The end of the year is coming up rapidly, and this look back is part of our Year in Music coverage. Keep an eye out for much more in our annual Year in Music Issue on Dec. 12!
Just in time for the year’s tastiest holiday, it’s the Scene’s third annual survey of local instrumentalists to ask what they see from their spots at the side of the stage. Feast your eyes as they, er, dish on local music — and, of course, food.
Jerry Pentecost
Who have you played alongside this year?
Jerry Pentecost: I toured with Bob Dylan and Soul Asylum.
Eleonore Denig: Ashley Monroe and her band of heavy hitters (Billy Justineau, Sarah and Justin of Striking Matches and Eli Beard, with Brendan Benson and Shelby Lynne sitting in); got to be a part of a 50-plus-piece orchestra for Sigur RĂłs at the Ryman.
Ryan Madora: Jenny Lewis, Zayn.Â
Fats Kaplin: Though I got to play with a number of different artists this year, I spent most of 2024 on tour with Mitski, which was fantastic.
Parker A. James: Volunteer Department, Rich Ruth, Hannah Dorfman and sundry jazz combos.
Jeff Ehlinger: I play drums alongside my wife Brianne O’Neill in our band Black Moon Mother [and] Richie Kirkpatrick [and] Gary Russell Wertz aka GRW.Â
Ryan Madora
What local record has the best Side 1, Song 1?
JP: Does “Don’t Take It Out on Me” by The Privates count? Author’s note: Sure does!
ED: “American Dreaming” by Sierra Ferrell off Trail of Flowers. I haven’t been able to stop listening to this record. [It’s the] quintessential Nashville Sound, stellar writing and man, can she sing.
RM: The Wood Brothers, “River Takes the Town” on One Drop of Truth.
FK: “Bug Like an Angel” off of Mitski’s The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We. Since it borders on a cappella, I didn’t play on the track. … It begins so spare, so minimal. Then suddenly this huge choral ensemble hits you. Like a deep, profound Greek chorus.
PJ: Eric Slick’s “The Moment” off of New Age Rage.
JE: “Space and Time” by S.G. Goodman off of their 2020 album Old Time Feeling.
Jeff Ehlinger
What’s your favorite side dish in Nashville? Â
JP: Dino’s french fries.
ED: Hands down, the Cuban black beans with plantains from Mas Tacos. I will fight you on this.Â
RM: Fried sweet potatoes at East Side Banh Mi. It’s my number one “Where should we get lunch from?” on rehearsal days and session breaks.Â
FK: Dolma from House of Kabob. We always get an extra order “on the side.”
PJ: Y’all already know this, but Redheaded Stranger’s got a gnarly-ass Frito pie.
JE: Tennfold Brewing’s mac-and-cheese and collard greens.
Eleonore Denig
Which local side player has had the best year?Â
JP: Joe Andrews.
ED: I feel like anyone who’s out there hustling and doing the best they can on and off stage deserves a gold star. Based on off-day restaurant finds across the globe though, I would have to say saxophonist Jake Botts scores very high. This is a food column now.
RM: Seth Taylor, guitars and anything with strings, on sessions and live with Sarah Jarosz and Post Malone.
FK: My pal, Dominic Davis, Jack White’s bass player. … Jack has embarked on a worldwide, guerrilla-style, “We’re going in a van, guys” pop-up show tour that is off the chart! Â
Parker A. James
PJ: Gustie Escalante always has good years but I think he’s getting the recognition (and big gigs) that he deserves.
JE: My buds Mr. Jimmy Matt Rowland, keys player for Tyler Childers, and Jon Shoemaker, bass player for S.G. Goodman.
Fats Kaplin
Which local instrumentalist has the coolest side hustle?
JP: Timmy Findlen used to make toys on the side.
ED: My husband Noah Denney is a drummer and works at Nelson Drum Shop as their resident drum restorer, and he also has his own restoration and vintage drum sourcing business, Nashville Drum Rescue. He gets to nerd out with other drum lovers and helps friends find cool kits. The dream!
RM: Tom Britt — slide guitar master and painter extraordinaire.Â
FK: Hmm, let me think. Is Hags still baking bread? Wes Langlois — has he gone pro with his bowling?
PJ: Curtis Godino, his lamp-making and various visual artistic endeavors.
JE: I have the coolest side hustle, if that’s what you want to call it! I drum tech for Jared Champion of Cage the Elephant. … I also play baseball on a mission-driven baseball team called the Nashville Dollys Baseball Club. We just had our second-annual Dollys World Series.
