“Genre-bending” Texan rock ‘n’ roller, Israel Nash returns to Nottingham to take to The Bodega’s stage after the recent release of his 5th studio album ‘Lifted’. He is joined on his UK tour by the enchanting Spanish folk singer-songwriter Joana Serrat.
The crowd gathers round to watch Joana Serrat open the show. Her music is a charming blend of modern with hints of vintage, and addresses topics ranging from love, loss and heart-break to the tumultuous state of current affairs. The lyrics, melancholically lonely, stand in stark contrast to Serrat’s audience – smitten couples sharing embraces, old friends sharing pints and stories.
This is the kind of music that brings people together; but could equally perfectly console the most heart-broken of souls. Serrat’s humble and understated persona also contrasts her powerful and overwhelmingly beautiful sound – raw, melodic rhythms and delicate fingerpicking accompany her grandiose, breathy vocals.
Israel Nash enters the stage, clad in an outfit and manner that screams the universally desired image of ‘laid-back-cool’ – sort of Father John Misty on his day off. The rugged rocker and his band assume position on the stage before they explode into sensational single ‘Lucky Ones’ from recent album release, ‘Lifted’. The crowd simultaneously bursts into life, grooving along to the beat of what is clearly a favourite track of both the audience and the frontman. Flowing into another striking single from his new album, Israel has begun to take us on a journey. Mimicking modern psychedelia vibes akin to Allah-Las in ‘SpiritFalls’, he proceeds to replicate The Rolling Stones inspired, laid-back but intricately technical blues style, on ‘Rexanimarum’. Nash even hints at delicate, Bon Iver-esque vocals in some of his more acoustic tracks.
Half way through the uplifting set, I can tell you it certainly does not feel like we are in Nottingham – or January for that matter – anymore, Dorothy. The sound distinctly resonates its humble southern influences – it’s wholesome but it’s still badass. The music oozes an almost incandescent warmth – almost as though the bright Texan sun is shining down, as Nash’s captivated audience watch on in delight. The atmosphere in the venue is friendly as the crowd share a kindred fondness for the music.
Israel Nash truly is a “genre-bending” artist, with such an extremely diverse range of tracks and sounds that you can just let your mind float away with, to explore the myriad layers and depths of each song. His discography ranges from stripped back acoustic folk tracks such as ‘Baltimore’, to the psychedelia drenched rock ‘n’ roll of ‘Rain Plans’, which would not be amiss on a Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd era classic rock soundtrack.
Joana Serrat joins the band on stage for their penultimate song, after the audience beg for an encore – a more audible but equally stunning rendition of Radio Head’s hit 1997 single, ‘No Surprises’. To conclude the show, Israel closes with the fittingly named single ‘Rolling On’, before literally rolling on to play the following dates of his UK tour.
You can check out our interview with Israel here.
By Laura Phillips