Apparently the frigid weather this week has done nothing to cool off the live music scene in Nashville. This weekend officially ends the holidays as we have a slate chock full of great shows. Have a look below to check out all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
CLEMENCY
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
Since relocating to Nashville back in 2005, pop rock act Clemency have done an admirable job of developing their artistic and songwriting abilities. Today, the group play with a very polished, sophisticated sound that’s no doubt due in part to their relationship with esteemed producer Brent Milligan. Clemency are known mostly for their subtle instrumentation; the group excel at introducing new sounds to keep the songs sounding fresh without drastically altering the feel of the song. Any musician can tell you how difficult this is, and its definitely worth checking out live over a slice of pizza. [JS]
REVEREND HORTON HEAT w/ DALE WATSON, ROSIE FLORES
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $20 | 18+
Right next to Stray Cats and The Cramps, Reverend Horton Heat are undoubtably one of the most well known rockabilly bands that ever stood on a stage, and you might remember rocking out to their jam “Psychobilly Freakout” on Guitar Hero back in the day. The Heat have been tearing up the scene since 1990, and they just released their new thirteen song album REV in 2014. The show at Exit/In tonight will be well worth the $20 for the high intensity guitar riffs and hard-nosed attitude that these rock veterans will be spitting. [MC]
IKEY OWENS TRIBUTE w/ COURTNEY JAYE, RUBY AMANFU, DOMINIC JOHN DAVIS AND RACHEL DAVIS, FATS KAPLIN, LILLIE MAE RISCHE, KINGS OF THE F**KING SEA, KENNETH BRIAN
@ The Basement | 9pm | FREE | 21+
Back in October, Jack White’s keyboard player Ikey Owens was found dead in his hotel room in Mexico while on tour with White. Now a bunch of artists, including some Third Man regulars and fellow Jack White band members Ruby Amanfu, Fats Kaplin, and Lillie Mae Rische, are coming together for a free tribute show for Owens at The Basement. You can see Owens playing with White in the taping of White’s appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show below, with violinists Rischie and Kaplin. [JSa]
JESSE KINCH w/ KIM LOGAN
@ The High Watt | 8pm | $5 | 18+
If you watch the ABC’s Rising Star, the name Jesse Kinch should ring a bell. The winner of that program will be making his first trip to Nashville on Friday night to perform at The High Watt. Kinch will be joined by one of our favorite local chanteuses, Kim Logan, who recently blew away lower Broadway when she performed at our Acme showcase. Relive our night with Kim here, and watch Jesse show off his pipes on the finale of the show below. This is a $5, no brainer. [MH]
BRIAN ASHLEY JONES
@ The Sutler | 9:30pm | FREE | All Ages
Soulful singer, songwriter and acclaimed guitarist Brian Ashley Jones and High Viscosity take The Sutler stage at 9:30pm. Jones’ 3rd album, Out Of The City, which includes collaborations with Jonell Mosser, Suzi Ragsdale, Ike Stubblefield, and Kevin McKendree is scheduled for a Spring 2015 release. We heard an advanced copy and are hoping Brian plays a few songs from it tonight. [JMo]
BACKUP PLANET, THE VEGABONDS
@ Mercy Lounge | 8pm | $7 | 18+
Get some jam into your Friday night with locals Backup Planet, and unique blend of jazz, funk, roots, electronic, and progressive rock music. Known for their live shows, which are heavy on improvisation, they tend to make things extra crunchy man. Get there early to enjoy Auburn, AL, native southern rockers, The Vegabonds, who are slated to kick things off. [JR]
MODERN ROYALS, INJECTING STRANGERS, DEBUTANTE, THE WILD JAYS
@ FooBAR | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Originally from Chicago, The Modern Royals split their time between the Windy City and Music City, touring through both actively. The quartet puts themselves in the genre known as “psychadelic sex rock by way of delta blues,” a.k.a. this show will blow you away. Joining The Modern Royals are Injecting Strangers, Debutante and The Wild Jays, all at FooBAR for just $5 – it’s going to be tough to find a reason not to go. [BM]
SATURDAY
THAT’S MY KID
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | FREE | All Ages
Get to Grimey’s early Saturday to help support local blues garage rockers That’s My Kid, who are releasing their self-titled EP on cassette. It’s the official EP release show, so it should be a hum-dinger, and be sure to check back with us the day of for a full preview. [JR]
MALCOLM HOLCOMBE, PATRICK SWEANY (SOLO)
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | 21+
Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountain region of NC, Malcolm Holcombe is a smoky acoustic folk singing veteran who’s set himself apart from the generic singer songwriter crowd through pure longevity. If you haven’t already, you need to get him in your life as soon as possible. Look for southern rocker, and east Nashville resident Patrick Sweany to kick things off with an amazing solo set. [JR]
STAYING FOR THE WEEKEND w/ KID FREUD, THE KEEPS, THE ASTROCHIMPS
@ The High Watt | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Looking to catch some of Nashville’s best up and coming indie rock acts this weekend? Then look no further! Headliners Staying for the Weekend will be joined by Kid Freud, The Keeps, and The Astrochimps for a high-energy show Saturday night at The High Watt. All of these groups (particularly SFTW) have built reputations on their upbeat, highly engaging shows, which have led to healthy local followings. This event is sure to be one of the more enjoyable shows of the weekend, and, at only $5, we couldn’t think of a better way to spend our Saturday evening. [JS]
THE LOWER CAVES, THE FUTURE, GOOD ENGLISH
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $5 | 18+
Formerly the Eastern Block, now known as The Lower Caves, but all indie rock ’n’ fuckin’ roll. These locals are definitely worth the price of admission, but throw in fellow local indie pop rockers The FUTURE and Dayton, OH all-female three-piece rock band Good English, and you have a recipe for a successful Saturday night of live tunage. All for just $5?! Yes please. [JR]
W. KAMAU BELL
@ Exit/In | 7pm (6pm doors) | $15 | 18+
If you’re looking for a non-musicial outing this weekend, look no further than politically minded, socially conscious comedian and former talk show host W. Kamau Bell, who will be performing at Exit/In. Bell is known for his earnest look at race relations and social issues in America, packing tons of insight into his blend of comedy, and, with the recent social unrest and injustice throughout our country, his funny yet informed routine might be just what we need. [PO]
SAM SMITH w/ GEORGE EZRA
@ Grand Ole Opry House | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
Mere months after his buzzy Ryman debut, Grammy nominated soul pop singer Sam Smith is set to return to Nashville at larger showspace the Grand Ole Opry House. Music City clearly can’t get enough of his haunting tunes, however, as this one is totally sold out once again. Hope you got your tickets early! [PO]
JORDAN HULL, ROBERT GAY, TIM GEORGE, NICK FLOYD
@ Springwater Supper Club | 8pm | $5 | 21+
Wonder what a writer’s round sounds like with some of Nashville’s best indie rockers? Well, Jordan Hull has pulled one together for your enjoyment at Springwater on Saturday. Besides Hull, the round will also consist of Robert Gay (of the Alarms and KiND), Nick Floyd (of Bear in the Campsite), and Tim George. If you’ve been keeping up with our site and our weekly Acme showcases, Hull, Gay, and Floyd have all performed at our past events, which has us even more excited about it. This one gets started early, so make sure you are there at 7pm prompt to catch it all, and stick around after for a full set from Jordan Hull. [MH]
SUNDAY
THE WIND AND THE WAVE w/ LUCIE SILVAS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
The Wind + The Wave with Lucie Silvas perform at this week’s Nashville Sunday Night beginning at 8pm. Silvas was born in London and raised in New Zealand but now calls Nashville home. She has enjoyed massive critical and commercial acclaim since debuting at age 17—selling over 1 million albums in Europe. Lucie’s new self-titled EP will be released February 3. The album track “Unbreakable Us” recently premiered and can now be heard/shared via Soundcloud. The EP also features the first single “Letters To Ghosts”. A full-length album will follow later in 2015. [JMo]
WHOA DAKOTA, THE JAG, KIM LOGAN, WILL LOGSDON AND DON COYOTE
@ The Basement | 8pm | FREE | 21+
Another great free show at the Basement this weekend, Whoa Dakota is an up-and-coming indie band we’ve told you about before featuring a female lead influenced by the great lady rock singers but writing her own unique music. Singer Kim Logan has played our showcase at Acme, and her stage presence in combination with her choices of old school soul and country music as well as more contemporary rock songs made her one of our favorite showcase acts. Retro southern rock band The Jag, satirical country songwriter and Nashville native Will Logsdon, and country band Don Coyote will join them for another installment of the Basement’s The Sunday Post. [JSa]
FOUR YEAR STRONG w/ COMEBACK KID, HANDGUNS, EXPIRE, HEART TO HEART, NO GOOD NEWS
@ Exit/In | 7pm | $15ADV/$18DOS | 18+
After a brief hiatus, Massachusetts melodic hardcore rockers Four Year Strong reemerged last summer with an explosive new EP, Go Down in History, and the promise a new full-length on the way this year. Out in support, the band have assembled an all-star bill of fellow pop punk and hardcore acts, both established and on the rise, in the form of Comeback Kid, Handguns, Expire, Heart to Heart, and No Good News, for what’s sure to be one rowdy, unforgettable way to finish out the weekend. [PO]
[BM] Beth McAllister
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JMo] Jeff Moody
[JS] Jack Smith
[JSa] Jacqui Sahagian
[MC] Matt Cairns
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain