TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | Jan. 26-28

2018 is running at full steam, and it shows in the solid lineup of musical events happening around town this weekend. We have a number of local release shows, homecoming shows from some of Music City’s finest, and even tough decisions on Sunday, with a wide range of genres and budgets, almost guaranteeing you’ll find something you dig. Head below to figure out your weekend plans with this week’s edition of TWiN!

FRIDAY

IRON VESSEL w/ THE MINKS, THE CUNNING
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 18+

Nashville based, blues-doused, indie rockers Iron Vessel are gearing to release their full-length record One Eyed World this week, and they are celebrating with an intimate show at The East Room on Friday night. You can get a listen to the title track below to give you a taste of what to expect. They’ll be joined by likeminded, reverb-drenched rockers The Minks and the first local performance of the year from longtime scene standouts The Cunning. [MH]

PET ENVY w/ J. MARCO, LUCAS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $5 | 21+

Since first springing onto the scene in 2015, Pet Envy have become an exciting addition to the Nashville landscape, crafting a sound that mixes elements of indie, r&b, and pop to stunning effect. Their recent sophomore EP, Flowers for Your Brain, was among last year’s best local releases, and their live show is one you don’t want to miss. Joined by local rocker and site favorite J. Marco, as well as buzzy newcomers Lucas, who we introduced you to this week, this is a stellar local bill with a wallet-friendly cover. [PO]

BLOND BONES w/ HARI, AND THE BOYS
@ The Cobra | 9pm | $5-$7 | 21+

Fresh faced Nashville lo-fi, retro-pop inspired indie rockers Blond Bones are releasing their debut EP, Sierra, this week, and will be celebrating with a low dough show at The Cobra on Saturday night. Head below to check out their heady video for the title track below to get a taste of what you’re in store for… and get a chance to long for silly summer days. They’ll be joined by shoegaze popsters HARI and up and coming rockers And The Boys (both of whom we’ve premiered new music from last year) in the opening slot. This is gearing up to a best of what’s next in the local scene showcase that you should definitely consider. [MH]

JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE w/ H.C. MCENTIRE
@ City Winery | 8pm (6pm doors) | $20 (standing room only) $25-42 (seated) | All Ages

Still riding on a high note from last year’s excellent, Mike Mogis-produced LP Kids in the Street,  local folk singer Justin Townes Earle is always a treat in concert, and his personal, genre-bending, no-BS style is perfectly suited a room with the acoustic nuance of City Winery. With support from Mount Moriah’s H.C. McEntire, this is without a doubt one of the weekend’s hottest tickets. [PO]

THE WEEKS w/ LIZ COOPER AND THE STAMPEDE
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $15-25 | All Ages

Local (by way of Mississippi) southern drenched garage rockers The Weeks made their triumphant return last year with long-awaited new LP Easy, and have been rocking venues and fests of all sizes ever since in support. While hometown shows haven’t been in short supply, a pair of dates at the relatively intimate and acoustically fantastic 3rd and Lindsley ain’t a bad watch to catch ’em, and night two, featuring support from the always amazing Liz Cooper and the Stampede, is looking like an enticing Friday pick. [PO]

DEVON GILFILLIAN, LEAH BLEVINS, KELSEY WALDON
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $10-$15 | 18+

Local blues and soul singer songwriter Devon Gilfillian has been popping up on bills all over the city since he played our Acme showcase a little over a year ago. Of course it’s one thing to play warmup to some talented locals, or even some national touring acts, but when you get top billing at Exit/In, you know you’re certainly moving on up in the Music City scene. With the assists courtesy of folk/country performer Leah Blevins and roots singer songwriter Kelsey Waldon, it promises to be a killer night of music for a very fair price. Check out this all local bill in person, and help the scene thrive! [JR]

POKEY LAFARGE w/ DIVINO NIÑO
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $20-25 | 18+

Fusing elements of ragtime, traditional country and western, early jazz, and blues, American musical traditionalist/revivalist Pokey LaFarge looks and sounds like he just stepped out of a time machine from the mid-century midwest, but don’t think that means his worldview is also stuck in the past; as a citizen of St. Louis, LaFarge felt especially compelled to pen a record about the oppression and marginalization he’s witnessed in the world lately, and Manic Revelations, released last year, serves as something of a narrator to an ugly, current chapter in American history. Pokey returns for two nights at The High Watt, his most intimate Nashville appearances in ages, which promise to be extra special. [PO]

THE BOOM BAP: 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY ft. RATE, BOWLS, CASE BLOOM, AL-D.GEE SLAB, SOFA BROWN, EVAN BLOCKER, BRIAN BROWN
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $5(21+) $10(18-20) $250 (VIP) | 18+

Nashville’s legendary monthly hip hop extravaganza Boom Bap! has been going strong for a full decade now, and to celebrate they’re expanding the ten year anniversary dance party to two  nights this weekend. Night one, which will also allow admission for 18-year-olds and up, will feature favorite Music City hip hop talent, including Bowls, Rate and Case Bloom DJing, as well as some talented local emcees, eager to rip it up live on stage. Don’t miss night one, and scroll on for information night two as well. [JR]

SATURDAY

R. STEVIE MOORE & B|_ANK w/ DREAM CHAMBERS
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 18+

In what is likely to be the strangest music event of your weekend, Nashville underground legend R. Stevie Moore has geared up with B|_ank, the uber experimental solo project of Linear Downfall’s William Passionfruit Hicks, to release a 7″ that is likely best described as entrancing.  While B|_ank goes full avant-garde on his half, Moore takes a slightly more melodic electronic approach, and you can check out both of the tracks at the Fraternity As Vanity Soundcloud page.  You can also check out the absolutely mesmerizing piece they performed together in the video for “RSM Take One (Hum)” to get a taste of just how awesome Nashville is.  Cerebral electro project Dream Chambers will open, and DJ SKR3WF4CE will fill the interim. [MH]

LOS LOBOS w/ GUTHRIE BROWN
@ Top Golf Live | 7pm | $39-$60 | All Ages

East Los Angeles chicano rock practitioners Los Lobos are swinging through Music City, and will be stopping in on the always fun Top Golf location here in town to play a very special show in their venue space. For the uninitiated, chicano rock is a hodgepodge of Americana, Latin rock, cowpunk, and roots music that has a twangy flair. With help from local folk/Americana singer-songwriter Guthrie Brown in the warmup spot, you’re guaranteed to love the tunes, with plenty of time to have fun on the range before or after. [JR]

MUSIC CITY ROOTS ft. JOHN OATES, GREG GARING, DEREK HOKE, MS. ADVENTURE, AVRIL SMITH
@ City Winery | 7pm | $15-$20 | All Ages

Beloved Americana musical showcase Music City Roots is bring the show closer to downtown with a special lineup at City Winery on Saturday night, and they packed in a wallop.  Hall & Oates co-founder John Oates really needs no introduction as half of the best selling rock duo of all time, and he is appearing in celebration of his new solo record, Arkansas.  He will be joined by transcendant Nashville traditionalist Greg Garing, East Nashville songwriting standout Derek Hoke, and the twangy forces of Avril Smith, Vickie Vaughn and Kimber Ludiker in their Ms. Adventure project. If you haven’t braved the drive to check out how these excellently curated, superbly produced events before, here’s a chance to dive in while they are downtown. [MH]

REBELUTION w/ RAGING FYAH
@ Marathon Music Works | 9pm | $25-75 | All Ages

Hailing from Vista, California, reggae rock outfit Rebelution have grown from humble beginnings to become titans of the expanding ire rhythmed scene. Over their twelve year career, they’ve amassed a loyal group of followers who dig their sometimes improvisationally charged sets, that has also endeared them to some in the jam bad scene as well. Look for like minded tour mates Raging Fyah to kick things off on an awesome night of kick ass reggae. Fans of the genre really have no better option for awesome this weekend than this bill. [JR]

SAY ANYTHING w/ AARON GILLESPIE, BACKWARDS DANCER
@ Exit/In | 8pm (7pm doors) | Sold Out | 18+

Announced way back in the summer, indie/pop punk outfit Say Anything‘s two-night stop at Exit/In this weekend promises to be some phenomenal fan-service- but only if you jumped on tickets early, as both shows have long been sold out. Night one, on Saturday, will see the band perform the first half of their conceptual, ambitious, 2007 double album In Defense of the Genre, as well as their underrated 2009 self-titled effort in full for the first time. That alone makes this a super cool show, but support from Aaron Gillespie and Backwards Dancer simply sweetens the deal. [PO]

DOROTHY w/ JASMINE CAIN
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $17.50-$20 | 18+

LA based alt-rockers Dorothy are touring in support of their upcoming sophomore album 28 Days In The Valley, and they’ll be stopping into Mercy Lounge on Saturday to unload their powerful live set.  They just released the new single, “Flawless,” from the record, which you can check out below to get a taste of what’s to come. Local rock force Jasmine Cain is set to open for what should be a hell of a night of solid high energy rock tunes. [MH]

POKEY LAFARGE w/ DIVINO NIÑO
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $20-25 | 18+

See our description above for more about why St. Louis American musical traditionalist Pokey LaFarge‘s intimate two-night residency at The High Watt is one not to miss. And be sure to show up early for Divino Niño! [PO]

THE BOOM BAP: 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY feat: JUST BLAZE, RATE, BOWLS, CASE BLOOM, and more!
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $20-$700 (VIP) | 21+

Promoters will be keeping the party going into Saturday for the ten year celebration of Nashville’s one and only hip hop dance party. Even better news? Legendary hip hop producer and DJ Just Blaze will be kicking things into the next stratosphere with help from some local talent on night two of this weekend anniversary edition of the Boom Bap! Unfortunately for night two it’s only 21+, so if you’re under the legal drinking age, be sure to go Friday night instead. For those of you who are of age, be ready for this one to get rowdy late into the evening … or early into the next morning, depending on how you look at it. [JR]

SOFT FANGS, THAYER SARRANO, SUMMER PALACE, ZOOK
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $5 | 21+

Brooklyn based shoegaze indie rockers Soft Fangs are back in Nashville and ready to amaze the masses at The 5 Spot this weekend. Multi-instrumentalist/visual artist and singer-songwriter Thayer Sarrano, local experimental electro pop outfit Summer Palace, and Zook will fill out this super tasty low dough bill hosted by the good people at Cold Lunch Recordings. So you get all this amazing music, plus your helping to rep for a local indie label, and you only have to spend five bucks to do. What’s not to love? [JR]

SUNDAY

POSIES w/ SOLAR TWIN
@ City Winery| 8pm (6pm doors) | $15-25 | All Ages

Still riding high on the buzz surrounding their excellent 2016 eighth LP Solid States, Washington-bred power pop and alt rock pioneers The Posies are set to return to Nashville this weekend. Celebrating more than 30 years as a band, the group are at this point something of modern legends, and City Winery seems like a cool spot to catch them in a slightly different vibe than usual. Local synthy, indie pop act on rise Solar Twin opens up, so don’t be late! [PO]

WALK THE MOON w/ COMPANY OF THIEVES
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 7:30pm | $39.50-49.50 | All Ages

Returning to Nashville proper for the first time since 2015, breakout Cincinnati pop rockers Walk the Moon are slated to once more headline The Ryman Auditorium this weekend, with support from reunited Chicago indie rock trio Company of Thieves. Out in support of their recent fourth full-length What If Nothing, the highly-anticipated followup to their breakout 2014 effort Talking Is Hard, Walk the Moon are known for their theatrical, visual, and dazzling live performance style, refined from years on the road. A handful of tickets still remain, so get ’em while they’re hot! [PO]

SAY ANYTHING w/ AARON GILLESPIE, BACKWARDS DANCER
@ Exit/In | 8pm (7pm doors) | Sold Out | 18+

Night two of Say Anything‘s extra special two-night stop at Exit/In, which is also long sold out, will see the band perform their beloved debut (or second album, depending on you count 2001’s Baseball) …Is a Real Boy, which will be nothing short of an epic singalong, as well as the second half of In Defense of the Genre, continued from night one. Aaron Gillespie and Backwards Dancer once again open, and for SA fans who got tickets, it’ll be an unforgettable night. [PO]

THE BEN MILLER BAND w/ CHICAGO FARMER
@ The Basement | 8pm | $10-$12 | 21+

The Ben Miller Band are celebrating the release of their third (and arguably most accomplished) album, Choke Cherry Tree, this weekend.  The band features a retooled lineup, including a slew of hot guest artists, and production creds to Chris Funk of The Decemberists. The record has a little bit of something for everyone as it excellently roams around the all encompassing Americana genre. Illinois based folkster Chicago Farmer (aka Cody Diekhoff) kicks things off in what seems to be a total undersell in the intimate confines of The Basement. [MH]

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