April showers bring… a crap load of awesome shows. Those of you not attending the East Nashville Beer Festival should have plenty of left over duckets to spring for a show or two. We’ve run down the best of rock, pop, and hip hop with all of our staff picks in yet another edition of TWiN.
FRIDAY
FORLORN STRANGERS
@ Soulshine Pizza | 7pm | Free | All Ages
Cool spring days are the best, and the sweet Americana harmonies from Forlorn Strangers can only make today better. Our weatherguys and weathergals say today will clear off, so the breeze on Soulshine’s patio will be blowing straight from heaven (or Asgard or whatever you’re into). Every band member is a guitarist/vocalist/lyricist; songwriting doesn’t get much more pure than that. [WD]
THE GODDAMN GALLOWS W/ JD WILKES AND THE DIRT DAUBERS, PHIL HUMMER AND THE WHITE FALCONS AND WHISKEY HILL SWILLERS
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $10 | 18+
Put on your stompin’ boots and take a double shot of whiskey for this one. Go see The Goddamn Gallows bring their Detroit-based gutterbilly to the Exit/In. A band that can make a washboard and accordion sound punk is a certified troupe of badasses in our book. And speaking of badasses, JD Wilkes of JD Wilkes and The Dirt Daubers is governor-appointed Kentucky Colonel. Phil Hummer and the White Falcons and the Whiskey Hill Swillers will start your rowdy-ass weekend. [WD]
EARL BURROWS W/ DEVIL MAY CARE AND DEAN JACKSON (FEATURING MEMBERS OF DEER TICK AND TURBO FRUITS)
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Attention rock fans! We have a new (to me anyway) rock band on the scene. The funny named Earl Burrows (it’s four dudes, none of whom are named Earl Burrows) are set to take over The Basement on Friday night. Openers include Devil May Care and Dean Jackson, and the latter includes members of Deer Tick & Turbo Fruits. I’ll be perfectly honest with you. I don’t know shit about any of these bands, and that’s more that reason enough to get me to 8th Avenue South tonight! [MH]
BLACK MARKET RESEARCH, HOT MESS LOVES YOU, NO FUN INTENDED, YEAR OF OCTOBER
@ Mercy Lounge | 8:30pm | $7 | 18+
Alt rockers unite at Mercy Lounge on Friday night. Black Market Research takes the headlining slot, but it’ll be your first of two chances to catch Hot Mess Loves You this weekend. No Fun Intended and Year of October open. [MH]
SATURDAY
WEEZER W/ THE LAST INTERNATIONALE
@ Ryman Auditorium | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
You probably have a better chance of catching polio than getting a ticket to this sold out show, which is even more special because Weezer plans on playing their classic debut Blue Album top to bottom. For garage rock fans of a certain age (myself included), this album was a defining moment in our music-loving lives and a huge trigger for countless fond memories. The relatively new band, The Last Internationale, will bring their brand of rebel rock to get things going but we know everyone is geeking out for a chance to see Weezer how they were BEFORE they made it big. If you have tickets consider yourself lucky and if you don’t than just crank your copy of The Blue Album as loud as it will go and play it on repeat. [JR]
OPENMIC (CD RELEASE) W/ G-SIDE, GLC AND DJ TRUESTAR
@ Mercy Lounge | 10pm | $8early bird/$12ADV/$15DOS | 18+
Hip hop isn’t exactly the most represented genre here in Music City, so whenever a halfway decent MC comes out of Nashville, we get pretty excited. However, rapper Openmic is definitely far more than halfway decent. The 24 year old knows how to weave upbeat, catchy pop rap with introspective lyricism, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. This show will act as the release show for Openmic’s newest album, For the Rebels II, so be sure to catch him with a variety of openers this Saturday at Mercy, and head here for a full lineup preview. [JS]
DIRTY GUV’NAHS W/ AMERICAN AQUARIUM
@ Exit/In | 8pm | SOLD OUT | 18+
Here’s a fun one for you: Knoxville based rock act The Dirty Guv’Hahs will be joined by American Aquarium at Exit/In Saturday night! If you haven’t had a chance to acquaint yourself with the Dirty Guv’nahs just yet, suffice it to say that this band absolutely rocks. The six piece group released an album entitled Hearts on Fire earlier this year, and it seems poised to be one of the better albums of the year. Go ahead and give these guys a listen; we promise you, you won’t regret it. [JS]
FUTURE UNLIMITED AND FORGOT CASSETTES W/ FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS AND PATRICK BAKER
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $7-10ADV/$10DOS | 18+
As we told you earlier today, this local four-band bill boasts not only one of the weekend’s best and most diverse lineup, but also one of its best values, at just $7-10. Between post-punks Future Unlimited, alt rockers Forget Cassettes, power pop trio Friendship Commanders, and producer/vocalist Patrick Baker, you seriously don’t want to miss out on this one! [PO]
TIPPER WHORE W/ BIRDCLOUD AND PENICILLIN BABY
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Earlier this week, glam party rock outfit Tipper Whore dropped “Tipper Whore Party Program,” the first single from their upcoming full-length debut, Just the Tip. You can listen for yourself below, and catch the fun in action this weekend at The Stone Fox (where the group will also host a record release show May 30). Joining them are fellow locals Birdcloud and Penicillin Baby, so it’s sure to a rowdy good time! [PO]
THE SIMPLETONS, HOT MESS LOVES YOU, BLUE MATCHES, THE GRAYCES
@ The East Room | 8:30pm | $cheap | 18+
Hot Mess Loves You weekend continues at the East Room on Saturday. Also features sets from The Simpletons, Blue Matches, and The Grayces. This may be a nice rally point for all of you drunken East Nashville Beer Fest goers. [MH]
EAST NASHVILLE BEER FEST AFTER PARTY:
RANCH GHOST, BLANK RANGE, TURF WAR, KIN SHIP
@ Fat Bottom Brewing | 4pm | Free
Whether or not you snagged a ticket to this year’s East Nashville Beer Festival, Fat Bottom is throwing a free after party that you won’t want to miss! DJs will start things off at 2pm, for those of you looking for some afternoon fun, and the music kicks off at 4pm, for festival-goers and fans of day drinking alike. With a lineup of Ranch Ghost, Blank Range, Turf War, and Kin Ship, this one’s kind of a no-brainer. [PO]
SUNDAY
WEEZER W/ THE LAST INTERNATIONALE
@ Ryman Auditiorium | 8pm | Sold Out | All Ages
Weezer‘s sold out two-night Ryman stand continues with a full performance of their beloved sophomore release, Pinkerton. Though not as commercial successful (and ultimately responsible for the band’s disappearance from the public eye for five years), the record has become a fan-favorite, and is often considered the group’s best. As with Blue night, the Pinkerton performance will be followed by a greatest hits set. Those of you lucky enough to snag tickets are in for a treat. [PO]
RAILROAD EARTH
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $20 | All Ages
Drawing their name from a Jack Kerouac short story, this crew of New Jersey progressive bluegrassers can jam out as good as anyone, and their Americana songwriting weaves wonderful stories of the country we all know and love. The six-piece ensemble are known for getting it cooking during their highly improvisational shows, so odds are for only $20 you’re going to get (literally) a once in a lifetime show; no two gigs are every the same. Get a taste of what we’re talking about below, when they crushed it at Bonnaroo ‘11, and go see them live! [JR]
EXPLORER’S CLUB, ADIA VICTORIA, EDLE BLOOM, ELISE DAVIS AND MORE
@ The Basement | 8pm | Free | 21+
Of all the amazing events going in Nashville over the weekend this may be the most unique. Get ready to time warp to 1979 as this ever expanding lineup of bands takes you on a ’70s inspired magic carpet ride. All the bands borrow their current sounds from this bygone era and our favortie of them all, Explorer’s Club, is two-parts Beach Boys and one-part jam band. Just to give it even more throwback feel. Every band’s set will be recorded live on a 2-track analog tape, a format some of our younger reader have likely never heard of! There will also be art supplies and disposable cameras strewn about, giving the evening an interactive feel. Throw in $2 local beer and should have a very interesting night. The best part of all? It’s FREE to attend! [JR]
DANIEL ROSSEN (OF GRIZZLY BEAR AND DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES) W/ WILLIAM TYLER
@ Mercy Lounge | 8pm | $15-20ADV/$20DOS | 18+
By now, almost everyone has heard of Grizzly Bear, but did you know Daniel Rossen (lead vocals/guitars/keyboards) was not only involved with another band called Department of Eagles, but also out on a solo tour? Well, here is your chance to see the indie folk rock, psychedelic-pop renaissance man in person! When he started to write the songs that became his debut solo EP Silent Hour/Golden Mile (Warp Records) he thought they would be the start of a new Grizzly Bear album but then they started to come together and become something completely different all together. Have a taste of his new flavors in person and with local country fried folk hero William Tyler (of Silver Jews and Lambchop fame) you should have a pretty epic end to your weekend. [JR]
[JS] Jack Smith
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[WD] Wes Davenport
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain