Sweatin’ to the Deep Cuts With Alex G at Fran’s Eastside

After a two-day stint opening for Phoebe Bridgers at Bridgestone Arena, lo-fi indie-rock darling Alex G traded in the frills and fanfare for a surprise show Monday night — in a surprising turn of events, largely spread by word-of-mouth without any rumors leaking onto social media — at cherished cash-only dive bar and karaoke bar Fran’s Eastside.

For a $10 cover, fans packed into the sweaty (and I mean sweaty) venue, each receiving a sharpie mark on the hand to denote their attendance. The crowd (me included) of 20- to 30-somethings was a kind of caricature of a specific sect of East Nashville, including anyone you’ve ever loved, admired, despised or had a brief encounter with in the area. Just behind me, I overheard someone lean over to their friend and say, “I’m glad to inform you that my ex-situationship that I thought would be here — is not here.” 

The night began appropriately Nashville-centric with dreamy alternative pop from Jordan Victoria, followed by some good ol’ country twang from the six-piece Will Mann Band. Then, Alex G and his full ensemble pushed their way through sweat-drenched masses, finagling equipment and chairs through the crowd.

Before Alex G could even begin his performance, Fran’s ran out of cold beer. 

“Y’all bought me out,” beloved bartender Trina Head said into the mic from the venue’s small stage. The platform shares a corner with a giant tapestry depicting a white cat (which has become an unofficial mascot for the bar) along with a small sign reading “Fran’s Ole Opry.”

Excitement was palpable, if you consider this beer index a reliable metric. Fans were surely thrilled to see the rocker in a space this intimate, reminiscent of his bygone days as an underground, DIY artist prior to skyrocketing to indie fame and regularly performing before crowds of thousands.

No matter what, Alex G is always a tad tongue-in-cheek. He began his set with a cover of “Undone — The Sweater Song” by Weezer, with the eager crowd chanting along. He then shifted into “Forever” from his 2012 album Trick. Soon crowdsurfers floated above the crowd, knocking down (and then repairing) the Halloween decorations hanging from the ceiling. Later, another crowdsurfer knocked down a small tv monitor above the stage, to which Alex G responded by reminding the audience to tip their bartenders. 

There wasn’t much room to budge in the sardine-sesque swarm of people. I spent much of my time half propped on the table near the sound equipment, sweat dripping from my forehead onto my notebook, smearing the ink as I scribbled down my observations throughout the show. 

Monday’s performance was much more personal than the weekend’s Bridgestone set, with Alex G sitting down for the entire performance and drawing on deep cuts from a wide array of his discography over the past 16 years. The musician took recommendations from the crowd, like “The Same” from his debut 2010 album Race and “Southern Sky” from 2019’s House of Sugar. The jangly melodic guitar pop of 2014’s DSU was on full display as he performed “Boy,” “Black Hair” and “After Ur Gone.” 

Alex G has cemented himself in the indie music scene as a master in raw and reflective songwriting — and often unconventional instrumentation — all while developing a cult following. It was easy to sense this heartfelt care and emotion as the crowd belted along to “In My Arms,” “Bobby,” “Miracle” and “Mission.” 

As the show wound down, the stench of body odor in the pressure cooker of a room intensified. But it didn’t matter. Fans went silent as Alex G strummed the first chords of “Change” — a song about the unavoidable, heart-wrenching reality that is the passage of time. Yes, I teared up. He closed the night with “Sarah” and the crowd sang along as if it was second nature — just as they had done all night. We tumbled out of the building and took a respite in the cool 68-degree weather, reflecting on the intimate show. 

To tie a bow on the casual nature of the dive bar show, Alex G rode away from Fran’s in the bed of a pickup truck — a fitting farewell to his three-day residency in Music City.

The Spin

Phoebe Bridgers Transports the Audience at Bridgestone Arena

• Annie Parnell

Bites: Nashville Food News

The Future of Fran’s East Side is in Question

• Margaret Littman