American Blonde Live Review: Opening for Candlebox at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville | Delta Home EP
Whether they planned on it or not, fans at the Candlebox show at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville on October 11th got completely pulled into a high-energy rock set by American Blonde. If you have seen our earlier interviews with Natalia and Tinka, you already know how much we love them and how long we have followed their path. What you might not know is that this was the first time Center Stage Magazine caught a full American Blonde band performance. We already loved the songs, the lyrics, and the hearts behind them. Their stage presence, the chemistry between them, and the way the sound hit was something else entirely.
After soundcheck I stood backstage with Natalia, Tinka, and Will for an on-camera interview. We talked about the road they have been on, we have been following them for about eleven years now, from the Southern Halo days through the shift into American Blonde. It is fair to say we watched them grow up into this tight unit of musicians who know exactly how to deliver for a room full of people ready to hear them. The lineup that night was the current five-piece: Natalia Morris on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Tinka Morris on drums, vocals, and percussion, Pete Horne and Zach Dickerson on guitars, and Will Garrett on bass and background vocals.
With every song the applause got louder, the screams got bigger, and more people stopped talking to actually watch what was happening onstage. The energy was real. It was not just seen, it was felt.
When you’re covering a show you’re supposed to stay in observer mode, take notes, and try to translate the night for readers later. I tried. I really did. But I couldn’t help getting caught up watching these young women and their bandmates deliver an upbeat, locked-in performance. I got emotional. I felt proud. Hearing the guy behind me yelling for more, clearly discovering the band for the first time, was just… beautiful.
American Blonde is made up of musicians who clearly love where they’re from, their people, and the fans in front of them. It comes across as genuine. They are out supporting the Delta Home EP (the six-song project that dropped October 2, produced by Lincoln Parish), and being there for that felt like the right place to be. I am grateful they still trust me enough to let me tag along for a small piece of the journey.
This probably reads more like a letter of love and gratitude than a straight review, but I can’t help it. Call it the proud “Media Mom” in me wanting readers to know them the way I do. If you have not checked out American Blonde yet, do. They’re pure, they’re light, they’re love, they’re hope. They’re the real deal, and I cannot wait to see what is next for them.~Missy
About Missy Wolf
Co-Founder, Editor, JournalistFrom an early age I knew music and entertainment were in my blood. I have always been enamored with the idea of being in this industry, though I never wanted to be a front and center "Star". Taking the audience behind the scenes for up close conversations with the artists they love is where I want to be. Life in lyrics has always been my style, so as my favorite country artist Wade Hayes sings, I am living my life and chasing my dreams! Conducting interviews, meeting talented people and sharing stories and adventure are my passion. My new favorite hashtag is #iaskyouanswer, so stay tuned for more interviews, articles and adventures!
