What do you get when you mix jazz, bluegrass, rock and loads of good music making? The answer: Lake Street Dive. The group gave a stellar performance on Sunday night as Nashville bid adieu to its annual Live on the Green concert series. While the band is probably best known for their recent hit “Good Kisser,” their combined talent and intelligent songwriting made for foot-tapping hits that captivated Public Square Park.
Lake Street Dive formed in 2004 at the New England Conservatory, one of the nation’s premiere music institutions. Since then, the group has grown immensely in terms of both their style and fan base, creating a sound unlike anything else on the market. With lead singer Rachael Price’s unbelievable vocal power, Bridget Kearney’s wizard-like bass slapping and a slew of fantastic funk instrumentalists, Lake Street Dive put on a show that did not disappoint.
The band opened with the song “You Are Free,” a classic from their album Free Yourself Up which was recorded right here in Nashville. Lyrics rang out from the field in front of the stage, filled with an audience comprised of both long-time fans and newcomers. Their newest album never failed to keep the vibe upbeat with hits like “Baby, Don’t Leave Me Alone with My Thoughts,” “Red Light Kisses” and “Dude.” Adding covers of Mavis Staples and Hall and Oates, the group proved that what you normally hear through headphones and speakers sounds just as amazing live.
Live on the Green showcases the best of Nashville, bringing top-notch music right to the heart of the city for free. With Lake Street Dive’s closing performance on Sunday night, Music City also displayed its relevance in the ever-evolving American popular music scene. A band with so much success fusing a variety of genres giving a free and accessible concert is a feat that could happen only in Nashville, and we are all extremely lucky to call this our backyard.
