A number of our team are heading north this weekend for Forecastle, but the rest of us are making our plans by scouring through a plethora of killer shows going on around town. We have the free two day Outlaw Roadshow that we have been telling you about for a couple of weeks, a free Jason Isbell performance (that you might want to go ahead and take the day off to make sure you see), an unlikely venue for local rockers Thelma & The Sleaze, and an unlikey show time for comedic folksters Birdcloud. There’s plenty more to choose from though. Have a look at all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
JELLYROLL w/ ALEXANDER KING, I4NI
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $10-12 | 18+
Hailing from nearby Antioch, rapper JellyRoll has been a fixture in the Nashville hip hop scene for nearly a decade, developing a voice which personifies life in the south. Joined by Alexander King and i4ni, his headlining outing at Exit/In should make for a rowdy weekend kickoff. [PO]
JASON ISBELL OUTSTORE PERFORMANCE
@ Grimey’s | 5:30pm | FREE | All Ages
Jason Isbell celebrates the release of his new album “Something More Than Free” on Friday. To accompany this important follow up to his critically acclaimed album “Southeastern”, Isbell will perform a free show in the Grimey’s parking lot at 5:30 pm. For any fan of Isbell that didn’t score tickets to any of his four October shows at The Ryman, this is a perfect opportunity to catch the esteemed songwriter. Better get there early though, as this one is sure to be packed! [JC]
STEPHEN STILLS
@ City Winery | 8pm (6pm doors) | SOLD OUT | All ages
If you were hoping to catch former Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young guitarist Stephen Stills tonight at City Winery, and you don’t already have a ticket, we have bad news friends; you have have officially missed the boat. Being able to boast the unique honor of being the first person ever to be inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame twice in the same night (once for each of the mentioned bands) Stills is a secular talent you definitely should not sleep on when he comes around again. For now, enjoy some of his classic work below, and try to call in favors for a last minute ticket. [JR]
THE OUTLAW ROADSHOW DAY 1: ELEL, BUFFALO RODEO, CALEB GROH, SECRET SISTERS, PARLOUR BELLS, ANGEL SNOW, DANIEL AND THE LION, AND MORE
@ Mercy Lounge | 8pm | Free | 18+
In case you haven’t heard, this weekend marks the first-ever Nashville edition of The Outlaw Roadshow, a Communion-esque curated event co-founded by Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz. Spanning across two days and two rooms, Mercy Lounge and The High Watt, the totally FREE showcase features a ton of local faves (and a trio of Saturday acts curated by us). Friday standouts include ELEL, Buffalo Rodeo, Parlour Bells, Daniel and the Lion, and more! [PO]
WIDOWSPEAK Ww LAUREN FARRAH
@ The Basement | 9pm | $10 | 21+
Some bands, and shows, make you want to lose your mind, go nuts, and forget what happened when the morning comes. This is not one of those shows, and shoegaze duo Widowspeak are not one of those bands. Joined by local indie artist Lauren Farrah, a dark basement underneath an old building is the perfect place for this show, which will be mellow but loud, trading the noise of the outside world for the noise of the loudest indie band on the scene right now. hip-swaying and lots of bopping heads are bound to ensue. If you’re over 21 and love music that will make you sad, be sure to check it out. [JL]
THELMA & THE SLEAZE
@ Donks | 9pm | FREE |21+
File this one under the category: shit show fo’ sho’ … and we promise that’s a compliment. Local lust laden hard rockers Thelma & The Sleaze, whom we’ve had the privilege of seeing a number of times, will be playing, of all places, Donks Sports Bar on Trinity Lane. Imagine a Hooters with the emphasis on the posterior, as apposed to the, well, hooters. Coincidentally, we had our blog pre-Bonnaroo meeting there, and let me tell you the wings are fucking amazing, best I’ve had in a while, so get hip to those and be sure to be there to see one of the hardest working bands in town, who will play literally ANYWHERE, and blow you away while they’re at it. [JR]
THE GILLS, MOSELEY, TETHERBALL, EARL BURROWS, FAUNA HALO
@ The Basement East| 9pm | $5 |21+
Local indie rockers The Gills (who have a new record dropping Aug. 24), are headlining a super low dough show at The Beast that you should probably be attending, ESPECIALLY if you’re an East Sider. Look for No Country Presents alum Tetherball (read this post), outer space rockers Earl Burrows, amongst others to melt your skull for just a five spot. [JR]
HAUNTED DEVICE w/ FELLOW CREATURES, SAVE/QUIT, BEST FRIEND
@ The End | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Locals Haunted Device combine alternative, powerpop, and shoegaze into their sound for alternative dream-pop, and will hopefully be playing some tracks from their upcoming LP that is due out this fall. They’re playing The End with Washington, D.C. natives Fellow Creatures, local indie-pop band Save/Quit, another pop and another shoegaze influenced band that we’ve told you about before, Best Friend. [JSa]
SATURDAY
THE OUTLAW ROADSHOW DAY 2: CORY BRANAN, BOOM FOREST, CAPPA, FORT FRANCES, DIANA DEMUTH, ERIN RAE AND THE MEANWHILES, DANIEL ELLSWORTH, MOSELEY, FLEURIE AND MORE
@ Mercy Lounge | 3pm | Free | 18+
The second day of The Outlaw Roadshow really ramps up the bill, boasting a stacked, local lineup spanning the wide spectrum of talent that Nashville has to offer. Beginning in the afternoon and running late (including a late secret set that you’re not going to want to miss), the Adam Duritz-founded event includes site faves like Cory Branan, Boom Forest, Erin Rae and the Meanwhiles, and Daniel Ellsworth, plus No Country-curated acts CAPPA, Moseley, and Fleurie. For the price of free, how can you miss it?? [PO]
TENNESSEE TEENS ROCK CAMP SHOWCASE
@ Mercy Lounge | 2pm | $10 | All Ages
Last weekend was the Southern Girls Rock showcase, and now the same organization — Youth Empowerment through Arts & Humanities — is putting on their second round for the teen rock and roll summer camp for both genders over at Mercy Lounge. The Tennessee Teens Rock Camp saw kids learning instruments, putting together bands, getting performances from local musicians, and receiving lectures on various aspects of the music business over the course of the week, all culminating in giving performances of songs they wrote at this showcase. The goal is to build confidence through participating in the arts and to empower youth with music, which is definitely a cause we can get behind. Come see the potential next big star before they’re even out of middle school. [JSa]
GREAT PEACOCK CD RELEASE PARTY w/ WILLIE AND THE GIANT, KENT GOOLSBY
@ The End | 9pm | $10 | 18+
It amazes us sometimes that Great Peacock haven’t yet blown right out of the Nashville scene already. They have an interesting take on arrangements that range from throwback twang to more poppy contemporary sounds all slathered in harmonized caramel vocals. While this may be the release party for Great Peacock’s Making Ghosts, you also get another chance to see Willie And The Giant, who just killed it at our Acme showcase, and Kent Goolsby, who also recently released an incredible album themselves. [MH]
INJECTING STRANGERS w/ YUMI & THE SYSTEM
@ The East Room | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Cincinnati, Ohio rockers Injecting Strangers are joining forces with local female-fronted band Yumi & The System this weekend at The East Room. If you’re looking for a raging night of alternative rock that’s easy on your wallet, this is the event for you. Come pack out this intimate venue, party hard and grab some drinks while you’re there. [OL]
LANDLADY, SUN SEEKER, OCTAJOHN
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $10 | 18+
Brooklyn based neo-soul indie rockers Landlady, top off a nice, reasonably priced bill at our favorite West Side hang out, The Stone Fox. Local indie folksters Sun Seeker and ambient electronic rockers Octajohn fill out a line-up that has piqued our interest. Be there for all the fun and grab a bite while you’re at it, the food at The Fox is top notch! [JR]
MELK, BUMMRCITY, SONGS 2 DANCE 2, BLACK VENUS AND JEANS
@ The Welcome Center (531 Norton Ave.) | 7pm | Free | 18+
Melk are one of our favorite local punk bands, who we’ve written about before and had over to our Acme showcase. They play super cute proto-punk and glam influenced songs about hot punk chicks and feeling like nobody likes you, although clearly we do. This house show kicks off their tour with BUMMRcity, the psychedelic project that shares a few members of Melk. The Eighties hair metal influenced Songs 2 Dance 2, the electronic blues solo project Black Venus, and alternative band Jeans will join them for a free night of great music at this new East Nashville house venue. [JSa]
BIRDCLOUD (MIDNIGHT SHOW)
@ The Sutler Saloon | 11:45 pm | FREE | 21+
The common mantra at No Country is that any chance to catch Birdcloud is sure to lead to a special evening. In typical Birdcloud fashion, they have taken their show to an unlikely (for them) venue and at an unlikely (for many) time on Saturday night. However, we’d suggest you rest up and head over to The Sutler on Saturday night, because, while they are sure to play a bunch of crowd pleasers, this will also be a chance for you to get a sneak peek of their 4th EP Tetnis ahead of the rest. [MH]
K. FLAY w/ PANIC IS PERFECT
@ Exit/In| 9pm | $12-15 | 18+
If you’re the type of person who likes to party and have fun but still hates everyone, you’d probably enjoy the electronic beats of indie rapper and producer K.Flay. That might sound like a weird description, but come on – her breakout single is called “We Hate Everyone,” which is right up my alley, honestly. The Chicago-born Stanford grad is putting a new spin on hip hop, so check her out for yourself at Exit/In this Saturday night. [MG]
RUMBLE SEAT RIOT, HANS CONDOR, DEADLY LO-FI, THE STRANGE FACES
@ fooBAR | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Iowa based Rumble Seat Riot are a hard rocking, psychobilly band with song titles like Chain Smokin’ and Getting’ Drunk. If you’ve been waiting all week to party this weekend, they might be the band you’ve been waiting to hear. They’re joined by always entertaining local favorite Hans Condor, whose energy and spontaneity make the band worth seeing again and again. [MW]
SUNDAY
PAUL THORN
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $25 | All Ages
Paul Thorn has quite a few identifiers: singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, former boxer and actual son of a preacher, so there’s no doubt that all of these things have influenced his music over the years, starting in 1997 and continuing with last year’s album Too Blessed To Be Stressed. Thorn’s musical style varies from roots-rock to jazz and R&B just like his songwriting varies from serious to playful, so don’t miss your chance to see one of Americana’s most diverse performers. [MG]
KATE PIERSON (of the B-52s) w/ THE MIKE & RUTHY BAND
@ City Winery | 8pm (6pm doors) | $40-$50 | All ages
Decades ago, Kate Pierson was one of the founding members of The B-52s. Her voice helped to define a genre defying band, blending elements of kitschy pop culture with surreal Americana and dance music. Now she’s released a solo album that sounds like she’s invented the wheel again, pulling from ‘50s and ‘60s pop influences to create something completely new. [MW]
WATERFALL WASH, TREADWELL FORD, BEHOLD THE BRAVE, BREE, TIN FIST PONY, & BEST FRIEND
@ The Basement East | 8pm | FREE | 21+
Currently in the midst of their bid to win Lightning 100’s Music City Mayhem contest for a spot to play Live on the Green, amongst other prizes, indie pop/folk rockers Waterfall Wash are playing a free show as part of the Sunday Post, along with local songstress Bree, and several other artists. It’s a great chance to check out lots of local bands without having to fork over any cash. [MW]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JS] Jackson Lord
[JSa] Jacqui Sahagian
[JC] Julian Ciany
[LL] Lorie Liebig
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[OB] Olivia Burd
[OL] Olivia Ladd
[PO] Philip Obenschain