OK Go Picked Nashville For One Of Just Four Summer Shows. Here’s Why.
When alternative rock band OK Go revealed their streamlined summer concert schedule, it included only four shows in July. Interestingly, three of these locations were Midwest cities, and Nashville was the only Southern city on the list. Known globally for their hit songs including “Here It Goes Again,” “Get Over It,” “This Too Shall Pass” and their innovative music videos, OK Go will take the stage on July 14 for an unforgettable night of rock ‘n’ roll at The Basement East.
A Special Show for Band’s Creative Frontman
As it transpires, Nashville holds a particular sentimental value for the band’s creative frontman, Damian Kulash. The forthcoming concert will serve as a significant moment in his life as he will perform in front of some very special audience members for the first time—his kids and initiates some new tunes from their upcoming album. “This is like a sweaty rock show,” said Kulash, who hopes to play a lot of the newly created music.
Savoring the Joy of Fatherhood
The California-based rock band had to slow down a bit due to Kulash’s personal engagements. Kulash along with his wife, Kristin Gore, has been blessed with twins and therefore the band’s schedules had to be reduced to accommodate this newfound joy. Post this unexpected pause, Kulash along with his wife directed a movie named, “The Beanie Bubble” which is scheduled to be released in 2023, providing a detailed chronicle of the Beanie Babies craze. The band has been focusing on creating new music, however, with the ongoing pandemic and their personal commitments it’s been a complex time scheduling live shows.
Why Nashville
One of the key reasons of picking Nashville as a tour spot is Kulash’s family ties in the city. His in-laws inhabit a farm in Carthage, which is about an hour outside of Nashville. Thus, after the band confirmed their summer shows, Kulash thought it would be feasible to select Nashville as the final destination, allowing him and his family to enjoy a much-needed vacation in Carthage after the tour.
A Special Audience
The Nashville concert holds another emotional bond for Kulash. His six-year-old twins will be witnessing an OK Go live concert for the first time. “So I thought, ‘Hey, let’s play one in Nashville, and my two six-year-old twins can come see a show. They’ve never seen me play before,” expressed an excited Kulash.
Going Big with a Gritty Show
Under the spotlight of his kids and in-laws, Kulash is preparing to present a classic rock ‘n’ roll show. The show will offer a refreshing ambience as the band has planned to keep it more raw and gritty, diverging from their usual artsier performance routine. In the past, the band’s performances were accompanied by the display of their artistic music videos in the background.
A Glimpse into the Future
The band’s upcoming album promises a lot of excitement as they have decided to play their new material at this show. “For us, it’s super exciting. And for the mega fans, it’s exciting because they’re waiting to see what it’s like,” expressed an enthusiastic Kulash. However, he acknowledged that their casual fans would yearn for their hits and assured that those favorites would also be included in the playlist.
A Decade’s Wait Ends
OK Go, after a hiatus of almost a decade, is planning to release their new album which is currently unnamed. They seemingly wrapped up their final edits of the album just ahead of this interview, with the potential addition of a final song that they believe could make it to the final tracklist of the record. “So, you’re here on the very last day of a record,” joyfully announced Kulash.
Next Big Music Video: Teasing with Obscure Ideas
One of the most iconic elements of OK Go’s allure is their ambitious and impressive music videos. The band has always stunned their fans with their unparalleled creativity and innovative music video releases. Kulash did hint about a slew of ideas in progress for the forthcoming music videos. However, he insists that the realization of the most ambitious ideas would require financial collaborations.
