On 3rd Ave N in Nashville, Tennessee, a former brick factory has revealed itself as the official Hit Parader Club.
On September 25, invited guests lined up behind the velvet rope, waiting to enter the club’s debut event, the magazine cover launch party. A rotating array of graphics featuring YUNGBLUD’s name was projected onto the building, causing passersby to stop, take pictures, and ask about the event.
Once inside, guests were met with a two-story club, accented by reds and purples, which perfectly encapsulated the rock essence of Hit Parader. The magazine’s cover art, with YUNGBLUD front and center, was mounted on the wall directly next to the entrance. Guests filed in before the stage, where a projector screen was set up. The room silenced as the lights dimmed, and YUNGBLUD’s black and white film began to play.
The crowd cheered as the film showed YUNGBLUD and his band recording live tracks for his album Idols.
Shortly after the screen was removed and the stage was illuminated, Ash Avildsen delivered a powerful speech, which included a brief history of Hit Parader Magazine and his personal experience in buying it when he was younger. He explained why now was the perfect time to launch the magazine and how YUNGBLUD was the perfect candidate for the very first resurrected front cover.
YUNGBLUD then walked on stage, following the instrumentalists. The acoustic performance began with his collaborative track with Aerosmith, “My Only Angel”. Not long after, he lifted the energy, splashing his drink over the heads of the audience before smashing the glass on the stage behind him. He continued to make the acoustic performance as immersive and high-energy as possible, prancing onto the bartop and playing with the microphone wire. The crowd swayed, sang along, and danced to the music. All eyes were on him as he made the club feel like a stadium.
A highlight was his cover of “Changes” by Black Sabbath, a tribute to the late King of Darkness. He explained how much of an inspiration Ozzy Osbourne has been and how much of a help Sharon Osbourne has been in guiding him through the industry.
At the end of the performance, after the instrumentalists left the stage, he explained how he loved Nashville, joking that he may need to move there for his next album. He stated that when he is in Nashville, he’s a cowboy. Laughter filled the audience.
Avildsen joined YUNGBLUD on stage for a Q&A session. They discussed authenticity, his start in music, and even gave a shoutout to all the moms in the audience, stating that there is no harder gig. As microphones were passed to audience members, the conversations dove deeper. The crowd silenced in order to hear every word.
The crowd socialized after YUNGBLUD returned to his green room after the scheduled festivities. While some guests filed out and made their way home, those who stayed were treated to his surprise appearance in joining the party. He shared his plans to have a night out on Broadway after his time at the Hit Parader Club concluded.
The night was a success, perfectly encapsulating the raw energy and spirit of rock that allowed Hit Parader Magazine to become a legacy, and celebrated the return of the iconic magazine and the man on the front cover, YUNGBLUD.
