It’s the dog days of summer, and that means life slows down a bit as we all seek refuge in air conditioned environs. The summer also means a bit of a downturn in touring acts due to radius clauses of the major festivals. That doesn’t always ring true in Music City though, as we still have plenty of options this weekend to keep your music deprived soul satisfied. Start making plans with our latest installment of This Weekend in Nashville!
FRIDAY
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA
@ Grimey’s | 11pm | FREE | All Ages
As we announced last week, beloved Atlanta indie rock outfit Manchester Orchestra are releasing their highly-anticiapted fifth album, A Black Mile to the Surface, this Friday, and they’ll be making a stop by Grimey’s to celebrate, hosting an 11 a.m. listening party at 12 p.m. free in-store performance. If you’re free around the lunch hour, this couldn’t be a cooler way to get your weekend started right. [PO]
ELEL w/ KAI WELCH
@ Frist Center for the Visual Arts | 6pm | $12 | All Ages
Part of the First Center’s summer concert series, First Fridays, our pals in buzzy local indie pop group ELEL headline along with Kai Welch, for a unique night of tunes and art, including an instillation from Beth Reitmeyer, who will “transform the Turner Courtyard venue into a glimmering, family-friendly immersive arts playground” that guests of all ages are encouraged to interact with and explore. Though general admission is $12, Frist members, students, and folks under 18 get in free, and seniors and military personal get a discount. [PO]
FOOTBALL ETC., SINAI VESSEL, BIG NOTHING, SLOW AND STEADY, NATIVE TONGUE
@ Cafe Coco | 7pm | $8-10 | All Ages
If you’re looking for a DIY, indie punk show, Cafe Coco and Fountainhead Booking have you covered. Houston emo/indie outfit football, etc. head up what is a stellar bill from top to bottom, also featuring a solo set from likeminded NC act Sinai Vessel‘s Caleb Cordes, and Philadelphia’s Big Nothing. Bringing the local support, Slow and Steady and Native Tongue are both well-matched for the lineup, bringing their own melodic, emotional, indie stylings to one of the coolest under the radar happenings of the whole weekend. [PO]
FUTURE GENERATIONS, PRIVATE ISLAND
@ Mercy Lounge | 8pm (7pm doors) | $8-10 | 18+
NYC’s Future Generations and LA’s Private Island are teaming up for a special co-headlining show at The High Watt that will feature the best alt-pop from both coasts. Both buzzworthy bands have some new tunes up their sleeve, so take this opportunity to hear all their latest jams before all your friends. Head here for a full preview. [LL]
J. HUMAN, LUTHI w/ DJ BLACKCIRCLE, SPICE J
@ The Basement East | 8pm (7pm doors) | $10 | 18+
A couple of No Country Presents alumni, J. Human and Luthi, are hosting what promises to be a booty shaking night of music at The BEast, and you can slide in for just ten bones. The pop leaning performers have a some funk in their arrangements, which promises to make this dual headlining gig one of the top bills of the weekend, especially with help from DJ Blackcircle and Spice J. Don’t miss it! [JR]
SCALE MODEL, HARI, THE INSCAPE, TOEHEAD
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5
If you are in need of a stellar local bill that won’t break the bank, look no further than The East Room. Vibey, upstart rockers Hari are gearing up to release their debut EP later this fall, and you can get a taste of what they are all about from their single “Days in the Sun” below. This show also gives you a chance to get familiar with woozy, lo-fi pop outfit Toehead, and spend time with long-time blog faves Scale Model and The Inscape. [MH]
MATTHEW SWEET
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | FREE | All Ages
w/ TOMMY KEENE
@ City Winery | 8pm | $28-35 | All Ages
First gaining acclaim in the ’80s playing guitar for jangle pop outfit Oh-OK and backing Lloyd Cole, Matthew Sweet went on to become a major player in the ’90s power pop revival. Between then and now, he’s never stopped recording, and his latest effort, Tomorrow Forever, dropped earlier this summer. You have two chance to see Sweet this weekend, first at a free Grimey’s in-store, then at City Winery with Tommy Keene, for what promises to be a solid night of tunes. [JR]
HURL YEAH, THE UNSATISFIED, THE DEAD DEADS, NO FUN INTENDED
@ The 5 Spot | 8pm (7pm doors) | 21+
Looking to rock the eff out on the East Side? Rising Nashville rockers The Dead Deads are back in town to bring their high energy live show to what is sure to be a rowdier than usual crowd at The 5 Spot. They are joined by talented Birmingham alt-rockers Hurl Yeah, Chattanooga based hard rock outfit The Unsatisfied, and local mashup rockers No Fun Intended. The Dead Deads stock continues to rise, and the days of seeing them at intimate venues like this appears limited. So, don’t miss out. [MH]
FOREIGNER w/ CHEAP TRICK, JASON BONHAM’S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 7pm | $32-$99 | All Ages
Legacy rockers Foreigner and Cheap Trick have been racking up #1’s since the mid ’70s. They join together for what will essentially amount to a giant singalong at Ascend Amphitheater as they pour through hits like “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “Juke Box Hero,” “Surrender,” “I Want You To Want Me,” “Dream Police,” and more. Equally, and arguably more, exciting, Jason Bonham has spent years honing his chops on the drums to emulate his late father’s groundbreaking insanity on the skins, and, since 2009, he has been carrying on the family name by keeping the music of Led Zeppelin alive for hordes of fans young and old. [MH]
STAGOLEE, SMART OBJECTS, SHUCKSTER, MERCY BELL
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $5 | 21+
Long time Nashville rockers Stagolee and songwriter Mercy Bell are leading a local bill with some new faces that should be on your radar. Smart Objects is a new project of Benjamin A. Harper, who you may remember from Magnolia Sons or his well received solo release, and you’ll be hearing more about them as they begin releasing music later this summer. Shuckster is another new band (with familiar faces) who describes their music as, “Think Nirvana covering Chuck Berry but with prettier vocals.” [MH]
SATURDAY
PHANGS w/ FLEURIE
@ Rooted | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
The solo, synthy, indie pop vehicle of Cardboard Kids frontman Jake Germany, we first introduced you to Phangs last year, and have been hooked the buzzy string of singles he’s released ever since. This weekend, Phangs celebrates the release of his debut album, Get In My Arms, with a performance at Rooted along with local pop favorite Fleurie. Tickets are ONLY available in advance, so be sure you snag yours here if you don’t want to miss out! [PO]
TEDDY & THE ROUGH RIDERS
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | FREE | All Ages
Teddy & The Rough Riders dropped their debut self-titled record last week, and you may remember that we premiered their stellar single “Buckle Bunny” leading up to that release. The boys are promoting the record with a free set at Grimeys on Saturday. Things get going at 5 p.m., and it’ll be Beer:30 for those of age. [MH]
DIRTY FUSS w/ UZI, HOT DAMN BURNETTE
@ The End | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Sweaty rock shows and The End go together like [insert favorite simile here], and they have another one in store on Saturday night. Local blues rockers Dirty Fuss team up with tropical power punk outfit Uzi, and shredders Hot Damn Burnette for the most headbanging fun that you can legally have for $5. [MH]
MATT THOMAS, CALI RODI, QUINN LEWIS
@ The High Watt | 7:30pm (7pm doors) | $5 | 18+
A wallet friendly way to sample some great local pop transplants, The High Watt is hosting hook-laden synthpop singer Matt Thomas, pop rock leaning singer-songwriter Cali Rodi, and soulful, Australian born electro-pop singer Quinn Lewis, all for just $5- even if you’re not familiar with these talented up and comers, the price tag should be enticing enough to check out something new! [PO]
THE ROCKET SUMMER w/ 888
@ Exit/In | 8:30pm (7:30pm doors) | $16-18 | 18+
Another anniversary tour seemingly designed to make late 20-something former emo kids feel super old, Bryce Avary’s The Rocket Summer is out in support of the 10th(!?!) anniversary of pop rock scene classic Do You Feel (the one that spawned “So Much Love”). The band’s third LP, it makes those of us who still think 2003 debut Calendar Days was the best feel even older. 888 support. [PO]
LOGIC w/ JOEY BADA$$, BIG LENBO
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 7:30pm | $29-49 | All Ages
Hip hop heads rejoice, because there are some big names in the game breezing through Music City this weekend. Headlining at Nashville’s best outdoor amphitheater is conscientious rapper Logic, out promoting his latest record, Everybody. Helping out the rapper/songwriter/producer is the Pro Era collective member, and rising star Joey Bada$$, plus newcomer Big Lenbo. For fans of the genre, this is a can’t miss, but it’s a rain or shine show, so prepare accordingly. [JR]
SUNDAY
SLAYER w/ LAMB OF GOD, BEHEMOTH
@ Nashville Municipal Auditorium | 7pm | $35-61.50 | All Ages
It’s only been a year since thrash metal pioneers Slayer last played Nashville, but, after a more than 15 year gap before that, we certainly won’t say no to a return visit so soon. Still out in support of brutal 2015 12th album Repentless, Slayer are the latest “Big Four” metal act to hit Music City in recent years, and part of a great wave of national metal making their way more often to Nashville (of the titans of the scene, only Metallica have been skipping us for the better part of the last decade). Richmond groove metal modern legends Lamb of God support, while long-running Polish extreme metal outfit Behemoth kick things off- tickets are still available, metalheads! [PO]
REVERENDS, THE ASCENT OF EVEREST, FUTURE DZ
@ The Cobra | 9pm | $5 | 21+
After a short summer break, the monthly Sunday Psych Night series, hosted by the Nashville Psych Alliance, returns to The Cobra! This installment is headed up by Atlanta’s Reverends, whose shoegaze-y, indie infused psych rock sound is genre-bending and intriguing. Local support comes from likeminded acts The Ascent of Everst and Future DZ, both of whom we can solidly vouch for, and for just $5, it’s a hell of a cool way to end your weekend. [PO]
HA HA TONKA w/ FOREST FIRE GOSPEL CHOIR
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $10 | All Ages
Southern flavored indie rockers Ha Ha Tonka are headlining Lightning 100’s Nashville Sunday Night to help promote their newest record, Heart-Shaped Mountain, and you can be there in the flesh, prolonging your weekend, for just a ten spot. Look for buzzworthy local roots rockers Forest Fire Gospel Choir to kick off the night of awesome tunage. Also worthy of note, if you can’t make it to the show, or you’re just too broke, both performances will be broadcast live on the radio, so you literally have no excuse to miss out on one of the top shows of Sunday night. [JR]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[LL] Lorie Liebig
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain