When Brett Nash (Secret Guest, Band of Horses) first moved to the College of Charleston, one of the first shows he saw was Beaks and Claws and a solo Those Lavender Whales set at the Communications Museum on campus.

“I remember how beautifully Aaron was able to combine silly themes and very earnest themes simultaneously — all into one beautiful ball,” Nash says.

That introduction eventually turned into something closer. Through Fork and Spoon, Aaron Graves and that circle helped release an EP from Nash’s earlier band, Southern Femisphere.

“They were so generous with their time and efforts — just making sure that everybody’s visions were fully realized. They’re just the most genuine people,” he says. “They kind of set the bar super high for my first rendezvous with the ‘music industry’ and what it should be.”

For this installment of the I Love My Friends sessions, Nash performs “Dalmatian Rock,” a song he co-wrote with Dylan Dickerson and Marshall Brown for Shows, filmed in front of the mural at the former Hunter-Gatherer building on South Main Street.

“The song I chose was an attempt to escape from the usually very cynical songs I’m used to writing,” he says. “It was somewhat of an ode to the positive influences in my life that zap me with a defibrillator of life force and make me appreciate the world. Aaron was definitely one of those positive influences.”

“I only ever got to play Hunter Gatherer once, but I had my fair share of post‑show hangs at that lovely spot, which always felt like a Columbia staple despite my infrequent visits.”