There are few performers who embody the spirit of Nashville’s Lower Broadway like David Graham. A longtime fixture at beloved honky tonk haunts like Robert’s Western World and Layla’s, Graham earned his stripes the old-school way—by playing night after night, delivering blistering sets that blend classic country, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll with irrepressible swagger. As frontman of the rowdy hillbilly trio The Eskimo Brothers, he became known for his magnetic stage presence and tireless work ethic. Now stepping further into the spotlight, Graham’s new solo album Downtown captures the grit, heart, and honky tonk soul that he’s spent years perfecting on stage.

Out today, Downtown is a love letter to the rhythm and chaos of a city he knows intimately. From the foot-stomping opener “Big Time Tonight” to the haunting, cinematic “Ghost Town,” Graham showcases the range of his Americana roots influences while staying true to the live-wire energy of his performances. The title track, featuring harmonies from his daughter, reveals a more personal side, making Downtown not just a musical statement but a reflection of a life spent chasing songs in smoky bars and neon-lit corners of Music City. Before his release show at Layla’s this Sunday, Graham sat down with us to talk about the record, the city that shaped it, and everything in between.

Do you remember the first time you ever stepped on stage in Nashville? What was going through your head?

The first time I stepped on stage in Nashville was at Tootsie’s. A very surreal experience for me because I had always had a love for Nashville—even as a kid. But I learned very quickly that was not the right spot for me.
My first long-standing gig in Nashville was at Robert’s Western World.
Even to this day, after playing thousands of shows, it’s still a bit surreal every time I’m down there. The love affair continues.

What artists or records were playing in your house growing up that planted the seed for the kind of music you make now?

Great question. Basically, my parents’ record collection was the start of it all for me—and to this day, still some of my favorite artists.
There was lots of Elvis, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Willie Nelson, Bob Seger, Queen, Glen Campbell, The Stones…

If Downtown were a late-night bar, what kind of people would be sitting at that counter?
Cool question.
The lovers and the broken-hearted.
The winners and the losers.
The drunkards and the dreamers.
The lost and the found.
Everyone.

You’ve been part of the Nashville scene for a long time. How has the city changed for better or worse, especially for musicians like yourself?

The biggest change I’ve seen—besides the population boom—is that Nashville has always been a music destination, and in recent years it’s become more of a party destination.
There’s still great music here, you just have to seek it out.
And the traffic blows.

What’s the most unexpected source of inspiration that made its way into this record—something not musical at all?

I would say “Ghost Town,” being inspired by the pandemic and how it affected Nashville.

When you’re on the road, what’s one thing you absolutely need with you to feel grounded?

Pictures of my family.

Do you have a favorite line or lyric from Downtown that still gives you chills when you sing it live?

If you wonder where I am tonight
Locked in a fire fight
Lost in the city lights… downtown.

What’s your relationship like with silence? Do you ever go long stretches without music—or is your world always soundtracked?

I perform so much—silence and I have a very good and close relationship, ha.

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice before your first honky tonk residency, what would it be?

Don’t listen to that negative little voice in the back of your head.

You’re throwing a dream jam session at Layla’s. Dead or alive, who’s showing up to play with you—and what song are you all closing the night with?

Chuck Berry
Ronnie Wood
Rod Stewart
Steve Earle

And then I’d end the night with Sinatra and me singing “The Lady Is a Tramp,”
sippin’ whiskey with one ice cube 🙂