TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | 9/6-9/8

Banner designed by Holley Maher, H. Maher Creative

It already feels like fall over here, and the touring schedules are starting to pick up around town.  Single releases, album releases, benefits with free beer, and a few blockbuster national acts are just a few of the decisions that you will have to make this weekend. Click through to see our best of the best this weekend!

FRIDAY

THEM VIBES
@ Soulshine Pizza | 7pm (5-7pm Happy Hour) | Free | All Ages

I told you you’d be hearing more about these guys. If you happened to be up and listening to the radio Tuesday morning at 9:00, then you know they are Lightning 100’s Local Artist of the week. (If you missed it, you can here the interview here). Be listening for their song “Lorelei” in heavy rotation on 100.1 this week, and be sure to join Wells Adams at Soulshine Pizza for the free show tonight. [JG]

MUSE W/ CAGE THE ELEPHANT
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7:30pm | $60.50 – $78.11 | All Ages

Theatrical Brit-rockers Muse return to Nashville with local favs Cage the Elephant to fill our very own Bridgestone arena with kaoss (see what I did there, guitar nerds?) and lasers. It’s gonna be huge. We’ve heard from fans that this is the closest you can get to seeing Queen live. (We know, we know; nothing compares to Freddie, though.) Going to the show? See you there! [LS]

BUTCH WALKER
@ Mercy Lounge | 9PM (8PM doors) | $20 – $30 (sold out) | 18+

The bummer? Butch Walker‘s Mercy Lounge show sold out pretty quickly (StubHub’s got a few for you superfans). The upside? You can catch a special documentary screening about the dynamic performer/producer before his set, and tickets are still available. Head here to find out more. [PO]

FAVORITE SONS w/ THE DWELLS, SPECIAL GUESTS
@ 12th & Porter | 9PM | $5 | 18+

Favorite Sons are self-described “classic American rock ‘n roll bravado,” and I cannot think of a more accurate description. Their self-titled album is an 80’s heartland anthem modernized with a nod to Goo Goo Dolls-like pop rock. The Dwells’ Matthew Bean’s voice is a perfect match to support Paige Califano’s airy twang to make for haunting bluegrass melodies. Their sophomore album Don’t Ever Leave Me Like You Do sounds like “Jackson” by June and Johnny if it were meant to make you sad (“Goodbye Portland”). You can “name your price” for their debut album Fortieth Floor on their Bandcamp. Not sure who the special guests will be for this lineup, but my guess it’s a bald eagle with an American flag cape. [OF]

MELON & THE MAYHEM w/ OLIVER & THE SPECTACLES ft. ALICIA MICHILLI, and I’M JONNY P & THE MORONS
@ The Basement | 9PM | $5 | 21+

Do you want up & coming?  We brought you some early Melon & The Mayhem awhile back, so we were excited to see the talented front-woman bringing forth some new tunes in her headlining slot at The Basement. Honestly, I guess we will meet the opening acts in the artist friendly confines on Friday night, but, if they like Melons… we like them.  You can check out a new video from Melon & The Mayhem below. [MH]

LOWLAND HUM, CALEB GROH, HEIDI FEEK & CASEY BLACK
@ The Stone Fox | 9PM | $5 ($8 day of show) | 18+

PROFESSOR SHYGUY, MICHAEL CASTRO, JOHN GRAY, JEFFERSON STREET, BREE MANNING, & THE WHIPPOORWILLS
@ The End | 6PM | $13 ($8 day of show) | 16+

SWEET WEAPONS, NEST, POEMA, DAISYHEAD
@ Cafe Coco | 7PM | $5 | All Ages

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SATURDAY

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND w/ CHARLES WALKER & THE DYNAMITES and DANIEL ELLSWORTH & THE GREAT LAKES
@ Musicians Corner| 12PM | Free | All Ages

Straight from the bayou, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band has one mission: to show audiences just how awesome New Orleans Jazz can be. The group has been in existence since 1963, though the roster has changed quite a bit since the old days. With more than 150 shows each year, including two gigs at Bonnaroo this year and at the Schermerhorn. The soulful Charles Walker and indie popper Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes will join the Preservation Hall Jazz band for a classic afternoon at the Musician’s Corner event in Centennial Park. Ellsworth and the Great Lakes start things off around 2:15 in the afternoon. [JS]

HONEYHONEY WITH CEREUS BRIGHT
@ The Volcano Room at Cumberland Caverns | 1PM | $20 (sold out) | All Ages

May be worth hunting around Craigslist to see if you can get to this. If you’re unfamiliar with Bluegrass Underground, these shows take place in a large cavern with a chandelier 333 feet below ground. Talk about atmosphere. Honeyhoney is not country, not folk, not rock, but a hybrid that defies exact definition. [JG]

VITEK, CASA CASTILE, POCONO, SUMMER BUTTONS, AND THE GIRAFFE
@ East Centric Pavilion | 6PM | $5 | All Ages

East Centric Pavilion has quickly become an outdoor hotspot on the “other” side of the river. A recent retweet of our own tweet beat (@NoCountryNash, folks!) tells us headliners VITEK are fans of Sigur Ros (playing soon – details here!), and you can certainly feel a little Jónsi in this preview below.  All proceeds go toward Mental Health America of Middle TN, and Jackalope is providing free beer.  Enough said. [JM]

*REPEAT REPEAT w/ EL EL, PONYCHASE (Single Release Party)
@ The Basement| 9PM (8PM doors) | $5 | 21+

Three of our favorite local acts, *repeat repeat, El El, and Ponychase are all releasing new singles! You already got a first listen to El El’s “Kiss Kiss,” and Ponychase just premiered “Parade of Youth” (watch the vid below). If you missed *repeat repeat’s “History” on The 615, keep an eye on our site on Monday. Not only is the show just $5, but the first 75 people get a free compilation with all three songs! [PO]

BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS w/ BAD COP
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm (doors 8pm) | $15 | 18+

There is a lot of talk about the soul of James Brown, but there isn’t as much talk about how god-damned soulful those bands of his were.  Channeling Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, & Bootsy Collins, Black Joe Lewis will no doubt groove your mellow on Saturday night.  Local rockers, Bad Cop, are a slightly odd opener for this bill, but I’m sure they will figure out how to fit it. [MH]

MATT WERTZ w/ ELENOWEN
@ Exit/In | 9:30pm (doors 8pm) | $15 $18 (Day off) | 18+

80’s inspiration was in full swing when Matt Wertz went to record his last record.  The video below is about as much nostalgia as anyone could stand, but it also shows us how much fun this show is going to be too.  Local Elenowen starts your night off. [MH]

SURPRISE HEADLINER w/ SOL CAT, GUNTHER DOUG, & BUFFALO RODEO
@ 318 Elberta Street | 9pm (Doors 8pm) | CHEAP | 18+

When Sol Cat announced they would be playing a show with a surprise headliner, fans had mixed reactions. Who would it be? Fellow Nashvillians The Weeks? The Kingston Springs? While no one knows yet, the one thing fans can bank on is this being quite a good show. Sol Cat recently announced a new EP, so hopefully some of those songs will be played. If we get word of the headliner, we’ll tweet it out, but in the meantime you should go ahead and realize that this is a solid plan for your Saturday night. [JS]

DEADSTRING BROTHERS w/ JOSH FARROW, and JOSEPHINE AND THE WILD FRONT
@ The High Watt | 9pm (Doors 8pm) | $10 | 18+

SOMEDAY IN MARCH w/ WALKING MAN, ELLVEE & THE JERKS
@ The End | 9pm | $5 | 18+

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SUNDAY

THE NATIONAL w/ FRIGHTENED RABBIT
@ The Ryman | 7:30pm | Sold Out | All ages

Here’s another great show that, unfortunately, sold out quickly. Scan StubHub or check Craigslist, if you have your heart set on catching indie rockers The National– we have a feeling that they’ll sound extra incredible at The Ryman. Or, drown out your woes by watching Nashville’s Caitlin Rose cover The National’s “Pink Rabbits” on repeat. [PO]

CHRIS ISAAK
@ War Memorial | 7pm | $37 – $60 | All ages

Dreamy rockabilly crooner Chris Isaak returns to Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium this Sunday night. If you’re a dude, you better take your significant other to this one. Or if you’re single & flying solo, you could always try to make a love connection with a cute stranger during “Wicked Game.” That’s what I would do, anyway. [LS]

BILLY BURNETTE w/ TAR (Guthrie Trapp, Pete Abbott, & Michael Rhodes)
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $10 | All ages

PERE UBU w/ GAGARIN
@ Mercy Lounge | 8pm (7pm doors) | $15 | 18+

HUNTER VALENTINE w/ KRISSY KRISSY
@ Exit/In | 9:45 (8pm doors) | $10 ($12 day of show) | 18+

We spent a little bit of time getting to know Brooklyn based, in-your-face, buzz-heavy, all-girl rock band, Hunter Valentine this week.  Formed by Kiyomi McCloskey (lead vocals/guitarist) and Laura Petracca (drummer), they have begun establishing themselves as a veritable powerhouse that is exploding onto the mainstream. Opener Krissy Krissy has been likened as “the white girl with soul” for the Brooklyn-based singer’s powerful vocal prowess. [MH]

[JS] Jack Smith
[JG] Jared Godar
[JM] Jessika Malone
[LS] Lauren Strange
[MH] Matt Hall
[OF] Olivia Fay
[PO] Philip Obenschain