From our family to yours, we hope that you had a lovely and relaxing Christmas. If you are like us though, it’s time to get back out, see some good friends, and catch some live music. While this weekend is certainly a light billing with some venues closed all weekend, the ones that are open are acting largely as homecomings for artists in town for the holidays. Find out where you want to escape to with our staff picks in another edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
THE RUNNING w/ PARADISE DAZE, WILLIE 3RD STREET, THE EXCUSES
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Christmas may be over, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still one surprise left: local grungy/vibey three piece The Running have announced plans to play a reunion show tonight at Exit/In. If you didn’t manage to catch these guys during their first time around, you really ought to catch them tonight, as they’re one of Nashville’s most dynamic acts in recent years. Drawing on a huge list of influences, including reggae, blues, grunge, and psychedelia, The Running play intelligent, textured tunes. Support includes Paradise Daze, Willie 3rd Street and The Excuses. It’s going to be quite a fun evening, and a good chance to get one last look at The Running live. The show starts at 8! [JS]
DAVID OLNEY
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $cheap | 21+
Music City resident, bluesy, Americana/folk singer songwriter David Olney is known for his great live performances, which almost always convert some into instant fans. He’s also released over twenty albums over the last forty years, and his latest, When The Deal Goes Down, dropped back in July. Find out for yourself, when you see him live, why Emmylou Harris has recorded some of his work. [JR]
SATURDAY
KDSML, WICK-IT, MIKE VULCAN & MORE
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Tired of holiday standards and grandma pinching your cheeks? It’s probably time you get out for some sick beats, fresh rhymes, and ass grinding with people of your own generation. The KDSML Revue reunites some of Nashville’s top talent in all those categories on Saturday night. Get a taste of what you are in store for with the recently released No Ragrets (that’s not a typo) EP from Wick-It below. Need another nudge? Ladies get in free. Dope. [MH]
DAVE CLOUD, LONE OFFICIAL, BAD FRIEND
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Trying to thrash around and burn off that holiday eggnogg? Garage Rock veteran and local Nashville hooligan Dave Cloud is hitting up The Stone Fox this weekend. Dave Cloud & The Gospel of Power are known for their psychotic stage persona and wild “shamanistic” antics (that have gotten them banned from Springwater Bar). With a six album anthology, the outlaws have maintained the youth that they entered the world of music with around twenty years ago. Join us this Saturday and hang out with all the other kids on the naughty list. [MC]
GORILLA BABY, DIRTY BLIND, BLOODDRUNK SHENANIGANS, THE STEAM BOARS
@ fooBAR | 8pm | $5 | 21+
If inexpensive and local sounds like your perfect holiday weekend wind-down, there’s an eclectic array of Nashville acts, Gorilla Baby, Dirty Blind, Blooddrunk Shenanigans, and The Steam Boars, playing fooBAR, all for a mere $5. [PO]
JASON ISBELL w/ AMANDA SHIRES
@ City Winery | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
Easily the hottest ticket of the weekend, Jason Isbell and wife Amanda Shires, will be lighting up the stage tonight at City Winery, but unless you already have tickets you’ll be missing it, because this show is SOLD OUT. Maybe if we’re all lucky, there will be some Ryman Shows for the duo down the road. [JR]
SUNDAY
NIKKI LANE w/ CHARLIE MARS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
East Nashville-based alternative country singer Nikki Lane‘s album All or Nothin’ was produced by Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach, and I have feeling it is going to make it on our best-of-Nashville year-end list. The songs are even better live as Lane continues the tradition of rebellious and ballsy female country singers from Patsy to Loretta. Opening is folk-pop singer-songwriter Charlie Mars. [JSa]
JASON ISBELL w/ AMANDA SHIRES
@ City Winery | 8 pm | Sold Out | All Ages
Husband and wife duo, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, will be playing the second night of their super special and intimate City Winery dates, but unfortunately this puppy is also SOLD OUT. However, if you can finagle your way in, you’re in for a real treat, because Jason and his lady always blow us away. [JR]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JS] Jack Smith
[JSa] Jacqui Sahagian
[JL] Jake Lanier
[JMo] Jeff Moody
[MC] Matt Cairns
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain
[TJJ] Terra James-Jura