As with the past several weeks, some of the most interesting shows in town this weekend seem to be small, local, and DIY, bringing together local and national acts for some very cool and under the radar events. Whether you’re on a budget, looking for something new, or you’re already dialed in and ready to catch a tiny show, there’s something cool happening every single night, from backyard release shows to post-punk in pizza parlors to in-store events to east side indie rock. The small shows aren’t hogging all of our attention though; this busy weekend also includes a stacked Planned Parenthood benefit, the son of a Beatle, a musical documentary screening, several buzzy touring bands, free r&b, a legendary rocker, and much more, plus stuff we didn’t even mention, like the phenomenally curated and long sold out nearby weekend-long taping for season 7 of Bluegrass Underground, and the Saturday soft opening of Fond Object’s new downtown store! Start planning your weekend of music below with This Weekend in Nashville!
FRIDAY
CHERRY GLAZERR
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | FREE | All Ages
w/ IAN SWEET, LALA LALA
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $13 | 18+
Helmed by 19 year old frontwoman Clementine Creevy, LA garage rock/noise pop outfit Cherry Glazerr started a series of solo, bedroom demos before morphing into a full band and capturing the buzz of the blogosphere by debut album Haxel Princess. With their latest, Apocalipstick, the band really settle into their own, and with support from New York garage popsters Ian Sweet and Chicago indie punks Lala Lala, this is without a doubt one of the top happenings of the weekend, especially since it’s in a tiny spot like The High Watt. Before the main event (or instead of, if you’re ballin’ on a budget), you can also see the group for a free in-store performance at Grimey’s! [PO]
MYSTERY LIGHTS w/ THE NUDE PARTY
@ The Basement | 9:30pm (9pm doors) | $10 | 21+
New York garage rock trio Mystery Lights are winding their tour through Music City, and fans of their 2016 self-titled release should grab tickets now. With help from North Carolina surf rockers The Nude Party, who pack quite a wallop as well, this has the potential to fill up quickly. Both bands have enjoyed some levels of scene success, so at just ten bucks this might be the best deal on kick ass live music in town. [JR]
THE PILLS, SUMMER PALACE, SPEAKING SUNS, PROMWEATHER
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5
One of several great wallet-friendly, DIY shows happening this weekend, $5 at The East Room gets you a stacked local lineup of lo-fi psych rockers The Pills, ambient, experimental group Summer Palace, and the shoegaze-y Promweather, plus Ohio dream pop outfit Speaking Suns. Seriously, these small DIY shows have been stellar lately, and they’re a refreshing, alternative to much of the rest of the city’s music scene- if you don’t stray off the beaten path much with your music, it’s time to start. [PO]
HEAT
@ Two Boots Pizza | All Ages
You might need to take this show with a grain of salt, or a dash of oregano, as it were, but it seems like Montreal indie/post-punk group Heat are set to play Two Boots at some point on Friday, at least according to a couple of scattered show listings that provide little in the way of details. They’re on the way back from SXSW, and Nashville would actually be a slight backtrack (if their Thursday Knoxville show is correct), so it’s possible that this is no longer happening. Keep an eye on social media from the band for more (or just go grab a late slice and scope it out- at the very least, you get pizza!) [PO]
NIGHTLY, DRAWING NORTH, THE FOXIES, DAPHNE WILLIS
@ The Back Corner | 8pm (6pm doors) | $20 | 21+
New venue The Back Corner opened late last year in Germantown, the popping neighborhood’s first live music space, without a lot of fanfare, situated right behind 5th & Taylor, and operated by the same owners. We’ve yet to visit, but the setup looks pretty sweet, and they’ve put together a local pop lineup this weekend which seems to indicate that they mean business in the venue space, bringing together several of our faves, rising pop acts Nightly, Drawing North, The Foxies, and Daphne Willis, for a well-curated, if not a little pricey, Friday night bill. [PO]
MAX NORTON
@ Fond Object | 7pm | $5 | All Ages
Folky, Americana-infused local singer-songwriter Max Norton is celebrating the release of his debut album, Blood Moon, with a backyard release party at Fond Object! Name checking influences like Nick Drake, Steve Earle, and Sigur Rós, Norton’s nostalgic, worldly, and personal style definitely has our attention, and a backyard hang at Fond Object is never a bad way to spend your evening. [PO]
MORGAN ORION, EMMA DILEMMA, SOS 1995, SCARLETT DEERING
@ The Crying Wolf | 8pm | $5 | 21+
Another cool, cheap, under the radar option, New Orleans anti-folk singer-songwriter Morgan Orion plays the type of poetic, raw, and earnest Americana that should appeal to fans of groups like Bright Eyes. Local support comes from dark, folky songstress Emma Dilemma, emo-tinged singer SOS 1995, and poppy, indie rocker Scarlett Derring, who should all be on your radar; seriously, there’s so much local talent all over the place, and it’s worth taking a few minutes to discover something new! [PO]
GREAT PEACOCK, LITTLE BANDIT, WAGES, PAT REEDY & MORE
@ The Basement East | 8pm (7:30 pm doors) | $5-7 | 21+
It’s unclear how Chuck Berry and Bob Dylan are related to pets, other than they are all like beloved family members. The Basement East is hosting a benefit show on Friday night support the well respected non-profit animal rescue organization, East C.A.N., and they will host a night of music in tribute to the late Chuck Berry (RIP) and Bob Dylan. The line up will include a slew of local performers including Great Peacock, Little Bandit, the revolving supergroup Grimey & Friends, Heath Haynes and more. Want to feel good while you feel good? This is a great bet. [MH]
STEVE MILLER BAND
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 8pm (7pm doors) | $46.50-86.50 | All Ages
If you’re hoping to catch the legendary blues/psachdelic rock guitarist Steve Miller and his Band on night one of their two night stay at The Ryman, we implore you to act quickly, because tickets are close to selling out! With a VAST catalog of songs, stretching back to the modern rock explosion in the ’60s, it’s safe to say there will be hours of entertainment. Don’t miss your chance at witnessing the talent of a living legend. [JR]
DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS
@ Grimey’s | 12:30pm | FREE | All Ages
Alt-Americana juggernaut Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors are set to release their highly anticipated album The Stranger on Friday, and they will be celebrating with a raucous run of local shows around town to celebrate, including a performance at the long sold out PBS taping for Bluegrass Underground on Saturday. We’ll likely extend lunch a few minutes to jump into one of our favorite local record shops to catch the free Grimey’s in-store, but we would encourage you to jump to the band’s socials to find your best opportunity to see Holcomb’s stellar live show. [MH]
MR. B & THE TRIBAL HOOSE
@ Acme Feed & Seed | 11pm | FREE | 21+
Local party rockers and No Country presents alumni Mr. B & The Tribal Hoose have been building a rep on their rowdy late night Acme performances, and they have another this weekend! A unique blend of funk, rock, and hip hop, this large band of merry makers show a lot of potential. Best part? This one is 100% free, but it isn’t for the weary. Show time is 11 p.m., so maybe catch something else before, or rest up for the late night downtown shenanigans. [JR]
SATURDAY
THELMA AND THE SLEAZE w/ BOYSCOTT, COLD CREEKS, BUTTHOLE
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $10-12 | 18+
Reason number one you should check out this show: it’s a benefit for Planned Parenthood, and Planned Parenthood is a fantastic and vital organization that provides essential and basic health services and screenings to countless women across the nation, despite vilification and stigmatization from many within the more right-leaning wings of our government. Reason number two you should check out this show: it has a badass, local lineup, featuring premiere, sludgy rockers Thelma and the Sleaze with poppy indie group Boyscott, bluesy indie band Cold Creeks, and garage punks Butthole. Great music for a great cause; can’t go wrong! [PO]
JAMES MCCARTNEY w/ CHARLIE WHITTEN, HARPOONER
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $13.50 | 21+
We first caught James McCartney (yep, that’d be Sir Paul’s son) back at Bonnaroo 2013, at the time celebrating the release of his debut album, Me (he also made a stop at The Basement not long after). Though he may not quite be on pop’s level (few people on earth are, and it’s not fair, though inevitable, to compare them), James possesses an eerily similar voice (and looks), and with his sophomore LP, last year’s The Blackberry Train, several years of touring and artistic experimentation seem to have resulted in a more honed, confident release, and one that could help him step out further from an unavoidable, Beatle-sized shadow. Locals Charlie Whitten and Harpooner support, and if you approach James with a blank slate, you’ll have a blast. [PO]
LADYSHARK, MINORCAN, CORY TAYLOR COX, INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5
Another great, (mostly) local, $5 show at The East Room? Yet bet! With alt rock duo Ladyshark, Asheville lo-fi indie rock trio Minorcan, indie singer-songwriter Cory Taylor Cox, and poppy rockers International Friendly, the east side hang has yet another enticing option if you’re looking for a low-key, small room filled with rock, or wanting to sample some fantastic emerging talent. [PO]
ARC & STONES w/ NORTH BY NORTH, KIM LOGAN, GYASI
@ The End | 8pm | $8
New Work alternative rock transplants Arc & Stones have a new tasty three-song EP, Sunrise Surprise, due out March 31, and you can get live sneak peak for under a ten spot. Riff-tastic Chicago alt rock duo North By North, local blues rocker Kim Logan, plus Gyasi will be augmenting what promises to be a heady bill. Help support our always growing area rock scene, without having to spend a ton of money doing it! [JR]
THE DEAD DEADS
@ Lipstick Lounge | 7pm | $7 | 21+
Becoming important fixtures in our extremely diverse local musical landscape, The Dead Deads seem to be on the verge of capturing a national audience. Performing an excellent high energy blend of metal, punk, and grunge rock, plus sporting their signature “Xs,” the band have amassed a steadily growing cult following. If you’ve never experienced the spectacle, you can catch it for just $7 this weekend, and we can damn near promise you’ll have a blast doing it! [JR]
FLORALORIX, TREEHOUSE!, NA’AN STOP
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $5 | 21+
One of the lynch pins in the growing Tennessee reggae movement, friends of the blog Floralorix are back in town and playing a low dough show at The Basement that you should most certainly get in your life if you’re on a tight budget this weekend. Like minded brethren Treehouse! and Na’an Stop will be filling out the chill lineup. So if you’re looking for irie vibes this weekend, really the only place to be Saturday is The Basement. [JR]
STEVE MILLER BAND
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 8pm (7pm doors) | $46.50-86.50 | All Ages
The second night of Steve Miller Band‘s two night stand at the Ryman Auditorium is just as close to selling out as the first night. So, unless you want to be left wondering how you missed the chance to see a titan of rock, act fast and buy a ticket! [JR]
JESS NOLAN w/ KATIE PRUITT
@ Acme Feed & Seed | 3pm | FREE | 21+
Another friend of the blog who’s putting in work this weekend, Jess Nolan is eager to bring you her soulful r&b songs in a nice afternoon timeslot. The talented Katie Pruitt with be performing with Jess, and the best part of all is this show is completely free of charge. While you’re at Acme, grab an early dinner, and still have time to check out a second show this Saturday if you’re feeling adventurous. [JR]
BOOM BAP! ft. SPINDERELLA w/ DJ JAY CLIPP
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $15 | 21+
The hottest hip hop party in Music City, Boom Bap!, is back for its March installment, and fans of late ’80s and early ’90s hip hop should be rejoicing! DJ Spinderella, who was part the famous Salt-N-Pepa rap crew, will be headlining the night of curated tunes, with help from DJ Jay Clipp, plus Rate, Bowls and Case Bloom. All this great music is brought to you for just $15 at the door, but act fast, because this lineup is great, and The BEast will be packed to capacity quick. [JR]
SUNDAY
PLATINUM BOYS, STEP SISTERS, THE PSYCHICS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 21+
There’s no doubt that small shows rule this weekend, and this headlining turn from Milwaukee power pop group Platinum Boys stands as another worthy, wallet-friendly option at The 5 Spot. The group, celebrating new album Buzz, will be joined by local garage/punk/psych rock outfit Step Sisters and garage rockers The Psychics. It’s an unusually busy Sunday night for music, but this east side show definitely deserves your attention. [PO]
ASTRONOMY CLUB, CREASE READER, THE MEDIUM
@ Cobra | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 21+
In a town that often plays follow the leader, the Nashville Psych Alliance is one of the best examples of a trailblazer. They revel in the fuzz drenched and trippy atmosphere that pervaded music in the middle of last century, and have been pulling together some killer bills around town. They are back this Sunday at Cobra for another edition featuring Bowling Green based chill psych outfit Astronomy Club, local reverb masters and No Country alum Crease Reader, and pop-influenced psychsters The Medium. There will be a live trippy light show, and loads of chill vibes to end your weekend right, so don’t miss out. [MH]
LITTLE BANDIT, DARIN BRADBURY, DIAMOND CARTER
@ The East Room | 8pm | $8-10 | 18+
East Nashville fittingly takes over the east side hang The East Room for the next Communion event. This one features a few blog faves and rising voices in the local songwriting scene. Alex Caress has had a breakout year with the recent release of Little Bandit’s Breakfast Alone, while prolific local crooner and funnyman Darin Bradbury’s A Slightly Melodic Audiobook may be one of the most under-acclaimed records of the past six months. Recent No Country Presents alum Diamond Carter rounds out a bill that could easily be a preview of the next big Nashville breakouts. [MH]
SAANEAH w/ JAMIAH HUDSON, LAUREN MCCLINTON
@ The Basement East | 8pm (7pm doors) | FREE | 21+
With a unique blend of R&B, jazz, funk, hip-hop, and blues, talented local singer Saaneah is an artist you should absolutely have an eye on. This weekend, you can catch her for the low, low cost of free at The Basement East, joined by Jamiah Hudson and Lauren Mcclinton as well at DJ Lowmane to celebrate the release of her EP While You Wait. That’s a lot of talent for no cover! [PO]
PETER FRAMPTON
@ Schermerhorn Symphony Center | 7:30pm | $39-99 | All Ages
Grammy award winner Peter Frampton is swinging back through his adopted home for an intimate acoustic performance at Schermerhorn Symphony Center this weekend in support of his Acoustic Classics record, so expect to hear stripped down versions of “Baby, I Love Your Way” & “Show Me The Way.” Inevitable sing-alongs aside, a chance to sit in a symphony hall and listen to one of the greatest guitarists of all time do an acoustic set is an opportunity that any true music lover shouldn’t miss. [MH]
COLIN HAY: WAITING FOR MY REAL LIFE (DOCUMENTARY SCREENING)
@ City Winery | 7pm (5pm doors) | $5 | All Ages
If you missed the screening of Colin Hay doc Waiting for My Real Life hosted a few weeks back by the Movie Gang in Franklin, you’re in luck- City Winery, where Hay recently performed two shows, is also screening the film this weekend. Note: this is a film screening only and not a show, but at half the cost of a normal movie, and with its rave reviews, it still feels like a worthy weekend option. [PO]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain