Baby’s First Album Release Party ft. Ghost Hounds
Under a McDonald’s-esque conveyor belt of guitars, Ghost Hounds took the modest stage at the Gibson Garage in Nashville, TN. Before a handful of media and press — photographers, videographers, music journalists — the band performed a seven-song set, five of which were from their new album, First Last Time, which dropped on Friday, July 28.
Speaking of firsts: this was my first album release party, and my first time in Nashville. I didn’t know what to expect, but making prolonged eye contact with lead singer Tré Nation while he sang “Devil Woman” was not on the list.
But, the event went off without a hitch. Although, I did arrive just in time to miss the opening act Goodbye June, which — from what I heard as I walked in — was a major loss for me. After three cups of free lemonade — because I’ll never say no to free lemonade — I settled in at a table near the front of the stage.
The Gibson Garage is modest, despite the line of expensive guitars hanging from the ceiling that revolves past all the windows. Located on Demonbreun Street in The Gulch, it’s in a nondescript brick building housing a few restaurants and businesses. You know you’re in the right place, though, when you pass the row of flags printed with the Gibson logo hanging from the lamp posts. Inside there’s a small stage under a huge hanging Gibson sign lit up with big round bulbs. There are guitars everywhere, in every corner. All Gibsons, of course, and all beautifully crafted and very, very expensive.
Ghost Hounds signed to Gibson Records in January 2023, and this is their first album with the label. Their fourth overall, First Last Time is bluesy and soulful with distinct rock ‘n roll influences. “Dirty Angel” has the type of riffing guitar solo — courtesy of guitarist John Baab — that used to dominate the rock sphere. Modern guitar solos tend to repeat the chorus, following the same rhythm and not experimenting much with improvisation. The solo on “Dirty Angel”, on the other hand, feels like shades of Jesse Ed Davis on “Doctor My Eyes” by Jackson Browne, albeit a bit more raw and shreddy.
The album opens with “Last Train To Nowhere”, which was featured on Taylor Sheridan’s new show Special Ops: Lioness. It’s a powerful track to start the album with, and it sets the tone and style for the rest of the record: bluesy, raw, and thematic. First Last Time as a whole has a cohesive sound that elicits a wild, rambling feeling akin to riding a horse across the plains or hopping a train to, yes, nowhere.
Performed live, these songs take on a life of their own. “Make It Shake” is a rollicking, floor-stomping track that brings the house down in person. It’s a song that wouldn’t be out of place at a downtown roadhouse or a hole-in-the-wall honky tonk. “Here No More” is slower in comparison to the rest of the album, which rockets out of the gate and doesn’t really stop until the end. But “Here No More” is a solemn tribute to those who have been taken from our lives too soon, and if you’ve ever lost someone, this song will resonate with you. “Halfway hurting, halfway numb,” sings Tré, which captures the bodily experience of learning someone you love is gone suddenly. “Nothing here is built to last,” the lyrics continue, and watching Tré perform this song live was a visceral moment for all of us in attendance.
As he showed the other night, lead singer Tré Nation has charisma to spare. He has the kind of stage presence that calls to mind young Mick Jagger. Or, even, dare I say, old Mick Jagger: he’s vibrant and exuberant, and his energy is endlessly contagious. He laughed, danced, expertly twirled the mic in his hand, and incited an infectious type of groove among the attendees with his charm. Tré Nation is a perfect frontman if ever I saw one, and he leads Ghost Hounds with grace and passion for the project.
Among the other band members are guitarist Johnny Baab, bassist Bennett Miller, drummer Blaise Lanzetta, Joe Munroe on keys, and billionaire entrepreneur Thomas Tull on guitar, who is the former CEO of Legendary Entertainment. Each member of the band brings their unique chemistry to the group, creating a cohesive unit that shares a common goal: perform the best rock and blues that they can. And that, I can say confidently, they do.
