By Hattan Savage, Rock At Night Nashville
Live Review: Sidecar at Exit/In, Nashville – March 21, 2026
A warm breeze that blew the hair out of my face as I strolled up to Nashville’s Exit/In seemed to signal the official start of summer. Or so I thought. It’s back in the 50s now, but Sidecar’s set locked me in a summer state of mind anyway. Their genre range stretches wide, encompassing the passion and drive of rock ‘n’ roll, blended with the soul of indie and Americana. In other words: a modern take on the sweet sound of Southern rock.
Exit/In remains one of Nashville’s most beloved venues, even amid recent controversy following its acquisition by Live Nation. Although there have been many changes, one thing remains the same: the shows are still top-notch. On March 21, I got to see one of those shows. Willie Pearl and Club Honey opened the show, setting the tone before Sidecar took over as the night’s main event. Formed in Nashville, Sidecar has no shortage of talented members. Gabe Gowen (lead vocals), Anders Hansson (lead guitar), Ben Jones (bass), Jeff Ward (keys), and Dylan Duffy (drums) blew me away with how tightly locked in they are.
The band avoids over-the-top theatrics, keeping the focus on the music. Multiple times in the set, Gowen, Duffy, and Jones all sang at the same time, contributing various harmonies that echoed through the venue. Sprinkled between Sidecar originals were covers by Little Feat, The Rolling Stones, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, and the Grateful Dead. Sidecar’s rendition of “Fire on the Mountain” had the whole crowd singing along.
Toward the end of their set, Sidecar played their most recent single, “Double Down,” and lead singer Gabe Gowen brought out an acoustic guitar, adding a warmth that rounded out the band’s full sound. The night ended with the audience chanting for an encore, and Sidecar returned for one more song.
The band has two singles out, titled “Show Me the Door” and “Double Down.” A live in-studio video for “Double Down” drops Friday, March 27. And if you find yourself in Nashville on April 9, catch them at Cannery Hall opening for Harvey Street.
Check out “Double Down” below:
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