Banner by H. Maher Creative
It’s Labor Day weekend, and, around these parts, that’s us flying past summer and watching it fade in the rearview mirror. It’s a weekend of barbeques, family, friends, and the beginning of another season of hope for college football fans. However, it’s also a long weekend which means time to stay out late and party with some of your favorite bands. This week features a seminal rock band, a femme fronted festival featuring furious rock jams, two FREE nights on Cannery Row with a stellar lineup featuring some local standouts, and a FREE Sunday night at The Basement that will make you thank the lucky stars that Monday is a holiday. You can read all about that and more, and find your labor day weekend shows in another edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
SAFE IN BLUE
@ Pour House | 6pm | Free | All Ages
Started by a South African and a Canadian, Safe in Blue are a duo that strive to focus on the strength of lyrics and melodies rather than simply producing generic pop beats. Their very first single and video, “Song I Believe In,” was seen by one of their influences, Coldplay, and put on the superstars’ website for all to see. Ever since then, Safe in Blue have shown excellent promise in their rise to the top of the music charts – so, before they blow up in the mainstream, come see them for the excellent bargain price of free. [BM]
THE CLEAN w/ BOOGARINS
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $15 | 18+
We already gave you the full rundown on this one this morning, but let us rephrase. If you know The Clean, you are already going to this show. If you don’t know The Clean and you go to this show, you will become obsessed. These oldsters started playing in 1978, but their drone psych pop jams are as fresh today as they were before your parents were dating. Up and coming Brazilian psych popsters Boogarins open. This one will likely sell out, so we’d recommend getting to The Stone Fox early to ensure you don’t miss a once in a lifetime event in Music City. [MH]
SHARKWEEK, PENICILLIN BABY, BEAR IN THE CAMPSITE, SUNDONISTAS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $cheap | 21 +
The 5 Spot is always a dependable place to catch some quality weekend tunes, and this bill of locals SharkWeek, Penicillin Baby, Bear in the Campsite, and Sundonistas proves no different. We loved Bear in the Campsite’s recent performance at our own Acme showcase, and, by now, we’ve raved about Penicillin Baby more times than we can count, so those two acts along make this one worth your time. [PO]
DEEP FRIED 5 ALBUM RELEASE PARTY w/ DYNAMO, DEROBERT & THE HALF-TRUTHS, CHRIS WEST & THE JUNKYARD HORNS
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $5 | 18+
What’s that you say? You’re looking to let loose and get a little funky this weekend? Well, you’re in luck, because Deep Fried 5 are throwing one hell of a party at Exit/In in celebration of the release of their sophomore album, Right Around the Corner. The rest of bill includes Dynamo, DeRobert & The Half-Truths, and Chris West & The Junkyard Horns, so it’s gonna be one funky r&b throwdown all night long. [PO]
FERVENT FUSION ART SHOW w/ MUSIC BY THE BLUE VELVETS, FRENCH LIPS, & MINONA
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 21+
Fervent Fusion are putting on an art show at The East Room that promises live painting, local art for sale, tarot card readings, and we haven’t even gotten to the music yet. Alternative indie trio Minona, scary-sexy blues band French Lips, and the alternative Americana male-female duo The Blue Velvets are playing for an artsy night on the east side. [JSh]
NASHVILLE SCENE’S SOUNDS LIKE SUMMER: FLY GOLDEN EAGLE, QUILT, RANCH GHOST, STONE JACK JONES, JAMES WALLACE & THE NAKED LIGHT, SHY GUY
@ Mercy Lounge/High Watt | 8pm | Free | 21+
Labor Day weekend is something of a symbolic send off of summer, and what better way to spend it than with one gigantic free concert? The Nashville Scene are happy to oblige, and will be taking over The High Watt and Mercy Lounge for a free party, featuring performances from some of our favorite locals like Fly Golden Eagle, Ranch Ghost, and James Wallace & The Naked Light. You’d be crazy to pass this one up! [PO]
SATURDAY
BITCHFEST FT. THELMA AND THE SLEAZE, TIGER SEX, CHOPPER GIRL, WE ARE HEX, MOTHERFUCKER
@ Charlie Bob’s | 7pm | $8 | 18+
The feminist rock and roll festival Bitchfest is celebrating its fourth year promoting women who rock. Put on by local all-girl hard rockers Thelma and the Sleaze, the mini-festival will include the post punks from Athens, Motherfucker; scary hard rockers from Indianapolis, We Are Hex; Memphis-based gangster rapper Chopper Girl; and the proto-punk influenced, Las Vegas-based group Tiger Sex. Local branches of feminist organizations will be there handing out free contraceptives and information. Bring your boyfriend at his own risk. [JSh]
TWIGGS, KIM LOGAN, SAM LEWIS, DYLAN LeBLANC
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $cheap | 21+
Nashville based, Oklahoma transplant, country crossover folk’ster Twiggs headline this low dough show, with swamp blues country soul singer Kim Logan, local singer songwriter Sam Lewis, and Louisiana Americana crooner Dylan LeBlanc. So much great tunage for such a minimal fee, you’d be crazy to miss it! [JR]
CAITLIN ROSE w/ LOS COLOGNES, GOODNIGHT NED
@ The Basement | 8pm | $3RSVP/$15DOS | 21+
Red Bell continues its amazing, monthly Sound Select concert series with local country revivalist and total badass Caitlin Rose, whose latest album, The Stand-In, is one of our favorite Nashville releases of all time. Paired with Los Colognes and Goodnight Ned, and boasting a $3 price tag if you RSVP (space is still first come, first served), and set to take place in the intimate show space of The Basement, this might just be the weekend show to beat. [PO]
NASHVILLE SCENE’S SOUNDS LIKE SUMMER: THE COOLIN’ SYSTEM, AJ & THE JIGGAWATTS, ALANNA ROYALE, MAGNOLIA SONS, COURTNEY JAYE AND PROMISED LAND SOUND
@ Mercy Lounge/High Watt | 8pm | Free | 21+
Kickass bands and free are usually a tell tale sign of an absolute blowout of a party. This one stands to fill those shoes and then some. We’ve featured every band on this bill, and couldn’t think of a better ground of folks to party with. Have a listen to the first single, “Cop Show” from Alanna Royale‘s upcoming debut full-length, Achilles, which is due out on Sept. 16. [MH]
SUNDAY
MARTINA MCBRIDE
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
If you were hoping to catch a glimpse, and a live listen of the pop country diva you may have missed the boat, because this show is SOLD OUT. It’s a shame too, because odds are you’d never get to be so up close and personal with the local superstar than you would at 3rd and Lindsley, but you never know, maybe the stars will align and you can weasel your way in. [JR]
FAUX FEROCIOUS, THE MISFRUITS, SEXX, BEN SPINKS SUPERMELT, BEEF OVEN
@ The Basment | 8pm | Free | 21+
Continuing our trend of kick ass free shows this weekend, we have another edition of The Sunday Post at The Basement featuring another stellar lineup of rockers. We yammed about the Turbo Fruits raucous Misfits cover set (The Misfruits) when we caught their debut on RSD at Fond Object, and we just dropped the new video for recent Lightning 100 artist of the week, Sexx. Throw in party curators Faux Ferocious, Ben Spinks Supermelt, and Beef Oven; and you better take a taxi to be safe. [MH]
OPEN MIKE EAGLE w/ CORPORATE JUGGERNAUT
@ The Stone Fox | 8pm | Free | 21+
Renowned for his ability to blend hip hop and comedy, LA’s Open Mike Eagle has managed to genre-leap while maintaining a thoughtful and insightful musical edge. His free performance at The Stone Fox will include local collective Corporate Juggernaut, ensuring a night of amazing tunes and amazing laughs. Perhaps the most unique show of the entire weekend, we can’t think of a better way to end your Sunday. [PO]
[BM] Beth McAllister
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JMa] John Masserini
[MH] Matt Hall
[JS] Jack Smith
[JSh] Jacqui Sahagian
[PO] Philip Obenschain