A Damn Good Time with Hayden Pattengale & Band at Basement East
Hello, hello my gorgeous beings of light and energy! Your ever-curious and loving Gemini, Stacy, back with a live performance review from last Thursday (Aug 6) at The Basement East – one of Nashville’s most beloved venues. First, let’s begin with some musings:
Living in Nashville quickly introduces you to the wide world of music. It seems that everyone you meet is involved in the music industry somehow and most are extremely gifted in their area of expertise. Having lived in/around the city my whole life, I’ve been honored to meet many of those people – some being the most talented musicians in the area. Even more of an honor, some of those people have become good friends over time. Hell, I eventually snagged one of my own to marry LOL which is funny, really, because I used to vehemently state: “I will NEVER marry a musician!” Don’t ask why I used to say that LOL I can’t recall what so heavily concerned my early-20s brain about it … but I’m VERY glad (obviously) that sentiment didn’t manifest!
With each musician-friend I made (or tried to date LOL), my opportunity to understand music expanded, and I’m extremely grateful to say I’ve learned so much more than I ever thought I would/could about music and the industry – one of my favorite aspects (so far) being all the nuances that take an initial idea for a song and turn it into a hit or a full-blown album … or a song that lights up a crowd – even seeming to transport them to another dimension where they understand nothing more than, “I must dance!” LOL I’m sure you can think of at least one song, right now, that never fails to get you on your feet to boogie down (any genre)! For me, it’s The Jackson 5’s “Blame it on the Boogie.” (Which I suppose my subconscious thought would be funny to bring to mind first LOL)
Bottom line: There are some SERIOUSLY talented people in the world (extending beyond the music realm, too – of course) … and despite how difficult the music industry can be at times, these insanely talented masters-of-their-craft musicians keep trudging forward – pursuing their passion, pouring out their souls, and bringing joy and a sense of connection to the crowds they perform for. As I mentioned in my intro, we had the pleasure of watching one of these seriously talented musicians perform live recently. Not only is he seriously talented (like … beyond seriously), he’s someone we’re lucky to call a friend! – Hayden Pattengale.
Hayden’s been playing music as long as I’ve known him (about 8 years) – but you only have to see him live once to understand he’s been playing guitar and writing songs for much longer than that. He probably wouldn’t consider this for himself, but watching him perform is like watching a master in their craft. His vocals are raw and effortless, and he is one of the most impressive guitar players many have experienced. His music and style is as authentic as it gets – one of those naturally talented musicians – and the energy in his performance creates an all-around immensely enjoyable time. One might even say: A damn good time!
Hayden doesn’t always perform with a band backing him – sometimes it’s just him and his guitar, sometimes it’s him and his brother – but when he does have his band (made up of other incredibly talented musicians that I believe have known Hayden for quite some time!), like this past Thursday, the energy behind his music becomes electrifying. The show at Basement East was just that – and undoubtedly one of the best performances I’ve seen from Hayden so far!
He and his bandmates were so in-sync – playing their songs without a hitch (from a crowd perspective, at least LOL I know there’s a lot that can happen on stage us audience members are “blind” to a lot of the time), and Hayden’s quirky, lovable personality shone brightly in between songs – when he would welcome the crowd into a behind-the-writing narrative for each next song – such as the story for his song “Boomerang” which is apparently about a mushroom journey LOL which was met with boisterous applause from the crowd. Apparently we’re all just a bunch of mushroom journeyin’ folk here in Nashville … I love it!
Overall, Hayden and band’s relaxed, humble energy created an atmosphere that felt more like we’d gathered at a friend’s house for a fun hang. It was high-energy at times but also intimate-feeling at others. A really lovely mixture for a live performance!
Photo by Brian Shorter
For me, this is one of Hayden’s and his bandmate’s strongest elements in general (individually off-stage, as well): They all exude such cool-cat, everyone-is-welcome-here energy, as well as giving 110% in their performance and grooving so fluidly with the music … it’s impossible to not groove along with them. This vibe encourages such a lighthearted, welcoming, loving environment – which is something I’ve personally been missing in the live music scene for a while. Looks like we can count on Hayden and band to bring it back, though!
And if nothing I’ve mentioned so far has piqued your interest yet (which … like … how??) Hayden is also a fantastic lyricist. In order to keep some things a surprise here, I’ll just make a couple song recommendations to get you started: Skipping Stones and Boomerang.
These give you a taste of both ends of the spectrum of his style, I think. To set expectations: The recordings on Spotify are acoustic. In order to get that full band experience, you’ll have to catch them all at their next show! I know I’ll be there!
My final quip about the lyrics: While Hayden and band have plenty of songs that make you want to groove, they also have several that explore topics of heartache, grief, and internal turmoil – aspects of life we all relate to. The depth and intention behind the words really stand out for me and bring a sense of rawness to the music – as if Hayden is inviting us to venture into the depths of his Soul and back up. (That’s the kind of shit I love!)
One of my favorite parts of the show was hearing the crowd singing Hayden’s lyrics back to him. As a friend, that shit makes my heart explode. If anyone deserves that kind of validation and recognition, it’s Hayden and his bandmates. I can’t wait to see what unfolds for him/them on this journey – mushrooms-induced or not LOL
Photo by Brian Shorter
This surely won’t be the last write-up we have on Hayden Pattengale and his troupe of brilliant, musician pals. In fact, I’ll be doing a photoshoot with them soon! (which excuses my semi-shitty phone photos in this article, okay?! Minus the ones noted by Brian Shorter – a dear friend that let us use some of his much better shots. Thanks again, Shorter!)
I’ll be chatting with Hayden and the band about all things music and life during the shoot, as well – Can’t wait to give a bit of an “inside scoop” on the band and their music!
Be on the lookout, you beautiful bright, Rock Oracle lights! Until next time! ~
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