The Music We Needed

At The East Room with Lily Harden, Emilio and Loose Bolts 

This week has been a particularly hard one for American cohesiveness.  The former President, Donald Trump, barely dodged a bullet during a rally several days ago. Instead of banning together and realizing that violence is never the answer to resolving our conflicts we became more divisive in our behaviors.  The internet certainly became incredibly toxic as supporters of both our parties seemed to take more shots at each other, rather than talking about how we can make things better.  Not that the internet isn’t already filled with hate speech and anger.  We ramped it up by one hundred percent.  I long for the days where we just shared photos of our pets, rather than waving our banners and explaining why we are right, and you are wrong.  

Then, the day of this show that I am about to tell you about, current President Joe Biden dropped out of the next political race cause even more back and forth by humans navigating the same rock. I right all this to not only document the time and the place of where we were in history, but also to have a written documentation of where I was when I heard the music.  

Music is important.  Words are important, and remembering is important.   That is part of the beauty of the songs we hear.  They can transport us to a certain time and place in our lives and lift a smile from our hearts to our lips.  The melodies can also wash away the hurt that we feel.  It can bring us together when we are feeling completely alone and make us feel safe. Tonight, the music was going to be particularly important and necessary. Groups of strangers converging on a venue to see their favorite artist, or to experience something new.  Either way, it was time to get off our screens and let these artists share their talents and let us feel raw emotion and soak in the passion from their words and their music. 

Tonight, we would be united, despite being different, because we had a common goal and the happening would take place at The East Room.  This was my first time at this venue, and I was excited to combine a new venue with new music.  This evenings billing featured Lily Harden, Emilio Gonzalez, and Loose Bolts.  My friend Ian Brice is the frontman for the Loose Bolts project, and I had seen him once before in a solo setting at The Cobra.   

The venue itself is that perfect combination of dive bar and small music scene complete with a loft for viewing the show, and a singular stained-glass window that looms over the stage from the back corner. The stage is large for a spot of this size, which is a nice addition for the artists.  It’s a standing room with a concrete floor, a bar that seats only a few, but has a delightful selection of local beers and a decent collection of spirits as well.  A small alcove breaks off in the back of the room and hosts the sound board and seating for the band members.  It is lovely and the people I would meet were equally as lovely and inviting. 

The first up on tonight’s lineup was Emilio Gonzalez. He stands before us, exposed.  Alone on the stage and going first always seems daunting to me.  He waits, says “Hello”, and starts into the first song, which seems to be a love song about “Lucy”.  I didn’t quite catch the name of it, but it’s an alluring track that captures the audience immediately.  We stand together, onlooking with hope and solace, and I recognize that this crowd is so appreciative to be here in this collective on this day in history.  No matter what is happening on the outside, we celebrate inside.  Inside not only this space, but inside our souls, and part of that is listening to this man pour his heart out to us.  He doesn’t know me, but he affects me, and that is special. 

He has a new single out that he shares with us called “Family Matter,” which has us all staring in wonderment and relating to our own families through his well-chosen words. As he closes out the song we cheer with claps and whistle and then he announces an accompaniment with Emme Cannon.   She graciously walks to the stage per his announcement and a mechanical metal fan hums in the short silence to make sure that we are not left in total darkness. 

Emilio makes a statement, “Life is like a series of paintings.  You finish one and the move to the next canvas.”  I like that metaphor and can relate to the ever-changing climate of life.  Always painting and creating and evolving and dreaming of what’s to come. Emme Cannon is what is to come next, and she pair up with the soft tones that Emilio plucks on his guitar.  The two of them are magical.  It’s easily said and maybe cliche but tonight its true.  Their voices meld together is such euphony, it is like one layered tone and that smile lifts my lips.  They perform a song with no name yet and state that they are looking to name the duo but have yet to conjure up a title. I am in no position to make that call.  It could be as simple as just using their names.  I know I look forward to what is next from both these gems.   

They close with a song called “Calamity” and they could not have picked a more appropriate song to end their set with.  Emme’s incredible vocals add to what Emilio has brought to the table.  She does not take.  She only adds to his sweet voice and strings. It is what we needed, and I thank them for letting us in. 

Loose Bolt then opens their arms to us.  As Ian Brice throws the guitar strap over his shoulder and grasps the mic he jokingly says, “This space is giving me a youth group vibe.”  We chuckle in accordance with his jest, and in a way, he is absolutely correct.  The physical ambiance is such, with that stained glass window I viewed as I walk into the room, and that loft in the upper back of the structure looks as if it could be met fondly with a choir.  There is also that fact that we are gathered here with a spirituality and sense of faith is something greater than ourselves, and that’s music.  Ian has help tonight with BrettLynn Easley playing electric to Ian’s acoustic. Ian is a Nashville-based singer, from Florida. He is a talented songwriter and honest lyricist who shares his most vulnerable firsthand experiences with the people in order to connect with them on an exclusive level.  

Ian sings with such conviction and soulfulness it’s hard not to notice once he gets started.  He has a new EP to announce called “Temerity” and it has released to most streaming platforms.  He would play from that.  His lyrics takes us to the depths of break-ups, possibilities, and make it okay to have catharsis in sadness. BrettLynn is a wonderful addition to the story telling with his electric guitar just noticeably above the acoustic, to highlight those emotions. 

The crest of this set is Ian unplugging and jumping down off the stage to engage with the audience on yet another plane. This is where he hits us with “Judy”.  The song starts soft but gradually builds as Brice vocalizes his pain.  A loss that most humans can related to.  We gather tightly around him as he sings right through our physical bodies, over that loft and outside to the streets where some many others are hurting too.  His voice is incredible, and he is gifted with a vocal range that only a handful have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My lyrical takeaway from the single is, “Ooh Judy, I’ve been making some adjustments/ Ooh Judy, won’t you ignore your better judgements/ I’m cleaning up, but you still suspect/ I’m in the back of my mind running.”  We can relate and take comfort in togetherness through shared occurrences.  

Lily Harden puts heels to the hardwood after Loose Bolts, and I have another person to follow on Spotify now.  At just 21 years old, the Nashville native is destined to be in the spotlight for many, many years. I would describe her sound as indie-folk rock and her lyrics are nothing short of enchanting.  For being so young she still evokes those classic components of yesteryears champions.  The lyrical capability of a Joni Mitchell or Joan Baez, combined with a wisdom of Judy Collins, layered with her own talents, is the only way I can begin to attempt her style. 

She is here tonight along with Dylan Massey keeping time on the drums and Austin Collier sharing guitar duties with Harden.  We are in her hands now and we have a feeling of security and happiness that she will take care of us now.  My shoulders drop when she articulates the first lines from the first song.  I am relaxed in her language.  How does someone so young have such an understanding of such complex notions?  

She brings her sister, Maggie, onto the stage to share in “Magnolia Trees”.  It is a song that Lily wrote about her sibling, and now they have chance to open up their personal relationship with this group of onlookers.  The lyrics tell the narrative of the youthful sisters competing and proclaiming possessions for themselves, but also of that undeniable love that comes from family.  Lily realizes that her younger sister looks up to her but does not necessarily feel initial value with that admiration. She also hesitantly admits that she too looks up to Maggie, although she will not admit it.  It speaks of tenderness, fondness, and the warmth of being connected.  It makes me want to step outside and call my sister. 

After that gorgeous moment Lily declares, “Now we are going to get angry and hyped”.  Maggie fumbles to find a guitar pick, and laughs as she says, “The running joke is that I never bring a tuner or a pick”. Maggie slaps back with, “It’s not a running joke- it’s the truth!” Yep, these two are definitely sisters and we are glad they are here in this space and time with them. 

I made new friends that will hopefully become old friends.  I basked in the light that these breathtaking artists brought to a darkened day.  I have downloaded the music, clicked on the follows and I will be patiently waiting until the next time I get to be wrapped up in their grace.  Please look these musicians up and support local music and music venues as much as you can.  The music will always frame the portraits of our lives.  Be good to each other.