If October 19 at The Basement East in Nashville, Tennessee proved anything, It’s that rock and roll is nowhere near dead. In fact, it might be getting a much-needed reboot. With Tayls, Grace Bowers, and The Linda Lindas sharing a bill, the night was a reminder that the next generation of rockstars isn’t waiting for permission to take up space. They’re plugging in, tuning up, and saying exactly what they need to say.
First up, East Nashville’s own Tayls brought the kind of chaotic-good energy that makes a local music scene feel like a community rather than a competition. The self-proclaimed “friendship punk” collective has been building its DIY scene, or more accurately a DIT (do it together) since 2017.
Mixing psych-pop, glam rock, and pop punk into an unpredictable kitchen sink performance—think Flaming Lips colliding with David Bowie, and a lil zest of Queen with absolutely no interest in keeping things tidy. Tayls’ version of a pit isn’t about throwing elbows; it’s about unleashing your inner goofball and dancing like no one is watching. Every musician on stage looked like they were having the time of their lives, and THAT joy was contagious. The band may have opened the show, but the energy they served was anything but introductory. Consider the room officially warmed up.
Next came Grace Bowers, and, honestly, the guitar-shredding allegations are true. At age 20, Bowers has the immediate rockstar stage presence that can’t be manufactured by a major-label machine or marketing team, and it makes you look up from your phone and wonder who the hell just walked out on stage.
The San Francisco Bay Area native moved to Nashville in 2021 and has since carved out her own lane as an independent artist, releasing her debut album, Wine on Venus, in August 2024. Armed with her signature 1961 Gibson SG Special, she tore into this set fearlessly, leaving everyone’s jaws on the ground. The tracks “Cigarettes for Breakfast” and “Don’t Look Back” showcase her knack for pairing songwriting and unapologetic guitar firepower.
Before launching into a particular moment in her set, Bowers dedicated a song to Donald Trump, making her feelings unmistakable. Subtlety wasn’t the assignment, and neither was it necessary! Bowers is one to watch, and anyone who still thinks guitar heroes are a thing of the past should probably get familiar asap.
By the time The Linda Lindas hit the stage, the crowd was buzzing! The Los Angeles quartet: sisters Lucia and Mila De La Garza, cousin Eloise Wong, and family friend Bela Salazar, all members ranging in age from 16 to 22. There’s something special about The Linda Lindas beyond the music; this is a family affair, the kind you dream of having as a kid.
Getting to hit the road, play shows, and make noise with your family by your side? My inner child was screaming as I watched this show unfold before me. The band formed in 2018, and they’ve grown into a force of their own, bringing a punchy blend of ’90s punk attitude and early-2000s nostalgia, with the rebellious spirit that makes punk matter.
Fresh off the release of their new album, Gotta Get Out, in August 2026, the band delivered a set packed with attitude, with songs like “I’m Burning Out,” “Okay” with a guest appearance from Adan Diaz, and, of course, ‘Racist, Sexist, Boy.” Between songs, the band encouraged the crowd to register to vote and showed how showing up really does matter.
Eloise Wong reminded everyone, “When profit comes before people and the planet, we have to really think about where our money goes and where we choose NOT to spend it.” They’re not carrying punk forward; they are making it their own, one loud, unapologetic song at a time.
That’s what made the night feel bigger than a stacked bill. These artists aren’t just reviving rock ‘n’ roll or punk’s sound; they’re carrying it forward, refusing to stay quiet. They’re turning their frustration into music, community into movement, and live shows into spaces where people feel something together.
If this is the generation taking the stage now, punk and rock and roll is in very good hands!
GRACE BOWERS
TAYLS
