Nashville – California natives bound for Nashville, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers initiated the start of their brief move to Music City with a knockout performance at the Stone Fox. Bluhm, every part a country crooner with a sharp wit to boot, couldn’t have found a more perfect fit here. The band, despite lacking that coveted local credential, embodies the best of Nashville—wailing guitars and finely tuned harmonies with just a touch of that characteristic rhinestone sparkle. Luckily for us, the enigmatic sextet will return to Nashville after the release of their newest album, Loved Wild Lost (via Little Sur Records), which drops this week.
The new album follows Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, the band’s 2013 buzz-worthy debut. Though country can be a polarizing genre that’s often associated with a very specific ideology and aesthetic, this particular brand is entirely likeable. Bluhm and the Gramblers have struck a nice balance between practicing both old and new country, and their pseudo-retro vibe is tempered by an innovative spirit that elevates their sound just above traditional. As grounded as Bluhm’s music is in that tried-and-true honky-tonk rhythm, it’s still so hard to pin down. If I could box it up in its simplest form, it’s country for everyone—deep, complex, soulful, danceable country.
Though you could’ve fooled me into thinking the band was one-hundred percent Nashville homegrown, Bluhm and the Gramblers fold both brightness and at-times mournful reflection into their music that calls to mind the manifest destiny so integral to the legend of their home state. Wispy and tall, Bluhm is a vision herself, especially when backlit by the Stone Fox’s tinsel-decorated stage. Moving with the music, Bluhm and the band launched into a single from the upcoming record, “Waiting on Love.” Upbeat, fun, and hopeful, this song showcased the best of the band, from the backup harmonies to the plucky guitar intro. And Bluhm’s voice, not to be overshadowed, brought the song to an explosive finish.
Even when the mood took a turn away from optimistic, the rhythm remained upbeat, and no one in the room could stay still. “Hey Stranger” is reflective and even a bit sad in its tale of hindsight, but it still carries a hopeful beat despite the lyrics’ apparent defeat. Swaying along to the song, Bluhm poured herself into the show, and it seemed impossible to separate the artist and her personality from both the content of the song and the performance. Utterly relatable while still managing to be catchy, Bluhm’s lyrics hit a place that’s deep inside—and even a little dark—but still, somehow, lighthearted in its percussion.
There’s bound to be a significant amount of buzz following the release of Loved Wild Lost, and I’m eager to see where exactly a Nashville residency will take Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers. Seeing the band live before all of these new developments, however, was a little dreamlike—it’s clear that they’re on the verge of some big changes, and the band radiated a pulsing excitement present this past Thursday night. With a full heart and optimistic outlook, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers blew us all away in Nashville on their very first night here. While spending time in Music City might not have any huge effect on the band’s direction, the band will certainly leave an impression on the city, and we’re mighty happy to have them here.
Following the release of their upcoming album Love Wild Lost, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers will return to Nashville for another Thursday night performance at the Stone Fox on April 30. Keep up with their other tour dates via Facebook.
Amaryllis Lyle
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