotes along the way, like the intimate origin story of his hit song “Beneath Oak Trees,” about marrying his wife at an Oak Ranch in Texas last year.
Gossett’s stage presence and music are magnetic. He commanded with raw intensity, creating a blissfully country atmosphere of singing, dancing, and laughing. The sense of community was palpable, and even people who may have been unfamiliar with his music were swept into the infectious rhythms and moved by his emotionally vivid lyrics.
Dylan Gossett is very clearly on a fast track to much larger venues, and Boston was incredibly lucky to experience the raw emotion and energy of his music on such an intimate scale.
