TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | Feb. 16-18

With everything from legendary singer-songwriters to prominent metal acts to critically-acclaimed post-punk tributes to breakout dance duos, this weekend has no shortage of diverse musical offerings. Where it really shines, though, is in just how many under the radar, inexpensive, stacked, and eclectic DIY and club shows there are happening every night, sure to satisfy fans of emo, punk, garage rock, folk, psych, and everything in between. Per usual, we’ve rounded up our top picks in TWiN, so read on to start planning your musical weekend!

FRIDAY

LIFTERS, MOUTON, SHITDELS, Z
@ Fond Object (Downtown) | 7pm | $5 | All Ages

A new project from Colin Sneed (Bass Drum of Death, Lover!, Unwed Teenage Mothers), North Carolina’s Lifters hit Fond Object’s downtown location for a stacked, wallet-friendly show on Friday night. The group’s energetic, lo-fi, garage punk is sure to help you kick off the weekend on a high note, and with Missouri poppy, post-punk project Mouton, and locals Shitdels and Z, rounding out the bill, there will be no shortage of great tunes. [PO]

ROCK EUPORA, THE CANVAS PEOPLE, THE SPIDERBERRIES
@ The East Room | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+

A local artist we’ve gushed about several times in the past, Rock Eupora is the musical outlet of Mississippi transplant Clayton Waller, who navigates an eclectic indie rock sound that pulls from alternative, pop, and even college rock.  This weekend, he heads up a great, inexpensive bill at The East Room, alongside Austin indie rockers The Canvas People and buzz local faves The Spiderberries. Can’t go wrong with this one! [PO]

BEAU TURRENTINE w/ ALI WARREN, SUPERSTAR FAMOUS1DAY, S. GRANT PARKER
@ The End | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+

The $5 DIY shows are bountiful this weekend, and here’s another cool one worth your consideration. Lo-fi, soulful, local indie rocker Beau Turrentine heads things up, joined by an exciting bill of Ali Warren, Superstar Famous1day, and S. Grant Parker, making this one of the best under the radar finds you’re going to come across this weekend. [PO]

HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN, KATE GILLESPIE, BLIND MERLE, JOSH GRAY
@ Cafe Coco | 7:30pm (7pm doors) | $5 | All Ages

Yet another mostly local, $5, DIY show- an all ages one to boot- Cafe Coco provides a pretty sweet group of bands for your Friday night consideration. In the vein of acts like First Aid Kit and The Civil Wars, indie folk duo Haunted Like Human craft stunning, story-driven tunes that should be on your radar. Local folk/Americana transplant Kate Gillespie, Michigan folk rockers Blind Merle & His Traveling Band, and Americana singer-songwriter Josh Gray round things up, making this the top ticket for indie folk fans. [PO]

DAWG YAWP w/ APOLLO WILD, EAGLE JOHNSON & CLEAN MACHINE
@ The Basement | 8pm (7:30pm doors) | $8-10 | 21+

Looking for a unique start to your weekend?  Head out to The Basement where buzzy Cincinatti based duo Dawg Yawp will entrance you with their interesting blend of guitar and sitar driven folk.  Hard to envision? Check out their recent Tiny Desk Show that they performed for NPR below.  They’ll be joined by local blog faves Apollo Wild and Eagle Johnson & Clean Machine on this stellar bill of talented musicians. [MH]

JOSH RITTER AND THE ROYAL CITY BAND w/ MANDOLIN ORANGE
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 8pm | $35 | All Ages

Creating alt-country with a folk/Americana flair, Josh Ritter and his backing band, The Royal City Band have craved out an impressive niche, often crossing over into the main, over the course of their twenty year career together. Out on tour, and reinvigorated after a collaboration with the legendary Bob Weir (Grateful Dead, Dead and Co.) on their latest record, Gathering, it’s safe to say say seeing this collective at the Mother Church this weekend will approach spiritual levels of awesome. Throw in folk/bluegrass duo Mandolin Orange in the opening spot, and you have a contender for best show of the weekend- but don’t snooze, tickets are nearly sold out. [JR]

THE LIL SMOKIES w/ THE WOOKS
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $13-15 | 18+

Progressive bluegrass performers The Lil Smokies will be headlining a tasty bill at The High Watt this weekend, and fans of the genre should take note of the Montana based pickers who have been creating a strong buzz since winning the Momentum Award for Best Band in 2016, from the prestigious International Bluegrass Music Association. Look for likeminded Kentucky based brethren The Wooks to get things cooking in the warmup spot. Also, be sure to practice your best bluegrass inspired dance moves, because this one is going to be one hell of a knee slapper! [JR]

SATURDAY

PHANGS w/ MATT THIESSEN
@ Rooted | 8pm | $10 | All Ages

The solo, synthy, indie pop vehicle of Cardboard Kids frontman Jake Germany, we first introduced you to Phangs in 2016, and have been hooked the buzzy string of singles and last year’s debut record, Get in My Arms, ever since. This weekend, Phangs celebrates the release of his latest EP, Happy Season, with a performance at Rooted along with Relient K frontman and local songwriter and producer Matt Thiessen. Tickets are definitely going to sell out, and this is one of the weekend’s coolest happenings, so don’t snooze on it. [PO]

WESTERN MEDICATION, TTOTALS, LASSO SPELLS, MOUTH READER
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | 21+

Conjuring an unabashedly retro post-punk sound, dripping with indie pop flourish, tinges of psych pop, and some punk bite, locals Western Medication spent years honing their phenomenal sound and paying their dues as a persistent figure in the DIY scene, before releasing their debut full-length, The Entertainers’ Secret, in 2016. They head up our pals Cold Lunch Recordings’ 2nd anniversary party Saturday night at The 5 Spot, joined by a stacked local lineup of bluesy psych outfit Ttotals, twangy psych rockers Lasso Spells, and garage/psych faves Mouth Reader. [PO]

PETER BRADLEY ADAMS w/ MOLLY PARDEN
@ Exit/In | 8:30pm (8pm doors) | $15-18 | 18+

Still enjoying praise for last year’s excellent sixth album A Face Like Mine, local Americana transplant and longtime fixture of the scene Peter Bradley Adams is gearing up to play his first Nashville show of the new year this weekend at Exit/In. Making things even more exciting, fellow incredible singer-songwriter and local favorite Molly Parden rounds out the bill, sure to be a night of excellent, emotional, and heartfelt folk and Americana. [PO]

THE SONS & HEIRS (A TRIBUTE TO THE SMITHS) w/ TAYLS (DOES THE CURE)
@ The Basement East | 9pm (8pm doors) | $14-16 | 18+

A Smiths tribute who made their Nashville debut (which happened to also be their 100th show) last year, New York’s The Sons & Heirs are, by all accounts, the greatest send up to the Manchester group making music today. For over a decade, they’ve toured the world, performing everywhere from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles, and have shared the stage with Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and Morrissey drummer Spencer Cobrin, earning praise from outlets like Rolling Stone and the New York Post. More than simply a tribute act, and far from a novelty cover band, The Sons & Heirs are a genuine loveletter to one of the greatest rock acts of all time, and their performance is, without a doubt, the closest you can hope to get to the real thing. Notably, drummer Jonathan Flax is a former Nashvillian, performing in town from the late ’90s to mid-’00s, and a former writer for the Scene, which makes this incredibly fun show all the more special. [PO]

INTERVENTION, THE WEEKEND CLASSIC, GAMES WE PLAY
@ That 70’s House | 7pm | $8 | All Ages

Alt/emo punks Intervention hit house show space That 70’s House (ask around for the address), for another cool DIY option, especially for fan of earnest indie punk. Adopting a moody, layered, emo and indie tinged sound of their own, Midwestern outfit The Weekend Classic should resonant with fans of confessional, mature punk, and Miami’s Games We Play broaden the lineup with a slicker, upbeat pop punk sound. It looks like some locals originally slated to join have dropped, so if you’re a fan of punk and emo, we suspect this show could use a little extra love. [PO]

TANNER AZZINNARO, ASHLEY LEONE, GARRETT MOSHIER, BEN KESSLER
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $10-12 | 18+

Hailing originally from Washington, pop/hip-hop local transplant Tanner Azzinnaro has been picking up buzz as a part of Nashville’s vibrant pop scene. He tops the bill at Love Shack 2 this weekend at The High Watt, joined by pop/r&b singer Ashley Leone, pop rocker Garrett Moshier, and soulful singer-songwriter Ben Kessler – all names you should have an eye on. [PO]

THE EXOTICS
@ Mercy Lounge | 8pm (7pm doors) | $15 | 18+

Formed in the mid ’60s by four friends from Franklin and Columbia, TN, The Exotics found their niche performing covers, playing dances, parties, and events, and, ultimately, becoming the permanent backing band for r&b/doo-wop group the Spidels. Despite the death of guitarist Billy Adair a few years back, 3/4 of the group are keeping their classic, dancehall worthy, nostalgic sound alive, performing weddings, functions, and, as with this weekend, the occasional club outing. Don’t miss a chance to see some Nashville history! [PO]

MCLOVINS w/ THE BUMBS
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $7-10 | 21+

Connecticut based pop rockers McLovins have been performing together since they were barely old enough to drive, and now, nine years later, find themselves with a growing fan base, beyond their New England home, and are touring in support of a catchy new EP, People Say, which dropped earlier this year.  They’ll be joined by buzzy local garage rockers The Bumbs for what should be a night suited for cold drinks and hot dancing. [MH]

THE DELTA TROUBADOURS, BROTHER MAN, LIONS AFTER DARK, PARROTFISH
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 18+

If your plan this weekend is to squeeze as much kickass local music as possible from your hard earned cash, this may be the best low dough show on deck. Earning top billing are local (via Gainseville, FL) garage rockers, The Delta Troubadours, followed by fiery blues duo Brother Man, indie rock five piece Lions After Dark, and alt rock performers Parrotfish. You get all this resident talent, in the friendly confines of The East Room, for just a five spot, so there’s really no good reason you can’t catch some live tunes this weekend … even if you’re nearly broke! [JR]

SUNDAY

TINY MOVING PARTS w/ MOM JEANS, OSO OSO, FEVER BLUSH
@ The End | 7pm (6:30pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

Hailing from the midwest, Tiny Moving Parts take direct and welcome influence from that region’s emo heritage, crafting a noodle-y, dynamic, and rhythmically driven sound which leans heavily on its emotional core, allowing lyrics and themes to drive their relatable compositions. Over a decade of excellent releases, most recently this year’s sixth full-length Swell, constant touring, and critical buzz, they’ve become a favorite of the scene, so it’s not shocking that their headlining outing at intimate and appropriately punk space The End sold out in advance. If you scored tickets, you’ll also be treated to likeminded acts Mom Jeans and Oso Oso, and excellent local up and comers Fever Blush. [PO]

BIG GIGANTIC w/ SHALLOU, HUSTLE UP
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm (6pm doors) | $28-50 | All Ages

Colorado based duo Big Gigantic have been hyping up crowds and cranking out hits for nearly ten years now, and have become staples in the festival scene with their out of this world live show.  The group are gearing up for a stop in Music City with a special night of dance-inducing beats set to drop at Marathon Music Works, where they’ll be joined by LA based ambient electo pop producer Shallou, and Nashville based DJ Hustle Up keeping the crowd hype between sets- a definite must-see for electronic and dance fans. [MH]

DARKEST HOUR w/ WHORES, EXTINCTION A.D., CHAMBER
@ The Basement East | 7:30pm (6:30pm doors) | $17-$20 | 18+

Formed in 1995 in Washington, DC, metalcore and melodic death metal outfit Darkest Hour first gained widespread attention in the mid-’00s, when metalcore saw a brief surge of mainstream interest parallel to punk’s third explosion. Renowned for their hard-hitting, nordic metal and American hardcore inspired sound, the band have managed to maintain both critical and commercial appeal over the last decade, bolstered by their relentless tour schedule. Nashville, however, is not one of their more frequent stops- it’s apparently been a decade since they last hit Music City- so this weekend’s outing at The Basement East with Whores, Extinction A.D., and Chamber is a must for metalheads. [PO]

FRUITION w/ GUTHRIE BROWN
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $10 | All Ages

Portland, OR based rockers Fruition have been blending their unique style, featuring the cool harmonies of their three frontmen, for the past ten years.  We first became familiar with them when they came through to play Bonnaroo in 2015, and now they find themselves on the road again in support of a new record, Watching It All Fall Apart.  They’ll be joined by long time, local standout, songwriter Guthrie Brown for what should be the perfect end to your weekend. [MH]

JONNY LANG w/ DOYLE BRAMHALL II
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 7:30pm | $37.50-57.50 | All Ages

Approaching legend status, blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Jonny Lang is out on tour with his backing band in support of his latest effort, Signs. A certified phenom on guitar, Jonny got his start professionally in 1995, at the tender age of 14. Just over twenty years later, he’s still as shreddy as ever, but has broaden his sound, to encompass elements of gospel and rock and roll. With the assist courtesy of rocker, and sometimes Eric Clapton collaborator, Doyle Bramhall II, it’s sure to be a spectacular night of guitar led awesomeness. For all the blues leaning pickers out there; don’t sleep on this one! Get yourself to The Ryman, and who knows, you might be able pick up a riff or two while you’re getting your mind blown. [JR]

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