Wednesday Live at the Basement East
Wednesday came through Nashville last weekend and it was one of the best shows I think I've seen this year. Perhaps it was because of how much I had been anticipating seeing this show, because Rat Saw God is one of my favorite records this year. But everything about this show was magical – their set, the crowd interactions, how excited they were, the storytelling, everything was captivating. Plus, it just sounded so good. Everything was so full and cut through really nice.
I was going to bring my tape deck to record the whole set, but as I was leaving I found that the record button was broken, so I ended up just using a voice memo for it. I think it cuts through well, for what it is anyways.
The set was full of my favorite songs, numbers from Rat Saw God but also Twin Plagues and their cover album, Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling 'Em Up. It's crazy to see a band you've only known about for three years playing deep cuts from their discography.
The crowd was also a crowd I felt very lucky to be apart of – attentive and interested, hanging onto every word that Karly sang. Part of this I think is also a result of Karly's ability to create such a welcoming space for the crowd: during "Got Shocked" she made a point to make sure everyone was comfortable who was in the pit and even brought out and handed out waters to those who needed it. A small act that goes a long way for a show like this.
It also reminded me of where they came from. I first heard about Wednesday when they were posting numbers and information about how much money they had made on tour, making it public and calling for change, especially from corporate tycoons like SXSW and similar fests that take full advantage of artists and don't pay nearly enough. I thought it was so cool that they weren't afraid to do this, even though people were getting mad at them on the internet over it. Wednesday is a band born out of the DIY scene, and to see them interact with the crowd as such despite playing at the Beast was a really cool experience.
Anyways, here's the voice memo boot I got from the show. Pardon any bullshit. Setlist attached as well, play it loud!
WEDNESDAY LIVE IN NASHVILLE 5/21/2023
Birthday Song (first performance on this tour)
She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles) (Gary Stewart Cover)
How Can You Live If You Can't Love How Can You If You Do
The Burned Down Dairy Queen (w/ Cryogeyser)
romaincrisis
izzy806
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
dailybridgerton
2087
kianamaiart