Umisha KC
Editor
Every once in a while, Jami Nettles’ living room transforms. Most days, it is a regular living room, albeit perhaps slightly more musically inclined than normal because the walls are covered with framed posters of musicians that span genres. On certain days, though, the overall layout and the ambience of the whole house changes. Folding chairs are put out across the living room and the hallway. The fireplace is covered up, and there’s no doubt that it’s set up for a musical show. A small blackboard atop the fireplace reads “Sunstroke House presents” with the name of whoever is playing that night for the audience. Nettles is flitting around the house, looking after the food in the kitchen or checking on the artists as they wait for the time of the show. Nettles is everything on those nights: a host, a soundcheck person, a chef, and a friend to those who have never before attended a Sunstroke House show.
Nettles started doing Sunstroke House shows in 2016. The idea came when she went to a house show in Australia. This small town of Meeniyan was packing its town hall for the musicians. These artists were usually doing shows in Melbourne and drove a few hours to do a show where they normally wouldn’t. This got the wheels turning in Nettles’ head. Seeing how a lot of artists played in the nearby city of Birmingham, Alabama, Nettles figured there was no reason not to emulate this small Australian town in her home in Mississippi.
“There are so many people who are afraid to do things, and I’ve never been that,” Nettles says.
A research scientist by profession, Nettles started running the numbers in her head and figured she could pull around 40 to 50 guests each night.
Before Nettles started doing these shows, she had felt a little lonely in Columbus. She was not into sports, and her politics were different. Even with music, she loved independent artists and her tastes differed vastly from those around her.
“I may be old, but I don’t want to hear music from the ‘80s,” Nettles laughs.
She knows, however, that getting artists based on her taste isn’t the best thing to do for the House. When finding artists, she tries to find ones who overlap with the audience’s taste but still bring a new vibe to the table.
“One of the big reasons that we have been successful is that, although your favorite bands may not come through Columbus, these are all crazy good musicians,” Nettles says. “The best way to enjoy them is to listen ahead.”
The shows at the Sunstroke House are usually hour-long sets preceded by dinner and drinks. Nettles provides all the food and the drink herself. When she first started serving food, she assumed she would not do that forever.
“Well, that spiraled out of control,” Nettles laughs.
Nettles has learned a lot of things along the way. Not only does she manage the business side of things, she also keeps her creativity flowing by creating merch for the House and what she calls ‘listen ahead’ rewards that she just gives away to people. These include shirts, lunch bags, tote bags and even kitchen towels at one point.
“The things I did not anticipate from this were a couple of friends I made from this,” Nettles says. “I cannot imagine life without them.”
Shane ‘Monk’ Kinder is one of those friends. Kinder has been helping out with Sunstroke House for a little over two years now. Kinder gets to the House three to four hours prior to the show and helps set up chairs, sometimes help the artists with soundcheck and hangs out and eats with the artists before the show starts. Kinder’s love for the indie music scene isn’t limited to these shows. He has an independent radio show that airs in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, called Indies Only which is a three-hour show of unsigned and independent artists. This love for indie music is what connected Nettles and Kinder.
“It’s been a neat little partnership that we’ve had together because she’s always telling people about Indies Only and I’m always telling people about Sunstroke House on my radio show,” said Kinder.
Kinder doesn’t remember exactly how he and Nettles met, but he knows the friendship was meant to be. Nettles and Kinder both work at the Columbus Arts Council. They both love indie music. They both have a connection to the Sunstroke House. Kinder lived briefly in the house long before Nettles fell in love with it and named it after a song by her favorite band.
“We were here in the early ‘80s. This used to be a duplex. Where the foyer is now was mine and my brother’s bedroom,” Kinder remembers. “Regardless of whether she had Sunstroke House, we would have met and become friends, for sure.
“It’s a cosmic connection that she and I have.”
Kinder, who goes by the moniker ‘Monk’ on his radio show, has loved indie music all his life. He feels a sense of peace seeing his childhood home blossom into a haven for music lovers like him.
“I needed something like Sunstroke House when I was a kid because all I’ve ever done is obsess about music,” Kinder said. “We’re trying to make Columbus a cool place to come.”
Despite being in close proximity to the MUW campus, not a lot of students know about the shows happening in Sunstroke House. Students can buy tickets for $10 while adults get theirs for $20. Jordan Rauhoff, a sophomore Theatre major at The W, has known about Sunstroke House for a while. She credits word-of-mouth and being a local to have known about the House but hadn’t had the chance to go to a show until the February of this year.
“I liked the show and enjoyed the feeling of community and getting to support independent musicians,” Rauhoff says. “Jami did a great job.”
As with all of the Columbus community, Nettles is staying at home a lot right now and the music shows are on hold. She hopes to have a show on August, if all goes well.
The work Nettles puts into the shows is extraordinary. All the money raised through the show goes to the artist.
Nettles, however, remains humble.
“I’m not doing anything here other than bringing people together,” says Nettles.