The Beaches lets slip pure chaos at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl

A few months ago, a song called “Did I Say Too Much” slipped onto my Spotify playlist. It was one of those songs that refuses to let go. Within 24 hours, I’d spun it a thousand times — no exaggeration. The band behind it? Toronto’s own The Beaches. I typically don’t get so hooked on a band after one song, but when I saw they were rolling through Nashville, I knew I had to find out if they were as good live as that one addictive track suggested.

The night of the show, I headed to Brooklyn Bowl, which is still one of the best music venues in Nashville. The evening kicked off with a set from Debbii Dawson, a name I had only heard from one of my fellow music lovers who told me to make sure I caught her set. Her music sits firmly in the pop lane, but it’s powered by high-octane energy and a belting vocal punch.

She’s one of those rare openers you immediately peg as ‘the next big thing’.

Think Chappell Roan, stripped of makeup and showgirl frills, but keeping all the hooks. Every song seemed like a future hit to be streamed the second she left the stage, and watching her perform in such an intimate room felt like getting a glimpse of an artist just before their huge break.

After Debbii Dawson came The Beaches. As far as rock bands go, these women are the real deal. I wouldn’t even call myself a diehard pop-rock fan, but I’ve become borderline obsessed with them. The set was pure electricity — equal parts swagger, polish, and chaos. At one point, they pulled a fan onstage to share an over the top TMI story about catching her mom hooking up with a man after the bar, which segued perfectly into “Did I Say Too Much”

It was a silly, unforgettable moment that deepened the bond between band and audience.

By the time The Beaches launched into “Lesbian Of The Year” and “Blame Brett”, both absolute killers, the crowd was losing their minds. Even as a newb to their catalog, it was obvious those songs were massively important for the fans… the kind of tracks that spark a sing-along you can hear from the street. To me, The Beaches proved they’re more than just one catchy single; they’re a force of nature in the music world and I am shocked they aren’t bigger than they are. Catch them now, because it won’t be long before they’re headlining stadiums!

Photography by Derek Jones

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