Nashville’s Punk Scene Shows Up

June 15, 2026 Jason Shrum

Snooper, The Chats and Osees played a free show at United Record Pressing in Nashville

Ticket prices are still outrageous at larger venues, but if you pay attention, you can still find some shows that fit your budget. As the Department of Justice continues to battle with those monsters at Ticketmaster and Live Nation, we beseech that you study your area and find those folks that are stewards in giving you the very best shows for next to nothing. With that being said, you must point your funds directly towards these people, rather than all the “extra fees”. That means buying food and drinks at the venues and merch from the bands. Let us flip that script just a bit and make sure that hardworking booking agents, venues and bands get that money directly fed to them. Not the corporate fat cats who only aim to get fatter instead of bringing joy to the masses. In Nashville I have found organizations like Rocknite, Music City Madness and of course are listener funded public radio station WNXP.

This particular article will be focused on the great job that the latter has provided most recently. Follow those links I dropped a couple of sentences ago to follow those other incredible groups. WNXP has been bringing free shows to Nashville for a few years now and on June 12^th they brought forth another banger. In association with United Record Pressing and the band Snooper,our on-air friends put together a furious show that lit up so many faces that were in attendance. It was hosted in the parking lot of the Music City wax manufacturer and not only were they having Snooper play the bill, but also two mystery bands that would be revealed after a series of clues were dropped across social media platforms.

Bonnaroo was the same weekend, but I am not about to pay those ticket prices, and Rock Oracle isn’t quite big enough to get offered a media pass to the festival. So, when I heard that Nashville punk-band Snooper was dropping a set nearby, I was elated. Then the guessing began as to who was joining them. The hints on Instagram mentioned a band from California and a band from Australia were going to be there. Eventually we learned that the Osees and The Chats were those groups! A fully immersive punk whirlwind was in the making, and I was in full LFG! mode. Not only that, but another announcement was made that the Tennessee brewery, Wiseacre, was dropping off free beer!

In my brain the deal was I would buy merch from each band, tip the beer folks (even though I only had water) and support United Record Pressing. How do you support URP you might ask? Well, they have a store that is open on Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm … and are you ready for this… ALL their records (minus box sets) are $15. Again, if you are going to shell out some cash for music, let’s deliver it into the correct hands. Shop small. Shop Local. Now I have a show to attend. I will let you know now that due to another engagement, I was unable to stay for the third act which was Osees. Pretty bummed, but life happens. I did get my coins to all the proper humans and bought a handful of albums.

Snooper ripped their opening set starting at around 7:45pm and had there been doors; they would’ve been blown off. Snooper’s latest album, Worldwide, came out in October, and I am happy to say that I picked up a copy on cassette tape during the show. I was right up front for the festivities and the mosh pits. With my camera in hand, I braved the sea of bodies swarming to the sensational music created by the band that was formed by the duo of vocalist Blair Tramel and guitarist Connor Cummins. The band is now rounded out by bassist Happy Haugen and drummer Conner Sullivan. People filled the lot and found spots to watch from every possible angle. It was an all-ages show and I am always so happy to see moms and dads bringing their children to enjoy in the solace of live music. Everyone was having an awesome time and treating each other with kindness.

Snooper tours hard and plays even hard. This electro-punk style ensemble plays with vigor. They formed during that COVID lockdown (maybe you heard about it), and it is like all that pent up energy still flows in their veins, and they want to live every second with their bandmates and the droves of onlookers that want to see them play live. There is no more shutting down for this band. Snooper is a high-octane art experience that is brilliantly orchestrated. That scene in the movie This Is Spinal Tap where the guitar player describes his amp going up another level to 11 rather than 10- This is Snooper.

The Chats and Osees had literally snuck away from Bonnaroo to participate in the kick ass program located near the Nashville Zoo (lucky ocelots). The Chats had in fact played a set earlier that same day, and I don’t know how it went in Manchester, TN but they slayed in middle Tennessee. Playing for nearly an hour, the Queensland based “shed rockers” looked to transcend the audience into a next level stratosphere. I took a few elbows to the back of the head whilst capturing some memories on film, but I enjoyed every second of it. The band’s lineup is composed of guitarist Josh Hardy, drummer Matt Boggis, and bassist and vocalist Eamon Sandwith. The music is rapid and enthusiastic and I was thrilled that they had agreed to play in this format. I was already planning to see them later this year as they are opening for the upcoming Social Distortion tour alongside The Descendents.

The set was sharp and aggressive, and the pits got bigger, and the crowd surfing was ignited. Watching The Chats play is like taking one of those defibrillators to the chest. You are given a newlife through a voltaic shock from the band’s energy. The air was thick with humid temps, and the sweat flowed off all the members and was jettisoned from their bodies and hair onto the those who had fought to be up front. That was me. I was encapsulated in it all and even at 50 plus years old I have yet to grow tired of it. Although I do grow more tired after it. It was a perfect night of justly perpetuated angst. Thank you to everyone who made this show happen. Here are some of those pics: