TWiN | This Weekend In Nashville | 4/26 – 4/28

It’s another weekend here in Music City, and this one will continue the trend that started on Thursday with an absolutely chock full bill of events.  We flip through roots, rock, reggae, and some stuff a bit on the more eccentric side.

Per usual, after the jump we have littered the site with players to get you in the mood for the weekends music, so have at it people.  Regardless of which you pick, make sure you get out to see some live music.

Friday

Andrew here. I’ve been listening to The Gills a lot lately, playing their latest EP Motor Running over and over again. It’s basically monopolized my current music rotation for the time being. The Gills’ songs on this EP are super-catchy, but yet they often exhibit awesomely dynamic changes to keep the listener on his or her toes, throwing in unexpected song structure changes at whim.   I missed their  last show when they played the Static Revival EP Release Show at Exit/In. But I won’t miss this one. They play The Stone Fox tonight with Milktooth and Vinyl Thief. Tickets are only $5, and things get started at 9pm. This will be my first chance to see if The Gills’ live show matches the energy of the recording. Check out the EP Motor Running below.

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The headliner, Milktooth, has been called “mesmerizing” by NPR, “vast and unexpected” by New York Minute Magazine, and “infectious” by The Dallas Observer.  They also garnered worldwide attention for their cover of Beck’s “Eyes That Say I Love You.” Recently, they’ve chosen to cover Mumford & Sons “Whispers In The Dark.” Perhaps they’ll play some of these covers at the show tonight. Check out the video for their cover of “Whispers In the Dark” below:

Vinyl Thief rounds out the bill. They recently played this year’s South by Southwest Festival, and you can get a replay of their song “Faces” from that Our Vinyl session that we reported a couple of weeks ago.

If you are interested in staying on the east side and checking out a few bands that we have talked quite a bit about, then you should definitely swing by The 5 Spot.  Paste Magazine’s #1 “Band To Listen To Now From Tennessee” Star & Micey will be taking the stage with one of our local favorites, Magnolia Sons.  New-to-me Strung Like A Horse get things started around 9pm, and it can’t cost you more than $5.  Check out Star & Micey’s 2012 I Can’t Wait EP along with Magnolia Son’s hot off the presses 7″ Nobody But You/Hey Emmaline

Philip will be spending Friday night at The End, checking out What’s Eating Gilbert, Diamond Youth, The Here and Now, and Free Throw. Influenced by power pop and country of the ’50s and ’60s, What’s Eating Gilbert is the side/solo project of New Found Glory’s Chad Gilbert. It’s a far-shot from Chad’s main gig, and a fun look at his range and knack for crafting poppier solo material. Joining the band are alt rockers Diamond Youth, There Here and Now (another side/solo project, featuring Alan Day of Four Year Strong), and local pop punk group Free Throw! Things get started at 7PM, and you can still grab tickets right here.

Other Friday shows worth considering are: 

Saturday

Saturday, Marathon Music Works hosts “Dankfest ’13”…errr, Slightly Stoopid with Tribal Seeds and Roots of a Rebellion. If you were one of the thousands of skatepunks who got mellow to the sounds of Slightly Stoopid back in the early aughts, you’ve probably already got tickets. Even if you’ve never gotten “Stoopid,” you might still want to consider checking this show out. It’s hard to not get down to their eclectic blend of skatepunk, thrash, and reggae/dub, and the rest of the bill is no chump show, either. Fellow San Diego natives Tribal Seeds had iTunes “Best Reggae Album of 2008,” and young hometown reggae-rock heroes Roots of a Rebellion won last year’s Music City Mayhem and appeared alongside The Wailers at Marathon Music Works last November. Tickets are $22.50 in advance and $25 day-of, doors are at 7, and the show starts at 8. 18 and over only.
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10 years ago, Nashville’s The Protomen noticed a void in rock and roll – a void that, according to them, “could only really be filled with grown men and women painting up like robots and playing some fierce and furious rock music based on a 1980′s video game.” For those not in the know, the aforementioned 1980’s videogame is Megaman, and the Protomen’s “fierce and furious rock” is two parts Megaman fan-fiction (told through the magic of rock-opera) and one part eerily accurate Queen covers. If you’re a nerd at heart, or just a normal dude with an occasional and inexplicable urge to attend cosplay conventions dressed as a robot, then the only place you should be this Saturday is at The Protomen’s 10-year anniversary show at The Mercy Lounge. The Protomen are supported by “fantasy-arpeggio” band Make-Up and Vanity Set and prog-rock/dreampop outfit Hanzelle, as well as “special guests.” When The Protomen’s played Exit/In back in June (an appearance that earned them a spot on our “top shows of 2012” list), their “special guest” was none other than Jack Black. All bets are off on who could show up for this special birthday occasion. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 day-of, and doors are at 8. 18+ only.

If you’re in the mood to go a little on the fringe, Jessika’s spreading the word about something that’s happening in East Nashville at The Bohéme Collectif’ and you definitely want to stop in and check it out. It’s A Happening is an evening’s worth of an eclectic mixing of music plus varying other visual / performing genres in a smorgasbord of arty awesome that will allow you to get a taste of the avant-garde for the low, low price of just $5. It’s BYOB and you will have the opportunity to mingle with your evening’s host, Sideshow Ensemble member and innovative performance artist, Matt Marcum, in addition to his talented cadre of co-conspirators. The insanely diverse group of creatives being featured includes JP Schuffman, Al Holbrook, DJ Spun Counterguy, Jessica Dawn, Herb Bailey & Tavius Marshall, Rachel Hicks, Kelly Clark, Kenneth Dorsey, Kristen Lamb, and Melodic. You can check out Melodic’s cover of Jessie J’s “Price Tag” below and get more info about the happening at the event’s Facebook page.

Other shows worth considering on Saturday include:

Sunday

You might have already heard that indie rockers Band of Horses will be in town this weekend. You might have also heard that their Saturday night show at The Ryman sold out pretty quickly. Well, you’re in luck, because a second show was added for Sunday night and there are still a handful of tickets left! The group’s latest release, Mirage Rock, is a lot of fun, and they consistently deliver a top-notch live show. Show’s at 8PM. No word on the supporting act. Snag your tickets here while they last!

We had the opportunity to see Vintage Trouble open for The Who a couple of months ago at Bridgestone.  Talk about a mid-sized band taking over a giant arena!!! While they certainly didn’t have the shirtless theatrics of Daltry and company, there was good reason for fans to be lined up to meet them in the concourse after their set.  The Hollywood soul rock explosion is still celebrating the success of their first release Bomb Shelter Sessions that released in July 2011 on ambiguously named Independent Records.  You can check out Bomb Shelter Sessions below to get you in the mood.  Things get started with Papa Ray around 9pm at Mercy Lounge, and can still grab tickets for this one here.

If you are feeling charitable (which you should) and you are saddened about the events in Boston last week (i’ll punch you if you aren’t), then you should head over to 12th and Porter for the Nashville Loves Boston Benefit w/ Alanna Royale, Brian Collins, Gabe Dixon, Maureen Murphy, Teddy Robert, Oliver Wood & Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers, and Charlie Worsham. This is guaranteed to bring a big crowd, and it will hopefully make some big money for a great cause. Things get started at 7pm, and there is a $15 minimum donation (more is encouraged) at the door.

Other Sunday suggestions

Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics at The High Watt