The CMAs are the talk of Nashville this week, but we’d like to interject some solid rock and pop options into that conversation. This weekend features some stellar, largely local bills including standouts like All Them Witches, Boom Forest, COIN, Roots Of A Rebellion, Churchyard, and more. In a nutshell, there’s a little something for everyone! Have a look at all of our staff picks, and let us help you plan your weekend with this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
THE GILLS
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
Pensacola, FL transplants The Gills have been playing just about everywhere around town lately: from BMI’s Halloween showcase, to our Acme showcase, to Exit/In with Behold The Brave & Lauren Strange, it doesn’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon. They just released their new single “Lemonade” earlier this week off their forthcoming album, which is slated for an early 2016 release, and now they’re Lightning 100’s artist of the week, so don’t miss your chance to see this buzzworthy band for free. [MG]
ALL THEM WITCHES
@ Grimey’s | 6pm | FREE | All Ages
If you can’t make it to see All Them Witches this Saturday and Sunday night at 3rd & Lindsley, Grimey’s is giving you an alternative by hosting a free in-store performance with them this Friday afternoon. Or if you’re a hardcore fan, you could just go all three shows. We won’t judge you, because we’ll probably be doing the same. [MG]
COIN w/ MYZICA, YOUTH
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $12 | All Ages
It’s been an insanely buzzworthy year for breakout indie rockers COIN, who, between the release of their fantastic debut album and nonstop touring, are poised to become a national fixture in the indie scene. Joined by similar-sounding site faves MYZICA and Youth, they’ll help keep the epic Lightning 100 birthday festivities going this weekend, and definitely represent the best of our city’s up and coming rock scene. [PO]
JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD w/ JUSTIN & THE COSMICS, SHEL, JAMES APOLLO
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $7 | 18+
Jessica Lea Mayfield has three solid albums of heartfelt songs under her belt along with a recent collaboration with Seth Avett on an album of Elliott Smith covers. Live, Mayfield’s sound is equal parts grungy and poppy, heavy on guitar with a strong ‘90s influence. Also playing are locals Justin & the Cosmics, who are always great live, along with Shel, a pop/folk band heavy on the harmonies, and bluesy singer James Apollo. [MW]
JOSH FARROW, ERIN RAE, FRIENDS OF LOLA
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $7 | 21+
Don’t miss this exciting show full of great local acts! Playing his last Nashville show for 2015, Americana singer-songwriter Josh Farrow will take the stage at The Basement East along with local treasure and folk goddess Erin Rae and country band Friends of Lola. It will be a killer night full of great songs, twang, and heartache. [JS]
BOOM FOREST w/ GARDENING NOT ARCHITECTURE, PHOTO OPS
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5 | 21+
We’ve been telling you about this show for weeks now. Boom Forest’s Post Knight Errant is one of the most interesting (and incredible) albums that you will hear come out of the Nashville scene this year. Head to The Basement on Friday to celebrate the official release along with Gardening, Not Architecture and Photo Ops! [MH]
JULY TALK w/ LITTLE HURRICANE, ADAM FAUCETT
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $12 | 18+
Toronto-based five piece July Talk have a unique garage rock sound, influenced by the blues but accentuated by the deep, gritty, Tom Waits-esque vocals of Peter Dreimanis partnered with the angelic voice of Leah Fay, who bounce lyrics off of one another as if it were a competition (a friendly one, of course). They’re out in support of their debut self-titled album, and they’ve been rumored to put on a stellar live show, so be sure to make this one a priority. [MG]
TOADIES w/ IN THE WHALE
@ City Winery | 8pm | $22-28 | All Ages
One of many gems from the mid ‘90s, post grunge, alt-rock explosion, Toadies are stomping through Nashville, and they even have a new record, Heretics, to hawk. Enjoy the new stuff, and, no doubt, some songs from their monumental debut record, Rubberneck (see “Possum Kingdom” below). Throw back alt-rock two-piece, In The Whale, will be kicking things off, so be there when City Winery rocks out! [JR]
BACKUP PLANET w/ THE LITTLE RAINE BAND
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $10 | 18+
Local experimental funksters Backup Planet have popped up in our weekly TWiN report before, and word on the street is they bring it at their high energy live shows. They’ve only been around since 2012, so the future is very bright for these guys. Birmingham, AL rockers The Little Raine Band will kick of this shindig, so be there on time for the most possible music for $10. [JR]
SATURDAY
ALL THEM WITCHES w/ NEW MADRID
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $15 | All Ages
We’ve been telling y’all about this show for awhile now, and the time is finally here. Saturday night kicks off two nights of All Them Witches at 3rd & Lindsley, in celebration of Lightning 100’s 25th anniversary and the release of All Them Witches new album, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker. Each event alone is reason enough to throw one hell of a party, so add them both together and things are bound to get wild. [MG]
GIVE THANKS FEST: ROOTS OF A REBELLION, TREEHOUSE!, FLORALORIX, MOKIE DUB, RAS ADAM
@ Exit/In | 9pm | Donation | 18+
Calling all fans of the ever growing Nashville reggae scene! This show is a can’t miss, featuring friends of the blog Root Of A Rebellion, there like minded buddies from South Carolina, Treehouse!, No Country Presents alumnus Floralorix and more! All this great music for whatever you want to donate. Canned goods are also encouraged because whatever is collected goes to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Help a good cause, and enjoy some middle Tennessee reggae mahn! [JR]
SON LITTLE w/ ADIA VICTORIA
@ The High Watt | 8:30pm | $10-12 | 18+
The term “neo” seems ever present when subgenrefying music these days, and reviving retro sounds has been taking the indie (and apparently country) world by storm of late. Son Little, with his neo-soul and blues, is a prime example of how this is done right. He will be joined by another rising local force in a similar sub-genre, Adia Victoria. This is a chance to catch a performer who will be all over the 2016 summer festival circuit in the intimate confines of The High Watt. Don’t say we didn’t warn you… remember when St. Paul & The Broken Bones used to play at The Basement? No? We do. [MH]
LETTUCE, THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS
@ War Memorial Auditorium | 8pm | $25 | All Ages
If you’re looking for some funk this weekend, head to War Memorial Auditorium. Renowned jammers Lettuce will be joined by British funk masters The New Mastersounds. Both bands are known for putting on a killer performance. The show is all ages so bring the family out for a groovy time. [OL]
CHURCHYARD (ALBUM RELEASE) w/ MOM & DAD, ROMAN POLANSKI’S BABY
@ Drkmttr | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Featuring former members of bands such as Downtown Fever, Scandaliz Vandalistz, Joey and the Revolution, and 13th Disciple, East Nashville based garage-rock/’60s-pop band Churchyard are releasing their debut album Saturday at Drkmttr, a DIY space on the edge of Wedgewood-Houston. Joining them are lo-fi pop band Mom and Dad and riot grrrl trio Roman Polanski’s Baby. Go to the show and get Churchyard’s new album! [JS]
LAYLA THE WOLF (RELEASE SHOW), CREATURE COMFORT, SOUTHERNIERS
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Quirky new pop outfit, Layla The Wolf are celebrating the release of their debut album, Sugar, on Saturday night at The Stone Fox. We don’t know a lot about them yet, but we do like what we hear out of the title track from their first effort. Spend a minute with it below to get in the know. Locals Creature Comfort and Southerniers get things started around 9pm. [MH]
SUNDAY
ALL THEM WITCHES w/ CHROME PONY
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $15 | All Ages
The second and final night of All Them Witches is this Sunday, and this time, the eclectic local psych/punk duo Chrome Pony will start off the evening. [MG]
GIVERS w/ DOE PAORO
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $12-15 | 18+
Givers are a band who blend their love of new wave and world music with the music of Louisiana where they grew up, fusing Cajun, jazz, and zydeco into their own sounds. Their debut album, Light, came out in 2011 and saw them making appearances on late night talk shows and at festivals. Their new release, New Kingdom, will be out on Nov. 13, and they’ll be playing in support of it this weekend. They’re joined by Doe Faoro, who blends equally as eclectic influences as Givers, including synth-pop, R&B, and soul. [MW]
JOSH HOYER AND SOUL COLOSSAL
@ The Basement East | 7pm | FREE | 21+
Soul, funk and R&B drench collective Josh Hoyer and his band Soul Colossal are ready to take you there, this Sunday at The Beast (aka The Basement East). Although you can’t beat the price of this show … $free.99 … it does start early (doors at 6:30 show at 7). But no matter, just roll your Sunday fun day of football watching into an evening of music, and still make it home in time for a not so shitty Monday morning. [JR]
YOUNG JESUS, BABY IN THE 90S, BENNET LITTLE JOHN
@ Exponent Manor | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Young Jesus is a 5 piece indie rock band out of Los Angeles by way of their hometown Chicago. It’s been three years since their debut LP Home, but finally they are back with their new album Grow/Decompose released in May of this year. Having drawn comparison to Nick Cave and The Hold Steady, John Rossiter, lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, crafts deeply felt narrative stories about troubled young people trying to find their way with a style and skill to be admired. Opening is Nashville’s own Baby in the 90s and Bennet Littlejohn. [IS]
[IS] Ione Singletary
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JS] Jen Starsinic
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[OL] Olivia Ladd
[PO] Philip Obenschain