Bad Copy

If you’ve been following along with my show reviews and galleries this year, you will notice that this has quickly become the Summer of Hoge, Will Hoge that is. I met the Nashville-based singer/songwriter at Dave Hause’s Sing Us Home Festival in May. I drove through the cornfields of Illinois to see him play in Ottawa in June. And then at the end of July, just because I love a good road trip almost as much as I love the inaugural year of a budding festival, I drove to Nashville, TN to attend Will’s own jaunt, entitled the Eastside Ramble, filled with singer/songwriters and bands all brandishing their own brand of Americana.

But I thought this was a punk website?… It is. Let me take you back to a time when we were deep in Donald Trump’s first term. Everyone on social media kept saying that, while the country was falling into chaos, we were at least going to be served the best and most politically charged punk music since Bush or even Reagan. I never really felt that. Did you? And here we are halfway into Trump 2.0, and I again feel like that bands that reside in the genre that once raised and served me are letting us all down. Musically, I have always been looking for a revolution, something to reflect and sustain how I feel inside, to let me know that I am not alone in whatever fight I am fighting. And as a person who has always fallen in love with the lyrics of a song before the melody, I have recently found a safe yet rebellious harbor in Americana, in Folk, in Outlaw Country. They’re walking the walk and talking the talk (albeit with a bit of a twang) that punk has been slacking on and I am here for it.

I came into the Ramble completely blind. I knew Will and his music and that was it. Well… that’s not 100% true, Tim Barry was playing on Day 2 and we ALL know Tim Barry from Avail, from his solo sets, and from his train hopping days. But I walked into the Eastside Bowl in East Nashville mostly unaware about the other artists on the lineup. I was ready for almost anything. What I wasn’t ready for was how amazing the venue itself was. It had been a K-Mart back in the day that was repurposed to a bowling alley and venue with three stages, food, an amazing staff, and a Mid-Century retro vibe that I covet for my own home. But wood paneled walls and globe lights are a conversation for another day. Let’s get to the music.

Will opened up the first set with some welcoming remarks and we were off. Lewis Stubbs Jr. was up first, delivering a soulful, roots-driven set with his band which shook the crowd awake. After his set, I migrated into the another room (what used to be the K-Mart cafe!) and settled in excited to see Kiely Connell. I had heard Keily’s song “Calumet Queen” on an IG post promoting the Ramble and was floored. Her voice is not only commanding, beautiful, and haunting, but she is also originally from Hammond, Indiana. And as someone who has traversed between Chicago and South Bend her whole life, Hammond is like a second home to me. I was not only there to take in Keily’s emotionally charged set, but to support a fellow Hoosier. And in true Midwestern fashion, moments after her set was over, I found myself chatting with her parents as if we were old friends.

Next was Amy Speace whose masterful storytelling and well-crafted songs visually moved the audience, myself included. She ended her set with a song she wrote about Renee Good’s murder, “The Reckoning,” about having to attempt to move forward with regular life while grieving the loss of someone she’s never met, the loss of our humanity, and the direction of our country. As my eyes began to well up from the despair and the anger, I also realized that it only took three sets of the festival and I was already moved to tears. THIS is what I was talking about the opening of this piece. Amy, making me feel something! I was lucky that The Kentucky Gentlemen were next on the main stage, as their energetic songs helped me to shake off the sads. Their set earned a place as one of my favorites of the weekend. With the twin brothers at helm, the room filled with harmonies accented by their charismatic stage presence. They offer a unique blending off traditional country influences with a more modern perspective, plus they added humor to their deeply personal between-song story telling. They have this song, “Cheap Motel,” that is not only a banger, but should have been my relationship anthem for my 20s and early 30s. I’ve had it on repeat since I heard it.

Back out in the lounge, Mark Masefield set up his keys for a quick set. I know Mark from his work with Dave Hause in his backing band, The Mermaid. The few times that we’ve spoken over the years, he has always been the nicest, sweetest person. And at this year’s Sing Us Home, he and his dad performed an unforgettable Billy Joel cover. Mark played a few newer songs which perfectly showcased his thoughtful songwriting and insane musical skills. It was nice to see him step out from the back corner of the stage (where he and his mega keyboard set up is usually placed when he plays with other bands and artists) and into the center spotlight.

I had run into a familiar face from the Ottawa, IL show earlier in the day who told me that The Alternate Routes were a band I couldn’t miss so I shuffled off to catch their set as soon as Mark was done. The duo blends Americana, folk, and rock and wraps is up in heartfelt harmonies. It was another perfect addition to the lineup. Tommy Womack brought his signature wit and seasoned songwriting to those in the lounge. His songs were clever and heartfelt and he had me cracking up. Back in the other room, Amy Gerhartz warned us that her set was going to be mostly talk and maybe a few songs. And as someone who loves a story and feels the need to tell the WHOLE story each time, I respect that. The songs that we did hear were sincere and empowering. Plus, she mentioned that despite years of experience she still plays mostly house shows and that’s just punk af.

Alanna Royale took the stage in the big room and, from the first note, I was floored. Her stage presence can easily be defined as “powerhouse” as she commanded the room with her blend of soul, funk, and R&B. Like so many of the performers that day, she shared personal anecdotes between songs. She confessed to the crowd that this show was the first in awhile for her. Alanna had recently undergone thyroid surgery AND was still grieving the recent loss of her mother. But she wanted to play this show. It almost felt like her performance was even more powerful as the room was moved through a catharsis with along with her and the band. Back out in the lounge, one of Will’s oldest friends, Thom Donovan played a solo set. And while his songs were beautifully crafted, the highlight of his set was when his teen son – dressed head to toe in spot-on Kurt Cobain garb – took the stage with him where they sang “Sliver” together.

Last but never least was Will Hoge and his Rock ‘n’ Roll band. They took the stage in the main room at the end of the night (which was so conveniently planned for around 9PM). Up until this point, I had only seen Will perform solo. But from the very first strum of Jon Tyler Wiley’s guitar, my jaw was on the floor. The energy was so powerful. I knew a lot of the songs on the setlist; I had manically consumed Will’s discography over the last few months. But they took on a new life with a backing band. It also helped that they played almost all of my favorites in one set list. Mark Masefield stepped out behind his mega keyboard set up to show off his accordion skills. At one point tour manager, booker, mega organizer, and all around amazing human Alex Fang came out with a sheet cake and the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Thom Donovan who had taken the stage, smiling wide.

I felt like a stranger in an already well charted land. This was a family affair that I had stumbled into. From the guys onstage who have known each other and worked together for years, to the fans in the crowd who have supported Will and live music for just as long. It was really beautiful to exist in that space and recognize it, if even just for a fleeting moment. As the set ended, the stage cleared and the house lights came up, I looked around to see that everyone was all smiles. We filed out the front of the Eastside Bowl, which had filled up with non-music going patrons chucking balls down glowing lanes, and made our way into the night. As I crawled into my car, I thought about how I felt like I had just finished a good book. It was a journey, a lot happened along the way, but the ending was just right. And it left me thirsting for more.

Check out my Day 1 coverage below and check out Day 2 coverage here!