TX2 / TILLIE / FLAT OUT – LIVE AT BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL
By Crystal Valerie
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, fans came from Albany, Vermont, and beyond to experience TX2 at Brighton Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. The standing-room-only venue offered 500 fans the chance to get a dose of togetherness and entertaining emo / hard rock / pop punk music from bands Flat Out, TiLLie, and TX2 for another stop on the Cruel World Tour.
This sold-out all ages show provided the environment for fans to connect with a community of like-minded individuals, and the topics of mental health, sexual assault, and domestic violence came up several times throughout the night. Each artist spoke out against domestic violence, sexual assault, and suicide awareness, to name a few important topics discussed during the evening. We should keep an eye on their rise to the top, because if Sunday night proved anything, it’s that there’s something positive in the world, shining like a beacon in the darkness.
Starting the night on a strong note, Flat Out performed with high energy. Joe Occhiuti, FRANCO, and Michael Meaney shared the stage with guest musicians, rounding out their sound as eager fans awaited their favorite songs. The audience responded with waving arms, while many were still lined up outside awaiting entrance to the show. The upbeat tunes were delivered with precision and a relaxed style that complemented the occasional rap verse or two. The audience responded well, jumping to the beat, waving their arms, and singing along.
Their setlist included numerous exciting tunes, including “This shit ain’t fun no more,” “Good Luck,” and “I feel like myself.” The band spent some time recognizing the upcoming artists while getting the audience pumped for the next acts, tiLLie and TX2. Ending on a high note with “THE CITY’S SHAKING,” they thanked everyone for making the trek to the venue. After their set, the band even lingered around their merch table to be accessible to anyone who wanted to say hello. With positive energy like this, it’s certain that great things will happen for Flat Out.
During the short break between bands, the crowd sang along with the background music, talked amongst themselves, and shared stories about previous shows. By the time tiLLie took the stage, the fans were ready to rock out. And rock out they did.
I hadn’t heard tiLLie before that show, and the best way to describe her for the over 40 set is imagine Joey Lauren Adams starring in a musical anime featuring sea creatures, but with a message. I connected with tiLLie’s poppy/hard rock sound that mixed fun anime-style noises and fantastic creatures out to do their master’s bidding, something she calls “Nightmare Pop”. But more than anything, I can relate to her story, and sharing trauma with another person is a strong thing. I’m part of the tiLLieverse now.
Beginning with “mOmS bAsEmEnT,” tiLLie roared and belted high notes, showcasing her impressive vocal range. Before entertaining the audience with “jeLLiefish aPocaLypsE,” tiLLie explained its origin and offered us a glimpse into the tiLLieverse, which comes up throughout the set. She dedicated the next song, “flip a switch,” to her dad, “the craziest bitch I know!”
The crowd roared and cheered, bouncing to the beat with some chanting along. In “Christian With A Gun,” tiLLie tells the unfortunate and too often true story of what fear and religion can do to a person, and what’s worse, what some choose to do with it. For “kooL aiD mAn,” tiLLie began by commanding the audience’s attention for some important announcements.
“I just wanna make it perfectly clear that it is never okay to put your hands on someone you claim you love,” she said, the crowd cheering in agreement. She continued to share a heart wrenching personal story about domestic abuse and how frustrating it is that the system doesn’t protect those who suffer at the hands of a significant other.
“But the more I thought about it, I was like, ‘this piece of shit is not worth going to jail for!’ So, I wrote this song about summoning the Kool Aid Man to kill him for me!”
The song is upbeat and infectious, and it will live rent free in my brain from now on.
After, tiLLie showed more of a pop sound in “Peachie,” giving more of a breathy vocal style to the lyrics.
You love to hate me and I make it easy
Talking the truth, I know it drives you crazy
I’m riding steady while your head is spinning
You love to hate me, but I
I stay peachie, peachie
One of my biggest pet peeves in music is when artists aren’t using their voice and their platform to reach out to people going through a difficult time.I remember all too well the supposed “Girl Power” movement, appropriated by the creators of the Spice Girls and echoed by Gwen Stefani in No Doubt’s “Just a Girl.” But the movement was a misdirection—merely a false sense of independence and a carefully curated act of female defiance.
With “beTH aMpHeTamiNe,” I have hope. The story tells us about the polar opposite of a Debby Downer. beTH is someone who rose from the literal ashes, clawing her way out of Hell where she did not belong, and taking her place in this world as someone who doesn’t take shit. Following with “the me u kno,” tiLLie explained that when someone tells you that you’re changing, or tries to imply that they know you better than you know yourself, they’re full of it, and they can fuck off. She asked us, “what if this is the person you were meant to become all along?”
“bLeSs uR hEaRt” gives us a glimpse into Southern-styled insults and how messed up some people can be, especially to a child. Ending the evening with “reaLitie biTes,” and hopefully there’s more to come from tiLLie in the near future.
As people packed into the main floor in front of the stage, eagerly awaiting the arrival of TX2, they sang along to My Chemical Romance’s “Teenagers” with passion and showcased their devotion to the genre. And just like that, I felt old, recalling how almost 20 years ago I was hearing that song for the first time at 23.
But let’s not talk about that.
When TX2 took to the stage, the crowd erupted with excited screams and claps, quickly launching into an unknown song, following with “Black Wedding” and “Violent Nature.” TX2 took a moment to recognize each member of the crew, with their lead singer, Evan Thomas, introducing them to the crowd. Next, Thomas introduced Cameron “Cam” Rostami, and Courtney “Corky” Howard, each member receiving heavy applause.
The group played their hearts out, delighting fans with energetic rock from tunes like “Degrade Me,” “Swing at Me,” and “Cruel World,” the latter being the namesake for the tour. With “Vendetta” and “Burn,” TX2 showcased their punk side with a dose of heavy guitars.
For “Randy McNally (No Love Like Christian Hate),” we have the sentiments from tiLLie’s “Christian With a Gun,” that often the people hiding behind the Bible are the ones doing the most damage. “Loaded Guns” followed with a declaration that the band won’t stand for bigotry or hate. The band followed these heavy tracks with “Heaven Was Full (I’m Headed Straight to Hell),” another song that’s sure to be stuck in your head.
Ahead of “Am I a Ghost?” Thomas reminded the crowd that they’re not alone, and that all it takes is reaching out to someone when you’re feeling at your lowest.
“We’re building a community, and we need you here and we need you healthy,” they continued.
This message of positivity is why I love live shows, especially when the artists demonstrate how important each person in their fandom is to the band. “So Numb” and “Vampire By Rumor” followed, generating quite the response from the crowd before the band left the stage, returning moments later for their encore.
I discovered TX2 after they partnered with Ice Nine Kills on the track “MAD,” which they played perfectly before launching into my other favorite, “I Would Hate Me Too.”
For a few short hours, fans got the opportunity to experience a punk show at its finest. Before departing for the final time, TX2’s Thomas told the crowd they’d be standing by the merch table for as long as it takes to thank each of the 500 fans who came out to see them.
Unfortunately, but understandably, the hardworking staff of Brighton Music Hall informed TX2 and their fans that they would not be hosting a meet and greet. Not to be deterred, TX2 stood on the snowy streets of Boston outside the venue to meet as many fans as possible, risking hypothermia and slippery roads. Their devotion to their fans is truly impressive, and I, for one, am curious to see how that will translate to larger venues. It’s clear that’s where they’re headed—it’s just a matter of time.
If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic abuse or suicidal thoughts, reach out.
Domestic Abuse Hotline (available 24/7): 1.800.799.SAFE (7233), or text START to 88788, or visit https://www.thehotline.org/
Suicide Hotline (also available 24/7): Call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/
“We need you here and we need you healthy.” – TX2
To learn more about TX2, check out their Website
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