Way back in 2018, a man named Hobo Johnson and his band, The Lovemakers, would post a submission to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest playing a strange yet catchy song called “Peach Scone”. The song was a weird fusion of indie rock, rap, and spoken word that caught the attention of a lot of soon-to-be fans. Fast forward to November 4, 2025, and Hobo Johnson and the Lovemakers came to Nashville’s Exit/In to celebrate that song that started it all. The night started with an open-mic consisting of fans from the crowd, followed by a few openers, and the advertised opener of Budman. After this, Hobo took the stage with his band for a quick and energetic set. Starting with fan favorite, “Mover Awayer”, Hobo commanded the room with goofy yet introspective lyrics about relationships and life. The next highlight of the set was one of Hobo’s funniest tracks called “Subaru Crosstrek XV” where he encouraged fans to boo the song before jumping into one of the highest energy moments of the night. The best musicianship was probably during the track “Ugly Kid” where the usually stripped back band created a smooth R&B sound with Hobo crooning over top.
In direct contrast, the band left the stage for Hobo to perform the track “February 15th” by himself. This very somber track is a live show favorite, so much so that the official recording on the album, The Rise of Hobo Johnson, is from a live show. The crowd sang with the track as it covered themes of loneliness and hopelessness. After a few more songs from Hobo’s new album, HOBO JOHNSON DRINKS!, such as “JANSPORTS” and “Dari#$%”, there was a clear build up to the night’s biggest moment. After thanking the band, team, and crowd, Hobo started the track from that Tiny Desk so long ago, “Peach Scone”. Most definitely the crowd’s favorite of the night, this track catalogs falling in love with someone in a relationship and the subsequent emotions that ensue. Simple yet effective, the song encapsulates Hobo’s sound and was a perfect way to tie up the main set of the night. The band would take the stage again to perform probably their most produced track, “Typical Story”, and end the show on a rocking note.
- Thomas W. Hagan
Photos courtesy of Ashlee Riggins (For Bell Music Magazine)
