TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | Oct. 27-29

Halloween may fall on Tuesday, but this weekend is your defacto party.  There are tons of spooky shows going on for you to celebrate with not only your favorite local music, but it’s also packed with top notch touring bands, including an insane Sunday that features the beginning of the sold out Bon Iver run at The Ryman, The Weeknd wrapping up the weekend at Bridgestone, and Macklemore at War Memorial.  Don’t fret if that’s not your scene though, there are plenty of other scary good shows happening to keep you in the festive spirit this weekend, ranging from legends playing solo to epic cover supergroups to local and national psych rock, punk, pop, jam, experimental rock, soul, hip hop, and so much more.  Find out the best fit for you in this week’s edition of TWiN.

FRIDAY

WPC (Billy Corgan)
@ CMA Theater | 8pm (7pm doors) | $49.50-75 | All Ages

Most famously known as Billy Corgan, now going by WPC (a.k.a. William Patrick Corgan), and best known for fronting seminal ’90s alt rock outfit Smashing Pumpkins, for as prolific an artist as he’s been in recent years, Corgan has only released two formal solo albums, 2005’s electro and shoegaze infused TheFutureEmbrace and recent sophomore effort, Ogilala. With production from Rick Rubin, the new record takes on a surprising folk bent, and with its intimate, lean charm, makes one of the strongest releases from any of Corgan’s projects in several years. On a theater tour in support, Billy will play the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater this Friday in support (which, this writer will readily admit he didn’t even know existed), delivering both a set of new tunes and revisiting career-spanning classic. Whether a Pumpkins diehard or simply curious about Corgan’s solo output, this is a pretty unique and cool way to see him and a top weekend bet. [PO]

SUP. w/ UNCLE KNUCKLE, SMART OBJECTS, THE BY GODS
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $7-10 | 18+

As we told you earlier this year, SUP. is the new solo outlet of Moseley’s Suzie Chism. While we’re bummed to see Moseley go dormant before their long in the works debut LP ever managed to materialize, with SUP., Chism picks up right where that band left off, exploring a more personal, pop-infused, modern indie meets ’90s alt rock fluenced sound, in the vein of No Doubt and Hole. Adding to the local Halloween festivities, the group will headline a party at The High Watt, with a stacked out and exciting local rock bill of Uncle Knuckle, Smart Objects, and The By Gods– all some of our absolute favorites. There’s a lot going on, but if good music is the priority and you want local and inexpensive, this is a solid bet. [PO]

LOUDER THAN BOMBS w/ SHADOW HORSE
@ The Basement East | 7pm | $8-10 | 18+

There are almost certainly other Smiths cover bands operating under the moniker Louder Than Bombs (named for the group’s famed 1987 compilation), but this particular act is something of a local punk and emo supergroup, who formed initially for a Valentine’s Day party, also at The Basement East. Featuring Anthony Raneri and Jack O’Shea of Bayside, Arun Bali and Rodrigo Palma of Saves The Day, and Damon Atkinson of Braid and Hey Mercedes, they perfectly captured the spirit of England’s preeminent ’80s alt/post-punk group last time, and we’re thrilled that they’ve decided to give it another go, just in time for Halloween. Presented by our friends Nashville Is The Reason, who’ll also be DJing throughout the night, expect a Misfits and Danzig cover set from Shadow Horse to kick things off. [PO]

GRAILS w/ JASON LOEWENSTEIN, HOLY MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVERS
@ The End | 8pm (7pm doors) | $12-14 | 18+

Portland instrumental, experimental post-rockers Grails have been going strong for nearly two decades, pushing the boundaries of their sound and cultivating an underground following, before finding broader critical acclaim over the past several years. Earlier this year, they dropped Chalice Hymnal, their long-awaited followup to 2011’s Deep Politics, and perhaps the strongest, most cohesive effort of their career to date. Along with Jason Lowenstein (of Sebadoh) and Holy Mountain Top Removers, the band return to Music City this weekend, offering a chance to see an intimate, hypnotic, vibed out show for those not looking for anything particularly Halloween-themed. [PO]

ALEX NAPPING w/ SAD BAXTER, EMILY CLEMENT
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $7-10 | 21+

Hailing from Austin and New York, indie popsters Alex Napping released their debut full-length, Mise En Place, earlier this year. Channeling  a personal, earnest writing style through a charming and accessible indie lens, the buzzy group should absolutely be on your radar if they’re not already, and it’s a bit of a shame they’re competing with all of the Halloween happenings, because this Basement stop definitely deserves a second look. Local faves Sad Baxter feel especially well suited to support, and Emily Clement opens things up. [PO]

TAYLS, SPACEFACE, SUBNOVAS, TWEN
@ The East Room | 9pm (8pm doors) | $10 | 18+

Artistically expressive psych popster Talys earned top billing at a very special/unique gig this Friday. It’s Cold Lunch Recordings’ Dead Party at The East Room, and the headliner will be playing a all Gorillaz cover set, with help from Memphis psychedelic rockers Spaceface (featuring Jake Ingalls of the Flaming Lips), plus local favorites Subnovas, and TWEN. Skeleton, zombie or other undead costumes are encouraged for this pre-Halloween throwdown, and you get all that awesome for just $10! So break out your cape and fangs, or whatever else you have planned, and get your butt to The East Room. [JR]

MOON TAXI w/ TOO MANY ZOOZ
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 8pm (7pm doors) | $30-35 | All Ages

On the heels of infectious and uplifting new single “Two High,” which has been lighting up the blogosphere for months, breakout local alt rockers Moon Taxi announced back in the summer that their lengthy fall tour would include not one, but two nights at The Ryman Auditorium, this Friday and Saturday, with Too Many Zooz. Hard at work on their followup to 2015’s Daybreaker, the band are sounding as anthemic and arena primed as ever, and after years of constant touring, festival stops, late night television appearances, and more, they’re a refined, unstoppable live force who’ve earned a growing, rabid following. A site favorite since their (and our) earliest days, we couldn’t be more excited to see the group return to the Mother Church, where they made their headlining debut last year, for two shows. Tickets are still available as of writing, but likely won’t last. [PO]

HIGHLY SUSPECT w/ DJ REDBEES, BONES
@ Marathon Music Works | 9pm (7:30pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

It’s been a crazy couple of years for Brooklyn hard rock trio Highly Suspect, whose 2015 debut, Mister Asylum, not only earned a huge following at rapid speed, but also nabbed the band two Grammy nominations, a trend that continued with last year’s followup, The Boy Who Died Wolf. Thanks to the frenetic and bombastic live presence of frontman Johnny Stevens, the band have swiftly earned an wild and excellent reputation, and tour after tour seem to double the size of their space and sell each and every room out along the way. It’s no surprise that their biggest Nashville headliner yet, at Marathon Music Works, also sold out in advance, but if you got tickets in time, you’re in for a killer rock show! [PO]

PONCÉ
@ Soulshine Pizza | 7pm | FREE | All Ages

Local pop doused twins Poncé have been flooding the airwaves of our friends at Lightning 100 this week, and surely some of you have been digging into their debut EP, Afterglow, that released earlier this year.  If you haven’t gotten hip, start your jam packed weekend with a free gig at Soulshine to get hip to their shimmering pop and throwback rock sounds. [MH]

THE CRYSTAL METHOD w/ WILSDORF
@ Cannery Ballroom | 9pm (8pm doors) | $20-25 | 18+

Pioneers of the big beat subgenre of electronic dance music that exploded onto the scene in 1990s and early 200os, The Crystal Method, along with other big names in big beat like The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, were the so first artists to push electronic dance music to the forefront of popular culture, well before the existence of dub step. Originally a duo comprised of Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland, The Crystal Method is now just a solo vehicle for Kirkland, after Jordan announced his retirement form music earlier this year. He’ll be blasting all the hits from The Crystal Method’s catalog, with help from like minded local Wilsdorf in the warmup spot, showing everyone he’s still got the recipe to make the audiences to  move their feet. [JR]

ERIN RAE
@ Third Man Records | 5pm | FREE | All Ages

Enjoy local pop folk performer Erin Rae in the cozy confines of Third Man Records for free this Friday, and bring whom ever you’d like, because it is an all ages gig. She accompanies her emotive songwriting with beautifully melodic fingerpicking on her acoustic guitar that is sure to send shivers of pure joy down your spine. We will warn you to get their a little early though, because it is not a huge space, and spots will fill up quickly. [JR]

BACKUP PLANET w/ BLACK CAT SYLVESTER, THE SOUTHERN BELLES
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $12-15 | 18+

Local jam-influenced rockers Backup Planet have been staples around town for the past few years, and have become the go-to after party band for some of the wildest nights of music.  Well, Friday is one of those nights in Nashville, and Backup Planet promise to go late.  If you want to make a full night of it, you should head down early for the groovy synth stylings of talented turntablist Black Cat Sylvester, and psych shredders The Southern Belles. [MH]

SATURDAY

*REPEAT REPEAT w/ PHANGS
@ The Crying Wolf | 11pm | FREE | 21+

Returning for their fourth year of late night Halloween shows, local candy surf rockers and blog faves *repeat repeat are taking over The Crying Wolf for “Howloween.” If you haven’t gotten hip to this fast-rising Nashville band yet, you should dig into their incredible sophomore LP Floral Canyon, which just dropped on Dangerbird Records, before you head over there.  They go on at midnight, but you should definitely sneak in early to get hip to the ’90s nostalgic, dream pop of Phangs.  Total bonus… this one starts late, and is the perfect spot to end your night for FREE!  [MH]

MOON TAXI w/ TOO MANY ZOOZ
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 8pm (7pm doors) | $30-35 | All Ages

See above for more about Moon Taxi‘s triumphant and highly-anticipated return to The Ryman, for a two-night residency with Too Many Zooz. While a handful of tickets are available as of writing, Saturday looks likely to sell out first, and Friday likely won’t be far behind it- don’t snooze! [PO]

HERE COME THE MUMMIES w/ DJ JOHNY JACKSON
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm (7pm doors) | $32 | All Ages

Get ready to get spooky with the best undead band in the land; Nashville based Halloween favorites Here Come The Mummies. What surely started as a seasonal joke, or something goofy a group of local musician friends did for kicks in the early ’00s, has proven to not just have legs, but kick ass on a musical level. Now, with the always rotating lineup of up to eleven fully wrapped musicians, including some rumored big names (none of which have ever been unmasked), kicking out funk, rock, and blues flavored jams, it’s no laughing matter, as they tour the nation is full mummy regalia winter, spring, summer or fall. DJ Johnny Jackson will get the party started for what promises to be one of the best all ages Halloween through downs of the entire weekend. Costumes are encourage! [JR]

HARI, LAWNDRY, ONLY, Z
@ The Cobra | 8pm | 21+

Local DIY space Queen Ave is still fighting to make the necessary fire and ADA compliance adjustments needed to reopen and start hosting shows again.  They’ve been hard at work after the crackdown on DIY spaces around town following the tragic Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, CA, and we’re hoping they are close to reopening their east side doors.  They are hosting a fundraiser on Saturday at The Cobra featuring performances by rising dreamy rock outfit Hari, indie rockers Lawndry, garage leaning outfit Only, and a new project, Z, from Mom & Dad’s Zach Prosser.  If you are going to the show, we recommend that you throw down a healthy donation for the space.  If you can’t make it to the show, you can also donate to their GoFundMe page. [MH]

ROCKTOBERFEST: PAUL BURCH, ORNAMENT, KYSHONA, WESTERN MEDICATION, ALLEN THOMPSON, QUEENS OF NOISE
@ The Basement + Grimey’s | 11am (10:15am doors) | $5+ | All Ages

Grimey’s and The Basement will host a daytime Rocktoberfest benefit for WXNA 101.5 FM on Saturday, giving a you a chance to catch some early tunes before you hit a party or another show later in the day, while helping out one of the best independent radio stations in town in the process. With DJ sets in Grimey’s beginning at 10:15 a.m., and music in The Basement starting at 11, plus kids activities  in the belfry and a 1:30 p.m. costume contest in The Basement, a $5 minimum suggest donation gets you an eclectic slate of local favorites Paul Burch, Ornament, Kyshona, Western Medication, Allen Thompson, and Queen of Noise. [PO]

NAAL, HAYLEY HIRT, JORDAN CHISM
@ Lady Charlotte House | 6pm | Free

If a free, under the radar, DIY show is more your speed, NAAL, the surrealist, drone/rock project of Chicago native Dave Mantel, heads up a pretty rad house show at Lady Charlotte House. Local songwriter Hayley Ann Hirt and folky psych pop singer Jordan Chism round things out, for a cool and low-key Saturday show. [PO]

THE GRIPSWEATS ft. DeROBERT (of DeRobert and The Half Truths), ALANNA ROYALE, KEITH “REMSTEELE” PROFFITT, ARIEL HILL (of AWAS), SAMMY BARRETT, AJ EASON (of AJ and The Jiggawatts)
@ The Cobra | 7pm | $10 | 21+

The Cobra is keeping their Halloweek celebration going this Saturday, with help from resident soul/funk collective The Gripsweats, and a slew of local big name guest singers. Some great covers are to be expected, as well as some originals from the all the musicians involved. Word is there will also be prizes given out for the best costumes, so don’t miss it, and don’t forget to dress up! The Halloween hijinks at The Cobra won’t end this weekend however, so after you party there this Saturday, check their Facebook for more details on festivities being held Halloween night. [JR]

SUNDAY

BON IVER w/ SWAMP DOGG
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 7:30pm (6:30pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

Bon Iver kick off the first night of their highly anticipated return to Music City.  It’s the first time they’ve been in Nashville since they last played The Ryman in 2011, and, given that tickets for both nights sold out in a matter of hours, it’s clear that we aren’t the only ones excited.  Equally exciting, legendary songwriter and groove maker Swamp Dogg is set to kick off both nights.  Your odds of scoring a ticket to this one may seem slim, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. [MH]

THE WEEKND w/ GUCCI MANE, NAV
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7:30pm (6:30pm doors) | $36.50-121.25 | All Ages

At a career high after last year’s massive Starboy, alt r&b singer The Weeknd impressed with a fun, emotional, huge closing set at this year’s Bonnaroo, and we have no doubt he’ll recapture that magic with his biggest Music City headliner to date, after previously supporting Justin Timberlake at Bridgestone in 2013, and, incredibly, playing Marathon Music Works a year prior. Though he rose to cult fame and critical acclaim with more niche, experimental, and brooding mixtapes a few years back, in recent years The Weeknd has figured out how to funnel alt r&b stylings into mainstream success, and Starboy was without a doubt one on last year’s best records. Gucci Mane and Nav sweeten the deal, for one epic end to the weekend (no pun intended). [PO]

MACKLEMORE w/ TRAVIS AND XP, ERIC NALLY
@ War Memorial Auditorium | 8pm | $36-42 | All Ages

While we’d forgive you if you thought Macklemore was a solo artist already, his producer and the other half of the duo that made him famous in recent years, Ryan Lewis, deserves just as much cred. However, after the pair’s second LP, This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, dropped last year, the rapper and more recognizable half opted to follow it up with a true solo LP, something he hasn’t done since 2005. Dubbed Gemini, the latest is a pretty fun and different side of Macklemore, and he’s taking it on the road (surely with some of his Ryan Lewis-era cuts as well), hitting Nashville this weekend for a small show, by Macklemore standards, at War Memorial Auditorium with Travis and XP and former Foxy Shazam frontman Eric Nally. At this point, you really can’t go wrong with finding an epic way to end the weekend. [PO]

PATTI LABELLE
@ Schermerhorn Symphony Center| 7:30pm | $59-149 | All Ages

With a career spanning more than 50 years and 50 million album sales, soul and r&b legend Patti LaBelle is a true American icon. The award winning singer’s influence on modern r&b is immeasurable, and with her latest, Bel Hommage, she’s experimenting with jazz for the first time, proving she can still flex her musical range. We really shouldn’t have to make the case why you should check out a singer so talented and legendary, but the amazing ambience and acoustics of the Schermerhorn is the icing on the cake. [PO]

THE WILD REEDS w/ THAYER SARRANO
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (7pm doors) | $10 | All Ages

Los Angeles indie folk outfit The Wild Reeds have been earning a ton of well-deserved critical praise with their fantastic recent sophomore album, The World We Built, which boasts nostalgic, timeless instrumentation and absolutely unbelievable harmonies from vocalists Kinsey Lee, Sharon Silva, and Mackenzie Howe. Compared to the likes of Crosby, Stills and Nash, Dixie Chicks, and Dolly Parton, among other greats (though with a decidedly more alt country and contemporary folk bent), they’re a rising talent you should know, and we’re not surprised to see Lightning 100 hop on the bandwagon to bring them to 3rd & Lindsley with Thayer Sarrano. So many shows, so little time- this is a wallet-friendly end of weekend option to consider though! [PO]

FABLE CRY w/ THE DEAD DEADS, FLUMMOX, BEYOND WINGS, SAILORS & MAIDENS
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $15 | 18+

“Drawing inspiration, musically and poetically, from all things imaginative, mythical, and spooky,” local “theatrical scamp rock” band Fable Cry head up an appropriately spooky Sunday night show at Exit/In, a perfect end to an early Halloween weekend or a perfect primer to the big day itself. With a stacked bill rounded out by site faves The Dead Deads, another great pre-Halloween treat, as well as Flummox, Beyond Wings, and Sailers & Maidens, you can’t go wrong with this one either. [PO]

[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain
[LL] Lorie Liebig