Griff Washburn grew up in Memphis and honed his musical chops playing in bands as a teen, but Nashville is where he really got started as Goth Babe, releasing his first EP, Shall We, after some buzzy early tracks, in 2016. We were covering the project a lot back then, at the time very clearly influenced by garage punk but already flirting with the electronic elements that have become prominent in his sound, and even hosted Goth Babe at our former Acme Feed & Seed showcase that year. Since leaving Nashville several years ago, Washburn tried out New York then Los Angeles before settling in the Portland area, which has more or less become his home base as he tries out a more nomadic lifestyle- surfing up and down the west coast, and bouncing between living on a sailboat and living and recording out of a converted camper truck with his dog Sadie, essentially a tiny house on wheels, as he chases good weather and good people. This focus on life and authentic experiences and pursuit of wanderlust has, unsurprisingly, informed Griffin’s approach to art as well, positioning Goth Babe as a less of a commercial outlet and more of an extension of his lifestyle, a vehicle for expressing experiences like a good surf season, or time in nature or at sea, and something he can take with him and create from wherever he happens to be. Stylistically, Goth Babe has become a lot more synth-y and indie pop over the years, adopting a sound reminiscent of the chillwave scene of the late ’00s, and that ethos feels more honed and confident than ever on last year’s Lola– Goth Babe’s first full-length release, following years of singles and EPs, named for the sailboat on which he voyaged thousands of miles from the west coast to Panama, cooking up these collection of songs on his adventure. It was clear even back in the 2010s when he was just a local up and comer that Goth Babe had a very bright future ahead, and it’s no surprise to see that he’s become a world-renowned artist, performing at increasingly larger spaces (and festivals like two recent stints at Bonnaroo).
For his latest appearance in the Nashville area, the former local resident is set to play The Caverns in nearby Pelham on Sept. 24, along with Minneapolis indie rockers Porch Light. Tickets are still available right here while they last, but we’re also thrilled to announce that we’re giving away a pair of tickets and a camping pass to one lucky fan! As we feel inclined to mention any time we tell you about a show at The Caverns, this venue is one of the most unparalleled concert experiences you can have anywhere, hosting performances underground in a literal cave (see below), and we think it’s always worth the trek from Nashville anytime an artist we love is on the calendar. Preview the lineup and enter to win below!
ENTER
LISTEN
More from Goth Babe | Site | Instagram | TikTok | Threads | X | Facebook
Goth Babe and Porch Light will perform Wednesday, Sept. 24 at The Caverns in Pelham, TN. The show is all ages, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets and camping passes are available to purchase here.