From the moment the captivating intro of “I Hope It All Works Out” radiated through the room during Mark Ambor’s entrance to the stage, I knew his show would hold my attention.
The cozy setting of The Basement East was the perfect meeting place for Ambor’s first-ever show in Nashville, as part of his “The Rockwood Tour.” The intimate stage setup and dim lighting intensified the nostalgia woven through “Rockwood.” The night felt like one big high school reunion — not the kind held in a stuffy hotel, but the kind you’d hold in a backyard around a warm firepit.
Ambor’s February 2024 single, “Belong Together,” catapulted his music into another realm. The fun-loving song became an overnight sensation on TikTok, and, soon after, Ambor announced his debut album “Rockwood,” which dropped in August 2024. Most of the album was written and recorded in the basement of his childhood home — a nostalgic image that stays true to the feel of his album and tour.
Ambor kept the energy alive throughout the set, switching between acoustic guitar, piano and even ukulele. Starting his set with an acoustic guitar, Ambor excited the crowd with his deep tone and dynamic riffs. As Ambor moved around the stage strumming his guitar, his soothing voice and engaging stage presence felt electric. From the start of the set, it was clear how much Ambor’s childhood friendships and nostalgia for his hometown contributed to the success of “Rockwood.”
Between songs, Ambor took a moment to introduce his childhood best friend, Eric, who came on stage to help him switch guitars. Ambor’s band also consists of more close friends from nearby towns, which brings an added sense of camaraderie to the stage.
After playing his song “Academy Street” from “Rockwood,” Ambor reflected on recording his debut album. He explained that “Rockwood” was the name of a park in his hometown, Pleasantville, New York, where neighborhood kids would go to escape and unwind. He shared that he hoped each show on the tour would create a similar safe space for his audience.
“Let loose and be free,” Ambor encouraged the crowd. “Rockwood can be the escape [for you] it was for me growing up.”
Halfway through his show, Ambor sat down at the front of the stage with his guitar for a reimagined version of “Hate That I Still Love You.” He explained that this version came to life in hotel rooms between shows, where he explored different emotions while playing music with friends. The stripped-down version highlighted the raw pain of the lyrics, making it a stand-out performance of the night. With breathtaking belting and the raspy timbre of Ambor’s voice, it was hard not to be completely mesmerized.
Before giving in to the palpable anticipation building throughout the crowd — including my own excitement for the chance to belt out his smash hit “Belong Together” — Ambor thanked the audience.
“I’ll be doing this for as long as you have me,” Ambor said. “For now, we have one more [song] to make this night a memory, Nashville. Hit it!”
Ambor’s band then launched into the final song, and the venue went wild. As I moved to the back of the crowd, I watched a sea of bopping heads singing the oh-so-familiar lyrics back to Ambor.
