With a busy weekend that includes Record Store Day, the Wild West Comedy Fest, the Nashville Film Festival, Vanderbilt’s Rites of Spring, and more, your entertainment options are looking more abundant than ever, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. If braving crowds to buy vinyl records isn’t you thing, or if you’re looking for some live music or comedy before or after, we’ve combed through the weekend’s best events, and picked out local release shows, reunited former Music City staples, and shows of all sizes from artists in hip hip, alt country, indie, and everything in between. Start planning your weekend with This Weekend in Nashville!
FRIDAY
JUDD APATOW w/ PETE HOMES
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 7:30pm (6:30pm doors) | $39.50-99.50 | All Ages
Part of the fourth annual Wild West Comedy Fest, which has been going on all week, one of this weekend’s hottest tickets is actually a standup show rather than a concert. Bringing together Judd Apatow, who, though acclaimed for his brilliant work in film (Trainwreck, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, production on countless Will Ferrell and Seth Rogen vehicles) and television (Freaks and Geeks, Girls, The Larry Sanders Show, Crashing, Love), only recently returned to his early roots in standup, and Pete Holmes, whose work as a standup, actor, and podcast host has helped make him an indispensable fixture in the modern comedy scene, for a performance at The Ryman Auditorium, this show is perhaps one of the best bets of this year’s whole fest. Tickets are still available, and it’s going to be an unforgettable Ryman evening. [PO]
CORY BRANAN w/ LUKR, OTIS GIBBS
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $15 | 18+
As we already told you in this rundown, local alt-country singer-songwriter and long-time site favorite Cory Branan is celebrating the release of his excellent new LP, Adios, which deals with darker themes and leans heavily on his love for punk, with a performance this weekend at Exit/In. Showcasing his eclectic taste, Branan has invited alt/grunge/indie pop singer Lukr and alt-country artist Otis Gibbs to open, making this local bill one of the weekend’s best bets. [PO]
KUMAIL NANJIANI
@ TPAC’s James K. Polk Theater | 8pm | $20-32.50 | All Ages
Another of Friday’s most noteworthy Wild West Comedy Fest events, comedian, actor, and podcast host Kumail Nanjiani, perhaps most recognizable for his roles in Silicon Valley, Portlandia, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Nights, live comedy event turned Comedy Central series The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, and countless other credits, will bring his smart, personal, nerdy, flavor of observational humor to TPAC. Nanjiani has been a promising rising star in the standup scene for years, and with more prominent recent acting roles (including upcoming, semi-autobiographical, buzzy feature film The Big Sick), he’s become an ever-increasing household name. Trust us, this show is going to be excellent. [PO]
RITES OF SPRING ft. THE SHINS, ST. LUCIA, JOHNNYSWIM
@ Vanderbilt Alumni Lawn | 6:30pm (6pm gates) | $38 (Fri) $51 (weekend) | All Ages
Since its inception more than 45 years ago, Vanderbilt’s annual Rites of Spring festival has been a great way to bridge the student community with Nashville at large, offering a varied lineup of big-name performers with tickets available to both students and the public. The bill always seems to reflect what students are into any given year, and, though somewhat paired down like last year’s event, the 2017 lineup is still pretty varied. Friday kicks off with indie rock mainstays The Shins, electro-indie act St. Lucia, and folk duo and former Nashvillvians Johnnyswim, as well as a Battle of the Bands, with tickets available in both single-day and weekend options. [PO]
ADULT., SERRATIN PULSE
@ Third Man Records | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $10 | All Ages
Detroit based electro punks ADULT. got their start in the late nineties, and the husband and wife duo have set the stage for contemporary acts of the day. Their unique take on new wave synth punk remains a refreshing look at music, particularly with a pop scene that of often seems to continually homogenize, and, apparently, Jack White and co. have taken notice by booking them at the Third Man Records’ Blue Room on Friday night. Nashville via Detroit transplants Serration Pulse will get things started with their Portishead-like take on industrial pop. If you are looking for something different to do this weekend, this $10 show is a sure bet. [MH]
MATTHEW LOGAN VASQUEZ w/ INDIANOLA
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $15 | 18+
Delta Spirt frontman Matthew Logan Vasquez is hyping his second solo record, Does What He Wants, and, though he insists Delta Spirit hasn’t called it quits, this record sounds, and he admits, like a new DS record. What does all this mean for future? Fuck if we know, but Vasquez has crafted an expert follow up to his 2016 debut Solicitor Returns, and this is one, along with the likes of opener Indianola featuring songwriter rising talent Owen Beverly, is a show that demands your attention this weekend. RSD is gonna get real on Saturday, so start the weekend of right here. [MH]
WILLIAM MATHENY, LAURA MAE SOCKS, LYLAS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | 21+
West Virginia based songwriter William Matheny is touring in support of his standout alt-country debut LP, Strange Constellations, which feels like a collaboration between Wilco and The Mountain Goats. You can judge for yourself in the video for the single “God’s Left Hand” below. Louisiana based songwriter Laura Mae Socks and local folk popsters Lylas are set to open one of the best of what’s next showcases of the weekend. [MH]
NATE BARGATZE
@ Zanies | 7pm (6pm doors) | $20 | 18+
Though Nashville has become increasingly more vibrant in hosting comedy performances in recent years (take this weekend’s Wild West Comedy Fest, for example), working comics still largely hail from New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, with only a handful of nationally-known standups calling Music City home. That’s why we’re especially excited to claim Nate Bargatze, who lived in all three of the aforementioned markets before relocating home to Nashville permanently after getting his career off the ground. With numerous late night appearances, comedy specials, and festival spots, Bargatze is a seasoned and hilarious performer, and his southern upbringing, despite not getting his comedic start in the south, certainly influenced his delivery, demeanor, and worldview. The only homegrown performer at the WWCF, we’d be remiss if we didn’t encourage you to check out his Friday spot at Zanies! [PO]
THEM DIRTY ROSES w/ WAKE THE SUN, THE VOODOO FIX
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $5-7 | 21+
Local (via Alabama) Southern rockers Them Dirty Roses are headlining a full throttle bill that hard rock fans should be all over. Soulful blues rock band Wake The Sun, plus LA Music City transplants The Voodoo Fix will make sure that heads are banging, kicking Friday night up a notch for all in attendance in the process. If you like your rock and roll loud and rowdy, this is the gig for you. [JR]
DOPAPOD w/ MASSEUSE
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm (8pm doors) | $18 | 18+
Northeast–via Boston–jam veterans Dopapod have brought their seemingly never ending tour through Music City, and fans of the genre should definitely be in attendance. Becoming jam band festival (Wakarusa, Summer Camp, Electric Forest, Camp Bisco) regulars over the last four years, the four man collective have put serious work into their live show, and you can witness the results live for yourself, along with openers Masseuse. So get your tail to Mercy Lounge Friday, if you want to get your hippie dance on. [JR]
SATURDAY
RECORD STORE DAY
@ Grimey’s, The Groove, Fond Object, Third Man, Vinyl Tap, & More!
Record Store Day is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and, per usual, tons of epic and rare vinyl releases and the ever-increasing crowds that pursue them mean Nashville’s numerous record shops are hosting events, live music, special sales, and more. You’d be hard-pressed not to find something that fits your taste, with happenings kicking off as early as 7 a.m. and running all day long, so check out our annual Record Store Day guide for the full rundown on where to go, who to watch, and what to buy. [PO]
THE WEEKS w/ THE LONELY BISCUITS, LIZ COOPER & THE STAMPEDE
@ Cannery Ballroom | 8:30pm (7:30pm doors) | $15-18 | 18+
On the heels of their highly-anticiapted and incredibly inspired new LP, Easy, southern/garage/alt/indie rock transplants The Weeks are back in full swing, heating up buzz and returning to a healthy and constant run of shows, which has helped hone them as one the strongest live acts to erupt from our local rock scene in recent years. Though the group are pretty generous in hosting hometown shows at a regular clips, they’re always a blast in person, and with new songs in tow and The Lonely Biscuits and Liz Cooper & The Stampede on the bill, we have a feeling this is going to be an extra special one. [PO]
ARI SHAFFIR’S THIS IS NOT HAPPENING LIVE ft. NATE BARGATZE, BERT KREISCHER, SEAN PATTON, ALI SIDDIQ, LIZA TREYGER
@ Third Man Records | 8pm (7pm doors) | $10 | 18+
While comedian Ari Shaffir is bringing his popular This Is Not Happening storytelling show to several different days and locations of the Wild West Comedy Fest, we’d recommend checking out the Third Man Records show both for its price and lineup. What started as a live show and morphed into a web show and Comedy Central series, the premise is simple- renowned comedians tell real life stories in comedic ways- but the results are hysterical. Even if you’re not familiar with the lineup (they’re all great, trust us), the format and style is perfectly conducive to making for an amazing show. [PO]
RITES OF SPRING ft. RAE SREMMURD, TY DOLLA $IGN, AMINE
@ Vanderbilt Alumni Lawn | 6:30pm (6pm gates) | $38 (Sat ) $51 (weekend) | All Ages
Get your favorite mannequin challenge poses ready, because the rap duo behind the impossible-not-to-like single “Black Beatles,” Rae Sremmurd, will be headlining the second night of this year’s somewhat scaled down Rites of Spring at Vanderbilt’s Alumni Lawn. The second night of tunes has a heavy hip hop lean, also featuring Ty Dolla $ign (a headliner in his own right), and Portland, OR MC Amine. Word of advice though: get to the park early if you want a good spot, because it’s mostly general admission, and it will fill up fast. [JR]
LOUIE ANDERSON
@ City Winery | 8pm | $25-$30 | All Ages
Though it coincides with the Wild West Comedy Fest, and takes place at City Winery, which has hosted WWCF events in prior years, Louie Anderson‘s performance this weekend is independent from the fest, as far as we can tell. Since WWCF is all individually ticketed anyway though, you might as well consider it yet another strong Saturday option if comedy’s your aim. The sharp standup is best known, perhaps, for creating cult ’90s cartoon series Life with Louie, as well as his more recent Emmy winning, surprisingly earnest portrayal of matriarch Christine Baskets on FX series Baskets, but his live routine is just as worthy of your attention. [PO]
PONCÉ w/ THE SOUL SHAKERS, SWEETTALKER, J. MARCO
@ The High Watt | 8pm | $7-10 | 18+
Local twin brother pop rock duo PONCÉ are ready to release their new EP, AFTERGLOW, and you can be there to help support the buzzworthy bros. Keeping the hometown vibes going, they’ve asked The Soul Shakers, alt rockers Sweettalker, and No Country presents alum J. Marco to fill out the undercard. This stellar lineup is coming at you for only a ten spot, or less, if you purchase in advance. Be there in person to catch Music City talents in their element; killing it on stage. [JR]
PARADISE LOST, SIMMONZ
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm (8pm doors) | $15 | 18+
Here’s one for the Nashville history books. Formed in 1985 as Audience, and later renamed Paradise Lost (they also seem to operate as Paradise Regained, possibly due to another prominent band with the same name), this group released one eponymous LP during their short run decades ago, before breaking up. Playing proggy, expansive, poppy metal at a time when Nashville was utterly dominated by country, it sounds like they were a little ahead of their time. A deluxe re-issue of their debut, bundled with tons of demos and rarities in late 2015, seems to have reigned interest, and spawned some reunion shows. Similarly, progressive metal and hard rock act Simmonz emerged from the Nashville scene of the 1980s, during the pop metal explosion, and enjoyed moderate success until disbanding in 1999. Over the last few years and inspired by some reunion shows, they’ve increasingly become more active, and have reached a whole new generation of fans thanks to the modern ease of musical accessibility. [PO]
GETOUTTATOWN MUSIC FEST ft. THE NEW RESPECTS, THE PRESSURE KIDS, KEEPS, KATIE PRUITT, & MORE
@ 1207 Natchez Rd, Franklin | 3pm | $20 | All Ages
Looking for something different this weekend? Get out of town, and head down to Franklin for low-key upstart music fest Getouttatown this weekend. This chill affair will feature jams from some local blog faves like rising soulful rockers The New Respects, indie rockers The Pressure Kids and Keeps, rising folk popster Katie Pruitt, and more. If you need to escape the madness of Music City this weekend, head to Franklin for some refuge and enjoy a killer lineup at the same time. [MH]
BROTHER MAN w/ ARC & STONES, OGINALII, LAUREL & THE LOVE-IN
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $5 | 21+
Heavy blues rock duo and No Country Presents alum Brother Man are celebrating the release of their brand spanking new EP, Shake and Tremble, with a low dough show at the OG Basement. Only their second record to date, we think these guys show serious potential, with their incredible live show, and fiery energy that takes their minimalist approach to grand new heights. Alt rock trio Arc & Stones, plus some other like minded brethren Oginalii and Laurel & The Love-in, will guarantee you get your five bucks worth… in a big way. Help support the local scene, and don’t spend all your money doing it. [JR]
DAVID GRISMAN SEXTET w/ BILLY STRINGS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $45 | All Ages
Mandolinist David Grisman has been wowing crowds with his incredible mandolin since the early 60s, when he and a young Jerry Garcia started collaborating for solo and Grateful Dead records. He is still going strong at age 72, and tours incessantly. Grisman has been playing music halls ten times the size of 3rd & Lindsley for decades, so this intimate affair is not to be missed for fans of top notch newgrass jams or the Dead. [MH]
SUNDAY
THE BENSON MOVIE INTERRUPTION: WILD WILD WEST ft. DOUG BENSON
@ Regal Cinemas Hollywood 27 | 4:20pm (3:20pm doors) | $20 | 18+
Though lovable stoner comedian Doug Benson is also hosting a live taping of his Doug Loves Movies podcast Saturday at Zanies, we think his Sunday Wild West Comedy Fest event is even more intriguing. A live version of Doug’s The Benson Movie Interruption, sort of his answer to Mystery Science Theater, where he, and usually special guests, crack jokes throughout live screenings of bad or cheesy films, this is situated at the Regal Hollywood 27 (also playing host to the Nashville Film Fest – busy weekend), appropriately set to take place at 4:20, for a live interruption of campy Will Smith misstep Wild Wild West. [PO]
NIGHTLY w/ SAINT MESA, YØUTH
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $10 | All Ages
Though still a relatively new act, local alt pop duo Nightly are fast climbing the ranks of national prominence, lighting up the blogosphere with each new release and their lush, poppy, and layered sound. Since last year’s Honest EP, and a few recent stylish videos, their buzz is at an all-time high, so it’s no surprise that they’ve been tapped to headline Lightning 100’s Nashville Sunday Night this weekend at 3rd & Lindsley. With support from Saint Mesa and YØUTH, this is a gem amidst a stacked weekend. [PO]
JAY PHAROAH
@ Zanies | 7pm (5:30pm doors) & 9:15pm (8:45pm doors) | $25 (7pm / 9:15pm) | 18+
One of our last Wild West Comedy Fest recommendations, Saturday Night Live‘s Jay Pharaoh is best known for his incredible impressions, which, though they definitely factor into his live show, are only a fraction of what makes his standup so great. He’s playing two sets to close things out at Zanies, and, as of writing, there are still tickets available for both! [PO]
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT w/ LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE
@ City Winery| 8pm (6pm doors) | $28-38 | All Ages
Famous humorist and folk singer songwriter Loudon Wainwright III is bringing his ridiculously massive catalog of songs to the intimate confines of City Winery, and one of his famous offspring, Lucy Wainwright Roche is tagging along to lend a hand. Of course, equally worthy of mention are his other musically inclined children, Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright. No word yet on if they’ll be making surprise appearances as well, but when apples that talented fall from a tree, you know it’s a pretty damn good tree. So be there in person to see a living legend you might also recorgnize from popular films like Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Big Fish. [JR]
PAGEANT w/ CHRIS WATTS
@ The Country | 8pm | FREE
We’ve been hip to brother sister folk rockers Pageant for a few years now, and word on the street is that they are gearing up to release a follow up to their well received 2015 record Endless Sun. Head out to midtown hang The Country on Sunday night to wind down your weekend and hear what’s next from Pageant. [MH]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain