Dressed in a jean jacket and pants, with his old school, ruby red guitar, and knightly good looks – Jay Nash had me at hello. Behind him was a drummer and bass player, in front of him was a sparsely filled festival, but inside him was the sweetest, richest sounding music I’ve heard in a long time.

Right off the bat, Nash sounds like a neo-country offspring. His beautiful, deep, soulful voice has a twangy intone, and he has a way of curling his words in a countrified fashion. Calling himself “the new American music,” he fused blues and folk into rock, rock into alternative and all of it into a memorable experience.

His rock and roll guitar playing, high, dramatic percussion, and calming melodies were all very reminiscent of an early Eric Clapton. He focused on romantic, encouraging, and homey themes, leading the crowd into a comforting dream-like state. The line up was diverse, ranging from intensely rhythmic pieces, where Nash would jerk and rapidly pluck his guitar, to slow,  winsome ballads that spoke to the heart and soul of the crowd.

Nash is easily likeable for every generation. Folks in their fifties and sixties swayed along with dancing teenage girls who feverishly giggled every time Nash spoke between songs. The entire time I watched him, I kept thinking to myself, “This guy has it all” – a younger Tom Petty. He’s the type of musician the NFL would want to play a Superbowl half-time show, Ford would use to sell their trucks, and the CD everyone would request during a road trip. Although a transition to the mainstream would simple for a musician like Nash, his sound is authentically creative, original, and supremely artistic. His music speaks directly to American culture, embodies every value we hold dear, and communicates the unseen elements that make up our daily lives.

I want to see Jay Nash again, and I want to see him do well. His music is timeless, passionate, and melodically captivating.