It’s another weekend packed with local shows highlighting some of the best that Music City has to offer. A few of these artists are promoting some incredible upcoming albums that you should all be excited about, but we also have another edition of DANAFEST featuring an all out romp of some of the best rock and roll in town. If these don’t sound good to you, don’t fret. We’ve run down a lot more of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
SHELLY COLVIN
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
Talented local singer-songwriter Shelly Colvin has been tearing up the Lightning 100 airwaves with the new single “I Want To” from her upcoming release Longshot. The new record includes an essential who’s who in our local scene, and our advance listen has turned into infatuated repeat plays. We’ll have more about the release show coming up next week, but you should get started with her free Soulshine Pizza performance on Friday. [MH]
SMOOTH HOUND SMITH (ALBUM RELEASE SHOW) w/ DAPHNE & THE MYSTERY MACHINES, CARL ANDERSON
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $10-12 | 18+
If you’re looking for the best dance party in Nashville this weekend, you’ll definitely want to head over to Smooth Hound Smith‘s album release show at Exit/In. Hopefully you’ve already heard their album via our exclusive stream, so you should know that their funky, bluesy rhythms are sure to get your body moving. Funky local faves Daphne and the Mystery Machines and soulful singer-songwriter Carl Anderson will join the duo for a show that you don’t want to miss. [LL]
THE WHISTLES & THE BELLS w/ ALBATROSS
@ The High Watt | 8pm | $5 | 18+
The first of three chances to see renowned local project The Whistles & The Bells this month (we’re giving away tickets to a future date here), this inexpensive outing is the only one set to feature support from Albatross. The new(ish) vehicle of former Cadillac Sky frontman Bryan Simpson, The Whistles & The Bells’ self-titled 2014 debut showcases not only the talented singer and multi-instrumentalists eclectic, genre-bending range, but also his newfound devotion to faith and personal discovery. [PO]
COVERFEST ft. BEAU JAMES, FORREST FIRE, STAGOLEE, KEIFFER INFANTINO, HANS CONDOR
@ The Basement | 9pm | $8 | 21+
Going out to hear cover bands on Friday night might sound like the last thing a discerning music fan might want to do, but Coverfest at The Basement brings a whole new angle to covering classic songs: namely, one band per artists and well-curated cover sets. You’ll get to hear Beau James as Aerosmith, Keiffer Infantino as Jane’s Addiction, Hans Condor as Motorhead, Forest Fire Gospel Choir as Kings of Leon, Sad Baxter as Nirvana, and Stagolee as Fugees. [MW]
SLEEP NATION, GOTH BABE, STEAMBOARS, YEAR OF OCTOBER
@ The End | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Get your dose of low dough show for Friday at The End, with help from alternative rockers Sleep Nation, local lo-fi standout Goth Babe (read this post), plus Steamboars and Year of October. All this awesome music for the low, low price of just five skrillah … what’s not to love? [JR]
SATURDAY
DANAFEST IV ft. PROMISED LAND SOUND, NATURAL CHILD, FAUX FEROCIOUS, RI¢HIE, DEAN JACKSON, HANS CONDOR, SAVOY MOTEL, FLY GOLDEN EAGLE, JP5, MUSIC BAND
@ fooBAR | 8pm | FREE | 21+
Seth Dana is a dude. Seth Dana lives in East Nashville. Seth Dana throws DANAFEST every year at fooBAR, you do the math. This stellar (and free!) lineup features some of Nashville’s best faces in the world of all that rocks. Natural Child, Music Band, Faux Ferocious, and Promised Land Sound are among the list of killer bands that are sure to keep the party rolling all night. Dana has yet again managed to put together a lineup of vibrant, dynamic, and lively rock and roll. Our favorite acts at one of the best venues in town, can it get any better? We’ll see you there when things get rolling at 8 p.m.. In the meantime, check out a video from breakout locals Promised Land Sound to get excited. [JC]
SAME AS IT EVER WAS
@ Exit/In | 9:30pm | $10-12 | 18+
It’s awesome to think such an exemplary Talking Heads tribute band resides just a few hours away in Knoxville, Tennessee. If not for anything more than close proximity, Nashville is a frequent tour stop, and tonight they are returning to Exit/In, where they put on a spectacular performance last year. Talking Heads’ raucous live energy is difficult to replicate, but Same As It Ever Was come pretty damn close. Singer Curtis Geren even has the blue-haired, off-white-suit look of David Byrne, and has mastered the quirky Byrne vocals, while the band have perfected the odd musical compositions and funny dance moves. This is gonna be a party, so bring your nerdy dancing shoes. [AJ]
PINEAPPLE TOURS, MR MANAGER, JULIANNA
@ Mercy Lounge | 7:30pm | $8 | 18+
We just stumbled onto the awesome lo-fi folky rock sounds of Pineapple Tours, and have been yapping about them with folks around town all week. They are headlining a nice bill featuring Mr. Manager and Julianna, and it gets started on the early side leaving you the option for additional late night musical enjoyment. Head below to hear what they describe as “meme rock,” but we just describe as awesome. [MH]
DYLAN LEBLANC
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | Free | All Ages
w/ ZACH SCHMIDT
@ The Basement | 7pm | $7 | 21+
Folky, americana singer-songwriter Dylan LeBlanc really captured our attention back in the fall, when he followed a high profile outing opening for George Ezra at The Ryman with a more intimate but no less magnificent spot at The High Watt with David Ramirez. Touted as the next great artist to emerge from Muscle Shoals, the area that has birthed so much incredible talent in recent years, LeBlanc is celebrating the release of his new album, Cautionary Tale, with two appearances this weekend. If you’re looking to save some dough, you’re under 21, or you want back to back helpings of Dylan’s wonderful tunes, you can first catch him at Grimey’s Saturday afternoon for a free in-store. Just a few hours later, LeBlanc will head downstairs for a proper show at The Basement, with support from Zach Schmidt. It seems like 2016 is shaping up to be a big year for this rising star, so catch him in a small space while you still can! [PO]
RON WHITE
@ TPAC | 7:30pm | $50.75-$60.75 | All Ages
Looking for something outside of music this weekend? A few tickets remain to catch the whiskey sipping, cigar smoking, giant of comedy that made a name for himself as charter member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Ron White’s no bullshit brand of humor doesn’t come along that often, and his special “They Call Me Tater Salad” was an instant classic. As of November 2015, White announced that he is running for President as an independent, so expect his take on the current political landscape as he tries to convince you to make Tater Salad the Commander In Chief. [MH]
THE MUMZEES, GOTH BABE, NEGRA, DATENIGHT
@ The East Room | 9pm | $5 | 18+
In helping to keep the thriving local garage-psych-punk-fuzz rock revival alive, The East Room is hosting yet another amazing bill for well under $10. Falling into one/all of those genres, The Mumzees will be headlining, with help from the ultra-busy as of late outfit Goth Babe (see Friday’s entries too), plus Negra and Datenight. If you’re out and about on The East Side, balling on a budget (note: The East Room has a cheap cash bar), then this is the show for you. [JR]
BROOKE WAGGONER w/ GOOD BUDDY
@ East Side Manor (1279 Kenmore Place) | 7pm | $10 | All Ages
You will probably recognize Brooke Waggoner from her work playing keys in Jack White’s all-female band The Peacocks, which led to her making appearances on Saturday Night Live and the Grammys as well as touring the world before coming back to Nashville to return to work on her solo piano-pop. She’s releasing her new album, Sweven, on Friday, which we already shared with you to stream ahead of its release here, and is celebrating its debut with a show at the hip East Nashville recording space EastSide Manor. Ambient and quirky folk rockers Good Buddy will open. [JSa]
SUNDAY
SAINTSENECA w/ DES ARK
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $12 | All Ages
Columbus-based alt-folk foursome Saintseneca make their way back to Nashville this weekend in support of their new album, Such Things, another one from ANTI- records. This time they’re joined by Des Ark, aka the project of Aimée Argote, a riveting songwriter and performer who jumps gracefully from noise rock to acoustic folk. [MG]
BRIAN FALLON AND THE CROWES w/ CORY BRANAN
@ City Winery | 8pm | $22 | All Ages
Gaslight Anthems frontman Brian Fallon is prepping to release his debut, full-length solo album Painkillers this March, and early buzz is that it’s incredible. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Butch Walker, the record comes amidst a Gaslight Anthem hiatus, and shows Fallon full embracing his personal, folky, punk-influenced sound with plenty of pop accessibility. Supported by local fave and similar-minded Cory Branan, this show should be an extra special one for City Winery, and don’t worry punk fans: it’s standing room, so you won’t awkwardly have to stay seated throughout a Brian Fallon show. [PO]
CREATURE COMFORT, CAREY, BLINDS
@ Mad Donna’s | 8pm | $5 | All Ages
Looking to end your weekend with an affordable east side show? Head out to Mad Donna’s for a cool rock night featuring some fast rising up and comers in the local scene. It seems strange to say that Creature Comfort is the veteran outfit of this bill, but it’s the truth as they have been steadily churning out quality indie rock for almost four years now. They are joined by Blinds and Carey, who are both much more recent additions to the scene, but have already been turning heads, including an official SXSW showcase for the latter. [MH]
[AJ] Andrew Johnson
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JSa] Jacqui Sahagian
[JC] Julian Ciany
[LL] Lorie Liebig
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[PO] Philip Obenschain