Lake Street Dive: Sounding "Good Together" In Nashville

Lake Street Dive commanded the Ascend Amphitheater stage, invited an entire crowd to dance and sounded more than “Good Together” in Nashville on Saturday night. The Good Together tour features songs from the band’s electric new album of the same name. Lake Street Dive’s Nashville show, set against the city’s shimmering skyline, showcased a range of raw musical talent and vocalist Rachael Price’s gratitude for the place she's from. The Lemon Twigs primed the night with an energetic performance. The band’s 70s-tinged rock sound, retro haircuts and bellbottoms were enough to momentarily take the crowd back in time. The songs “A Way Out,” My Golden Years” and “A Dream Is All I Know” caused many audience members to smile, tap their toes and sway to good ole rock ‘n’ roll that remains very much alive. A buzzing crowd anticipated Lake Street Dive’s vibrant take to the stage. 

Upon entering, the band glistened against a backdrop of retro curtains, neon lights and enthusiastic crowd noise. Each band member maintained a mesmerizing, all-encompassing stage presence. Grooves facilitated by drummer Mike Calabrese and percussionist Nêgah Santo, basslines by Bridget Kearney and horns by the band Huntertones contributed to the meant-to-be-felt quality of every Lake Street Dive song. The show opened with the toe-tapping track “Good Together.” Price’s vocals held a vitality that surpassed the song’s original recording. She grinned and swayed with fellow band members as they joyfully sang “It feels so good to be good together.” “Better Not Tell You” featured glossy, pristine brass swells, powerhouse vocals and tasteful grit. Price’s confident stage presence was prominent when she was both singing and conversing with the audience. “I love the beginning of a show,” said Price. “It symbolizes all the possibilities of the way things can go with the music, and every night we do things a little different.” Her address to the crowd seamlessly transitioned into fan-favorite “Hypotheticals.” Heavenly harmonies and tasteful electric guitar parts by James Cornelison supported Price’s jubilant, belted delivery. Kearney pulled out an upright bass to contribute to the track’s swinging feel. People grooved, both on and off stage to “Seats At the Bar,” “Get Around” and Side Pony highlight “Mistakes.” The show’s playful, light atmosphere was continually enhanced by warm performances and the inviting, retro glow of the stage design. 

Price then introduced “Making Do,” which was written by Calabrese about the modern world. The track lyrically addressed the challenges of young and old generations and commiserated that “it’s hard to be a human when you’re making do with what you’ve got.” The night transitioned into an impactful acoustic set where the band huddled together at the stage’s forefront. Price introduced “Side Pony,” a track the band swore would never be played live again but, due to high demand, was re-added to the setlist. This playful performance was followed by tender renditions of “Neighbor Song” and “Help Is On the Way.” Keyboardist and vocalist Akie Bermiss stunned with a signature take on Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One.” Bermiss’ awe-inducing performance overflowed with effective phrasing and an incomparable vocal growl. Twain’s hit was effectively transformed into an emotive soul ballad that brimmed with Lake Street Dive’s distinct flair. Price and Bermiss then performed a stripped-down version of “Twenty Five,” a sincere and melancholy piano ballad about viewing old memories with warmth and acceptance. The rest of the band joined back in with “Walking Uphill.” Punchy guitar strums and ever-changing drumbeats were utilized to make the song’s every movement sound new and engaging.

 Lake Street Dive invited the crowd to get up and dance during “Dance With a Stranger.” The song’s tail end starred a couple of “strangers” from the audience who were pulled onstage to dance the night away with the band and close out the evening. The main set then ended with the beloved track “You Go Down Smooth.” Naturally, a Lake Street Dive encore feels just as celebratory as the opening number. After re-entering the stage, the band played “What I’m Doing Here,” “Hello? Goodbye!” and a spellbinding cover of “Rich Girl,” a Daryl Hall & John Oates classic. To close the concert on the highest note possible, Lake Street Dive performed their hit song “Good Kisser. Cheerful instrumentation and cheers from the audience propelled Price’s powerful vocals, which soared above the Batman Building.

- Madeleine Bradford

Photos Courtesy of Kylie Hoover (For Bell Music Magazine)