Nashville’s Arcane Workshop may be best known as a haven for Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, RPGs, and miniatures, but tucked in the back is a pocket-sized stage that hosts live music with a distinctly DIY spirit. That backdrop suited Park National’s independent roots — the project of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Liam Fagan — but his performance revealed music meant to stretch beyond the confines of the room. While the space felt more like a neighborhood garage show than a traditional venue, the music carried the weight and ambition of something far bigger.
Fagan’s latest album, You Have To Keep Searching, was the focus of the night, with standout performances of “Edgerly” and “Let ’Em Live” underscoring just how much ground the record covers sonically. “Edgerly” leaned into its Midwest emo roots with shimmering guitars and driving vocals, while “Let ’Em Live” offered a more textured, folk-tinged dynamic that translated surprisingly well in the stripped-back space.
The set wasn’t limited to new material, though. Fans responded warmly when Fagan dipped into older songs, with “Dead On The Page” standing out as both a personal and crowd favorite. Whether leaning heavy into distortion, weaving in folk elements, or dialing down to to allow his lyrics room to breathe, the songs are always anchored by raw honesty and carefully crafted guitar work.
The crowd was small but attentive, leaning in on every shift of mood and volume. Still, it was easy to imagine how this show might feel in a larger setting. Park National’s sound—layered, ambitious, and emotionally direct—would only benefit from a stage with more room to move and a sound system capable of catching the subtler nuances. What came across in the back room of The Arcane Workshop was undeniable talent and vision; what’s left is the anticipation of where this project could go when given a bigger canvas.
DIY rooms highlight the intimacy of Fagan’s songwriting, drawing listeners close enough to catch every raw edge and shift in tone. At The Arcane Workshop, that quality was undeniable, even with the limited space and modest sound setup. His songs work just as well through headphones as they do in a cramped back room, though it’s easy to picture how much more they’d flourish with the space and sound of a larger venue. The night felt less like a band simply filling a small stage and more like a preview of where Park National could—and should—go next.
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