On Thursday, December 12, the Nashville-based band WILLIS stepped onto the iconic Blue Room stage. Not a single band member seemed daunted by the sold-out show – in fact, the energy of the crowd bolstered them and brought out incredibly skilled performances from each musician. Lead singer and bassist Murphy Billings donned a striped shirt, overalls, and baseball cap, signifying indie cool status. His orange bass was especially eye-catching. These seemingly small details that “pop” signify WILLIS’s talents as a band - they sneak in stunning technical skill amid catchy songs, daring to defy genre just because they can. They’re the type of cool that feels effortless, which in turn, makes them cooler. (“Cool” count: three. Let me stop myself here).
WILLIS used their space especially well in the Blue Room. The small screen near the stage showed a computer home screen straight out of the 90’s, with their band name occasionally appearing in a video pop up on the screen. Otherwise, the focus remained solely on the band members, accentuating the intimate feel of such a small venue by allowing crowd members to connect easily with each band member and their instrument. My favorite performances happened near the end of the show, with guitarists Edward Armstead and Trey Murphy shining in their guitar solos. Crowd favorites like “I Think I Like When It Rains” and “CJ’s Van” had the entire room singing along – a communal feeling that never gets old. WILLIS truly shone on the Blue Room stage, and I look forward to their next performances in Nashville.
- Jules Krueger
Photos Courtesy of GC Moorman (For Bell Music Magazine)
