It’s quite the weekend in Music City (again). We have shows featuring legendary punk and metal, a varied palette of soul, the return of Musician’s Corner, a bunch of record release shows for local faves, and a trip to The Ryman for some cherubs. Let us help you plan out your weekend with all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
THEM VIBES
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
Playing as Lightning 100’s featured local artists of the week, Them Vibes are a band we dig, and one we’ve written about before. With a super charismatic frontman, who has Bob Dylan’s hair and Mick Jagger’s strut, Them Vibes are an explosive Americana rock ’n’ roll outfit you need in your life ASAP. Oh, did we mention this weekly showcase is also always FREE?! [JR]
ZZ WARD w/ MARC SCIBILLIA, THE YOUNG WILD
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | $22-95 | 18+
Blues and hip-hop inspired vintage pop singer ZZ Ward is prepping the release of her sophomore album, This Means War, and touring through the U.S. with a stop at Marathon Music Works on Friday. Her throwback voice and style is reminiscent of other pop singers that like to give a nod to the past, like Joss Stone, Adele, or Alicia Keys, but her inclinations towards the blues and hip-hop rather than jazz or soul set her apart. Her new material has taken a more pop and electronic influence. Singer-songwriter Marc Scibilia and alt-pop band The Young Wild will open. [JS]
LOS COLOGNES w/ ERIN RAE & THE MEANWHILES, CHARLIE WITTEN
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $5 | 18+
We’ve been dropping nuggets about the upcoming album, Dos, from local rockers Los Colognes for a few weeks now. The record officially drops this Friday, and the boys are taking over The BEast to celebrate. If you’ve never seen Los Colognes in action, it’ll be the best $5 you drop all weekend. Erin Rae & The Meanwhiles and Charlie Witten get things started on what should be a heck of night on the east side. [MH]
YØUTH w/ CHRIS CRON, MY RED + BLUE
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $8 | 18+
“I make music that reminds you of high school. In a good way, though,” states YØUTH‘s bio. He’s not wrong. The live alias of local songwriter Julian Dente, YØUTH channels the earnest songwriting and layered, jangly musicianship of golden era emo, funneled into a modern indie rock package. The singer is celebrating the hard copy release of his debut EP, which dropped earlier in the summer, and support comes from Chris Cron and My Red + Blue. [PO]
THE GOOD LIFE w/ BIG HARP
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $10 | 18+
The side project of Cursive frontman Tim Kasher, now 15 years into their run (making “side project” seem like an insignificant label), Omaha indie rockers The Good Life are celebrating the release of their first album in eight years, Everybody’s Coming Down. Fans of Kasher and the Saddle Records/Omaha scene (that also includes bands like Bright Eyes) already know that these guys are indie legends, and provide a folkier, less intense foil to Cursive. Big Harp will open. [PO]
NEGATIVE SCANNER W/ WILD MINDS, MELK, AND THE CHEWERS
@ The Basement | 7pm | $5-$7 | 21+
Rockers unite at The Basement on Friday night. Chicago based punks Negative Scanner get support from locals Wild Minds, MELK, and The Chewers. If you need to bang all of the week’s stress out of your head this weekend, this low dough show is easily a top option. [MH]
DWIGHT YOAKAM w/ LEVI HUMMON
@ Ryman Auditorium | 7:30pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
A king of longevity in country music, Dwight Yoakam has recorded five Billboard #1 Albums, 12 Gold Albums, and 9 Platinum Albums, including the triple platinum, This Time. The decorated singer-songwriter, sometimes actor (see Sling Blade), has a career that spans decades, and is loved by millions, so it’s not surprising to anyone that this puppy is sold out. Next time Mr. Yoakam rolls through, don’t sleep on him, because living legends don’t come cheap, and they always draw a crowd. [JR]
SATURDAY
MUSICIANS CORNER: MARC BROUSSARD, THE MCCRARY SISTERS, MATTHEW PERRYMAN JONES, CASTRO
@ Centennial Park | 12pm | FREE | All Ages
One of Nashville’s favorite weekend hangs is back for the fall season. Musician’s Corner kicks off again this weekend with free performances from Marc Broussard, The McCrary Sisters, MPJ, and Castro on the main stage, but make sure to give some credit to the Lightning 100 sponsored acoustic stage featuring sets from Heather Bond, Kiya Lacey, and Chasing Lovely. Come out to see why this family (and pet) friendly event is one of the great Nashville traditions. Music starts at 1:30. [MH]
KELLY CLARKSON w/ PENTATONIX, ERIC HUTCHINSON, ABI ANN
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7pm | $30-100 | All Ages
Kelly Clarkson has long been known as one of the only true post-American Idol success stories, having maintained a career for over a decade after winning the first season in 2002, but it’s clear that she holds her own in the pop world. The powerhouse singer has recently gained more attention for her ability to gracefully cover songs of any genre (like Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money”), and even sang the weird bios of Tinder users on Jimmy Kimmel in the vein of show tunes, so it’ll be interesting to see which stops she pulls out at this show. [MG]
CHERUB w/ FUTURE UNLIMITED
@ Ryman Auditorium | 8pm | $25 | All Ages
A band we’ve loved since day one and continue to follow (read this or this) Cherub will be playing a very epic hometown show at the best venue in Nashville, The Ryman Auditorium. We’ve really enjoyed watching these guys progress, from small clubs and parties, to Bonnaroo club stages, and now, The Mother Church! Fellow locals, and No Country Presents Alum Future Unlimited will be opening what promises to be a raucous night of music. Help support the home team this weekend at The Ryman. [JR]
LOVEDRUG, BRAVE TOWN, FAST ASTRONAUT, CHAPELS
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $10 | 18+
After breaking into the alternative rock scene in 2004 with Pretend You’re Alive, a mix of hard indie rock and piano-driven ballads centered around the unique voice of frontman Michael Shepard, Lovedrug have consistently released material over the years but took a hiatus since their last release in 2012. The Ohio natives, who’ve since relocated here to Nashville, are now back with a new album called Notions, which will be released on Sept. 4 and celebrated Saturday night with a show at The High Watt. [MG]
EARTH w/ HOLY SONS
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $12-15 | 18+
If you need a heavy dose of riffs this weekend, look no further. Earth have been making noise for over 25 years, and show no signs of slowing down. They can seem inaccessible to some – repetitive drone metal is never going to light up the charts – but listen closely and you’ll hear elements of blues, country and jazz seeping through. There’s no better place to be on Saturday night than The Stone Fox if you want to be blasted by multiple layers of noise. [COS]
WIDESPREAD PANIC
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 7pm | $55 | All Ages
Widespread Panic are kicking off their two night run at the newly opened Ascend Ampitheater on the ending leg of their sumer tour this weekend. Doors are at 5:30p.m. and it’s all ages, so bring the whole family out to witness one of the hottest touring jam bands in recent history. [OL]
SUNDAY
THE DEAD DEADS w/ HILLBILLY CASINO
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
Nashville based thrashers The Dead Deads are a group of seasoned musicians who aren’t afraid to have fun, and rock hard at the same time. This band of misfits are all members of other acts, but when they come together it’s something truly secular (discover their true secret origins in this post). Look for another live wire performance from resident psycho-billy hell raisers, Hillbilly Casino. All for just $10?! How could your Sunday night get anymore badass? [JR]
X FT. EXENE CERVENKA, JOHN DOE & DJ BONEBRAKE w/ JESSE DAYTON
@ City Winery| 8pm | $30 | All Ages
Billed as a “standing room show,” punk legends X likely won’t be as stripped down as your typical show at City Winery. A seminal part of the first wave of American punk, the Los Angeles group have been making music since the late ’70s, and have earned their stripes as one of the most influential punk bands in history. While guitarist Billy Zoom will sit this tour out to seek treatment for bladder cancer, the band have tapped Waylon Jennings cohort Jesse Dayton as a temporary replacement. Needless to say, this is chance to see a truly historic band in an intimate setting, and for only $30, it’s kind of a steal. [PO]
WIDESPREAD PANIC
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 7:30pm | $55 | All Ages
If you missed your chance to catch one of the jam scene’s hottest acts on Saturday (or you are a SpreadHead that wouldn’t miss a show), night two promises more of the same from the legends. The family friendly event is a great opportunity to sip a tall boy and get a contact high, while watching your kids try to hula hoop. [MH]
SIMO AND JACK PEARSON ALL STAR SUPER JAM
@ Mercy Lounge| 10pm | $10 | 18+
Wander (or Uber) a few blocks down the street after Widespread Panic to Mercy Lounge where Simo and Jack Pearson are curating a special bill that will keep the party going. Word on the street is they will be channeling the Allman Brothers and their iconic Live At The Fillmore East. If there were ever a couple of ax-weilding virtuosos to helm this ambitious project, JD Simo and Pearson would be the first round picks in most any draft. [MH]
[COS] Carson O’Shoney
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JS] Jacqui Sahagian
[MH] Matt Hall
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[OL] Olivia Ladd
[PO] Philip Obenschain