The holiday spirit is in full swing, and holiday shows are starting to pop up on the local landscape. We’ll be hosting our 5th Annual Christmas Caroling Party next weekend Dec. 17 at The 5 Spot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start celebrating this weekend too. We have a little bit of everything – including one of our favorite duos hosting a star-studded holiday party, national buzz bands, homecoming shows for road wearied rockers, long running tribute shows, and more. Head below to plan your weekend with this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
JOHNNY LUCAS
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
Loop pedal master and guitar guru Johnny Lucas is Lightning 100’s featured Artist of the Week. If for some reason you don’t know by now, L100 highlights a local artist every week, spinning their single all week on radio. The week long celebration culminates in a 100% free party on the roof at Soulshine Pizza. So grab a couple happy hour brews, as well as some pizza pie, and enjoy the free tunes. [JR]
THE DISTRICTS w/ RANCH GHOST, & TANGIERS
@ The Basement East | 8pm | $12-$15 | 18+
It was a buzzy year for Philly based rockers The Districts, as we’ve seen them come through town in several settings at this point, from a headlining set at The High Watt, as support at Live On The Green, and they even got a coveted Bonnaroo set in 2015. The Fat Possum backed four piece dropped their very well received, John Congleton produced, sophomore LP last year, but have been teasing new music of late. Blog faves and local rockers Ranch Ghost will open things up along with support from fellow Philly band Tangiers. [MH]
SEU JORGE: A TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | $28-$195 | 18+
Famed actor and singer Seu Jorge may have made a name for himself in the US from his memorable role in the classic Wes Anderson film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, but he is one of Brazil’s most talented exports for his eclectic style. In memory of the late David Bowie, whom Jorge covers in Portuguese, he is currently on his “The Life Aquatic: A Tribute to David Bowie” tour, where you can count on catching a huge helping of the beloved covers, and hopefully a few of his originals as well. A few tickets remain, so don’t miss out on this very unique opportunity. [MH]
KATE VOEGLE w/ TYLER HILTON, GABRIELLE MOSS
@ 12th and Porter | 8pm | SOLD OUT | 18+
This will be a good night for One Tree Hill fans. Kate Voegle and Tyler Hilton both appeared on the show back in the day, and now they’re focusing on their respective musical careers with a sold out show at 12th and Porter this Friday. Those who scored tickets can enjoy an evening of pop-rock anthems. [MG]
FLY GOLDEN EAGLE w/ BLACKFOOT GYPSIES, LASSO SPELLS, & MORE
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Back to curate their second “High Noon” event, friends of the blog Lasso Spells are celebrating the release of their latest record Stuck In A Shape, and they have invited standout Nashville rockers Fly Golden Eagle to join them, along with blues rockers Blackfoot Gypsies, psych outfit Western Medication, and upstart psych rockers Machete. At only $5, this promises to be one of the best bets of the weekend. [JR]
SHAMPOO W/ ONLY & DUALPINE
@ The End | 9pm | $5 | 18+
ATL-based trio Shampoo puts a modern spin on classic new wave and is said to incorporate elements of Madonna, so if that doesn’t pique your interest, we don’t know what will. Combined with local dream rockers Only and fresh faced lo-fi rocker Dualpine, this is a great way to delve into the underground rock scene on the cheap. [MG]
MOUNTAINS LIKE WAX, w/ CHROME PONY, EAGLE JOHNSON & CLEAN MACHINE
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5-$7 | 21+
If you are in need of a kickass local rock bill on Friday night, then look no further than the O.G. Basement when Mountains Like Wax, Chrome Pony, and Eagle Johnson & Clean Machine take the stage. Rising southern post-rockers Mountains Like Wax have really made a name for themselves over the past year, winning Music City Mayhem, nabbing a spot at Live On The Green, and seemingly growing with every show. They are likely to fall into the same trajectory that Chrome Pony took a few years ago when they burst on the scene and ended up on a lengthy European tour with Cage The Elephant. The relative newcomer to the group, Eagle Johnson & Clean Machine, just popped onto our radar recently, and we helped them premiere their new single “Hero” a couple of days ago. This bill is solid from start to finish, and the $5 price tag makes it, hands down, the deal of the weekend. [MH]
SPACE JESUS w/ YHETI
@ Exit/In | 10pm | $12-$15 | 18+
NYC based EDM DJ Space Jesus is bringing his unique blend of beats to Music City as part of the Look Out tour. Influenced more by psychedelia, and even trap music–more so than say dub step– SJ really isn’t you’re ever day garden variety DJ/producer, proudly proclaiming on his Bandcamp page that he is always in search of “future beats … bass for real space people.” With like minded bass monster Yheti on the bill, this is the only show of the weekend for the EDM crowd, so don’t miss out! [JR]
ARC & STONES w/ HARDCASTLE, & BROTHER MAN
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Local alternative rockers Arc & Stones are headlining what promises to be a kick as night of rock n’ roll in the intimate confines of The High Watt. They will be locked and loaded, along with indie alt rockers Hardcastle and No Country presents alum Brother Man. All this skull melting fun is under ten bucks, so stop with the bullshit excuses about the weather, or being too broke, and go see some live music this weekend. [JR]
SATURDAY
ANNUAL TOM WAITS TRIBUTE & BENEFIT
@ The 5 Spot | 8pm | $10 suggested donation at the door | 21+
Now in it’s 11th year, the 2016 Get Behind The Mule Tom Waits Tribute takes place at The 5 Spot on Saturday night with the proceeds benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. For a suggested donation of $10, you’ll get to hear a star studded lineup, including Ballhog!, The Coal Men, David Olney, Sarah Potenza, Tommy Womack, and more, cover songs from the master songwriter. This is one of those once a year events that demands attendance. Don’t miss out. [MH]
THIRD EYE BLIND w/ COLONY HOUSE, BARNS COURTNEY
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | SOLD OUT | 18+
With alt rock icons Third Eye Blind as their year’s headliner, it’s definitely no surprise that Lightning 100’s fourth annual Festivus show at Marathon Music Works managed to sell out in advance. Rounded out by Colony House and Barns Courtney, the annual, Seinfeld inspired “party for the rest of us” is a charity show set to benefit the Salvation Army. Those who got tickets will be singing along to classics like “Jumper” and “Semi-Charmed Life,” and helping out a great cause while doing so. [PO]
COOL CHRISTMAS WITH BIRDCLOUD 2 w/ SPECIAL GUESTS
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $10-$13 | 21+
No holiday celebration would be complete without a little Birdcloud, though the jury is still out if you want to bring your conservative granny to this one. The duo, created by two of Nashville’s finest songwriters, are best known for their outlandish songs and stage banter, and they will be hosting their second annual Cool Christmas with Birdcloud party at The Basement East. Expect them to pull all the stops out for this one, as they’ve already teased guest appearances from Rayland Baxter, Langhorne Slim, Tristen, Erin Rae, Jon Burr, Alex Caress, and more. This show will also serve as the vinyl release party for their “Greatest Hits Record” titled Singles Only. The cover art alone makes this the perfect holiday gift for those record collectors in your life. [MH]
DAVID WAX MUSEUM w/ VIOLET AND THE UNDERCURRENTS
@ 12th & Porter | 9pm | $10 | 18+
As we told you in our full preview, buzzworthy Charlottesville by way of Boston group David Wax Museum have been drumming up hype since a particularly standout performance at Newport Folk Festival a few years back, propelled by their unique “Mexo-Americana” sound. Made up of core duo of David Wax and Suz Slezak, the band took a more indie direction with their latest, Guesthouse, which includes more electronics and polished production. Missouri group Violet and the Undercurrents open. [PO]
SUNDAY
ANTHONY DA COSTA, w/ JORDAN TICE, & KRISTIN ANDREASSEN
@ The Basement | 9pm | $7-$10 | 21+
Austin, TX based singer songwriter Anthony Da Costa is rolling his Americana folk rock show into Music City, and if you’re looking for plans this Sunday night, and you love wordsmiths, this is the ticket for you. Brooklyn based performer Jordan Tice and multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Kristin Andreassen will complete the bill at the OG Basement, and, based on the stuff we’ve heard of all three, you don’t want to miss one second off these sets. Finish your weekend off strong, while simultaneously helping some touring musicians stay afloat. [JR]
SHEL w/ DON GALLARDO
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
Alt-folk sister quartet SHEL are back in Nashville to celebrate the holidays at 3rd & Lindsley for Nashville Sunday Night this weekend. It’s been quite a year for SHEL, who dropped their sophomore LP, Just Crazy Enough, back in June, and they just released a new holiday inspired EP, The Winter Fairyland, to boot. The latter features three standards, and three originals, which the sisters have released one per year for the past three. Head below to see the video for “Gather Close” to get an idea of what to expect. Make sure you head out early as blog pal Don Gallardo will be opening things up, and celebrating the release of his well received LP Hickory earlier this year. [MH]
KOOL KEITH w/ KOSHA DILLZ
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $15 | 21+
With a celebrated, varied career spanning more than two decades, beloved Bronx rapper Kool Keith is one of the premiere names in alternative hip hop. Under-appreciated for his influence on rhyming mechanics and surrealist thematic focus, Keith has, to the best of our knowledge, never played Nashville, and his potential Music City debut comes with support from Jersey-based Jewish MC Kosha Dillz. Head here for a full preview. [PO]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain