Kishi Bashi concludes tour at Basement East Nashville

Kishi Bashi is not what you would consider a ‘household’ name in the music industry. He isn’t sharing stages with the likes of Billie Eilish, but he has created his own rabid fanbase during his many years performing. Once a member of the band Of Montreal, Kishi Bashi now has the distinct honor of having the largest crowd at any show I have seen in Nashville since I began living here. When I walked into the Basement East, halfway through the opening act, Tall Tall Trees, it was packed with people from the front of the venue all the way to the back. The only reason I had the opportunity to get remotely close to the stage is because a kind security guard noticed I had a camera and he pushed through the crowd to position me closer.

If I am being completely honest, I was not expecting such a turn out!

I at first felt like I had a secret: I had found a hidden gem in the extensive catalog of underground musicians I love. Yet, the giant crowd of people proved that Bashi is much more well-known that I had given this virtuoso of indie pop and rock credit for.

It’s been about 10 years since the release of his debut and widely regarded masterpiece 151a LP and it was the first thing Kishi Bashi mentioned after he opened his set. He spoke at length of how the album changed his life and, to honor its success, he would began the night of music by playing it in its entirety. This type of concert would be a first for me, as I have never had the opportunity to see an artist do something like that. He flowed through the album with a beautiful grace and, even after all these years, played the songs as passionately as ever. My personal favorite came in the form of his first hit, “I Am the Antichrist to You”. The concert shifted gears after the completion of 151a, as he launched into two awesome cover songs: the first being the classic Talking Heads song “This Must Be the Place” and a Meatloaf tribute in the form of “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I won’t Do That)”. It felt more like a sing-a-long at this point, as the walls of the Basement East shook and every fan in attendance screamed along.

With such an intense reaction from the crowd, Kishi Bashi could have ended the show and nobody would have been disappointed, but he wasn’t finished quite yet. He had one final trick up his sleeve, as he brought out a special guest in the form of Mr. Steak — the mascot for one of his most popular songs, “The Ballad of Mr. Steak”. The place absolutely erupted in dancing and singing, as a guy in a giant steak costume played along on a fake blow-up guitar. I was very surprised he didn’t stage dive, considering the energy was through the roof! The show ended with confetti cannons and selfies with the crowd, just as every great show should. It was truly a wonderful night of music in Nashville!

Photography by Derek Jones

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