Who says January is a slow month for music? Ok, we’ve probably said that before; however, this weekend begs to differ, with plenty of options ranging from intimate, DIY punk and metal, established rock legends, local favorites, indie acts, and everything in between. Per usual, we’ve done our best to round up our top picks, in a variety of size and price ranges, so start planning your musical weekend with This Weekend in Nashville!
FRIDAY
RANCH GHOST
@ Third Man Records | 5pm | Free | All Ages
Local grunge/blues indie rock outfit Ranch Ghost are playing a very special, free in-store event at Jack White’s Third Man Records shop, and, if you listened to their latest release Lookin as much as we did this summer, you won’t miss this one! If you can get there early to secure a spot, we highly recommend you do, because this will be standing room only before the first chord is strummed. [JR]
COLONY HOUSE
@ Grimey’s | 6pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
Road and late night TV tested (Conan, Seth Meyers) indie rockers Colony House packed out Grimey’s once before, and now they’ve done it again to celebrate the release of their new record Only The Lonely (which drops on the same day). If you were hoping to catch the Franklin, TN natives, and you don’t already have tickets, we’re sorry to inform you it’s been sold out for over a week now … however, you can still catch them at Cannery Ballroom on March 9. In the meantime, jam to the track “You & I” below, and find another great show to sink your teeth into. [JR]
LIZ COOPER & THE STAMPEDE w/ LASSO SPELLS, SAD BAXTER
@ The Cobra | 8pm | $5 | 21+
No Country Presents alum Liz Cooper & The Stampede are headlining yet another kickass bill on Friday the 13th, also featuring two bands we’ve been raving about for well over a year now. Western flavored acid rockers Lasso Spells and grunge garage rockers Sad Baxter promise to make it a night of can’t-miss music. You get this all local bill for just five dollars, plus it’s a good excuse to check out The Cobra if you haven’t already. Here’s a full preview. [JR]
MUSIC BAND w/ IDLE BLOOM, WESTERN MEDICATION, BUMMR CITY, CAT FLAPS
@ The East Room | 8pm | $10 | 18+
Friday the 13th is always a great date and reason to have a rock and roll show. Add to that a fundraising initiative for Nashville’s Oasis Center, and you have something that everyone can get behind. This Friday an all star cast of Nashville punks will come together at The East Room to bring you just that. Our favorite local trio Music Band will be joined by other heavy hitters in the scene such as Idle Bloom, and Western Medication; as well as newcomers Bummr City, and CatFlaps. So skip a fancy latte or two this weekend and use that ten bucks to witness Nashville history being made, and give to a good cause in doing so. Party starts at 8pm. Check out a clip from Music Band’s Jam in The Van last year to get yourself excited. [JC]
THE VOODOO FIX, KID FREUD, NILES ROOKER TRIO
@ Mercy Lounge | 8pm | $10 | 18+
Dark funk rockers Voodoo Fix are celebrating the release of their latest single “Voodoo” from their upcoming album due out this spring. You can check out the video for the lead single below. They’ll be headlining a pretty solid set including friends Kid Freud, and No Country presents alumni Niles Rooker Trio. If you miss the days of good old fashioned rock n’ roll, this is your show of the weekend. [MH]
D. STRIKER, LEW CARD, KRISTINA MURRAY, JAMES JEWELL
@ Radio Cafe | 9pm | $5
Guess what? It’s Friday the 13th, and that means another episode of twangy comedic D. Striker’s RR Party. Started in 1986, there is a reason this party has lasted through the decades. It is a raucous good time, and embodies the spirit of the Nashville underground. If you haven’t checked it out before, or haven’t checked out Radio Cafe, this is the perfect opportunity to check off two at once. [MH]
THELMA & THE SLEAZE w/ BUTTHOLE, GREYSON ANDERSON
@ Little Harpeth Brewing | 9pm | $10 | 21+
As we told you already, it’s been a busy 2017 already for Thelma & The Sleaze. They’ve changed lineups, released a few new tasty bits of music, and announced the release of a documentary for their intra-city Kandyland tour early last year. They celebrate all that is new in their world with a special show at Little Harpeth with Butthole and Greyson Anderson, whose Dogs Of Oz band they just released a split 7″. This is one of those no-brainer shows. Good beer, great music… what have you got to lose? [MH]
D.R.A.M. w/ RIVER TIBER, ARI LENNOX
@ Exit/In | 9pm | SOLD OUT | 18+
As one of the buzziest rising trap rappers around right now, it’s no surprise that D.R.A.M.‘s headlining spot at Exit/In, in support of his debut full-length Big Baby D.R.A.M., is already sold out. Indie hip hop fans already know, this’ll be one solid weekend outing, especially with support from breakout alt/indie singer River Tiber and alt-R&B songstress Ari Lennox. [PO]
SATURDAY
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS w/ FRONT COUNTRY
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | $22-$25 | All Ages
Legendary five-piece bluegrass jam band Greensky Bluegrass will be playing a barn burner of a show Saturday, with help from like minded San Fransisco pickers Front Country. So if you want to spend you Saturday evening dancing like mad man/woman, this probably your headiest choice for tunes. Touring in support of their Sept ’16 release, Shouted, Written Down & Quoted, Greensky have more than enough material in their extensive catalog to keep the party going all night long. [JR]
BIG THIEF w/ SAM EVIAN
@ The High Watt | 8pm | $10 | 18+
Both New York based, Saddle Creek signed acts celebrating fantastic (and somewhat under the radar) debut albums, Big Thief and opener Sam Evian are set to bring their folk rock and glistening indie pop stylings to The High Watt this weekend. We told you about this one in a full preview, so if you’re still not convinced, head here for more about one of the weekend’s best intimate happenings. [PO]
ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO w/ THE MINUS 5
@ City Winery | 8pm | $30-42 | All Ages
Punk veteran turned alt-country singer-songwriter extraordinaire Alejandro Escovedo has been crafting amazing and diverse music since the ’70s, and throughout his many years and projects, has become something of a modern legend. Celebrating his latest solo release, Burn Something Beautiful, Escovedo is set to return to Music City for the first time in several years this Saturday, for a performance at intimate, upscale show space City Winery, along with The Minus 5, featuring Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck, who produced and collaborated on Alejandro’s latest. You can read all about it right here. [PO]
ACID DAD w/ SPODEE BOY, DATENIGHT
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5-$7 | 21+
NYC based psych punk power trio Acid Dad are dropping in on Nashville this weekend to melt some skulls, and if you love your punk a little skuzzy, then this one is for you. Garage punks Spodee Boy and locals Datenight will help kick this rocking affair into high gear from the jump, and all the indie kids who know what’s what will most likely be there too. So tap into the east coast punk scene at the OG Basement, and get hip to a kick ass nationally touring act. [JR]
SUNDAY
TOM CHAPLIN (OF KEANE)
@ City Winery | 8pm | $25-$35 | All Ages
Best known for fronting hugely successful British alt-rock outfit Keane, English singer-songwriter Tom Chaplin began focusing on a solo career after the band entered a hiatus a few years back. His debut, last year’s The Wave, takes on a bit more of a pop bent, and should translate fantastically in a space like City Winery. [PO]
ELIZABETH COOK w/ DARRIN BRADBURY
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $15 | All Ages
Lightning 100’s Nashville Sunday Night showcase is still going strong in 2017, so if you’re looking for a chance to see some sure to be awesome acts, it’s almost always sure fire hit. This week they are proud to welcome country-fried Americana performer Elizabeth Cook, and East Nashvillian folk satirist Darrin Bradbury in the warm-up spot. You get both performances for just $15, and the best part? Per usual for this show, if you can’t make it to the venue on time, you can listen to both sets live on the radio! Course we’re always going to recommend the live and in person option, but either way, don’t miss it. [JR]
HANGING MOON, THE LANGUAGE, ARGUS, PINION, PALE LUNGS
@ That 70’s House | 8pm | $5
The Nashville stop on a tour featuring local throwback metalcore outfit Hanging Moon and Ohio hardcore band The Language, this prime $5 house show also features droning, experimental project Argus, crushing metal band Pinion, and emo/indie group Pale Lungs as local support. Given the recent crackdown on DIY spaces, we’re not going to tell you exactly where That 70’s House is, but if you don’t know, you should be able to ask around and find out. [PO]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JC] Julian Ciany
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain