TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | June 9-11

There are two things on our mind this weekend: Bonnaroo and hockey. But, for those of you not making the trek down to the farm, avoiding the craziness (and uninspired country-ness) of CMA Fest, and/or looking to fill your time between Stanley Cup playoff games, there are still a handful of great live music options happening around town!  If you are going to ‘Roo and need some help with last-minute planning, we’ve got you cover here– otherwise, check out This Weekend in Nashville below!

FRIDAY

NINE POUND HAMMER w/ VOODOO ECONOMICS
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $7-10 | 21+

Formed more than three decades ago in Kentucky, punk outfit Nine Pound Hammer were one of the first groups to fuse the hardcore of their day with more country, western motifs, helping pave the way for a grungier, more blue collar kind of cowpunk. Though they initially disbanded 20 years ago, paving the way for guitarist Blaine Cartwright to form successful Atlanta-based project Nashville Pussy, they’ve steadily become more active again over the last decade, releasing new music and finding crossover success working with subversive animation studio Adult Swim. The band return to Nashville this weekend with Voodoo Economics, in The Basement no less, offering side of country influence you definitely won’t find at CMA. [PO]

FETISH, SUBSTANCE, ROMAN POLANSKI’S BABY, SHILL
@ Drkmttr | 9pm (8 doors) | $7 | All Ages

If you’re looking to escape the ridiculous, country friend pomp of CMA Fest, or not feeling the lineup or festival ticket price for Bonnaroo, retreating to a wallet-friendly, all ages, communal event at Drkmttr might be just the perfect antidote. Friday night, they’ll host two punk bands from Texas- Fetish and Substance– and the lineup gets even more unbeatable with local garage punks Roman Polanksi’s Baby and loud, fast newcomers SHILL. If legit underground punk in a true DIY space is what you need this weekend, this is the show for you. [PO]

THE SECRET SISTERS
@ Grimey’s | 6pm | FREE | All Ages

Muscle Shoals, AL native siblings Laura and Lydia Rogers comprise the excellent folk/country flavored singing songwriting duo called The Secret Sisters. They come from a very musical family, their grandfather and his brothers forged a group called The Happy Valley Boys, and they learned to harmonize singing in their church choir growing up. Fast forward to Friday, when the girls will be playing a free in-store at Grimey’s to promote their new record, You Don’t Own Me Anymore, which drops on the same day! Don’t miss this chance to catch some raising stars in an intimate setting … for FREE. [JR]

MUSICIANS CORNER: JIM LAUDERDALE, CALE TYSON, LIZ COOPER & THE STAMPEDE, EMILY EARLE, ROGER JAEGAR
@ Centennial Park | 5pm | FREE | All Ages

Headlining this week’s Acoustic Friday at Centennial Park’s Musicians Corner is multi-Grammy award winning country/bluegrass singer songwriter Jim Lauderdale. Over the course of his prolific career, he’s released 27 studio albums, and collaborated with artists ranging from George Strait to Elvis Costello. The “songwriter’s songwriter” will be accompanied by soul flavored country performer Cale Tyson, an acoustic version of local psych/jam outfit Liz Cooper & The Stampede, and more! It’s all ages, and it’s all free, so bring the family. Being an “adult” is no excuse to miss awesome live music. [JR]

PHENIX, HER, LIONS AFTER DARK
@ The End | 7pm | $10

Billed “Girls Gone Loud,” this show at The End brings together three fantastic performers who also happen to be ladies, for yet another cool weekend option. Nashville’s own Phenix has been picking up steam lately with her soulful, poppy sound, while New York native HER adopt an eclectic and intense party-starting sound. Local indie rockers Lions After Dark round it out, and the whole stellar bill will set you back just $10! [PO]

TUXEDO w/ BOULEVARDS
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $20 | 18+

If you are looking for the official cowboy hat free dance party of the weekend, then you should look no further than Exit/In where superstar duo Tuxedo will force you into motion.  Featuring acclaimed producer and singer Mayer Hawthorne and super producer Jake One (Drake, Future, The Weeknd, De La Soul), Tuxedo are following up the success of their #1 self-titled debut with the aptly titled Tuxedo II, and it is living up to they hype, as you can hear below.  They will be joined by No Country certified R&B funk outfit Boulevards for what is sure to be a sweat induced, all-night get down that will be reminiscent to what you would have been doing at Bonnaroo anyway.  [MH]

PAUL SHAFFER & THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS BAND ft. VALERIE SIMPSON
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 8pm (7pm doors) | $27-170 | All Ages

If you are going to be downtown in the CMA madness, but want to sneak away for something a little more unique, grab tickets before it is too late to catch Paul Shaffer & The World’s Most Dangerous Band headlining the Ryman Auditorium.  The name may sound familiar as the house band from David Letterman’s 30+ years on the air, but they’ve also released three studio records since.  Their most recent self-titled release features local Hootie turned country crooner Darius Rucker, and an appearance from the overbooked and beloved singer seems inevitable.  It’s not your traditional CMA event, but you probably wouldn’t hear about it from us if it was. [MH]

SATURDAY

DREAM WAVE, CRUMB, LANCE BANGS, JONVIE
@ Drkmttr | 8pm | $7 | All Ages

Another great DIY happening at Drkmttr, and a great alternative to (and polar opposite of) CMA and Bonnaroo, dreamy, poppy local indie outfit Dream Wave and newcomers Jonvie perform along with genre-bending Boston outfit Crumb and Virginia alt rockers Lance Bangs, all bringing interesting, pleasant, and quality indie and alternative rock and pop for a low $7 cover. [PO]

MUSICIANS CORNER: CHARLES “WIGG” WALKER, PAUL MCDONALD, AIRPARK, MOLLY PARDEN, & MORE
@ Centennial Park | 1:30pm (12:30pm gates) | FREE | All Ages

Keeping the jams coming in the headlining spot on the second night of the free summer concert series is local r&b/soul legend Charles “Wigg” Walker. Over his storied career, Wigg has worked with a variable who’s who from the golden age of r&b. During his time in the J.C. Davis Band, he toured the country opening for performers like  James Brown, Etta James, Otis Redding, and Sam Cook. He also had a distinguished run fronting his own band, Little Charles and the Sidewinders, before later becoming a staff writer for Motown Records. Still going strong into his nearly six decade career, Mr. Walker will be accompanied by East Nashville based rocker Paul McDonald, resident rock two-piece Airpark, and more! It’s all day affair, but it winds down early if you want to make plans for after, so you can get the most possible awesome out of your weekend. [JR]

PÅRTICLE KID
@ Grimey’s | 4pm | FREE | All Ages

Bringing his self described “Folk-a-delic Forest-Funk Space-Punk” sounds to Grimey’s for a FREE  in-store performance, LA based Pårticle Kid is an eclectic talent you should have in your life, if you don’t already. His self-titled debut dropped earlier this year, and it’s worth some heavy play in daily music rotations. You can sample it below, and we highly recommend seeing him for free while you can, because there’s only bigger stages and higher ticket prices in his future. [JR]

NOTAROO ft. THE CLOVER CLUB, BLACK MARKET RESEARCH, WOOLY MAMAS, MILK PEOPLE, DANIEL DONATO, STEALING OCEANS, RACHEL PEARL, JONATHAN STOYE, KATIE DUNLAP, ETHAN SAMUEL BROWN
@ Exit/In | 7:30pm (7pm doors) | $5-7 | 18+

Continuing the anti-CMA trend, Nashville’s original rock venue is hosting a shred filled evening on Saturday dubbed Notaroo.  This one features the amped up riffs of The Clover Club, heavy melodic rockers Wooly Mamas, alt rockers Black Market Research, poppy melodic rockers Milk People, and tons more.  If you are feeling the need to see some local music as a sea of tourists take over your town, this is your best bet. [MH]

SUPER T AND THE TYRONE SMITH REVUE
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 9:30pm (9pm doors) | $10 | All Ages

At the epicenter of a world full of thousands, upon thousands of cover bands … there is nothing quite like Super T and The Tyrone Smith Revue. Dubbing themselves the “#1 dance and show band in the world,” from classic rock to funky soul, Super T and his band do not disappoint! Decked out in his trademark Superman suite (except it’s a T on his chest, of course), Tyrone is a band leader for the ages, and despite being hard at work for over 35 years, he hasn’t lost a step. You’ve never seen these guys do their thing live, it truly is a sight to behold. Cough up the ten spot, and have a great time shaking your ass to some of the best songs ever recorded performed by a caped superhero. [JR]

SUNDAY

MICHAEL KIWANUKA w/ CLOVES
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

As we told you about in detail ahead of his Bonnaroo performance this weekend, English folk and soul singer Michael Kiwanuka packs a powerful, emotional punch and enough raw talent to draw comparisons to all time greats like Bob Dylan and Otis Redding. With so much recent buzz, it’s no surprise that this 3rd and Lindsely outing, our top pick for Sunday, sold out in advance, but let’s be real, odds are you’ll be nervously watching the Press in Game 6 anyway, right? [PO]

[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain