Banner by Holley Maher Creative
Happy Valentine’s Day, Nashville! I’m celebrating with all of my sweethearts with a box of live music! If you are attached during this holiday, treat your honey to some of the finest shows this city has to offer. If you are single…. well, this is a no brainer…. single people aren’t going to sit at a bar by themselves on the holiday of love, they are going to be out seeing live music. So, with that, here’s what we at No Country recommend you check out. It’s our Valentine’s Day edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
FEEDBACK REVIVAL
@ Soulshine Pizza | 7pm | Free | All Ages
We dropped a video of Feedback Revival a few weeks back, and it looks like those boys took that momentum straight onto your FM dial. The Lightning 100 artists of the week will grace the stages at Soulshine for a happy hour-ish good time. Note to Feedback Revival… don’t rock as hard as we know you can or they’ll kick you off that stage! [MH]
DEATH COMESTO MATTESON, PALE HOUSES, AND BEARDS
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $8ADV/$10DOS | 18+
Death Comesto Matteson is in the running for “Best Apocalpytic Yet Still Usable In Everyday Life” name in my book. Fittingly, look for a proud display of Appleseed Cast and Cursive influences with this Nashville project. Pale Houses will keep things earnest with an amalgamation of new wave and sincere dream pop. Then a band named Beards is opening. Yes, a vocalist has a beard. Yes, they make impeccably-crafted indie-folk. Yes, we love that sort of thing. [WD]
ZOSO: THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE
@ The Cannery Ballroom | 9:30pm | $15 | 21+
Some could describe love as the feeling of the turntable needle blaring “Dazed and Confused” for the first time, laying eyes and ears on Robert Plant, being in awe of Jimmy Page, hearing the John Bonham jam “Moby Dick”, the vibrations of John Paul Jones or the image of rockstar from the famous Starship photo. However you may describe it, Led Zeppelin, the band who has undeniably changed the face of rock ‘n roll and blues for the world as we know it, has left a legacy for us to have a taste of with our lovers via Zoso at Cannery Ballroom this Valentine’s Day. Zoso has been perfecting their Led Zeppelin experience since 1995 with over 2,400 live shows, including a performance at Bonnaroo. You can get lost in your lover’s eyes or happily get lost in yourself to Zoso’s parallel covers of the original songs with lyrics: “This is the springtime of my loving / the second season I am to know / You are the sunlight in my growing / so little warmth I’ve felt before / It isn’t hard to feel me glowing / I watched the fire that grew so low / It is the summer of my smiles / Flee from me Keepers of the Gloom / Speak to me only with your eyes. It is to you I give this tune” *Valentine’s playlist for love: Going To California+Stairway to Heaven+I Can’t Quit You Baby+Whole Lotta Love+Immigrant Song+Dazed & Confused+The Rain Song [LT]
PLASTIC VISIONS, DISIGNER, R∆CHEL, OMEGA SWAN, AND DOGS OF OZ<
The Other Basement | 8pm | $4 | ?
This shows been all over Facebook recently, and for good reason. We’ve got the super fuzzy, high energy duo Plastic Visions headlining the evening, being opened for by Boston noise punk project Designer. On top of that, we’ve got local lofi pop trio Rachel, party favorites and all around awesome local rockers Omega Swan, and the all around pleasantly old school local punk vibes of Dogs of Oz. Finally, after all of that happens, the entire affair will conclude with a dance party led by Nashville based DJ Treekeeper. That’s a lot of bands, and its only four bucks for an entire evening of fun. Check it out at the Other Basement; things go down at 8. [JS]
SATURDAY
KATE TUCKER AND THE SONS OF SWEDEN
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | FREE | All Ages
You can’t complain no one bought you a drink on Valentine’s Day weekend. Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden are providing free beer to everyone who comes out to this in-store performance at Grimey’s. The celebration is in honor of their swoon-worthy new record, The Shape The Color The Feel. We’re crushing on it harder than last year’s candy hearts. [WD]
KRISTIN DIABLE W/ JULIA HALTIGAN AND TAKAYA
@ The Basement | 7pm | $5 | 21+
Go ahead and grab that early bird special for dinner because it is looking like a long night at The Basement. Kristin Diable has roots in the deep south, and, when she starts singing, everyone from The Gulch to 12 South to Belmont is going to hear it. Here newest release Kristin Diable & The City certainly made us turn our heads with a synchronized “Whoa!” when we first heard it. Live it should be nothing short of incredible. Blog favorite Julia Haltigan and Takaya support. This is a reason to get out early for a show. [MH]
BUFFALO RODEO W/ TESLA ROSSA AND GUNTHER DOUG
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5 | 21+
We hyped this show earlier this week when we released the new video “Treehouse” by Buffalo Rodeo. Throw Tesla Rossa and Gunther Doug on this bill, and you have three of our favorite bands in Nashville right now rocking out together. I could go on and on about this, but, why don’t you just come to the show and we’ll high five you while it’s going on. Serious! [MH]
SIRSY W/ THE WOOLY MAMAS AND PILOT ROUGE
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $8 | 18+
There just aren’t enough badass chick drummers in this world so when one beats her way into the forefront, you better listen up. SIRSY‘s Melanie Krahmer is a force of nature who not only knocks hard but also delivers some fierce rock vocals as well (and incidentally – plays the flute, too!). SIRSY tours tirelessly and the duo has a strong cult following, so if you’re not yet in the know – get down to The High Watt this weekend and find out what all the fuss is about. [JM]
TAUK
@ Soulshine Pizza | 9pm | Free | All Ages
A lot of people haven’t heard of Tauk, and frankly that’s shame. Tauk is without a doubt one of the more creative bands of our time, and they don’t get as much publicity as they should. It’s hard to put them into a genre, but maybe like a jammy, instrumental jazz influenced rock group? We don’t really know about , but there’s funk, and there’s some really good baselines, it’s good. Take a listen, you’ll see. If you like what you hear, you should come out and see the, at Soulshine Pizza this Saturday at 9 pm. It’s free, and they have pretty great pizza. So really, there’s no way to lose on this one. [JS]
JUSTIN AND THE COSMICS, BLACKFOOT GYPSIES, HAUNTED DEVICE, AND PHIL HUMMER
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Between amazingly indie/surf rockers Justin and The Cosmics, always impressive garage rockers Blackfoot Gypsies, the shoegaze-y indie pop stylings of Haunted Device, and rootsy rocker Phil Hummer, this local bill at The 5 Spot might just be the best $5 you can spend on Valentine’s weekend. [PO]
2ND ANNUAL QDPROM 2014 FT. MAYHEM!, THE QDP DJ’S AND MORE!
@ Mercy Lounge | 8pm | $8ADV/$10DOS | 18+
What do you imagine when you think of prom? Footloose? Grease? Pretty In Pink? Mean Girls? Carrie? Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion? Whatever your brain drums up? The passionate committee of Jordan & Alex Caress (Ponychase), Laura Taylor & Jason Harris (La Force), Tiffany Minton, Rachel Rogers, Ashley Cole and Keith Johnson will throw their 2nd Annual QDProm with open arms for singles, couples and in betweens. “Je ne sais queer” says QDP (aka Queer Dance Party), a community of Nashville Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and Queers. The group known for bringing monthly sweaty dance parties to the 5 Spot (and who threw a stellar Halloween party at The Crying Wolf last year) will move the party to Mercy Lounge with QDP DJs LA Force (Scoop, DJ Harris and DJ Quias), a live 80s cover band Mayhem! (on @10pm) and “something special.” Last year that “something special” was a flash mob of Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend”, so there’s no telling the evening will bring, it’s a full moon tonight! Dress to impress for the photo booth, bring your “be jealous of my boogie” attitude and good vibes because love is in the air this weekend and as far as we know, you only live once. [LT]
SHERBERT, PARASITE DIET, HAUNTED DEVICE
@ Melrose Billiards | 10pm | Free | 18+
Blog favorites Sherbert and Haunted Device team up with rockers Parasite Diet for a free show at an unlikely venue, Melrose Billiards. Play pool and drink with your friends while rocking out to some killer licks on Saturday night. If you are a super fan of Haunted Device, you can chase them from The 5 Spot over to Melrose for a double dose. [MH]
SUNDAY
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS W/ LIGHTNIN MALCOLM
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $20 | All Ages
North Mississippi Allstars is one of those bands you just have to see. Their bluesy southern rock is a familiar sound with new faces. Guitars and vocals for the band, Luther Dickinson, was a previous band member of the Black Crowes as well. So, imagine the music of the Black Crowes, but much, much grittier. Needless to say, it would be a good idea to spend your Sunday evening at 3rd and Lindsley. It’ll be twenty bucks well spent. [SM]
SNARKY PUPPY W/ HILDEGUNN GJEDREM
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $18ADV/$20DOS | 18+
So if you know who Snarky Puppy is, you’re probably already going to this. For those of you who don’t, well, I suppose we could start with this: Snarky Puppy is a 40 person band. Granted, that would only be if they were all playing at the same time; it’s more a collective thing where portions of the group will come together to make a song or play a show. But what’s important isn’t who’s playing, but what they’re playing. Snarky Puppy typically sounds a lot like a jazz band, but way funkier, and often with a sort of hip hop influence. It’s tough music to describe, so we recommend you just take a listen to the embed below. You can catch Snarky Puppy live at Mercy Lounge with opener Hildegunn Gjedrem for only $18 this Sunday. [JS]
LUCERO W/ CORY BRANAN AND ALAN THOMPSON BAND
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $3 (MUST RSVP) | 18+
What better way to wrap up your Valentine’s Day weekend than with a little Lucero in your life? Their old school-ish twang is the kind of comfort you can count on when you’re feeling a little lonely and if you don’t have a date this year maybe you can make a connection over a shared interest in alt-country at the Exit/In this Friday! This show’s a bit special as it’s a Sound Select event – meaning it’s first come, first served and you’re gonna need to RSVP. Get in the moody mood with their classic “My Best Girl” below. [JM]
[JS] Jack Smith
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[LT] Lindsey Thompson
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain
[JM] Jessika Malone
[SM] Samantha Major
[WD] Wes Davenport