TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | July 8 – 10

With another Independence Day in the rear view, we embark into the dog days of summer, and we also return to our regularly scheduled programming of local shows.  Lots of folks will surely be talking about Guns N’ Roses at Nissan Stadium throughout the weekend, but, if you are ballin’ on a budget, there is plenty more to satiate you.  Head below to dig into all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!

FRIDAY

RENN
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages

Local singer-songwriter Renn hails originally from the North Carolina coast, and plays with a folky, earnest, and personal rock rooted style. If you’re looking for a FREE way to get your weekend off to a great start, you can’t beat his Local Artist of the Week set, hosted by Lightning 100! [PO]

AJ & THE JIGGAWATTS w/ CHARGE THE ATLANTIC, DOWN BOY
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $5-10 | 18+

Memphis bred funk/soul ensemble AJ & The Jiggawatts have some fresh tunes to strut this weekend at Mercy, and if you love to “Get Wild,” and shake dat ass, this is the show for you! Be sure to arrive on time for funk inspired reggae rockers Charge The Atlantic, and blog endorsed alt rockers Down Boy. Three sweet bands makes for one heady bill, and ay just $10 ($5 in advance) it’s a great deal. [JR]

LIZ COOPER & THE STAMPEDE, IAN FERGUSON, CHARLIE & THE EVIL MOTHERS, THE WILD JAYS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $7 | 21+

We haven’t been able to get enough of local psych rockers Liz Cooper & the Stampede, and back in the spring we shared their live video for the single “Thieves” with you, after they blew the doors off our one of our Acme Feed & Seed showcases. This weekend we’re more than a little excited to catch them playing at The 5 Spot along with fellow psychedelic faves Ian Ferguson, Charlie & the Evil Mothers, and The Wild Jays. [MW]

DRIVIN N CRYIN, SOMEBODY’S DARLING
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $12/$15 | 21+

Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ may never have had widespread national success, but they’re a band that’s been well known and loved throughout the south since they started in the ‘80s. Today they’re still touring, and are as strong a live act as ever. Catch them Friday night at the Basement East along with fellow southern rockers Somebody’s Darling. [MW]

SATURDAY

ROOTS OF A REBELLION, BACKUP PLANET, OMEGA SWAN
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $7-12 | 18+

Friends of the blog, and lynch pins in the growing Tennessee Reggae movement, Roots of a Rebellion are celebrating the release of their new record, A Brother’s Instinct, with help from experimental funk rockers Backup Planet, and rowdy garage/grunge rock ’n’ rolls Omega Swan. Look for an interview with ROAR tomorrow, in addition to our thoughts (after an early listen) about the new record, and of course don’t miss your chance to catch them live. [JR]

LIGHTNING 100’S MUSIC CITY MAYHEM ft. COLD CREEKS, MOUNTAINS LIKE WAX, FLORALORIX, BRAVE TOWN
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | FREE | 18+

Lightning 100’s Music City Mayhem is coming to its final round Saturday night at Marathon Music Works. With four bands left, the competition to perform at Live on the Green this summer has heated up. Alt/indie rockers Cold Creeks, up and coming post-rock outfit Mountains Like Wax, reggae group Floralorix, and pop rockers Brave Town will compete for a spot next to Band of Horses, Ben Harper, Young the Giant and more at the end of summer festival. Get there before 8:30 p.m. to receive a ballot to vote for your favorite band. Admission is free. [OL]

BEHOLD THE BRAVE, LEOPOLD AND HIS FICTION, SMOKING FLOWERS
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5-7 | 18+

Psych infused alt rockers Behold The Brave have been on our radar for a while now, and after talking to the guys recently we are happy to report that some fresh tunes have already been completed, and now they are ready to unleash them on your unsuspecting ass. We assure you they shred, and with help from Motown tinged blues garage band Leopold and His Fiction, plus Smoking Flowers. All this, for under $10?! It’s gotta be one of the rockin’est low dough shows of the weekend, so don’t miss it. [JR]

CCR HEADCLEANER, DELUXIN’, QUICHENIGHT
@ Drkmttr | 9pm | $7 | All Ages

Need a ripping all ages rock show, but can’t afford (or don’t even know) Guns N’ Roses.  Local DIY event space Drkmttr along with Glad Fact Records is hosting a night of sludgy and psychedelic rock jams that should be on your radar.  CCR Headcleaner have clearly listened to a lot of fellow Bay Area outfit Fuzz, and invoke ponderings of what a West Coast JEFF the Brotherhood might sound like.  They are joined by local rippers Deluxin’ and Quichenight. [MH]

GUNS N’ ROSES w/ CHRIS STAPLETON
@ Nissan Stadium | 8pm | $45-250 | All Ages

As we’ve been gushing about for months, Guns N’ Roses, reunited with their “classic” era lineup (they never broke up, per se, but Axl and co. have been feeling like a shell of the former band for years), are set to hit Nashville’s Nissan Stadium this weekend, joined by breakout country singer Chris Stapleton. Featuring guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan alongside Rose, together for the first time in 23 years (and, perhaps, even drummer Steven Adler, who’s been absent even longer; though his surprise Cincinnati stop this week is far from a Nashville guarantee), this incarnation of the band has been receiving gushing reviews, apparently restored to their former vigor and glory. As of writing, plenty of seats at all sections and price levels still remain, so it’s not too late to secure your spot to witness this epic, nostalgic slice of rock history. [PO]

THE HOTELIER w/ TOLD SLANT, BELLOWS
@ The End | 8pm | $12-$15 | 18+

Though they’ve only been around since 2009, Massachusetts indie punks The Hotelier have already developed a devoted following, perfectly combining elements of emo, post-hardcore, pop punk, and indie rock, throughout three substantive, polished, emotionally charged, and well-honed full-lengths. Joined by Told Slant and Bellows, this might just be the best under the radar show of the weekend, for those looking for earnest, quality punk in an intimate show space. [PO]

SUNDAY

SEAN MCCONNELL w/ THE ROOSEVELTS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages

Head on over to 3rd & Lindsley for a laid back night of awesome Americana tunes, brought to you by the BMI backed Sean McConnell. His new self-titled album drops Friday July 8, so help him celebrate the momentous occasion by watching him perform live the following Sunday night. Arrive on time and get the most for your ten spot, with help form southern indie rockers The Roosevelts. In Music City the live shows NEVER stop, so don’t let a single night of the weekend go to waste. [JR]

FLUKE, NICO DELUCA-VERLEY, JEFF CARL, HALEY GREENE, VICTORIA CANAL
@ fooBAR | 8pm | $7 | 18+

For months now, Fat Catz City Promotions has been throwing incredible shows every Sunday at fooBAR. This week is no exception. German folk/jazz singer Victoria Canal will bring her U.S. tour to East Nashville. Also joining her on the bill is Nico Deluca-Verley from Los Angeles, and local support Fluke. Get yourselves a taste of the Sunday night magic at fooBAR and come on down. Party starts at 8 p.m.  [JC]

DYLIJENS, SNEAKS, BIG YOUTH, PULSATILE TINNITUS
@ Betty’s Bar & Grill | 9pm | $7 | All Ages

If you are looking for one of the weirdest, most eclectic lineups to totally geek out to this weekend, Betty’s Bar & Grill on Sunday night may be your best bet.  Baltimore based experimental hip hop outfit Dylijens join up with DC based electo post-punk outfit Sneaks, killer local MC Big Youth, and experimental noise makers Pulsatile Tinnitus.  Check out Big Youth below, and it is definitely worth your time to browse all of the bands via the Facebook event page.  [MH]

LEON RUSSELL w/ SCOTTY BRATCHER
@ City Winery | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages

Acclaimed musician and songwriter Leon Russell is making his way to Music City this weekend.  The Rock n Roll and Songwriters Hall Of Famer saw a big resurgence in his career after teaming up with Elton John to release the highly acclaimed album The Union in 2010, but his nearly 50 year career spans far more than the that commercial acclaim. Unfortunately, this show has been sold out for weeks, so you may just have to hope for another opportunity to catch the bearded legend locally. [MH]

[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JC] Julian Ciany
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[OL] Olivia Ladd
[PO] Philip Obenschain