TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | July 14 – 16

It’s a weekend of nearby festivals, with Lousiville’s Forecastle Fest and Birmingham’s Sloss Fest dominating a lot of the musical attention around town, but there are also a ton of great local shows for those sticking around Nashville.  We have a couple of killer sets at a local brewery, a few record release parties, and a handful of benefits that are all worth your time, with artists and price points to fit just about any  taste and budget.  Head below to make your weekend plans with this week’s edition of TWiN.

FRIDAY

DIARRHEA PLANET w/ CRAIG BROWN BAND
@ Little Harpeth Brewing | 8pm | FREE | 21+

What’s better than a chance to see party punk guitar army Diarrhea Planet, one of the most epic local bands of all time, in person? A chance to see them for free! Thanks to the fine folks at Premiere Guitar Magazine and Little Harpeth, you can do just that this weekend, along with a performance from Craig Brown Band. If you’re not festival bound, this show is a must to get your weekend started right! [PO]

SUN SEEKER w/ LIZA ANNE
@ Third Man Records | 8pm (7pm doors) | $10-12 | All Ages

We’ve already given you a full interview with Sun Seeker, along with a preview of their debut EP release show Friday at Third Man Records’ Blue Room. We’ve also already had a chance to digest the record, entitled Biddeford, and we assure you it is top notch and perfect for summer listening, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Hear it for yourself Friday, and get to the venue on time to also enjoy local indie favorite Liza Anne. [JR]

CAPTAIN WE’RE SINKING, SECRET STUFF, EMBRACER, WEST MEANS HOME
@ Cafe Coco | 7pm | $8-10 | All Ages

Cafe Coco has quickly become the go-to spot for punk shows that have outgrown living rooms and basements, and with Pennsylvania indie punks Captain, We’re Sinking, there’s yet another great reason to visit the all ages space yet again this weekend. Local emo/indie punks Secret Stuff, West Virginia indie/alt act Embracer, and Alabama alt/punks West Means Home round out what’ll be a stacked lineup for heartfelt, under the radar punk. [PO]

HR_LEXY, TENNESSEE MUSCLE CANDY, THE SHADOW TONES, ARIEL BUI
@ The High Watt | 8pm (7pm doors) | $5 | 18+

It’s pretty awesome to see Nashville come together to help one of their own, and this example has been amazingly demonstrated by the outpouring of love that the music scene has shown Those Darlins’ Jessi Zazu, who has been fighting cancer for the past few months.  There are a number of shows around town in support that have already sold out, but, if you want a chance to give back, head to The High Watt on Friday night.  All proceeds of this show will go directly to Jessi, and for only $5 entry, you’ll get a chance to rock out with HR_Lexy, Tennessee Muscle Candy, The Shadow Tones, and Ariel Bui, along with a art vendors, light shows, poetry, and a photo booth. [MH]

JUSTIN KALK, THE COSMIC CARNIVAL, STEP SISTERS, THE MINKS
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 18+

Local guitar virtuoso Justin Kalk has been tearing up the Nashville scene, and beyond, for a while now with his unbelievable mastery.  He returns for an intimate performance in support of his 2017 release Volcano at The East Room this weekend, in what is sure to be a test for the structural integrity of the building.  Kalk is joined by Netherlands based folksters The Cosmic Carnival, local indie rockers Step Sisters, and rising outfit The Minks.  Need to get your fill on a budget?  Here’s your chance. [MH]

THE EMO BAND
@ The Basement East | 9pm (8pm doors) | $8-10 | 18+

Presented by our pals Nashville Is The Reason, Pittsburgh’s The Emo Band are an emo night type experience like no other. Rather than a nostalgic DJ set, like most emo nights have adopted, or even an emo themed traditional karaoke, this is a full, live band experience where YOU can sing your favorite emo and pop punk songs live and on stage with a real, full backing band. Judging by the song list alone, we can tell this is going to be a blast. [PO]

THE DEACONS, MARY RICHARD
@ Fond Object (Downtown) | 7pm | $5 | All Ages

Rising rockers The Deacons have been making waves in the local scene with their no holds barred, throwback rock that harkens to bands like Led Zeppelin or Motörhead, which is a nice change of pace for the local scene.  They are playing a low dough show this weekend at Fond Object’s 4th Avenue location on Friday night along with recent pop transplant Mary Richard.  If you want a taste of what’s next in the local scene, this is a good stop to get your weekend started. [MH]

HILLBILLY CASINO w/ MCKINLEY JAMES, EL ESCAPADO
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $8 | 18+

Local psychobilly rockers Hillybilly Casino are poised to release their new record, Red White & Bruised, and you can be there to help support. Based on what we’ve heard from the collective before, this promises to be one of the rowdier shows of the entire weekend, so if you’re down to thrash, and bang your head, this is the gig for you. Look for McKinley James and El Escapado to kick out the jams in the warmup spots, and keep in mind you get all this awesome for just eight bones. [JR]

DAVID BLAINE
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 8pm (7pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

If you were hoping to catch master illusionist David Blaine at the Mother Church this Friday, and you don’t already have tickets, we’re sorry to inform you that this puppy has sold out. Known the world over for his incredible feets of  street performance magic, Blaine will be shocking and amazing the crowd here in Nashville, but only if you’re on of the lucky ones with a seat. There’s always the chance he might be wondering around Broadway before or after the show, blowing minds with his tricks, but we wouldn’t count on it. Next time, don’t hesitate for a second buying tickets to see possibly the greatest living magician in person. [JR]

SATURDAY

TOWER DEFENSE, CRACK MAMMOTH, CLOUDMOUTH, FRNDS
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5

It doesn’t get much better than a quality, affordable, local DIY show, and that’s exactly what you’ll find Saturday night at The East Room. Pop-tinged post-punk outfit Tower Defense top the lineup, along with indie/garage rockers Crack Mammoth, art folk duo Cloudmouth (comprised of two members of Crack Mammoth), and indie punk newcomers FRNDS. This is a great primer if you want to dive deeper into the local indie scene. [PO]

GAZM, CATFLAPS, SHADRAQ
@ Drkmttr | 9pm (8pm doors) | $7 | All Ages

Another solid DIY option, Montreal’s GAZM play the type of frenetic, uncontainable hardcore best experienced in a cozy DIY space like Drkmttr. If obscure, touring punk alone isn’t enough to hook you, solid local support comes from feminist punks Catflaps and genre-bending, hardcore leaning outfit Shadraq. All that for just $7; you can’t beat it. [PO]

TWAIN w/ ERIN RAE AND THE MEANWHILES, CALE TYSON
@ Fond Object (Riverside) | 7pm | $5 | All Ages

Oft collaborator with blog faves like Langhorne Slim and Scott McMiken (Dr. Dog), Twain perform folk styled songs that soar in the songwriting abilities, as you can hear in their touchingly raw EP Alternator, which released late last year.  This intimate backyard show will also serve as a homecoming from the über talented Erin Rae & The Meanwhiles, and Cale Tyson was just added to kick things off.  If you are looking for a low key Saturday hang, this BYOB shindig is probably your perfect event. [MH]

GODMAKER w/ HYBORIAN, SEASON OF ARROWS, FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS
@ The End | 9pm (8pm doors) | $8

Sludge/doom metal group Godmaker describe themselves as “the kind of genre bending, earsplitting, swingy, sludgy, doomy, dynamic, oddly-timed, LOUD music you’d expect from a weird mix of Kansas and NYC Lifers,” and that about sums up their weird, bombastic, intense sound perfectly. Along with Hyborian, Season of Arrows, and Friendship Commanders, you won’t find a better weekend show if metal is what you’re after, at a price that won’t break the bank. [PO]

PETER BRADLEY ADAMS, KELSEY KOPECKY, DIRTY DOLLHOUSE
@ Little Harpeth Brewing | 7pm | $12-14

Presented by BANDADE, a charity that is curating their Bandade Brewery Tour in support on cancer research, Little Harpeth Breweing is set to keep the incredible bills going on Saturday when they host badass local songwriter Peter Bradley Adams, whose latest Americana release, A Face Like Mine, continues to show a maturity in the artist’s rise.  He’ll be joined by Kelsey Kopecky, who you may know from her other project Kopecky, has just released her first solo album, The Babysitter Worktapes, and it will be a good chance to put ears on her take on poppy indie rock.  Folk pop outfit Dirty Dollhouse kick things off for what should be a kickass good time for a good cause, surrounded by good beer. [MH]

SUNDAY

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS w/ NATALIE PRASS
@ Exit/In | 8pm (7pm doors) | $31 | 18+

Celebrating their seventh album (and first without the contributions of key member Dan Bejar), Whiteout Conditions, long-running, Canadian indie rock supergroup The New Pornographers return to Nashville this weekend for one of the more intimate Music City outings they’ve played in years. The legendary group are an incredible live experience, and with support from rising indie pop singer Natalie Prass, a longtime favorite and former Nashvillian who alone would be worth the price of admission, this feels like one of the weekend’s best happenings. [PO]

THE PALMS w/ THE DISTRICTS
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $10 | All Ages

Not to be confused with the post-metal supergroup of the same name (we briefly thought Chino Moreno was coming to town), eclectic LA psych pop duo The Palms are an impressive rising talent in their own right, their new EP, Sway, a dreamy, retro exploration in blurring genre lines. Along with The Districts, they help close out the weekend at Lightning 100’s Nashville Sunday Night, which will also be broadcast on the radio- though you’ll definitely want to see this buzzy group in person. [PO]

HANS ZIMMER
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 7pm | $30-115 | All Ages

One of the most prolific, beloved, and recognizable film composers of the last several decades (only John Williams, perhaps, carries more name recognition), German-born, Los Angeles based multi-faceted talent Hans Zimmer rose to prominence after scoring 1988’s Rain Man, and in the years since has been responsible for everything from  The Dark Knight to Interstellar to Pirates of the Caribbean, Transformers, The Lion King, Gladiator, 12 Years a Slave, and over 100 more films. In recent years, he’s been perfecting a live show, which combines his classical roots and recognizable work with contemporary pop, rock, and electronic music, splitting shows into half orchestral and half re-imagined, contemporary, guest-filled affairs. This is an especially good pick for movie buffs, or music fans looking for an easy point of entry to the orchestral world. [PO]

KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
@ Schermerhorn Symphony Center | 7:30pm | $39-99 | All Ages

Funky disco pioneers KC & The Sunshine Band are making an appearance in Music City to play the beautiful confines of the Schermerhorn Center, and you can be there! With a string of instantly recognizable hits like “That’s The Way I Like It,” “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,” and “I’m Your Boogieman,” it’s a gurantee everyone in attendance with be dancing and grooving to the rhythms. Although the lineup has changed over the years, the songs remianed the same, so grab a ticket, do a little dance, maybe make a little love, and get down Sunday night! [JR]

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