The ‘Punch List’ with Brett Nash
Metronome Charleston‘s weekly Punch List puts local musicians on the spot with a questionnaire that touches on music, venues, gear, records, vices, and more. This week, singer/guitarist/drummer Brett Nash of Boring Portals, Southern Femisphere, the Specs, and Sans Jose responds.
1. What is your favorite local hang and why?
“Definitely the Tin Roof. They’ve done so much for me. They turned me from a miserable, lonely fuck-up to a not-as-miserable, not-as-lonely fuck-up. I’ve met a lot of the musicians I play with there. They feel like a home more than anywhere else in Charleston. I realize calling a bar your home is a bad sign, but if you’ve been to Tin Roof, you understand. The staff is like family, so much so that I’m completely assured Olive Garden strives for the level of Tin Roof (but will never reach it) when they say, “When you’re here, you’re family.” They’ve supported me so much through everything, and the entire staff are the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet. Alright, I’ll quit blathering on. Honorable mention: The Sparrow is pretty awesome. Parker and Cami are sweethearts.”
2. You know you’ve played an excellent show when…
“I feel emotionally/mentally/physically satisfied. I can’t think of an objective way to determine this, so that’ll have to do. Playing shows is like therapy for me.”
3. What was the last show you attended that really got you fired up in a good or bad way?
“Actually, the recent Halloween edition of Tin Roof’s monthly Comedy Open Mic Night hosted by the great Jason Groce. It was one of the most sparsely attended, which meant more free Little Caesar’s Pizza for me, and it had such a weird, tense, yet entertaining atmosphere. Usually whenever a joke doesn’t go over well, you at least just hear the chatter of conversation from the people that aren’t paying attention, but this was different. It was just complete awkward silence so thick you could cut it with a knife. I couldn’t stop laughing at how awkward the night was. But the beauty of it was, that every single comedian that experienced this interminable silence kept going. I don’t know if I could ever have that kind of courage. It was actually pretty inspiring — even if some of them should have definitely stopped.”
Brett Nash gets a glug of PBR at the Tin Roof, July 2012 (photo by Stefan Rogenmoser)
4. Define your musical style in exactly 10 words.
“Mostly ramshackle with occasional references to melody, harmony, and rhythm.”
5. What’s your theme song?
Weezer – “Why Bother?”
6. Gear-wise, what’s is your irreplaceable baby?
“Only one thing really, a ’70s Gibson EBO Bass given to me by a close family friend and venerable bassist in the upstate South Carolina bluegrass scene by the name of Dean Marsh. I love the way it sounds on top of its sentimental value, and I love whenever I get to play it when I’m playing bass with the Specs.”
7. What’s the most overplayed album in your collection?
“Frank Black’s Teenager of the Year. I’ve written three pages on why I love this album before, so I’ll just end that answer at the album title.”
8. When was the last time you were genuinely star-struck?
“Honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve been star-struck. Luckily, most of the musician’s that I look up to and respect and have seen recently are so down-to-earth when you meet them that you can’t help but just feel like you’re talking to a regular person. Then 20 minutes later, you realize, ‘The fuck, I just talked to Greg Saunier from Deerhoof.’ Also, all the people I’d be star-struck by are people who are really only a big deal to a niche audience, so that helps.”
9. What’s your poison?
“Myself and the things that come with it.”
10. In 10 years, I will be…
“Goal-wise: touring around the country and the world just to the point where I don’t have to work another job with a band I love. Theoretically: an accountant wishing for the days back when I had that dream to be in a band that tours all the time, but at least content or something along those lines. Probably still playing in a band too, but playing whatever the 2020s incarnation of yacht rock is.”
Brett Nash is a young man in demand. He grew up in Rock Hill and learned some things at the College of Charlston. His musical skills on guitar, bass, and drums have led him to many collaborative projects and last-minute fill-in gigs. He’s a songwriter, too. And a fan of tasteful levels of reverb and distortion.
Nash performs several shows this week: at the Sparrow on Thurs. Oct. 25. with Southern Femisphere alongside Feast of the Epiphany and Know Nothing Party, and at the Tin Roof with Boring Portals opening for David Liebe Hart. He’ll be with the Specs at the massive Skinful Halloween event at the Brick House Kitchen on Sat. Oct. 27. Nash finishes the weekend with another show at the Tin Roof on Sun Oct. 27: the Halloween Cover Show 2012 (a.k.a. “The Last Supper”) with various acts.
On the horizon, Southern Femisphere will play the Tin Roof opening for Shirlette Ammons on Fri. Nov. 2. Boring Portals return to the Tin Roof for two support gigs, with Elim Bolt on sat. Nov. 10 and with Paint Fumes and Bazooka on Tues. Nov. 13.
Visit facebook.com/boringportals and facebook.com/southernfemisphere for more.
Top photo by Stefan Rogenmoser.
Brett Nash with Southern Femisphere (provided)
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About the Author
Ballard Lesemann is a musician and writer. Born and raised in Charleston, S.C., he spent years playing in bands and working for Flagpole Magazine in the bustling music town of Athens, Ga. He returned to his hometown and served more than seven years as the Charleston City Paper's music editor. He's better at drumming than he is at playing guitar.
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