With approximately half of the population of Nashville partying (err… working) down in Austin this week and weekend, you would expect the show calendar to be especially light. While it’s not the overwhelming lineup of last week, there are actually still plenty of shows for those of us that didn’t make the trek this year to SXSW. Head below to see our top picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
You might remember Grant-Lee Phillips as the genius songwriter behind ‘90s band Grant Lee Buffalo and their songs “Fuzzy” and “Honey Don’t Think.” There’s also a chance you remember him as the Stars Hollow town troubadour from Gilmore Girls. These days he’s calling Nashville home and has a new album, The Narrows. You can catch him playing on the rooftop patio at Soulshine this Friday as Lightning 100’s Artist of the Week. [MW]
RIHANNA w/ TRAVIS SCOTT
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7:30pm | $39.15-$134.40 | All Ages
After many months of speculation and anticipation, pop/r&b superstar Rihanna finally released her highly-anticiapted and long-awaited eight album Anti, and is currently on an arena tour in support. Despite her almost decade-long mainstream run, RiRi has actually never played Nashville before, so scoop up one of the remaining tickets and take in this monumental first! [PO]
VANCE JOY w/ BLIND PILOT, JAMIE LAWSON
@ Ryman Auditorium | 8pm | Sold Out | All Ages
Australian indie-folk flavored pop star Vance Joy is passing through Music City, but unless you’ve already picked up some tickets to this super intimate show at The Mother Church, then you’re going to be on the outside looking in, because it has SOLD OUT. Better luck next time, and for those of you going, enjoy! [JR]
TRENTON w/ ROCK EUPORA, BROTHER MOSES
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $5-7 | 18+
Alt-pop project Trenton made quite the statement with last year’s Ghost Runner. Walls of sound clash elegantly with its quieter moments, making for dynamic material to play live. Rock Eupora are tapped as support and toe-tapping group Brother Moses open up the night, for a show at The High Watt that marks one of the best bangs for your buck this weekend. [MH]
STAGOLEE (CD RELEASE PARTY) w/ MAGNOLIA SONS, LAUREN FARRAH, AMERICAN HOTEL, CREATURE COMFORT, JACK BERRY
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $7-10 | 21+
In honor of their latest release, Love Is Criminal, East Nashville blues rock five-piece Stagolee are having a CD release party/show at The BEast! Be there on time to catch other blog favorites like Magnolia Sons, Lauren Farrah, American Hotel, Creature Comfort and the talented Jack Berry. All this for a ten-spot? Craaaaazzzzyyyy. [JR]
HAVE MERCY w/ A WILL AWAY, DAISYHEAD, PILLOW TALK, CLAY CAGES
@ The End | 7:30pm | $12-14 | 18+
As we announced awhile back, Maryland-based indie/emo rockers Have Mercy return to town this weekend with like-minded group A Will Away and some local faves, Daisyhead, Pillow Talk, and Clay Cages, to perform at The End. If you’re looking for an affordable, earnest, quality, no-frills punk show, you’ve found it. [PO]
THE ROCKET SUMMER w/ FARRO, JET BLACK ALLEY CAT
@ Exit/In | 8:30pm | $15 | 18+
Bryce Avary, better known by his stage name The Rocket Summer, is bringing his singer-songwriter-tinged brand of power pop to Exit/In, along with ex-Paramore guitarist turned rising indie solo act Farro and locals Jet Black Alley Cat. Though he sprung from the emo/pop punk scene in the early ’00s, Avary has tapped into a more alternative and indie derived sound in recent years, and is celebrating his first new LP and since 2012, Zoetic, on this run. [PO]
SATURDAY
BIRDS IN THE AIRPORT
@ Main Street Gallery | 7:30pm | Free | All ages
An interesting new indie rock outfit headlines an equally interesting event on Saturday evening. Tom Breyfogle (Reliant K) has a poppy new orchestral indie project called Birds In The Airport, who just released their EP Domesticated Drowsiness. In celebration, they have created a unique visual art event, where they shared each song with a different visual artist to create a piece of art based on what they heard and felt. You can hear a live performance from Birds In The Airport, and check out the art inspired by the new album, this weekend at Main Street Gallery. Get some culture while you get to know another exciting new local rock project. [MH]
SAM LEWIS w/ LILLY HIATT, JOHN MANN
@ 12th & Porter | 8pm | $10 | 18+
Keeping the mojo going in the right direction at the resurgent 12th & Porter, local Americana troubadour Sam Lewis will be playing with his band and Lily Hiatt, plus singer songwriter John Mann in the warm-up spot. This Lightning 100 sponsored show starts fairly early, so it might be your best bet if you’re not trying to be out till dawn, and you also don’t want to spend an arm and a leg. [JR]
THE WERKS w/ BIG SOMETHING, COSMIC SHIFT
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $10 | 18+
Feeling the need to get your groove on in celebration of the warmer weather and the upcoming festival season? Head to Mercy Lounge to dust off the dancing shoes when Ohio based The Werks bring their eclectic brew of improv-infused psychedelic jams to the stage. Genre bending North Carolina based Big Something and local funksters Cosmic Shift fill out this dance-worthy bill. [MH]
ANDERSON EAST w/ BRENT COBB
@ The Basement East | 9pm | Sold Out | 21+
Surging local (via Muscle Shoals, AL) soul/folk, Americana, and sometimes country-leaning, crooner Anderson East is back in town after extensive touring in celebration of his Dave Cobb helmed LP Delilah! We’d tell you to be there, but it’s SOLD OUT, and odds are you already have tickets if you’re hip to AE. For now, enjoy a live performance below, and snag your digital copy of the record here. [JR]
MARC BROUSSARD w/ PETER ARISTONE
@ City Winery | 8pm | Sold Out | All ages
Acclaimed soulful songwriter Marc Broussard returns to City Winery to share an intimate evening of heartfelt tunes. Unfortunately, if you don’t have tickets already, you’re going to have to snuggle up to the great live cut of “Lonely Night In Georgia” below for comfort, because this one is sold out. [MH]
SUNDAY
THE CORDOVAS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
Joe Firstman has been making excellent music for years. From his beautiful early aughts album The War of Women, to his more recent work with The Cordovas, he’s done a little bit of everything, including a long stint as house band leader on Carson Daly’s late night show. He’s now established an excellent band, The Cordovas, which includes Nashville locals Brian Wright and Jon Loyd, among other members. They’ll be headlining Nashville Sunday Night this week and are also playing a March residency each Thursday night at The Family Wash. [MW]
THE JAG, LASSO SPELLS, CREASE READER
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Last fall, The Jag gave us their Talking Heads inspired album Pondermental Wonderment in Hypocrity, which was a completely new direction for a local band that we absolutely loved. On Sunday, they’ll be returning from a stint on the road and celebrating with a show at The East Room alongside our Acme showcase alumns Lasso Spells and fellow Nashvillians Crease Reader. [MW]
THE MOODY BLUES
@ Ryman Auditorium | 7:30pm | $55-95 | All Ages
One of the founding members of the progressive rock movement, legends The Moody Blues are in town to blow minds at The Ryman. Also credited with helping to pioneer psychedelic rock, symphonic rock, and even art rock, The Blues’ show promises to be an amazing night of music, unlike any other. With an incredibly large catalog to draw from, guessing their setlist would be near impossible, but there’s no warm up act, so the good news is you’ll get twice as much bang for your buck; don’t miss it. [JR]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[PO] Philip Obenschain