Eight Gigs: Billy Lawler

A lot of talented musicians in their twenties like to infuse their art with angst and anxiety over an uncertain future. Singer-songwriter Billy Lawler chooses instead to look backward in his new EP Nostalgic. Lawler uses his soulful piano arrangements as a lens to peer into his late teenage years and reminisce about those “firsts” that leave a mark on all of us: friendship, love, heartbreak, loss and remorse. The result is a collection of lovely ballads celebrating the fleeting moments of young adulthood that are so intense and considerable, they simply must find a way to exist forever. 1111 H Street, www.billylawler.com.