X Ambassadors Bring TOWNIE To Nashville

The X Ambassadors lit up Nashville this week at The Basement Nashville on their TOWNIE tour.

The band released their TOWNIE album earlier this year, and it's a nostalgic listen. Although Ithaca is largely a college town, lead singer Sam Harris was a true "townie." From its opening track, "Sunoco," to its closing track, "No Strings," TOWNIE explores, reminisces, and reflects on Harris's childhood in Ithaca. The twelve songs on the album perfectly capture a sentimental, almost homesick nostalgia for one's hometown.

Despite their guitarist breaking his foot, opening band New West played a stellar stripped-down set. They brought the usual second opener, Rowan Drake, on to play an acoustic version of “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star.

The X Ambassadors took the stage to cheers and applause, opening with their hit “Renegades” off their debut album VHS. Lead singer Sam Harris explained that their tour bus had broken down earlier in the day, and they were grateful to have made the show.

One of the most poignant moments of the night came when Harris dedicated the soft and gentle “Your Town” to his elementary school teacher from Ithaca, New York. He credited his teacher with giving him confidence and teaching him everything he knows about performing. It was the first of two songs that tugged at the heartstrings of everyone in attendance. The second was “Follow the Sound of My Voice,” a song Sam wrote about his brother and X Ambassadors keyboardist, Casey Harris, detailing their relationship and his experience growing up with a blind brother. 

The energy returned just in time for the closer, “Unsteady.” Unrelenting cheers from the audience led to two more songs for the encore: “BOOM” and “Jungle.”

Get tickets to the TOWNIE tour here.

See full photo gallery here.