At a Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes show, the only people in the room who may be having more fun than you are Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes. The band took control of the High Watt stage on Friday night in a local music blowout, where they shared the stage with Umbrella Tree and SXSW Deli alums, Heypenny.
Utilizing their ability to fill the stage with energy and the room with sound, Daniel Ellsworth toggled his talents between the keys and the guitar while the band raised the bar for opening acts across the map. As one of the few openers worth showing up early for, the four-piece will reward your punctuality with a solid rock show, an audience-assisted clap/stomp-along during their standout jam "Shoe Fits," and a guaranteed appearance from resident Don Draper doppelganger/lead guitarist, Timon Lance.
Heypenny closed the show and led us straight into Saturday with their sweaty, dance-friendly set list. Making their first Nashville appearance as a power trio, Ben Elkins, DJ Murphy, and Aaron Distler proved that they can make new fans with every gig, and make their old fans sweat almost as hard as the band does. Heypenny's animated, high-energy live show is one of the best in Nashville, and DJ Murphy's bass face is unrivaled.
If you've yet to see either band, the split bill is worth a road trip to see them both play this Saturday in Chattanooga. —Brianne Turner
