With Memorial Day in the rear view mirror, we head full speed into summer and the fast approaching festival season. While we are in definite preparation mode for Bonnaroo to get our season started, the weekend is also meant for play, and this weekend features some great shows around town to consider. Local-via Birmingham, Americana rockers Banditos & indie rock standouts Surfer Blood are both in town celebrating new records, and local alternative psych rockers CHALAXY are celebrating the release of a new single. But, that’s just some of the options in Music City this weekend. Let us help you plan you weekend with our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
TONY LUCCA
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
Stop by Soulshine for a special Happy Hour from 5 – 7:00pm (with drink specials from Sugarlands Distillery and Abita Beer) followed by a performance from the local artist of the week, Tony Lucca. Tony is a singer, songwriter, producer, and sometime actor, who is perhaps best known for starting his career on the Mickey Mouse Club but also was the second runner-up on the second season of The Voice. Check out the official music video for “Delilah (When The Lights Go Out)” which has been in heavy rotation this week on Lightning 100. [JMo]
FUNKONAUTS W/ CBDB AND SOUL MECHANIC
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $5-8 | 18+
Get ready to slap-ah da bass my friends, because local funk/jam band Funkonauts are taking over Exit/In. Look for special guests, like Alabama native joy funksters CBDB, and psychedelic flavored soul/funk band Soul Mechanic to get the party started. The only things funkier than this bill are probably illegal, so handle that before the show, and make sure you get their early to get the most out of your hard earned dollars. [JR]
THE ARCADIAN WILD W/ MACAELA NESLER AND SAM COURSEY
@ The High Watt | 7pm | $5 | 18+
Indie folk foursome, and mostly Lipscomb University alum, The Arcadian Wind are headlining a super low dough show at The High Watt. Local singer songwriter Macaela Nesler, and German born, but Missouri raised, guitarist/singer Sam Coursey fill out a nice chill bill. Good vibes included with the price of admission. [JR]
BANDITOS W/ BOBBY BARE JUNIOR AND CHARLIE WHITTEN
@ The Basement East | 8pm | $8 | 21+
The local rock-Americana band Banditos is celebrating the release of their first album with some help from label mate and alternative country singer Bobby Bare Jr. The group of six young musicians relocated to Nashville from Birmingham, Alabama and take influence from a little bit of everything, from punk to bluegrass to soul to classic rock. Bobby Bare Jr. obviously boasts the country music pedigree that comes from having Country Music Hall of Fame legend Bobby Bare as your dad, but rather than just coasting, he’s made a fascinating career for himself in the alt country scene, and he’s been lauded for his songwriting. Folk-rock singer-songwriter Charlie Whitten will open. [JSa]
MAC MCCAUGHAN W/ KURT WAGNER
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $10-12 | 18+
Superchunk frontman Mac McCaughan is out and about in support of his solo offerings that started as a collection of throwaway movie soundtrack songs he couldn’t use with his main band. Soon McCaughan was using the record, Non-Believers, to explore his interests in early 80s music, when punk was just starting to evolve into something more introspective. See for yourselves what’s he going for live and in person, with another front man gone solo, alt-country singer Kurt Wagner (Lambchop), playing in support. [JR]
WESTERN MEDICATION 7″ RELEASE W/ ORGAN STILLS, JAWWS, AND ESSENTIAL TREMORS
@ The East Room | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Western Medication and friends are taking over The East Room in celebration of the release of their latest 7″ featuring the tightly produced new single “Goes Around”. The single is a divergence from the Nashville garages towards a cleaner, tighter, new wavish vibe that makes this a perfect song to dance your summer away with. The standout local bill includes reverb drenched Organ Stills, teenage punks JAWWS, and synth punks Essential Tremors! Oh yeah, your price of admission, gets you the new Western Medication 7″ fuh FREE! As if you needed another excuse… [MH]
SATURDAY
SURFER BLOOD W/ ALEX CALDER & PLASTIC VISIONS
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $15 | 18+
Florida based indie rockers Surfer Blood return to Nashville on Saturday in support of their third full length release, 1000 Palms, which dropped on May 12th, and the new record is already pinging the top of the alternative charts at Billboard. 1000 Palms represents a triumphant return to the band’s roots after separating from their major label, and releasing the new record on their own indie imprint. Canadian experimental indie-rocker Alex Calder (not the guy who invented the mobile) opens things up, and is defintely worthy of the attention of anyone who ganders at Pitchfork or digs on Burger Record influenced artists. Local heavy alt rockers, Plastic Visions, round out this spectacular bill. [MH]
CHALAXY W/ MATT OWEN & THE ECLECTIC TUBA, BLACKFOOT GYPSIES AND LEVI RAY
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $5 | 18+
We recently premiered a new psych drenched track from CHALAXY titled “Dizzy”, and that is what we are celebrating in a power packed local lineup that is well worth the price of admission for this one. For more information, read this post, and keep your eyes and ears tuned to No Country tomorrow, as there may be more premieres coming in before this show! [MH]
SPACE CAPONE W/ WHITEHORSE
@ The Basement East | 10pm | $10 | 21+
It feels like it’s been awhile since we’ve seen Space Capone on any event listings around here, but luckily for us, the funk group is bringing their dance party to the new Basement location over on the East side this Saturday night. Get there early to check out the psychedelic country sounds of Canadian duo Whitehorse. [MG]
MUSICIANS CORNER: TRENT DABBS, AJ GHENT BAND, ADIA VICTORIA AND LENACHKA
@ Centennial Park | 12pm | FREE | All Ages
Musicians Corner is back at Centennial Park this weekend featuring Trent Dabbs, AJ Ghent Band, Adia Victoria and Lenachka on the Main Stage with Jeremy Moore, Dwan Hill, and Maddy Rodriguez hitting the Acoustic Stage. Music runs from 1:30 PM – 5 PM. As usual, there will also be Food Trucks, Kidsville, Dogville, Local Artisans, and Musicians Corner Pub. And, if you haven’t been this season, it is located in a new location in front of the park by West End & 25th Street/Elliston Place. Heads up…the crowds have been big and are arriving early. Nashville-based singer-songwriter Trent Dabbs has released eight solo albums and a self-titled collaboration album with Ashley Monroe. He co-founded the musical collective Ten Out of Tenn in 2005 and released the debut album for his band with Amy Stroup, Sugar & The Hi Lows, in 2012. Check out “Make A Believer” from Dabbs’ most recent album, Believer, which was released in February. [JMo]
SMOOTH HOUND SMITH W/ THE VEGABONDS, FORLORN STRANGERS AND KYSHONA ARMSTRONG
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5 | 21+
East Nashville based blues, folk, roots rock minimalists Smooth Hound Smith are having a special preview show for their new album, Sweet Tennessee Honey, which is due out later this summer to promote nicely with their upcoming Bonnaroo set. Southern rock flavored The Vagabonds, Americana five-piece Forlorn Strangers and soulful songstress Kyshona Armstrong get the party started. [JR]
SUNDAY
FUTURE THIEVES W/ KINK ADOR
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
This week’s edition of Nashville Sunday Night features indie rockers Future Thieves and new-wave/rock trio Kink Ador. Future Thieves have been making waves here in the local scene, most recently competing in the Road to Bonnaroo competition, so don’t miss your chance to see them and be a part of the live broadcast on Lightning 100. [MG]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JSa] Jacqui Sahagian
[JMo] Jeff Moody
[MH] Matt Hall
[MG] Meredith Galyon
I am obsessed with Surfer Blood but hopefully they play more songs from Astro Coast and Pythons than they do from 1000 Palms. I know that’s doubtful but one can hope