November 16th in Nashville, and I’m strolling into Brooklyn Bowl for a Nightly concert. Let me tell you, the vibe was already buzzing. Nashville’s own Nightly, these indie-electro-pop wizards, had the joint sold out. You could feel the excitement crackling in the air, like the whole crowd was sharing a secret joke, and the punchline was about to be epic.
The place was packed to the rafters. A blend of indie kids, pop enthusiasts, and everyone in between was there, all hyped for what was about to go down. Nightly – these guys are something else. From their roots in Philly to rocking out in Nashville, they’ve come a long way, and now they’re owning stages like Brooklyn Bowl.
They kick off with “Wear Your Heart Out,” and the crowd is all in, hanging onto every note. I’m telling you, these guys know how to start a party. The energy was like a live wire, zipping through us all. Then they roll into “Shirt” and “On Your Sleeve,” and it’s like we’re all on this musical rollercoaster, no getting off now.
When “the movies” and “radiohead” hit, it’s a whole new level. The crowd’s singing along, and I’m caught up in it, feeling like I’m part of some massive Nashville indie choir. And then Nicholas goes solo with “whiskey, pt. 2” – man, that was something special. Just him and his guitar, and it felt like he was singing just for us.
The highlight? When they teamed up with Knox for “Miss When You Missed Me.” Talk about chemistry! It was like magic on that stage. The way they played off each other, it was like watching musical ping-pong, and we were all there for it.
The whole night was a blur of awesome tunes – “naked,” “Black Coffee,” “older,” and then “navy blue” and “pink starburst” had everyone singing their hearts out. It felt like we were all friends at the best party ever.
Leaving Brooklyn Bowl that night, with Nightly’s tunes still in my head, I felt like I’d stumbled onto one of Nashville’s best-kept secrets. It wasn’t just the music or the way the band owned the stage – it was the whole vibe. The kind of night where you walk out feeling like you’re floating, your head a little dizzy with melodies and the buzz of a crowd that was more like a family. Nightly threw a party where every note felt like it was for us, the audience. And as I stepped out into the cool Nashville air, I couldn’t help but feel a bit smug – I’d just been part of something pretty darn special.
