Speakeasy says final farewell to Troy, hello to Nashville

Speakeasy says goodbye to Troy 

Nate Henderson 

News Editor 

Speakeasy, the four-piece student band known for their house shows and rock music performances, is saying their goodbyes to Troy this week as they move to Nashville, Tennessee. 

As Speakeasy’s bandmates pack up their things inside their Troy home, nicknamed the Hell House, they’re quelling their moving worries and bidding final farewells to the town that saw them become the band they are today.  

For the band, the move is bittersweet, but their outlook is very optimistic. The members are hoping to make new connections, play more shows and better their craft more than ever before in the new location.  

“I’m going to miss Troy a good bit because it’s been one of the pillars in my life, but I’m going to try and actively not think about it because I want to have all of my focus to be in Nashville,” said Speakeasy’s frontman, Jack Anderson. “You kind of just have to rip the band-aid off and go. 

“There’s that initial nerve of just moving it all. I mean, we’re at a point in our lives where a lot of things are changing anyway, but I think the outside excitement outweighs that.” 

For Speakeasy’s guitarist, Nate Braisted, the move is daunting, but it’s necessary. 

“It’s been hard to wrap my head around that it’s actually happening,” Braisted said. “What I’ve been telling myself is, ‘Yeah, this is scary, but what’s scarier is the thought of looking back 20 years from now and saying, ‘Man, I wonder what could have happened.’” 

Speakeasy’s bassist Tate MacNicol said in response to people asking about his worries of going to Nashville to try and make it as a musician, he wouldn’t be moving if he wasn’t sure. 

“I have full confidence in us and our ability to go out and seize what we can,” MacNicol said. 

Speakeasy has already played a few shows in Nashville – shows good enough for the city’s bands to ask Speakeasy what in the world they were doing not being there.  

Anderson said he’s excited to get to Nashville and meet even more bands than he’s already been in touch with.  

“Frankly, I hope that we get up there, and we kind of get our teeth kicked in a little,” Anderson said. “I hope we get our head rocked and stuff – like these guys are really good, we’ve got to push even harder. 

“I want to go up there because I want to see how good we can get. I think that’s what I’m most excited about, just getting to see we’re not the best band.” 

MacNicol said when he thinks about Troy, he’ll be thinking about the friends he’s made here and the Hell House itself. 

“I haven’t actually lived here as a resident of this house for that long, but this has been a second home to me for over two years at this point,” MacNicol said.  

Anderson agreed with MacNicol’s sentiment on the Hell House.  

“There’s a magic about this house that I’ve not been able to articulate,” Anderson said.

“There’s just a feeling in this house, and it’s very magical to me, and I’ve completely fallen in love with it, so I’m very scared to leave it, honestly, but I think she’s done for me what she can.” 

Braisted said he’s going to miss every single person who came in the house’s door. 

“We had such an amazing group of people to call friends and an even better group of people making up the Speakeasy family,” Braisted said. 

Anderson said he doesn’t think he could thank the people of Troy who have supported Speakeasy over the past few years enough. MacNicol said the opportunities given to the band by its supporters have been instrumental in its development, as well as the development of its members as musicians.  

“I’d say I’m really thankful for their ability to show very eagerly and how intently they care,” Anderson said. 

As for the future of Speakeasy, they plan to soon start releasing new singles and have started writing a new album that people can expect to have before the end of spring next year.  

“Keep supporting local music in Troy,” MacNicol said. “Hopefully, there will be more bands that pop up – I would really like for that to happen. 

“Some of those bands might suck but keep going to their shows. They will get better if they keep getting support.” 

Anderson followed suit. 

“You need to invest in [this] community because the whole reason we’re even able to do what we’re doing now is because our community invested in us,” Anderson said. “Invest in Troy, because it really is a great place, and it has the potential to be even better.” 

Those interested in keeping up with Speakeasy and their journey in Nashville can follow their Instagram @speak.easy.live.