Chuck Indigo, Becca Mancari, Many More Rock Out on Record Store Day

Records are fun to own, and if that’s the extent of your relationship with them, that’s fine. But shopping for them at a mom-and-pop spot where humans decide what to stock and rubbing elbows with others who share your interests (or have totally different ones) add lots of layers to the experience. That creates one more way to build a community with your neighbors, and that’s what Record Store Day is really all about. The boatload of Nashville musical talent on display on what turned out to be a gorgeous Saturday, via shows at two of the many local stores taking part in the holiday, enhanced that feeling.

Per tradition, Acme Radio Live organized the setup in the backyard of The Groove. Despite minor technical difficulties, Bre Kennedy proved patience is a virtue as she opened her set with “Control,” a tune from 2021’s Note to Self, and softly serenaded the crowd with songs from her latest record Scream Over Everything. She brought out Jess Nolan for a gut-wrenching duet on “The Vase” and Robby Hecht for an as-yet-unreleased song. “This feels like the Nashville I moved to in 2015,” Kennedy said to the intimate crowd.

Backed by DJ Mad Mauves and his sidekick Baby Mauves (literally his baby, by the way), Chuck Indigo brought the crowd alive with well-crafted bars that also bared his soul. Over the years, his sound has evolved into a wild blend of neo soul and electropop, but his philosophical perspectives and poetic flow define his performance. Every word is meaningful for the East Nashville native. As he said: “If it ain't your purpose, don’t waste your time.”

Next up, funky rocking megaband Tayls was a party all their own, boasting a string of smiley-face balloons and frontman Taylor Cole’s homemade special-effect gizmos in service of their purposeful chaos. “We’ve been dying to play this gig,” Cole told the crowd. The group couldn’t contain their excitement: During “Scarlet Letter,” pianist Mo Balsam took a flying leap from the stage, and they left the stage amid a burst of confetti. 

Stellar showman Nordista Freeze closed out the festivities at The Groove, throwing cowboy boots and tambourines. If you weren’t familiar with his act, you might not have expected someone sporting his sheer black top and orange camo pants to fire off songs like the doo-wop-kissed bop “Wysteria.” If you’ve heard of Freeze, though, you know he has a reason for everything he does, and the crowd positively erupted as he alternated between psychedelic pop and experimental rap. At the end of the set, he made a characteristically unconventional exit, climbing the lighting rig and scurrying across the store’s roof.

With the release of her record Drive & Cry less than two weeks away, Emily Nenni played a quick set of boot-scootin’ country tunes to a bustling crowd at the backyard stage outside Vinyl Tap. Nenni’s soprano twang and snare-tight backing band — known as Teddy and the Rough Riders when they’re playing without her — got a handful of couples two-stepping down in front. Nenni has been gaining momentum and fans over the past year or so, and rightfully so. With her Grand Ole Opry debut set for May 4, we’re excited to see her star rise even more.

Tuning up between “The Palace” and “Honky Tonk Heart,” two songs from their newest LP Holler that touch on the restorative powers of one’s local watering hole, The Watson Twins gave a hearty welcome to their neighborhood. Holding the hands of toddlers with adorably tiny ear protection, parents gently nudged their way to the front row — whether it was a first concert experience for the kiddos or just an early one, it was undeniably neat.

Inside, following a delightful drag interlude from Lucy Skrews, Becca Mancari and their bassist and guitarist appeared (sans drummer), fresh off a run of dates opening for Tegan and Sara. They focused on their most recent organically groovy and electronically enhanced work, last year’s Left Hand and 2020’s The Greatest Part (though they also played the gem “Golden” from 2018’s Good Woman), and the vibe was confident in a punkish way. If you love Mancari’s records, catch them in person for the stories behind their songs — like live liner notes, but better.

Back outside, songsmith Jo Schornikow accompanied herself on electric piano, with Anson Hohne on drums. The duo arrangements of songs from her 2022 LP Altar were gorgeous, with Hohne showcasing his mastery of dynamics. It’s a shame the crowd wasn’t in a more contemplative mood; here’s hoping for a chance to catch the pair again in a quieter place. After we had to leave, Schornikow returned to join life and musical partner Matthew Houck for a surprise set celebrating Revelator, the new LP from his widely loved project Phosphorescent.

Rock stalwarts Tower Defense, meanwhile, practically blew the windows out with tunes from across their post-punk-inspired catalog, including their newest single “Friendly Factions.” Their music continues to be a sterling example of how growing older and feeling more responsibility, both personal and civic, doesn’t mean you have to stop rocking — in fact, that’s one of the best ways to cope with the anxiety and reach out to others. 

“In Nashville sometimes and Tennessee especially, it can feel hard to feel like you’re at home sometimes, so watch out for your neighbors, keep your loved ones close — those that might be targeted by, I don’t know, the state legislature,” said singer-bassist Mike Shepherd. “This is our town, and they can’t take it.”

Though the party rolled on, we ended our afternoon with Afrobeat champions Afrokokoroot, who appeared Saturday as a 10-member ensemble led by the ever-animated Sunny Dada. Amid thick, kinetic syncopated grooves, they sang of kindness and hope for world peace, and even taught us some dance moves. What a gift to get to share a city with Dada & Co. — hell, with any of these folks, let alone all of them — and call them neighbors!