The Nashville based Indie-Folk Rockers crushed a Thursday Night 

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August 21^st was not only my mom’s 75^th birthday but it was also an evening of energy and fun fueled music at The Blue Room in Nashville.  While my mom couldn’t be there herself, I celebrated her ¾ century life with a packed house of party people.  She would want that to be the case, and I was there for it.  The bill was Arts Fishing Club supported by Almost AM in the cozy quarters of The Blue Room, which is adjacent to Jack White’s Third Man Records.  

I had caught AFC at The Jukebox Jam 2 at the Basement East a couple of weeks earlier and was dazzled by so many performances including theirs.  When I heard about the show in downtown Nashville I jumped at the opportunity to check out a full set.  What I had witnessed at Jukebox Jam was a night of soul, with around a dozen acts playing 1950’s and 60’s styled songs with an ambience of a mid-century prom.  

Christopher Kessenich gleamed my eye at that soiree. He boasted a rousing spirit that electrified the already buzzing room. He is the frontman for AFC and on that night he stood out, with his tall frame, in front of an amalgamation of players including, but not limited to his everyday band mates.  He crooned ballads of yesteryear tunes in a slowed down groove. He was truly in the moment, and I could recognize his passion from the dark depths of the venue in which I stood with my notebook in hand. 

What I didn’t know was that this was not the nature nor the format of his touring group known as Arts Fishing Club.  Besides Christopher, AFC’s core lineup includes drummer Jody Lee Oliver, guitarist Chris “Dunks” Dunkley and bassist Nir Horowitz. These guys have been grinding for over a decade with vigor and a determination to spread the word about their sound.  This last year, according to the band, has been especially taxing, “We haven’t had a day off in months”, explained Kessenich on stage.  “If we haven’t been playing music, we have been mixing, shooting videos or something else related.  We have already played like 100 shows this year, or probably more. I don’t know.”  

Their sound is hard to root down and that’s why I am excited about their future.  You can say they are this or that, but their ability to play just about anything is evident in their music.  At the core, Arts Fishing Club is branded as an indie-folk rock band, but I am not sure that’s the best descriptor of what they are about, although I am not sure how I would list them if I had to.  The music is fun.  The band plays tight.  It’s fast when it needs to be but slows down with all the right accents tapping directly into all the listeners emotions. They keep it light between songs too, letting the audience know just how much fun they are having.  On this Thursday, in the dimly lit architectural aqua-bowl of a room, our guiding light was AFC. 

Almost AM opened the show and were fantastic in their own right.  These young men have a style all their own, yet it harkens one to the performance-based bands like DEVO, Talking Heads and Kraftwerk.  At one point they blindfolded themselves and played an entire song with other heighten senses.  Later they did tai-chi will the track looped electronically in the background. This is not to say that they are all schtick.  Much like the aforementioned groups, the talent is thriving.  Their fan base was strong too.  They jumped up and down in rhythm with their heroes and raised their hands in admiration of the three-piece they came to hear. 

Arts Fishing Club chose wisely with this opener and was able to ride that wave of exuberance into their set.  After this show they begin a two-month tour supporting The 502s. Before this show: “We were in the woods, with another band (who was seemingly in the audience cheering) and did some drugs.  Because what else are you going to do in the woods.  Anyway, this is the result!” The band punched into an action-packed jam about the music gathering known as Treefort Music Fest.  

Kessenich belts out big notes and then meets with his bandmates onstage during instrumental interludes to play licks shoulder to shoulder, back-to-back, and smile to smile.  The love between players is palatable.  Booming electric sounds blast from the guitars and the drums back the explosions with precision and control.  This show was definitely loud.  I don’t know whether the band had their levels up to eleven or if it was the acoustics accommodated by the smaller venue, but the tunes were turnt up.  My Apple Watch gave me decibel warnings throughout the show, letting me know that I would suffer permanent damage if I didn’t put in some earplugs.  I ignored the advice of my electronic guardian and carried on.  The damage has been done. 

The lyrics and tone of the band resonate with their fanbase.  The words are sopped in expression of both adventure and travel.  There is a hippie backbone to the tonality, and as big as they are sonically, the depth dives down into a freer & more spiritual soundscape. Pop music is non-existent in this well guided setlist, and it is a happy change of pace from force feeding bands that are trying too hard to be something that they cannot be.  I found this quote from the frontman on SteamboatPilot.com that sums up the mission of the faction, “At the core of our music is joy. We want people leaving the show thinking that they had one hell of a night,” he said. “I also really believe in people. Life is really hard for anyone and everyone, and music is our way of helping people carry that.” 

This sentiment was highlighted as the band reappeared after their scheduled show to play “one more song” for an encore.  The four put boots back on the stage after sneaking away and had obviously prepared to play a certain piece.  However, the crowd chanted for a well-loved song called ‘Gary Busey’. The group smiled and acknowledged the ask, but I think they still intended to play something else until one young lady shouted out the request again and shouted, “I drove 9 hours to be here!”  Kessenich was wowed and asked her to repeat the amount of time that she took on the road to be a part of this concert.  “Nine. Hours!”, she repeated. Christopher then turned to each member of the band to let them know the change in plan.  He pointed at the jubilant fan and said, “Just for you!”  You could hear her audible exclaiming, “I am so happy!”, as the band granted her and the audiences submission. 

This is the heartbeat of Arts Fishing Club.  It’s to make the people happy by playing music that they are passionate about.  It is not a compromise, but rather a community based in joy.  I highly recommend watching them live when you get the chance.  They are a band that deserves to be seen in their element.  Always support live music and live music venues.  I wasn’t in the best headspace in the days leading up to this event, but I left with peace of mind and gratitude. 

TOUR DATES HERE