The holidays loom. You better get out to enjoy yourself before your grandparents invade! We have a ton of shows going on around town including our FREE CAROLING PARTY at The Stone Fox tonight! If general jolly merriment is not your bag, no sweat, we have you covered with all of our staff picks for this weekend. Read on for this week’s TWiN!
FRIDAY
THE MODERN ROYALS
@ 12th & Porter | 7pm (doors at 5pm) | FREE | All Ages
Chicago transplants The Modern Royals are Lightning 100’s Artist of the Week, and their psychedelic, high energy, blues rock sound is the perfect way to get your weekend started right. With a price tag of free, and an early time slot, this should be on your weekend must list. [PO]
BANDITOS w/ SLICK, SWAMPBIRDS AND LIZ COOPER, THE STAMPEDE
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Banditos roll back through town tonight at The Basement with a pretty killer lineup in tow. They are supporting their newest released single “The Breeze” which is a follow up to their well received 2012 self-titled EP. If you are in the area, the price is right to poke your head into The Basement for a few. [MH]
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
@ Bridgestone Arena | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
Let’s be real here. Nobody, and we mean nobody, can resist getting down to the tunes of Justin Timberlake. Sure, you might want to scoff and pretend you’re too musically intelligent for JT, but as soon as “What Goes Around…Comes Around”, you’ll have a tough time not getting down with the rest of Bridgestone arena. Unfortunately, this one is already sold out, so we hope you snagged your spot early when we first announced this, because it’ll definitely will be one of Bridgestone’s most fun shows this year. [JS]
MERRY EFFIN’ KISSMAS: AN EVENING WITH BLONDER THAN HELL
@ Exit/In | 7pm | $10 | 18+
This might be the only time you ever hear of KISS doing something good for the world. Nashville’s very own KISS cover band Blonder Than Hell are playing a Christmas charity event at Exit/In that will also function as a food and toy drive, so if you’ve got a love for the ’80s and some old canned goods laying around you can celebrate Christmas charitably, with hair metal. [JSa]
MODOC w/ MOSELEY AND JUHI
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm (8pm doors) | $10 | 18+
Local, via Indiana, power rockers Modoc were kind enough to play one of No Country Presents shows at Acme Feed (read this), and we are super stoked to see them headlining at Mercy. Fellow resident, and all-female power-trio, Moseley will also be in the house, as will Franklin, TN, native grunge rocker Juhi. Be there. [JR]
EAST NASHVILLE UNDERGOUND AND NO COUNTRY PRESENTS: 3RD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL PARTY FT. ALANNA ROYALE, *REPEAT REPEAT, THAT’S MY KID, JUNG YOUTH, AND MORE!
@ The Stone Fox | 7pm | Free | 18+
If you’ve been on the site even once this week, then you probably already know about our AMAZING all local, totally FREE Christmas party/caroling show. If you don’t have plans, or you just have shitty plans, get your ass to The Stone Fox early because we have a feeling it’s going to be packed later. There’ll be awesome Nashville bands there like *repeat repeat, That’s My Kid and other No Country favorites like Alanna Royale! Hope to see you there. [JR]
ROBOTS w/ GAS AND NEW WAVE REBELLION
@ Phat Bites | 8pm | Free | All Ages
We’ve spent a bit of time with Transmogrification from New Wave Rebellion, and it keeps getting played because it is just so damn different than most of the stuff cluttering our inbox. Have a listen below, if your interest in picqued, you know where to find them tonight. [MH]
SLEEP WAVE w/ FOREIGN WAR, WE ARE THE FINALE, WHAT WE DO IN SECRET
@ Rocketown | 7pm | $13 | All Ages
Former Underoath frontman Spencer Chamberlain is back with a new alt/electronic inspired project called Sleepwave, a definite and refreshing departure from his previous group. Along with Foreign War, We Are the Finale, and What We Do in Secret, Sleepwave are passing through town to promote their new full-length, Broken Compass. This is a great go-to show for the all ages crowd this weekend. [PO]
SATURDAY
RI¢HIE & PRAYER FLAGS w/SPECIAL GUESTS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $cheap | 21+
Resident badass and rock-a-billy hero Ri¢hie is always a good time, and he’s headlining a low dough show that needs to be part of your Saturday night itinerary. Throw in veteran rockers Prayer Flags, and you have yourself a gig worth going too, because in Nashville you never know who might so up under the infamous “special guest” moniker. [JR]
SEXX w/ LOOK WHAT I DID, THE DEAD DEADS, INDULGIST
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Local indie label Palaver Records put together this show featuring four local rock bands and headlined by the surf punks Sexx, who have already been getting in the Christmas spirit with their new single “Santa Can’t Die!” Look What I Did play a fusion of punk and metal, The Dead Deads are an all-girl band of undead sisters playing glam-metal-punk, and Indulgist are alternative post-grunge. Read more about it here. [JSa]
AUGUSTANA w/ SCARS ON 45
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm (8pm) | $15 | 18+
As we told you earlier this week, sometimes Nashville residents Augustana are set to return to Mercy Lounge, after a busy year which included the release of a new album, Life Imitating Life, a prior headlining Music City outing, and a spot at Live on the Green. With only frontman Dan Layus still officially helping the project, the eclectic rockers have gone through something of a period of transformation, and have emerged stronger for it. Paired with UK group Scars on 45, this is certainly one of the top happenings of the weekend. [PO]
SUBNOVAS, CHALAXY, ONLY
@ The East Room | 9pm | $cheap | 18+
Sad news for fans of outer space, math rock savants Subnovas. This will be their last show, and will double as a going away party for band member David Sabludowsky. Turn that frown upside down though, because this is going to be a party with some Subnovas schwag up for grabs. This one also features local electronic alt-rockers Chalaxy and a mysterious new band named Only. All of them have piqued our interest, so we hope to see you there! [JR]
KELLY CLARKSON: MIRACLE ON BROADWAY
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7:30pm | $26.05-45.25 | All Ages
Frankly, we shouldn’t even have to introduce this one to you. If you’re in any way at all familiar with the music scene around here (or anywhere), you’ve undoubtedly heard of Kelly Clarkson. Since winning the first ever season of American Idol, Clarkson has released countless pop and country tunes, many of which have been international hits. This show will be Clarkson’s first annual benefit, and she brought quite a few of her famous friends along, including Reba McIntyre, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Kacey Musgraves, Ronnie Dunn, Charlie Esten, Meghan Trainor, and even Hayley Williams of Paramore. Look, we don’t usually talk much about country acts on this site (it is, after all, explicitly forbidden by our name), but this event is definitely something special. Second Harvest Food Bank, Thistle Farms, Monroe Harding Children’s Home, and Vanderbilt’s Jr. Children’s Hospital will all benefit from ticket sales. Oh, and while we’re sure that they’ll play lots of newer songs and Christmas tunes, the embed below is a throwback to Clarkson’s most famous tune. Listen with caution, since this will be stuck in your head all day long, guaranteed. [JS]
SUNDAY
ANDY DAVIS & FRIENDS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
His name may be Andy Davis, but his friends aren’t Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Perfect for the season, classic pop band Andy Davis & Friends are hitting the 3rd & Lindsley stage for Lightning 100 & Yuengling’s Christmas edition of their weekly show. Spike Jason Mraz’s drink with 110 proof rock and roll and you might get an idea of what this Sunday’s show will be like. Or, if it piques your interest to see the world’s most melancholy pug surrounded by five or six beautiful women, check out Andy Davis’ mildly ludicrous and endearing video below for his tune, “Single Christmas.” [MC]
FAUX FEROCIOUS, THELMA & THE SLEAZE, WESTERN MEDICATION, HEINOUS ORCA AND JEROME & THE PSYCHICS
@ The Basement | 8 pm | FREE | 21+
Local punksters Faux Ferocious are curating a pretty kick ass night of head banging, mosh pitting good times at The Basement. If you need to end your Sunday Funday to a high energy bang, this free event is your jam. [MH]
YELAWOLF W/ RITTZ, BIG HENTRY, DJ KLEVER
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | $15-75 | 18+
Well respected for his intelligent rhymes and exquisite flow, Alabama-born rapper Yelawolf made headlines a couple of years ago when he transitioned to Eminem’s label Shady Records. The parallels between these rappers’ styles are undeniable, and Eminem seems to have in some ways groomed Yelawolf into a kind of successor. Regardless, Yelawolf today enjoys a broad fan base, due in no small part to his rowdy live shows and crossover appeal with rockers like Travis Barker. Along with Rittz, Big Hentry, and DJ Klever, Yelawolf is slated to rock the stage at Marathon starting 8 pm this Sunday. [JS]
[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