Don’t Miss Broken Bells w/ Hamilton Leithauser | TONIGHT @ The Ryman

Tonight, for the first time ever, indie rock supergroup Broken Bells are set to perform in Nashville, and at The Ryman Auditorium no less; not a bad debut. We gave you the scoop about this one when it was announced, shortly after the duo, comprised of The Shins’ James Mercer and superproducer/Gnarls Barkley member Dangermouse, wowed us with their Bonnaroo performance, and are eagerly anticipating catching the show in a proper venue setting. If you’re interested in doing the same (and, really, we can’t think of a more awesome way to kick off your week), you can still snag tickets here. Former Walkmen frontman Hamilton Leithauser will open, giving you one hell of a reason to arrive early. Read on for more.

BROKEN BELLS

Formed in 2009, Broken Bells received a Grammy nomination for their eponymous debut full-length, and its followup, this year’s After the Disco, has become one of our 2014 faves. While Dangermouse seems to pride himself on working with artists all across the spectrum, this certainly feels more like a band than a studio project, and even employs two additional musicians live to fill out its sound. The mixed creative power of two genius but very different musical minds, Broken Bells is a rare instance of a side project that feels more earnest than self-indulgent, and their performances, which are few and far between due to the duo’s other commitments, only reinforce how heartfelt this group really is. Catch ’em now; it could be years before they return.

HAMILTON LEITHAUSER

Though he only recently ventured out as a solo artist, after his former band, The Walkmen, announced an “extreme hiatus,” frontman Hamilton Leithauser actually made it to Music City for the first time back in June. Leithauser’s debut LP, Black Hours, dropped over the summer, and, while the singer uses it as an opportunity to indulge in his love for old timey American pop, its stylistic reach doesn’t extend too far beyond what Walkmen fans have come to love and expect. A beloved, under-appreciated frontman with a reenergized drive and spark, plus a batch of a great new songs? You have to see this.

Broken Bells and Hamilton Leithauser will perform tonight, Sept. 29, at The Ryman Auditorium. The show is all ages, begins at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.), and tickets are available for $38.50.