It seems that the post SXSW wave may have rescinded, but, being Music City, there is more than enough to keep your inner music lover entertained this weekend. We have a plethora of standout local bands pinging our radar, and a few touring bands that are seriously worthy of consideration. Let us help you plan out your weekend with all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
THE DAYBREAKS
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
We recently introduced you to new local project The Daybreaks, when we premiered their fantastic cover of Banarama classic “Cruel Summer,” and we’ve been obsessing over their debut single (and recently released video, below), “The Machine” for months. Dripping in ’80s nostalgia, electro-infused, cinematic, and hook-laden, the pseudo-superground are poised to become one of Nashville’s next breakout acts. Catch ’em for free tonight thanks to Lightning 100 before they blow up. [PO]
ROBIN TROWER w/ STRANGE VINE
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | $25-45 | 18+
Legendary rock guitarist Robin Trower has influenced generations of guitar players. Trower has collaborated with members of Cream, Jethro Tull, The Paramounts, and more. Friday night’s show is a rare opportunity to see the virtuoso in action. Rock duo Strange Vine opens up the night with their blend of psych rock, folk and infectious pop hooks which you won’t want to miss. [LL]
BLEACHED w/ NO PARENTS
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $10 | 18+
Los Angeles trio Bleached are on the road in support of their fantastic new sophomore effort Welcome the Worms, which packs more pop accessibility, punch, and punk homage than anything they’ve done to date. It’s a really exciting time to see them live, because it feels like they’re just about to pop, and with the low ticket price and No Parents slated to open, this is easily one of the best weekend bets for punk fans. [PO]
THE JOY FORMIDABLE w/ EVERYTHING EVERYTHING
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $16-18 | 18+
Just last month, Welsh alt rock trio The Joy Formidable related Hitch, their third full-length and first in three years. The band will make what is, apparently, their first stop in Nashville ever in support of the thoughtful, polished LP, and Everything Everything are set to open. [PO]
JOEY KNEISER, AUSTIN LUCAS, DARRIN BRADBURY
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5-7 | 21+
Hard at work on some solo material while his country/soul-infused rock-and-roll band Glossary is on indefinite hiatus, Joey Kneiser recently released his third solo record, The Wildness, which is chock full of songs showcasing his new folk/Americana leanings. Look for like minded brethren Austin Lucas and Darrin Bradbury to kick of an excellent night of inexpensive tunes at the original Basement. [JR]
THE BURPS, GOOD ENGLISH, LAWNDRY
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $7 | 21+
Music City garage rockers The Burps will be topping off a nice East Side edition of another Friday low-dough show. Also ready to rock out are Ohio indie sister trio Good English and newcomer Lawndry. All this great independent rock for under $10?! If you’re bar hopping in East Nash, and you like to have your ear to the underground, this one is a must. [JR]
TORCHE w/ WILD THRONE, SWEET COBRA
@ The End | 9pm | $13-15 | 18+
Miami sludgy stoner metal band Torche are now more than a decade strong, and they’re as ferocious as ever, riding high on the buzz surrounding their fourth album, and career best, last year’s Restarter. The band return to town this weekend with Wild Thorne and Sweet Cobra, and if you’re looking for a heavy music fix, this is the show for you. [PO]
CALEB HAWLEY, STEVE SAVAGE, CHRISSI POLAND
@ The Basement | 7pm | $8 | 21+
Soulful singer-songwriter Caleb Hawley has shifted his sound from plucky acoustic folk to sexy electronic jams. Earlier this year, he released the steamy track “Spinnin’,” that feels like it was plucked right out of a sweaty 1970s nightclub. Get ready to dance your heart out, and get there early to catch groovy acoustic performer Steve Savage and NYC-based songstress Chrissi Poland, who round out this eclectic lineup. [LL]
BENEFIT FOR MONROE CARELL JR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ft. ARC & STONES, THE NEW SCHEMATICS, THE PRESSURE KIDS, THE CIVICS, KATE KELLY
@ 12th & Porter | 7pm | $10 | 18+
What’s better than seeing amazing local artists while raising money for a great cause? This year’s Benefit for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is headlined by rising alt-rock group Arc & Stones, hometown indie rockers The New Schematics and The Pressure Kids, along with Cincinnati’s energetic trio The Civics and seasoned local songwriter Kate Kelly. Not only do you get to hear an eclectic mix of music, but you’ll also leave with the satisfaction of knowing you helped kids in your community get the best medical care possible. [LL]
BLACK VIOLIN
@ City Winery | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
If you were hoping to catch the classically trained violinist duo Black Violin, who blend jazz, hip hop and funk effortlessly, and you DON’T have tickets, we are very sorry to inform you that this intimate performance at City Winery has sold out. Better luck next time, and to the rest who are already going, enjoy! [JR]
CLOVER ft. JUNG YOUTH, MILLY ROZE, SUPER DUPER, DJ FOLDY
@ 30 Oldham St | 9pm | $7
Clover is Nashville’s hottest new local, underground, expertly-curated dance party series, and this latest installment sounds pretty legit. The address given seems to be Little Harpath Brewery, though the instructions say “enter through the garage in the back.” Site fave and fresh local rapper Jung Youth tops the bill, rounded out by Milly Roze, Super Duper, and DJ Foldy. All that for $7 and your first beer is free. Not bad. [PO]
SATURDAY
TIN PAN SOUTH ft. SHANE MCANALLY, KACEY MUSGRAVES, JOSH OSBORNE
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 9:30pm | $25 | All Ages
Saturday’s Tin Pan South showcase at 3rd and Lindsley features three of country music’s top songwriters. Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves are not only close friends, but award-winning poets who have co-written many of Musgraves’ solo tracks from both “Same Trailer Different Park” and “Pageant Material.” Expect to hear a few of her most popular tracks, as well as cuts from Sam Hunt and Kenny Chesney, who both Osbourne and McAnally have penned major hits for. [LL]
JEFFREY JAMES w/ NAWAS, REMMI
@ The High Watt | 8pm | $10 | 18+
The High Watt has a stacked local bill this Saturday night with soulful, R&B-leaning singer Jeffrey James, experimental electronic/hip-hop group NAWAS, and buzzworthy pop artist REMMI. A couple of months ago, we premiered James’ the single “Lay” from his new EP Walls (which just dropped last week), so we’re excited to hear these new tunes live. [MG]
EAST NASHVILLE BEER FEST OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY: THEE ROCK N’ ROLL RESIDENCY, TOMMY GUN, JESSE MALLEY & THE TILT
@ The Basement East | 5pm | FREE | 21+
Whether you were able to score a ticket for the now sold out 6th Annual East Nashville Beer Fest or not, you definitely don’t want to miss this awesome and free after party! The lineup includes Nashville’s finest playing your favorite ’70s rock in Thee Rock N’ Roll Residency, Clash tribute band Tommy Gun, and local blues rock outfit Jesse Malley & The Tilt. With the night also featuring local brews from Tennessee Brew Works, Little Harpeth Brewing, HonkTonk Brewing Co., Smith & Lentz Brewing, and Blue Pants Brewery, this is officially Saturday night’s best place to hang out and keep your day drunk going on into the night. [JSt]
SAD BAXTER, BRASS BED, JUSTIN & THE COSMICS, TWIGGS
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $5-7 | 21+
This lineup is bursting at the seams with bands we already know and love. Alt garage rockers Sad Baxter get top billing, but equally awesome are Louisiana indie popsters Brass Bed, local psych rockers Justin & The Cosmics and No Country Presents alum TWIGGS. Yet another show of (mostly) locals, rocking out for your entrainment, for under ten clams. You’re always sure to have a monster Saturday, when you spend it at The BEast. [JR]
EARPHUNK, MARADEEN, BROCCOLI SAMURAI
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $7-$14 | 21+
If you’re looking to dance or want a little Southern, progressive rock, head out to Exit/In on Saturday. Earphunk are leading the frontier of new age jam bands with their homegrown style and industrious spirit, touring all across America for the past two years. This is a band you’d typically catch at a festival, but now is your chance to see them play a full set in one of Nashville’s favorite venues. Locals Maradeen will precede Earphunk with Nashville prog-rock. The five-piece are hailed for their lyricism and harmonies, having just released their debut album “Mirage.” Broccoli Samurai from Ohio will kick things off on the electronica side and make way for the sweet jams to come. This show is only about $14 and it’s 18+, so grab your friends and get dancing. [OL]
SUNDAY
MADISEN WARD AND THE MAMA BEAR w/ AARON LEE TASJAN
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $15 | All Ages
Starting at age nineteen, Madisen Ward began following his mother downtown to the coffee shops where she played guitar and sang. It wasn’t long before he was sitting in, singing harmony, adding lead guitar, and singing his own original music; thus, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear was born. Since last year’s performance at Nashville’s Americana Music Fest, they have been hitting the festivals, opening for great bands like Rodrigo y Gabriela, The Tallest Man on Earth, and The Avett Brothers, and making appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and CBS Sunday Morning. Their debut album Skeleton Crew was recorded in Nashville and displays their modern soul/folk music and captivating stories about life and death and all the shit that happens in between. There are many interesting characters and snapshots of life on this album, and the intimacy and emotion between these two talented musicians is clear when you see them perform. This is going to be a show that you don’t want to miss. [IS]
KID FREUD w/ EARL BURROWS, WES LANGLOIS, NEW MAN
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Hot off their Nashville finals appearance in the revamped Road to Roo competition (they ultimately fell just a little short), power pop trio Kid Freud are eager to build on the momentum they’ve recently created. Outer space pop rockers Earl Burrows, the talented Wes Langlois, who appears in the new film about Hank Williams Sr. entitled, I Sam the Light, and New Man round out the lineup. It seems criminal to give away all this live music for just five bucks, but in Music City we do it every weekend. [JR]
JONATHAN RICHMAN ft. TOMMY LARKINS
@ The Basement East | 8:30pm | $15 | 21+
Protopunk icon, musical trailblazer, and former frontman of The Modern Lovers Jonathan Richman is something of a criminally underrated artist, inspiring countless punk and alternative groups over the last four decades. These days, he plays mostly laid back acoustic music with longtime drummer Tommy Larkins, but we outlined Richman’s influential history and why you can’t miss this show right here. [PO]
INTER ARMA w/ YAUTJA AND WATCHER
@ The East Room | 11pm | $7-10 | 18+
Virginia-based experimental metal band Inter Arma are visiting Nashville ahead of the release of their second LP, Paradise Gallows, which comes out on July 8. Local rockers Yautja and Watcher are also set to appear for a night of badass guitar jams that will have you head banging all night long. [LL]
SEAN WATKINS (OF NICKEL CREEK) w/ PETRA HADEN, JESSE HARRIS
@ Station Inn | 8pm | $15 | 21+
After his successful run as one-third of the Grammy Award-winning band Nickel Creek and heading up the Watkins Family Hour Ensemble tour with his sister Sara, Sean Watkins is once again striking out on his own with his latest solo release What To Fear. The singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist shows great growth and maturity on this new album with warmth and honesty in his story-telling about a slew of characters finding their way in this crazy life. Watkins displays his understanding and empathy of the human condition with his masterful lyricism, and the use of strings and a stellar rhythm section enable the stories to resonate with the listener long after the last chord. Opening the show is the captivating singer Petra Haden with singer-songwriter Jesse Harris. This should be an incredible night of music. [IS]
[IS] Ione Singletary
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JSt] Jen Starsinic
[JC] Julian Ciany
[LL] Lorie Liebig
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[OL] Olivia Ladd
[PO] Philip Obenschain
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