I moved to Los Angeles last June from Nashville, where I had spent the previous six years of my life, studying piano at Belmont University, playing in bands, and going to shows. After moving to LA, I've definitely slowed my show attendance, mostly because I don't know as many musicians on the west coast as I did in Nashville. So when I got to come back to Tennessee to be in Les Mis at the Schermerhorn, I jumped at the chance to head out while in town to one of my favorite venues, The Basement, to see some music.
My old band mate and friend Houston Mathews (Music City Underground) texted me he was playing drums, and headed over to get there by 7. After spending over half a decade there, I started running into people I knew: old friends I hadn't seen in years, some I've only seen cross your Facebook feed from time to time. Even though I love where I'm at now on the west coast, Nashville is always a reunion I enjoy.
The show started with Ruston Kelly (www.rustonkelly.com), a songwriter I've always admired for his unique voice, guitar chops, and versatility. Back in 2013, Rusty recorded acoustic guitar on my side project, Mother Honey. Tonight, with Houston at drums and an assortment of other band mates, Rusty nailed his set, from beautiful ballads that grew from start to finish, to other rockin tunes with a splash of country. I've seen Rusty go from highs to lows and back again with his career, but one only needs to listen to his exciting, sometimes mischievous voice to start to understand where he's been.
After Rusty was Rick Brantley (rickbrantley.com), a songwriter I had never heard before, which reminds me another reason Nashville makes ls amazing. The fact that I could live here for anytime at all and not know who half the bands are in this town, is pretty typical of the scene. Rick had another great band with two of my other favorite musicians in town, Hank Born (guitar) and Kristen Rodgers (vocalist). There were songs that were pretty ballsy, rockin, and full of Springsteen-esque energy that made me fist pump, while another tender song called "Hurt People" brought the venue to complete silence. Overall, Rick worked hard to give a great show, and I'd go see him again.
My favorite thing about going to a show in Nashville is the audience. It's still hard to get people to come out to shows, either because they just played a show, or are rehearsing for another, and don't have time to make it. But when they do come out, they listen, while other cities might just be trying to get drunk or take selfies. Don't get me wrong, that definitely still happens-but as a musician, you know when performing that your music is in good ears once it leaves the stage.
I'm so glad I was able to jump back into a moment in the Nashville indie music scene, if only for a night, and enjoy great music and great people once again!
My old band mate and friend Houston Mathews (Music City Underground) texted me he was playing drums, and headed over to get there by 7. After spending over half a decade there, I started running into people I knew: old friends I hadn't seen in years, some I've only seen cross your Facebook feed from time to time. Even though I love where I'm at now on the west coast, Nashville is always a reunion I enjoy.
The show started with Ruston Kelly (www.rustonkelly.com), a songwriter I've always admired for his unique voice, guitar chops, and versatility. Back in 2013, Rusty recorded acoustic guitar on my side project, Mother Honey. Tonight, with Houston at drums and an assortment of other band mates, Rusty nailed his set, from beautiful ballads that grew from start to finish, to other rockin tunes with a splash of country. I've seen Rusty go from highs to lows and back again with his career, but one only needs to listen to his exciting, sometimes mischievous voice to start to understand where he's been.
After Rusty was Rick Brantley (rickbrantley.com), a songwriter I had never heard before, which reminds me another reason Nashville makes ls amazing. The fact that I could live here for anytime at all and not know who half the bands are in this town, is pretty typical of the scene. Rick had another great band with two of my other favorite musicians in town, Hank Born (guitar) and Kristen Rodgers (vocalist). There were songs that were pretty ballsy, rockin, and full of Springsteen-esque energy that made me fist pump, while another tender song called "Hurt People" brought the venue to complete silence. Overall, Rick worked hard to give a great show, and I'd go see him again.
My favorite thing about going to a show in Nashville is the audience. It's still hard to get people to come out to shows, either because they just played a show, or are rehearsing for another, and don't have time to make it. But when they do come out, they listen, while other cities might just be trying to get drunk or take selfies. Don't get me wrong, that definitely still happens-but as a musician, you know when performing that your music is in good ears once it leaves the stage. I'm so glad I was able to jump back into a moment in the Nashville indie music scene, if only for a night, and enjoy great music and great people once again!