Boasting an expanded new lineup and celebrating their 13th LP and first in two years, Magick Songs, local garage and psych rock icons turned experimental, art rock weirdos JEFF the Brotherhood are returning to the east side for the first time in awhile, to headline The Basement East tonight, Oct. 9! A JEFF show, especially with new tunes in tow, is always an essential pick, but with electronic leaning support from local-rooted ambient, experimental outfit Coupler and rising electronic singer Eve Maret, this is looking like one of the top happenings of the fall! You can still grab tickets right here, so snag ’em while they last and read on for more about the show!
JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD
One could make the argument that without JEFF the Brotherhood, Nashville’s rock and roll landscape wouldn’t be nearly the thriving hotbed that it is today. Bringing grungy, fuzzy, garage rock tunes to Music City long before it was hip, the band of real life brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall have been going strong for more than 15 years, and their own Infinity Cat label has facilitated the growth of the scene that brought us Diarrhea Planet, Daddy Issues, Pujol, and countless others. After a short major label stint at the start of the decade with Warner Bros., during which they attracted broader national attention, JEFF returned to their independent roots a few years ago, and have since been releasing new music at a prolific clip. Their fourth full-length is just as many years, JEFF’s latest, Magick Songs, arrived earlier this month through Dine Alone Records, and adds Jack Lawrence and Kunal Prakash into the fold as new official members (the band have long played with backing players live, but adding them throughout the studio process is new; also, Daddy Issues’ Jenna Moynihan was recently announced to round out the live lineup, and guested on the LP as well), building on the group’s expansive and genre bending sound, while further pushing into experimental and surprising territory, alternating between noodly, introspective jams, hard rock, and psychedelia. Nothing if not unpredictable, over 13 LPs, JEFF the Brotherhood have established themselves as one of Nashville’s best, most dynamic, and most enduring bands, and their live shows are just as varied, engaging, and inspiring as their impressive back catalogue. It’s not often the duo venture east of the Cumberland to perform, so this will be an extra special treat.
COUPLER
What began in 2011 as a solo project for Ryan Norris, a long-time veteran of legendary local alt-country group Lambchop, ambient, experimental outfit Coupler, who currently claim Chicago as their home base, is now rounded out by Rodrigo Avendaño and Rollum Haas, with a revolving door of various other members over the years. Released last year, their latest third effort, Gifts from the Ebb Tide, sees Coupler really come into their own as a collaborative project, honing in on flourishing, deliberate, layered, and electronic stylings; hypnotic, timeless, and artsy. Though a far-shot from JEFF’s more conventional, rock rooted approach, Coupler have a similar since of genre-bending adventurousness, and with their Nashville roots and astounding, immersive live show, they’re certainly a cool addition to this lineup!
EVE MARET
Sonically more akin to Coupler than JEFF, local electronic artist Eve Maret has been attracting a lot of well-deserved buzz for her recent second album No More Running. With a clear affinity for the early electronic punk and synth-pop of the late ’70s and early ’80s, Maret’s moody, hypotonic, and layered style is both wonderfully nostalgic and yet fresh for today’s retro-infused landscape. A must-know local up and comer, Eve is another cool, diverse addition to this bill, and one seriously good reason to show up early.
JEFF the Brotherhood, Coupler, and Eve Maret will perform tonight, Oct. 9 at The Basement East. The show is 18+, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $15.
