Girl Tones Light Up Brooklyn Bowl in Fiery Nashville Homecoming

Girl Tones band playing at Nashville's Brooklyn Bowl with crowd clapping along in foreground

Hot take: Girl Tones have the fierce rock edge of The White Stripes blended with the bluesy swagger of Cage the Elephant. Yes, we know those are bold comparisons—the kind of thing we usually avoid around here—but after seeing them play to a packed Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville last Friday night, we’re feeling pretty confident we’re watching a rock sensation take shape right here in Music City.

Kenzie from Girl Tones playing guitar and leaning towards crowd while performing in Nashville

Laila from Girl Tones band drumming at Brooklyn Bowl concert in Nashville

For Exhibit A, we turn to “Again,” which, when played live, hit with a wall of sound that felt like a shot of pure adrenaline. The raw, fuzzed-out guitar and thunderous drumming instantly earned a scribbled note in our concert journal: The White Stripes. The duo, sisters Kenzie and Laila, have a knack for turning two instruments into a full-scale sonic storm. On stage, the song’s jagged edges felt sharper, more dangerous. Further supporting our bold comparison is their chemistry: a wordless symmetry as Laila laid down a furious beat while Kenzie thrashed across the stage, working the crowd into a frenzy.

Then there’s Exhibit B: the blues rocker “Blame.” Where “Again” is all teeth and fire, “Blame” simmers with emotional tension. It’s moody, reflective, and tinged with the kind of bluesy guitar work that immediately calls Cage the Elephant to mind. At Brooklyn Bowl, the the song’s dreamy vocals were on full display while buoyant guitar and just the right amount of rhythmic pulse made it a true indie rocker.

Girl Tones playing in Nashville Tennessee bathed in blue stage light

It’s not lost on us that the comparisons we’ve made have deep Nashville roots of their own. Cage is a full-on hometown institution. It’s no coincidence that Cage’s Brad Shultz has not only produced Girl Tones’ early tracks, but signed the duo to his shared Nasvhille-based record label, Parallel Vision. Likewise Jack White—who helped define the minimalist duo format—splits his time between Nashville and Detroit, with Third Man Records headquartered just down the road. Girl Tones just feels like such a natural fit in the Music City’s rock lineage.

Kenzie from Girl Tones singing while performing in Nashville at Brooklyn Bowl

Fittingly, when the duo launched into “Got It”—their brand-new single released just hours earlier—it landed like a victory lap. The defiance was real, the delivery was ruthless, and the crowd responded in kind, with hometown friends, family and fans cheering in support. For a band on the rise, it sounded less like an introduction and more like a takeover.

At Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, the duo showcased the fire in their music and their infectious stage presence. The influences are clear—but the sound, the swagger, and the rapidly growing fanbase? That’s all Girl Tones.