Lately I'm finding oh so many reasons to fall in love with the Nashville music scene -- none of them having anything to do with mass-produced, mainstream pop-country.  Back in October, Nashville-based band, The Coal Men, played at the Loft and just recently the Loft hosted three different Nashville bands all in the same weekend -- The Four Kicks, Eureka Gold, and How I Became The Bomb.  Now, while all of these bands have their own distinct and unique sound, I'm noticing a common thread that ties them all together (for the most part).  Nashville music tends to have an honest, unpretentious, clean, uncomplicated vibe that equates to a rolicking good time.

(something about Coal Men here)

(something about the Four Kicks here)

The third band in my list, Eureka Gold, might be my new favorite band.  Simply put, these guys are nearly perfect.  These boys delight audiences with a high-energy mix of Beatles harmonies, the jingle-jangle guitar riffs of the Byrds, Weezer's sense of humor, and a sometimes acoustic roots-Americana sensibility reminiscent of Wilco.  You'd think all of that would combine to make one bizarre mutt of a musical style, but they've managed to stitch all of these elements together in a way that flows effortlessly and the results are absolutely divine.  And just plain fun.

(There will be more about Eureka Gold here -- I'm just not sure what yet.  I want to do about a 2-paragraph profile on each band.  Probably something about their CD.)

Ok, so, all those things I said earlier about Nashville bands -- the simplicity, unpretentiousness, etc. -- when preparing one's self for the experience that is How I Became The Bomb, throw them out the window.  That's right -- forget about every last word.  (Well, not the 'frolicking good time' part -- that still pertains to HIBTB.)  This band is tacky -- tacky tacky tacky -- and deliberately so.  According to one band member, the whole act is intended to be 'all in good fun' and boy do they pull that off in spades!  This band is one big, glorious, farkin' pile of polyester tackiness. 

The night they played here, the bass player was wearing a Member's Only jacket and a pair of oversized white shades that would have filled Elton John with envy.  The lead singer was wearing a polyester rust-orange sport coat with a silk flower in the lapel and a pair of tan polyester slacks.  The rest of the band was dressed with similar fashion sensibility and their musical repertoir went right along with the look -- straight out of the campiest camp the 80's has to offer, like a flower pot shy of being up there with Devo.  Songs like 'Salvage Mission' and 'Fat Girls Talkin' Bout Cardio' had audience members doing the elbow dance like Nicholas Cage in 'Valley Girl'.

All of the above bands have Myspace pages and all of their Myspace pages have links where one can purchase downloads.  In the case of How I Became The Bomb, music can be downloaded for free via their website, www.howibecamethebomb.com.  All of these wonderful acts are currently touring in and around the South and tell me that they will be returning to Columbus again soon.  Until then, I'm keeping my eyes open for more of what Music City USA sends our way.

(The conclusion is rather weak, I think, but I'm still hammering it out.)

So, of course, all comments, suggestions are welcome -- desired even.  I'm still thinking about what to write about the other two bands and how to flesh out the bit on Eureka Gold.  They are really worth checking out, btw.  Like I said, quite possibly my new favorite band.  The more I listen to the cd, the more I like it.  I added a couple of their songs to my playlist for walking Angus The Brindle Beast on my iPod.  (Blog soon to follow about him -- I don't love him like I loved Linus, but I'm damn fond of my big baby boy -- a nearly perfect dog except for major separation anxiety issues.)  I also added 'Fat Girls Talkin' Bout Cardio' because it seemed fitting for the playlist designed to enhance my physical fitness. 

Now I have to go take chicken out of the freezer to thaw and unload and reload the dishes and get some lunch before my 2:00 dog walking date with a friend from the Obama campaign and her dogs.  Woot!

Be well y'all -- and free-flowing with the commentary.