Before hitting the festival circuit and supporting Still Woozy’s North American Tour, PawPaw Rod brought the Summer of Love to Nashville’s Bobby Hotel. Known for his 60s inspired fashion sense and invigorating stage presence, Rod made a splash in the Nashville music scene fusing his own flavor of modern funk and alternative. Rod’s signature sounds are psychedelic and soulful. Drawing on pop nostalgia from the 60s, PawPaw Rod weaves his own ideologies and metamorphosizes into every track. Seeing PawPaw Rod live is a journey back in time, he brings the energy of Woodstock to the 21st century.
His Silk-Sonic like groove marked his emergence into the indie music scene with his hit single “HIT EM WHERE IT HURTS”. Since its release in 2021, the song has amassed over 60 million streams and reignited a wave in psychedelic funk amidst Gen Z. Growing up a self proclaimed “military brat”, PawPaw Rod’s approach to life, love, and relationships were infiltrated by the looming reality of distance. Rod’s unique life experiences and experimental sounds weave together like a vintage dream catcher, drawing on all things now and then. Inflatable pink flamingos, caravan bar carts, and Nashville’s infamous Batman building set the scene for PawPaw Rod’s headlining set. Rod’s center stage charisma is contagious. Open, honest, and humorous, Rod makes everyone in the crowd feel like a part of his technicolor musical world. Fans were barricading down the stage and the merchandise table, eager to support Nashville’s favorite hippie.
- Isabella Ellis
Photos Courtesy of Ashlee Riggins (For Bell Music Magazine)
