House of the Setting Sun

March 31, 2026 Jason Shrum

A Home That Was Filled with Music and Love in East Nashville

When you get the text on a Friday, “So my friend is selling her house in East Nashville and they are doing one last party and hosting several band friends of theirs to come play as I think her house will be clear of furniture. I’m going. Lots of interesting people will be there. Could be fun. I thought of you”, you jump at the chance. Say “yes” more my friend told me many years ago as I was settling into being more isolated regularly. Then I saw the flyer for the event, and I identified a band I knew in Echo Pilot. I arrived as the sun was setting.

As I rolled up to the house, I saw a few of those band members that I recognized and much to my surprise they remembered me too. The house had indeed been emptied of all material goods, but it was filled with so much more. A gathering of likeminded artistic, creative and musically driven folks lingered in every room. A stage was set in what I thought to be the dining room that opened to the living room for the audience to assemble. Carefully placed candles lined a mantle as well as other nooks throughout the space. This is where I met Angel who owned the home and graciously greeted me with open arms without even questioning the unknown person in her dwelling. There were no strangers here. Just friends that I hadn’t met yet.

After a quick tour of this amazing home, I headed back outside to the front porch to kick it with my musician pals. They introduced me to all the other players that were now arriving and setting up their gear. The nights line-up was BCKHND, Echo Pilot, The Thing With Feathers, and Miles Connor. My friend, Dana, who sent the text, showed up with her husband Jeff a few minutes later, and we all talked about moments and music and musically fueled moments. This collective of people was exactly where I was supposed to be. It’s easy to say “no”. To not show up. To live within a bubble of safety. I am glad I don’t exist in that headspace anymore.

The duo BCKHND kicked the night off with a sonically inviting combination of synth and percussion. It was an angelic start to an experience I will never forget. The sounds that were pouring out from the soulful tandem made my body light and my heart full. As I peered around the room, I could see the effects that the healing nature of music provides. Eyes were wide and focused with bodies joyfully swaying like ripples in a puddle of happiness. Midway through the set I mentioned to Angel that I dabbled in music journalism and that I had a camera in my car. She implored me to grab it and snap some photos. As I returned Angel rushed me to the front of the room “He’s putting on the chain mail”, she exclaimed, as the drummer donned the medieval accessory. Next thing you know, I am sitting on the floor in front of the band attempting to pop those perfect photos (which never happens). Her furry friend thought I was there for them and as I focused my lens, I could feel the pup up on my back and shoulder jockeying for position. I had my earplugs in to filter the sound (I always carry them), yet I could still hear the chuckles of some onlookers as I could only imagine the spectacle that we created.

Echo Pilot was the next act up, and I was wondering just how loud they were going to be in this quaint setting. They are a rock and roll band through and through. I have seen them live before, and they give an arena type of performance no matter what the attendance looks like. They pulled it off here as well. It was as if the intensity of The Foo Fighters had pounced upon us. They are a tight knit four-piece group that commands their audience. Hype and raw energy emote from each of the members.

The acoustics of the house were immaculate, and not a showing of feedback or over production appeared. It was like the house wasn’t built just to live in; it was designed to capture the essence of existence within its walls. People jumped around the room and their feelings gleamed out of their faces. Powerful riffs and precision thumping delightfully filled our brains. Escaping the work weeks worries is easier with music and phenomenal company.

Between sets I wandered into the backyard and found people who came up to me and asked my story. The camera helped. I asked how they arrived at the venue as well and found a spattering of fun and interesting stories. Someone knew someone who thought of them (which was my story) or in one instance a grocery store encounter led to an invitation. No matter how we arrived, the fact remained that in this moment in time we were all together and that was thanks to Angel and her mates.

The Thing With Feathers was the next group to take the dining room floor by storm. They are a charismatic company of musicians that joined the wax torches and lit up the night. Like Echo Pilot, they are a powerhouse quartet. I feel like they also share in the want to fill grandiose sized showcases. They played with great passion and the lead singer, David, blended poignant songwriting with driving guitar spots. They have an endearing presence that fit the bill for the night.

The unwanted pieces of us melted away in the presence of such great performers. Like, I mentioned before, the house was void of furniture but filled with so much meaningful substance. Connections were being made with the crack of a smile, a nod of the head or with the high five from a fellow human you had never previously interacted with. Life was simplified in this moment, and we were stripped down to our core. No matter your political stance, religion, social status or what have you that normally stigmatizes society – we were all the same. As it should be. We were locked into the tones and sensory of the ambience and we were together.

Miles Connor had loomed in the background of the festivities throughout the progression of the show. He dripped rockstar vibes as his lanky frame sauntered around the home. He opened with a Nirvana classic followed by an Oasis joint and then joked that he had penned both earlier that day. He has all the showmanship of the greats and plays with a controlled veracity. I sensed a shyness in him that was well hidden but not unnoticed. That is not a negative knock at all, yet it leads to his mystique and a charming sense of wonderment. The kid can play and he left us with an exquisite cover of Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’ in which we all crooned “and I think it’s gonna be a long, long time” at the top of our lungs.

No notes. The night was curated to flawlessness. As I exited, I hugged people that I had only met a few hours before. We need more interactions like these. Stop with all the divisive behavior and come together over commonality. We have limited time on this floating space orb, and we should be sharing in its beauty, rather than fighting for control. Find your community. Find your space. It is then that you will find your peace.