Nashville News Blog

Instead of waxing sentimental over coupledom this Valentine's issue, we instead chose to focus on individual Nashvillians who warm more than just our hearts—that is to say, folks whose killer combo of symmetry, charm and talent make this city a more interesting, not to mention aesthetically pleasing, place to dwell.

For our Lust List, we'd like to say we were limited only by our imaginations, but there were issues of space to contend with, not to mention scheduling conflicts, and at least in one case, an actual decline to participate. (Note: all photos were snapped by Eric England, and all are featured in color online.)

On the scheduling front, we couldn't coordinate by deadline with Be Your Own Pet bassist Nathan Vasquez, whose fro and goofy, imperfect charms we find more irresistible than the band's other genetic lottery winners. So here's what we would have run, had we managed to snap a photo of the kid:

NATHAN VASQUEZ: (Disclaimer: all members of Be Your Own Pet are now over 18 so this is totally cool.) Nashville's teen punks Be Your Own Pet do not suffer in the looks department. Spitfire frontwoman Jemina Pearl's tiny frame, blond locks and spastic dance-moves have won her lustful looks from shaggy-haired, Chuck Taylor-wearing boys far and wide. And guitarist Jonas Stein's tight-muscled, tank top-wearing style and pretty-boy pout has caught the attention of the ladies. But bass player Nathan Vasquez has the fro, and the goofy charm, to emerge from the shadows of his camera-ready bandmates as an object of adoration. Not yet into his second decade, this sweetly shy young man and his heavy bass lines anchor the quartet's precocious, angular punk. Despite his low-key demeanor, this lanky lothario has been witnessed showcasing some badass dance moves of his own at house parties around town and is prone to no-fear stage diving at major music festivals. Lastly, what's not to love about someone who has the balls to go on Conan O'Brian with his face covered in shaving cream? So, if you're tired of yourself, maybe Nathan can be your pet....

So, we wanna know, who would you have nominated? Come on, everybody's got a waitress, congressperson, traffic cop, barista or circuit court clerk they jones for occasionally.