TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | Nov. 24-26

It’s Thanksgiving weekend, which means you are hopefully going to be spending time with family, stuffing yourself with the autumn bird, and preparing for the official kickoff to the holidays.  It also means, for many, a long weekend providing plenty of time to get out to celebrate with some live music.  As you can imagine the slate is a little light this weekend, but there are still a handful of worthwhile shows for you and maybe even some of your family!  Head below to check out all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN.

FRIDAY

AMANDA SHIRES w/ RUSTON KELLY
@ City Winery | 8pm (6pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

Singer-songwriter and violin virtuoso Amanda Shires has long been a site favorite, and it’s no surprise that her latest City Winery outing, perhaps the most promising show of the weekend, managed to sell out in advance. As many know, Shires is married to Jason Isbell and performs in his band, but her solo stuff is just as compelling and seriously deserves your attention if you only know her for the former. Last year’s earnest, deeply personal My Piece of Land is something of a masterpiece, so if you didn’t get tickets in time for this one, keep an eye out for Amanda’s next local outing and don’t snooze. [PO]

NEW MAN, YON ORT, LYLAS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | 21+

A trio of great local bands is looking like the hot ticket Friday night, and since it’s at The 5 Spot, you can count on it not to break the wallet. New Man is the musical persona of local artist Cody Newman, and one listen to baroque pop infused, harmony laden single “Maybe I’m Feeling Fine” and you’ll be hooked. As we told you when we premiered his debut “What You Feel” a few months back, Yon Ort is the new musical vehicle of ex-Wild Cub keyboard player Eric Wilson, adopting a spaced-out, anthemic, and timeless sound that conjures The Flaming Lips and Tame Impala. Experimental psych rock favorites Lylas round out the stacked bill. [PO]

HOT MULLIGAN w/ COLDFRONT, GAMES WE PLAY
@ Rocketown | 6:30pm (6pm doors) | $10 | All Ages

If emo and pop punk is more your speed, Michigan’s Hot Mulligan are stopping by Rocketown Friday night for another promising Thanksgiving weekend option. For the past few years, the band have been drumming up buzz and establishing themselves as a scene fixture, thanks to their earnest, honed sound, and their callback to classic emo, mid-’00s pop punk fuses well with their place in the current indie punk landscape. Coldfront and Games We Play support. [PO]

THE RUNNING w/ LUCKY SOUTHERN DEVILS, SHUCKSTER, THE HOLLYWOOD KILLS, THE WHEELIE COLEMAN BAND
@ Exit/In | 8pm (7pm doors) | $7-10 | 18+

Resident grunge flavored reggae rockers The Running were staples in the scene in the late ’00s, but have been largely silent this decade.  They return to the stage this holiday weekend, and earn top billing on a jam packed bill at Exit/In that is well worth your hard earned money. Look for soulful blues rock collective Lucky Southern Devils, power trio Shuckster, plus The Hollywood Kills and The Wheelie Coleman Band to help get the night after Thanksgiving cooking! That’s five kick ass bands for no more than ten bucks. Who says it’s a slow weekend for shows? Get out there and see some kick ass live music.  [JR]

SATURDAY

PART TIME FILTH, TAPE DECK MOUNTAIN, TELEFONES, THE CHEWERS
@ The East Room | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+

Another solid and budget-friendly local option, Part Time Filth are celebrating the release of their new EP through Banana Tapes Saturday night at The East Room. With shoegaze-y post-rockers Tape Deck Mountain, eclectic, psych-tinged, experimental rockers Telefones, and gloriously off-kilter rockers The Chewers also on tap, you definitely can’t go wrong. [PO]

ROCKY BLOCK w/ LITTLEFOOT, MILES JACKSON
@ The End | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+

Local, affordable shows are the trend this weekend, and without the lure of big national acts to pull you away, we hope they get your undivided attention. Adopting a combination of classic soul, gospel, and pop, buzzy local up and comer Rocky Block is artist you should definitely have an eye on, having already opened for the likes of Eddie Money and Jefferson Starship. Rocky will be joined Saturday night at The End by Littlefoot and Miles Jackson, and at just $5, it’s another enticing option. [PO]

CAROLINE SPENCE w/ FREDDY & FRANCINE
@ The Basement | 7pm (6:30pm doors) | $6-8 | 21+

Rising local songwriter Caroline Spence has been making waves in Nashville and beyond, and her latest LP Spades and Roses is a true testament to her talents.  Her approach isn’t totally novel in a crowded Americana scene, but her empowering songs are heartfelt and excellently constructed.  LA based duo Freddy & Francine are set to open this show, and their honey soaked, soul tinged harmonies are definitely worth showing up early for.  Speaking of, note this is an early show, so load up the family truckster and catch some early music. [MH]

THE DEEP FRIED FIVE, THE SEDONAS, PET ENVY
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $6-8 | 21+

If you need to get funky and dance to work off some of that holiday gluttony, head out to The Basement on Saturday night for a funk and rock fueled extravaganza.  The Deep Fried Five will be laying down the thick soul, while The Sedonas will be backing the rock train.  Pet Envy have been one of our hottest finds in town of late, and their pop-fused take on indie rock is definitely worth getting there on time to check out. [MH]

RAELYN NELSON BAND w/ HANNAH FAIRLIGHT GROUP, DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+

Based in Music City, country fried rock ensemble Raelyn Nelson Band, head up a solid local Saturday bill at Exit/In, featuring garage rock power house Hannah Fairlight Group, and rock and rollers Defense Wins Championships. Three local acts for just five beans. Get out of the house, and help support the local scene without spending an arm and a leg to do it. [JR]

SUNDAY

GOOD BUDDY, CHARLIE WHITTEN, DL ROSSI, STEPHIE JAMES
@ The Basement | 8pm (7:30pm doors) | $5-7 | 21+

Talented songwriters Good Buddy and Charlie Whitten headline this fantastic Sunday bill at The Basement.  Good Buddy have a chill AF approach to his music, which is definitely noticeable in their 2013 release Beautiful Lifestyles, but the releases since have been sparing, so the recent uptick in live shows has us hoping for a new one.  Whitten is celebrating the release of his excellent EP Playwright from earlier this year, which tackles common themes, but with a warmth that is lacking in a lot of modern music.  They are joined by songwriters DL Rossi and Stepie James for a night that will appeal to most any fan of well-crafted songs and heartfelt lyrics. [MH]

FORLORN STRANGERS w/ RACHEL BAIMAN
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $10 | All Ages

Local acoustic folk/Americana five piece Forlorn Strangers have been popping up on our radar more and more lately, and we look forward to catching them in the friendly confines of 3rd and Lindsley, as top billing for the latest installment of Lightning 100’s long running Nashville Sunday Night. Singer songwriter Rachel Baiman will be kicking things off in the warm up spot, and, as always with this showcase, you can also catch it live on your FM dial. Don’t miss yet another chance this weekend to catch great local talents at such a great price. [JR]

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