As the global pandemic continues to keep venues shuttered and bands off the road, it can be easy to lose hope. While Congress largely ignores the urgent pleas of small business owners across the country, the future can look bleak. That’s where Nashville act Tayls comes in with a timely cover of the Guided By Voices song “Hold On Hope”, which the band is premiering today exclusively through Live For Live Music. In addition to bringing an inspiring message of perseverance, the video also serves to promote the much-needed Save Our Stages Act.
The video features Tayls frontman Taylor Cole pleading his case to a city in need with a sign reading “Save Our Stages.” When not spreading his message out on the streets, Cole plays inside empty Nashville venues such as The 5 Spot, Mercy Lounge, The Basement East, and The East Room as his cries go unanswered in the outside world. As the song reaches its crescendo, other members of the band can be seen sporting masks adorned with “Save Our Stages” and “Hold On Hope” as the music world faces yet another day of uncertainty.
“Everytime I walk into The East Room for a meeting about how we’re going to survive that week, I think about all the energy still swirling around the room. It almost feels like the room is sad,” Cole told Live For Live Music. “There is just this dreary feeling of ‘One Day we’ll all be back in here doing what we love.’ Nicholas Hawl and Tyler Laird helped me come up with the concept to flesh out that feeling I get when I enter the venue. So many memories, so many nights spent, so much left to do. I can’t wait until we can fill these rooms again.”
However, the road ahead might not be so dark, as just yesterday the Nashville Metro Council approved a resolution to provide $2 million in grant loans to help local venues survive the next two months. The money comes from Nashville’s share of the $121 million CARES Act, and will be administered to Nashville venues that meet certain criteria. Cole added of this recent victory,
After a lot of hard work done by the metro council and MVAN [Music Venue Alliance Nashville], the independent venues in Nashville will receive funding via grants. This will help get all of us another couple months down the road! A super great victory. However, there are months of unknown ahead, and venues all over Tennessee and the U.S. that need help. There are gig workers everywhere who have committed their lives to live music. Waiting and wishing for something to come along as a glimmer of hope.
Watch the new video for Tayls’ cover of “Hold On Hope” by Guided By Voices below or stream the single here. Learn more about how to help independent venues get the funds they desperately need on the Save Our Stages website.
Tayls – “Hold On Hope” (Guided By Voices)
[Video: Tayls]