Does the passing of the 4th of July holiday mean that summer is halfway over? Doesn’t it feel like just yesterday that we were battling through Icemaeggedon? Where does the time go? If you’re like us, a lot of it passes by with us in concert halls and clubs checking out the best that Music City has to offer. While things were relatively slow given the holiday last week, this weekend is more than making up for it with a slate so full, it makes us think our lucky stars that we’ve brought on a crew of new talented tastemakers. Let us help you plan your weekend with all our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
THELMA & THE SLEAZE w/ DADDY ISSUES
@ The Crying Wolf | 3pm | FREE! | 21+
It’s a B.A. biker chick BBQ bash at The Crying Wolf this Friday afternoon/eve, with an organized motorcycle ride before the party starts at 3pm. They’re calling it the Highway Runaways welcome wagon party, which features the Women’s Moto Exhibit with Thelma & The Sleaze rockers and Daddy Issues grungers playing until the darkness takes over and the biker babes howl at the moon. Just playing, but you never know… Selector Mama Hot Dog a.k.a. DJ Bobbi Rich will be spinning tunes beforehand. More info on the Harley Davidson sponsored event here. [MOB]
CIVIL TWILIGHT
@ Grimey’s | 6pm | FREE! | All Ages
This Friday is the start of the new global release day invite- meaning that now, worldwide, all music will drop on Friday (rather than the Mon/Tues/Fri mess that hasn’t made sense since the digital age). That means Friday in-stores are likely to become a lot more common, and indie/alt rockers Civil Twilight are returning to their adopted home of Nashville (via South Africa) to play a free set in support of their brand new LP, Story of an Immigrant. The band have been gaining a ton of traction over the past few years, and are slated to headline a full show next week, July 16 at 3rd & Lindsley with HalfNoise and MYZICA. Details here! [PO]
TRAIN w/ THE FRAY, MATT NATHANSON
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7pm | $29.50-79.50 | All Ages
Crank up the nostalgia friends, because early ‘00s mega-hit makers (see “Drops of Jupiter”) Train are back with a new album, Bulletproof Picasso, and ready for an arena stop in Music City. Look for equally awesome pop rock hit makers The Fray and folk rocker Matt Nathanson to kick of a night of kick ass tunage. [JR]
WAKA FLOCKA FLAME w/ D.R.A.M., NAWAS
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | $25-28 | 18+
Acclaimed Atlanta rapper Waka Flocka Flame, currently prepping to drop his third full-length, Flockaveli 2, has managed to amass crossover appeal with the EDM crowd, combining a southern swagger with trendy production and a magnetic, party-fueled image. Keep an eye out for a full preview of his first Music City show in more than a year, which also features D.R.A.M. and NAWAS! Check out our full show preview for more information. [PO]
THE FAMILY CREST w/ THE LONELY WILD
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $10 | 18+
With so many bands out there trying to make it in the music scene, it can be hard to set yourself apart from the rest. The Family Crest, however, certainly bring a unique concept to the table. The band consist of seven core members, playing everything from trombone to flute, plus over 400 members of their “extended family,” which includes people from around the country that they invite to record and perform with them on stage. While their sound tends to skew more towards orchestral pop, it’s definitely a show worth checking out just to see who all shows up to join them on stage. [MG]
FRANCES & THE FOUNDATION w/ THE CARTOONS, HOTEL WAR, TOWER DEFENSE, LINES IN THE SKY
@ The High Watt | 8:30pm | $5 | 18+
East Nashville alt-indie rockers Frances & The Foundation headline a packed, but super low dough show you need in your life. Heavy rock ’n’ soul power house Hotel War, and post-punk four-piece Tower Defense amongst others … and all for just $5?! You’d be crazy to miss it. [JR]
PAGEANT, MAC LEAPHART BAND, CORDOVAS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Brother-sister duo Pageant will bring their soulful indie folk blend to the 5 Spot on Saturday. They’re joined by Nashville-based three piece The Mac Leaphart Band, who released “Low in the Saddle, Long in the Tooth” in February. Also playing is sometimes Nashvillian Joe Firstman’s always evolving band, Cordovas. Friday’s incarnation of the band will feature lots of locals, including Brian Wright and Jon Loyd. We have full preview on this one here. [MW]
SAVOY MOTEL w/ NOTS, FAUX FEROCIOUS
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Savoy Motel are a new local supergroup of sorts, formed from members of D. Watusi, Heavy Cream, and Cheap Time, playing a mixture of post-punk and ’70s art-rock. They’ll be joined by fellow locals Faux Ferocious and the Memphis-based all-girl punk band Nots, who are definitely worth a see while they’re in town. [JSa]
PHANTOM FARMER, THE JAG, BEHOLD THE BRAVE, NOVUS
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Friday brings an eclectic bill to East Nashville. Southern ethereal folksters Phantom Farmer are a duo who sing songs for the common man. They will be playing The Basement East on Friday with Nashville locals The Jag, freak soul-rock band Behold the Brave from Chatanooga, and Atlanta psych-rock outfit NOVUS. Tickets are $5 and the show starts at 9pm. Check out Phantom Farmer’s Daytrotter session below. [JC]
THE VOODOO FIX, SCREAMING NAMES, THE WYLE BAND
@ Springwater Supper Club | 9:00pm | $5 | 21+
Soulful, creepy rockers (it’s all in the name) The Voodoo Fix are top of the bill Friday night; their music could easily fit at the end of a True Blood episode. The Wyle Band will serenade you with the lead singer’s sensual vocals over low-down guitar. Then, the self-described nerd rockers, Screaming Names, sound uncannily similar to old Weezer. Sounds like a good 90’s throwback with a nice rock séance to follow. [MOB]
SATURDAY
SUMMER NAMM: MUSIC INDUSTRY DAY
@ Music City Center | 10am | $10 / $20 | All Ages
If you’re a music gearhead, or you play an instrument and just want to check out some new toys, this is the Music City Center is the place for you Saturday. This exhibition/conference is usually reserved strictly for movers and shakers in the biz, but it’s open to the public on Saturday for just $10 in advance or $20 at the door. So bring your musician friends and bring some bucks, because if you’re a player, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store … but the best treats don’t come cheap. [JR]
SOUTHERN GIRLS ROCK CAMP SHOWCASE
@ The Basement East | 2pm | $10 | All Ages
This show is the culmination of a week-long summer camp in which young girls are taught to empower themselves through learning to play instruments and putting together a rock and roll band. After a week of band practice, lessons on self-promotion, and other activities to learn the ins and outs of the music business, the girls perform the songs they’ve written with their new bands in a showcase. You might just end up seeing a future star before they even graduate high school, and the money goes towards supporting a very worthy cause. [JSa]
STEELISM w/ DJ RADSKI
@ Fond Object | 5pm | $5 | All Ages
Local virtuosos Steelism are celebrating the release of their EP The Drawing Room, Volume 1, and it is one of the coolest new releases that we’ve heard out of Nashville this year. They are celebrating the release with a performance in the backyard at Riverside Village’s Fond Object record store. While this one isn’t free (it’ll cost you $5 at the door), there is going to be complimentary Star Hill beer on tap (while supplies last) to quench your thirst and food trucks to feed ya. Check out the track “The Serge” from the new EP below, and read our full preview to see why this should be on your must do list on Saturday. [MH]
CREATURE COMFORT, THE BUSINESS PEOPLE, OLIVER OCEAN, ONLY
@ fooBAR | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Local favorites Creature Comfort return to Foobar this weekend with fellow local indie rock bands Oliver Ocean and Only and Charlotte-based dance rockers The Business People. Creature Comfort have garnered a significant following since the release of their 2012 album Fox Tales, and are currently working on a new EP, so come on over to the East side to hear some old favorites and new tunes. [MG]
ELLE MACHO w/ THE ALARMS
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $5 |18+
Elle Macho are Butterfly Boucher’s newest project with David Mead and Lindsay Jamieson, and they describe themselves as “indie, French pop.” The band are definitely a harder, darker sound for her. Butterfly Boucher is a personal favorite of mine and a longtime resident of Nashville and member of Ten out of Tenn. Her music is always a departure from the norm, beautiful, and thought-provoking, and this is the first time they will play some new songs. The Alarms open with their retro surf rock mixed with a TV on the Radio and California ambient sound. This show is going to be better than anyone would know. [MOB]
PENICILLIN BABY, STEP SISTERS, DIRTY LUNGS, SOFT CRUSH
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $5 | 21+
On their Facebook, Penicillin Baby describe themselves as “space trash”. Such a description couldn’t be more fitting for these Nashville punks. This Saturday, They will be joined by Nashville psych-rock band Step Sisters, Dirty Lungs, and local transplants from Kentucky, Soft Crush. [JC]
ELVIS DEPRESSEDLY, MITSKI w/ ESKIMEAUX, DADDY ISSUES
@ The End | 9pm | $10 | 18+
Fast-rising local up-and-comers Daddy Issues just released a record on Infinity Cat and are opening up for Elvis Depressedly, Mitski, and Eskimeaux on tour. Mitski and Eskimeaux are both New York-based indie rock female solo projects with recent acclaimed records under their belts, Bury Me at Makeout Creek and O.K. respectively. Indie trio Elvis Depressedly are also coming off a well-received new release New Alhambra. That’s four bands with buzzworthy new tunes in one night. [JSa]
AARON GILLESPIE w/ WILLIAM BECKETT, NATHAN HUSSEY
@ Rocketown | 7pm | $15 | All Ages
Billed as a “career-spanning performance featuring songs from the past 15 years,” fans of Aaron Gillespie‘s prior projects Underoath and The Almost will definitely find more nostalgic offerings and less solo material (which leans heavily on worship music: see below) at this particular outing. The current touring drummer of Paramore is joined by former Academy Is frontman (and accomplished solo performer) William Beckett, as well as Nathan Hussey of All Get Out. [PO]
SUNDAY
FALL OUT BOY, WIZ KHALIFA w/ HOODIE ALLEN
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7pm | $25-65 | All Ages
Returning to Nashville at an annual clip since reuniting at the start of 2013, pop punks turned global rockstars Fall Out Boy are teaming up with Wiz Khalifa for a co-headlining, genre-bending show that marks their biggest Music City outing to date. FOB are celebrating the smash success of their year’s American Beauty/American Psycho, and Wiz is still riding high (no pun intended) from last year’s Blacc Hollywood. Trendy New York rapper Hoodie Allen will open. [PO]
WATERFALL WASH, OVERWATCHER, BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT, AND OTHER STORIES
@ The East Room | 9pm | 21+
We premiered a new track from Waterfall Wash earlier this week, as they continue to rise in the local music scene. If you haven’t seen Waterfall Wash live yet, you are really missing out. Their stage presence is boisterous, and their playing is as tight as anyone in Nashville. We often joke with these friends of the site, that they “should sound really good after practicing for two years (before releasing their EP Foreign Chords)”, but, once you get a taste of Waterfall Wash, we think you’ll be hooked just like we are. [MH]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JSa] Jacqui Sahagian
[JC] Julian Ciany
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[MOB] M. Olivia Burd
[PO] Philip Obenschain