Monday, August 3 was the moment I have been waiting for all my photography life. I had the opportunity to photograph my first “big” concert, Train, from the pit at Musikfest!
Yes, THAT Train! THE Pat Monahan!
I don’t need to let you know how they sounded. I mean… they’re Train! We only got to be there for three songs, and before I knew it, the three songs were over, but it was a moment I’ll never forget! Hopefully, it’s only the first of many opportunities like that. Thanks to Musikfest and UMC for the experience of a lifetime!
As we get set for the arrival of ARREIS‘ forthcoming EP, Angel — and the dynamic and exciting release show that will serve as its precursor on Wednesday, June 17 at Nashville’s The East Room — let’s treat ourselves to a preview with the Chicago native’s latest single.
“Aurora” was released on May 29, and is a cinematic rock anthem about a woman finding her own independence through heartbreak, and in spite the societal structures that often discourage such autonomous growth. Named after the princess featured in the Disney classic, Sleeping Beauty, the song features an awakened heroine who has dusted herself off and picked her own tiara up off the ground.
“A song written about feeling abandoned by a boy has turned into an anthem for women to reject the systemic teachings that have been forced upon us for generations,” ARREIS said in an Instagram post prior to release. “It’s not about not needing a man— it’s about delivering ourselves from the ones who wish us harm. My wish is for every woman to live comfortably and freely in whatever life she chooses.”
“Aurora” is one of the many songs featured on Angel that have been re-imagined from ARREIS’ 2020 debut album, Blindside. You’ll hear more when it’s released on Friday, June 26 (and you’ll have a chance to snag it earlier, if you buy your ticket to the East Room show).
Since we arrived in Nashville about seven years ago, we have known Broadway as a place where musicians go to break in. Seven days a week, you’ll find the city’s working musicians making their living along the street’s iconic strip of honky tonks, performing in 4-hour blocks from mid-morning until the wee hours of the evening.
Some work doubles (and even triples), fielding song requests from tourists who have emerged from all corners of the globe to take in the city’s culture. Once in a while, these performers will sneak in an original tune, giving revelers and passers by a glimpse into their artistry.
On Wednesday nights, however, those who head to the top floor of JBJs on Broadway can catch more than a glimpse. Original music has the floor from 6-10 p.m. during the Rock ‘n Roll Opry, a weekly showcase which gives Nashville’s emerging artists center stage.
Started by a group of Nashville-based musicians, the Rock ‘n Roll Opry gives Nashville’s artists a place to hang out, network and, of course, perform. The house band consists of multi-instrumentalists Mic Guy (vocals/bass/guitar), Rob Talton (vocals/keys/bass), Rory Kennedy (vocals/guitar/bass/drums), and Thomas O’Brian (vocals/drums/bass), who support aspiring performers during the open jam portion of the evening at the end of the night — after a genre-diverse lineup of rising stars have the opportunity to showcase a few of their strongest tunes, to the delight of anyone who ventures up to the top floor in search of something new.
As for the lineup this past Wednesday night, we caught sets from country rock artist and Texas native Hannah Bell, pop rock songwriter extraordinaire J4, and funk-pop powerhouse Ginn. Each artist brought their own brand of thunder to the evening, providing a compelling sample of the talent that resides in every corner of Music City.
Want to learn more or submit? We encourage you to head to rocknrollopry.com — and then come out in support of some of Nashville’s best every Wednesday night!
This month’s UnderDogs Across Borders concert is perhaps our most genre-diverse offering to date, featuring performances from across the musical spectrum and beyond.
Tonight and through October, your support of UnderDogs Across Borders helps us bring the UnderDogs to New Orleans for NOLA MusiCon 2025, taking place Oct. 28-30. More details about our plans are coming very soon!
Our September 16 lineup includes:
Impactful spoken word artist Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
John Peterkin pays homage to his late cousin on “Power of Life,” the latest single from The Peterkin Project.
“This heartfelt song was co-created with my late cousin Mark, who fought a brave battle against cancer and inspired me to pursue music,” Peterkin said on the band’s official Facebook page.
The steady rocking new single features a warm acoustic sensibility, which underscores some hopeful, U2-inspired licks from lead guitarist Shawn Andrew. Peterkin’s lyrics paint a picture of those who leave indelible imprints on our hearts and minds — even after they transition from this Earthly plane.
For more about “Power of Life” and all things The Peterkin Project, John is one of several guests who join us on The Quinn Spinn this coming Monday, September 15 as part of our series taped live at Gussapolooza 2025, which took place last month in Cookstown, Ontario, Canada. Be sure to tune in!
Our next installment of UnderDogs Across Borders: The Concert Series will take place live from Helping Our Music Evolve in Nashville on Tuesday, September 16 from 7-9 p.m.
Co-hosted by Nicolas Soul (with an assist from the guy writing this post), our next UnderDogs Across Borders concert is perhaps our most genre-diverse offering to date, featuring performances from across the musical spectrum and beyond.
Our September 16 lineup includes:
Impactful spoken word artist Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
If you’re in Nashville, join us at H.O.M.E. (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville). If you’re not, join us from absolutely anywhere in the world with internet on our YouTube channel. As always, we kindly ask you to make a $10 suggested donation to our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, which you can do anytime by clicking on this link!
Based in the beautiful state of Massachusetts, High Tea consists of Isabella DeHerdt and Issac Eliot. Combining thoughtful songwriting with world class musicianship, Isabella and Issac have gone above and beyond with their new album, A Small Notion. The album provides songs that are gentle, alongside selections that bring a noticeable rebellious punk energy filtered through folkier sensibilities.
A Small Notion has emotional weight drawn from their personal experiences of loss and change, with stories created to guide the listener through the journey. Starting with the title track – a folk rock offering with pop hooks – we are led into “A Stray in Lee County,” which is a true bluesy romp rock song, complete with strings and excellent vocals.
“Paper Mache” is lighter and sweet, showing a softer side of the band, while “Ouch, Oh Shit” highlights the band’s ability to write a big chorus. I loved the layers of vocals on “Bittersweet Evenings,” a song which also includes a feature from Corey Latiman.
“Heartbreak Kid” and “The Metaphysical and Technicolor End” both highlight the band’s musicianship, while “Scuba Diving” – a full band version of High Tea’s 2023 single – fits the album well.
With another big chorus on “There Goes My Old Soul” – and, truthfully, nearly every song on A Small Notion – High Tea solidifies its knack for writing a hook. Then, to close out the album with a bang, we have “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” (featuring Chris Freeman) and “Shadows and Shadows” (featuring Heather Maloney). A Small Notion is a polished album created by experienced musicians. High Tea has successfully blended folk music with rock and punk, and made an album unlike any I’ve heard before. When listening, it’s impossible not to be impressed with the band’s songwriting abilities. Each song has its own distinct hook and identity.
Electric Lemonade fascinates me. Based in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, the trio made of Sarah Murphy, Hannah Mazurek, and Rob Jones prove the fact you don’t need to be in large, oversaturated music markets like New York or L.A. to be worthy of coverage. Electric Lemonade proves that musicians who focus on their own communities and stories tend to be among the most authentic, interesting artists.
From the very first drum beat, their song “You’re Watching Me” pulls you into this organic spacious jam which highlights the band’s excellent musicianship – while reminding us that rock is far from dead. Lyrically, “You’re Watching Me” is the story of the end of a relationship, and the decision to move forward through the pain, choose yourself, and embrace who you are.
“You’re watching me, I see you in the list of viewers On my Instagram story, you know that I can see you. I believe that mistakes lead us to places that we’re bound for. Can you let me go? Can you let me go?”
Those are my favorite lyrics from this song, as they highlight an absolutely modern phenomenon of the online interactions and algorithms we share with people. Personally, I haven’t had the experience of breaking up with someone and have them still watch my Instagram stories. How awkward that must be…
On the song, the band states: “We wrote this one in the studio when we were working on our upcoming EP. It started out with a version of the lyrics and some musical ideas we had floating around for a while. We came up with a rough version to play for our producer (Jordy Walker) and tweaked it a bunch, but really, the bulk of the song was written over one jam session.”
I hope to find myself walking the streets of Whitehorse one day. It’s an amazing city nestled in brilliant mountain wilderness, and judging from what I’ve heard from Electric Lemonade, I bet its music scene is mature. I imagine hiking around the area, getting some food, and then heading to a show. Hopefully, that would mean I would be lucky enough to catch Electric Lemonade play their music. For now, I’ll be listening on repeat moving forward.
Last Wednesday — following our inaugural UnderDogs Across Borders livestream benefit concert — our friend and fellow UnderDog Brother Dusty held a special event in Nashville at The Underdog, in celebration of his birthday *and* the release of the music video for his new single, “whoa.” (Clips of the event have begun surfacing, in case you want to check ’em out.)
We can definitely understand why Dusty threw a party of such magnitude. This one is worth celebrating!
Produced in conjunction with Ensworth Guitars and directed by Anastasia Elliot and Josh Saltzman, “whoa” is a thrill ride that breaks the rules and bends the genres as only Brother Dusty can. The video was filmed on location at popular Nashville music venue The Underdog and the Garden Family Warehouse, and is as dynamic and explosive as the hard-hitting single for which it was created.
Brother Dusty is just getting warmed up. Make sure you keep an eye on his socials for updates, and watch the video below. It’s sure to make you go… “WHOA.”
TONIGHT! We’re going live from 7-9 p.m. for the first-ever UnderDogs Across Borders benefit concert. Join us as we present a genre-diverse interstate lineup featuring independent artists from within the Underground Music Collective community.
By supporting UnderDogs Across Borders, you are empowering UMC to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities for our artists.
