photo by Geoff Wilbur

Tommy Feeley

Tackle Box Brewing Company, Marlborough, MA

January 30, 2026

Last night, I caught a 30-minute acoustic set from Tommy Feeley at Tackle Box Brewing Company, opening for popular Dave Matthews Tribute Band So Lucky. Prior to planning to catch Tommy live, I sampled some of his music online, enough to realize his voice was going to translate to a great live performance. Also, that some actively-produced studio time is likely to produce some great, broad-appeal recordings. So did last night’s performance prove me right? Oh, yeah!

photo by Geoff Wilbur

First, though, I want to mention the venue. I had never stepped inside, and I’ve gotta say, it’s a great room. There’s a stage at one end, with room in front of it, presumably for dancing, which I’m sure happens given the line-up of bands they book. A bar in the back for beer-grabbing. Many games to enjoy and big multi-purpose event space off in the back. Anyway, so glad I got to see this venue. Looks like a fun place to grab a beer, whether there’s a band there or not.

Feeley’s eight-song set began with “Sunrise Over Cheryl,” which seemed kinda Mellencamp-y, served up with John Cougar-ish earnestness befitting the nostalgic song. Next up, “Where I Feel Alive” sported a little more energetic strum, which bent toward a bit more of a Bruce Springsteen feel. With lyrics about “leaving for the West Coast” and “land where the ocean meets the sunrise,” both the tempo and the lyrics are ideal for a travelin’ song.

“Incendiarism” sported a little more ’90s alt-rock vibe. Not that the songs vary that much, they’re all tightly within a stylistic window, which is exactly what you want if you want to become a fan of a musical artist, but you also want variety, which Feeley has shown – already by the third song – that he’s capable delivering. It’s a feat that’s even more impressive when you consider the difficulty of providing various as one guy with an acoustic guitar. As for “Incendiarism,” it’s a coolly anguished number, sporting the lyric “she’ll burn this whole house down.” Yikes!

photo by Geoff Wilbur

“Feelgood Fiasco” is a fun story-song that adds to the energy. In it, you’ll lots of Vegas hotels get a mention, so you may hear where you stayed  if and when you visited. For me, I recognized the Hilton Star Trek bar, which I visited back in the late ’90s. Snagged a drinking glass there, which I still have. And I know it’s a song about Vegas, but it’s still not very often you hear Star Trek references in a kickass acoustic rock song.

“Tape Deck” is a song ’80s music fans will dig, with references to a lot of favorites from that era – Poison, Motley Crue, Warrant, Tesla, Bon Jovi. Great, edgy vocals helped drive the song. Next up, “One Man’s Ocean,” with the lyric “one man’s ocean is another man’s wave,” continued the trend of both the singing and the intensity amping up over the course of the set.

The final original of the set, “Choosing Clarity,” was an intense song delivered with a rolling strum. Vocally, it’s another song in which Feeley really leaned into a style that elicits Mellencamp/Springsteen comps.

photo by Geoff Wilbur

For his closing number, Feeley was joined on stage by So Lucky’s lead singer Justin Languirand. Together, they performed a top-shelf cover of the Allman Brothers’ “Soulshine.” With the verses going back and forth between the singers, and load-sharing throughout the song, Feeley really let his voice roll rich and kinda gruff (a little Seger-ish), while Languirand’s vox were higher, sweeter, and somewhat more precise, making for a great combo.

In the end, it was a fun performance. Feeley’s songs were varied and well-written. I kind of wonder what they’d sound like with a full band lineup in a top studio. For sure, they’d rock. As for the atmosphere, I love when acoustic music is performed with rock n roll intensity. If that’s your vibe, too, you’ll dig a Feeley set. The crowd in attendance really dug it, too, with plenty of applause following each song. That alone is definitely not bad for an un-advertised opening act.

To catch Tommy Feeley live, scroll down the main page of his website to the “Upcoming Shows” section. He has upcoming 2026 shows scheduled in every New England state except Connecticut, plus a June jaunt that includes one performance each in Wisconsin and Minnesota. More shows, of course, will be added as they’re booked.