Nick Shoulders “Busks in the Rust Belt” for the Universe of Battle Tour at the Grog Shop

Wrapping up his “Universe of Battle” tour, Arkansas native Nick Shoulders made a stop in The Land at the Grog Shop in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, November 20. Far from the much larger venues Shoulders has been selling out on this tour, the Grog Shop is Cleveland’s favorite hole-in-the-wall local venue, only holding about 400 people. And boy howdy, Nick Shoulders and his Okay Crawdad band made sure to fill that capacity.

Accompanying Nick Shoulders was southwestern Virginia banjo player Clover-Lynn and her band The Hellfires. Taking a quick glance, you wouldn’t know if she plays bluegrass or goth. We’ll that was a trick question, it’s both.

Like many bluegrass and old-time musicians, Clover-Lynn mixes traditional tunes and original songs in her set, but with a dark, gothic twist. Many of her original songs revolve around her experience as a trans woman in Appalachia, as well as her family’s history in the region.

In between songs, she told stories of her childhood and family. She also threw in a joke here and there, including this gem:

“What’s the difference between a punk band and a bluegrass band. The punk band keeps playing and never tunes. The bluegrass band, well, they keep tuning and never play the damn song.”

-Clover-Lynn

Find Clover-Lynn on social media: INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY TIKTOK

Shortly after Clover left the stage, Nick and the Okay Crawdad came on. Nick is about as country as they come, living much of life in Arkansas. But he is a force in country music separate from the big names you’d find in Nashville record labels. He is a force in the ever-growing alt-country movement, disregarding radio executives and going back to the genre’s roots of making country music for country folk.

Nick is the embodiment of going back to the genre’s roots. Infusing traditional old-time melodies and folk music techniques including whistling and yodeling (which he learned by trying to imitate bird calls on his grandparents property) with his core belief of being a “bootlegger, not a boot licker,” Shoulders truly is what country is about: music for us common folk going against the higher powers that be.

Much of the set, he sat back on a drum kit, doing triple work singing, playing guitar, and drumming with his feet all at once. What can’t this man do? To his left and right were the Okay Crawdad, his backing band, with upright bass and guitar to his right and steel guitar to his left. Though for three songs in the middle of his set, they brought out a mic that looked like it was made in the 1920’s out to center stage, where the band performed two old-time tunes called “Drunken Hiccups” and “Rise When the Rooster Crows.” They also performed a cover of Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart” sung by upright bass player Georgia Parker. During these songs, Nick switched between fiddle and banjo.

Nick Shoulders has spent much of his life in Arkansas, and his music reflects the state’s place between the prairies and Appalachia. He is also a co-founder of his own record label, Gar Hole Records, of which he proudly wore their hat.

Along with the record label, Nick is proud and open about his beliefs. Though the country music world is often perceived as fairly conservative, the legends such as Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton were openly progressive, and Nick follows in their footsteps. All coming back to his earlier stated mantra, most of his music is openly progressive and leftist. The song “Dixie Be Damned” reflects on his love for the south despite how poorly it treats those who are queer, people of color, trans, or not Christian.

At the end of the show, Nick left the crowd with these final words:

“Blue ties, red ties, just don’t trust people in ties”

-Nick Shoulders

Nick is wrapping up the Universe of Battle Tour alongside clover in Bloomington, Indiana on Sunday. After a short break, he will be performing at Gar Hole’s holiday show at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, Arkansas on December 6.

Nick Shoulders Universe of Battle Tour w/ Clover-Lynn

11/23/25 - Bloomington, IN - The Bluebird Nightclub

12/6/25 - Fayetteville, AR - George’s Majestic Lounge - Gar Hole-idays*

*no Clover-Lynn

Nick Shoulders Setlist

Lonely Like Me

Blue Endless Highway

Hank’s Checkout Line

Black Star

All Bad

1381 (Unreleased song)

Miss’ippi