Spring has apparently sprung (hopefully), and this weekend has shows sprouting up like the weeds in your yard. Things get started with Andrew Combs at Soulshine Pizza for free, but then decisions will have to be made as the slate is full for the rest of the weekend. Dig in and make your weekend plans with our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
ANDREW COMBS
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
Andrew Combs has been all over town lately in support of his sophomore album, All These Dreams, which was released last week. There was an in-store at Grimey’s last Tuesday and a full show at The Basement with The Deslondes and Erin Rae on Wednesday. He is Lightning 100’s Local Artist of the Week which meant heavy airplay for “Foolin” and a free show tonight at Soulshine. [JMo]
FREAKIN’ WEEKEND VI: NIGHT TWO: THOSE DARLINS, WOLF EYES, THE PAPERHEAD, D WATUSI
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $15-45 | 18+
Freakin’ Weekend keeps it rolling for night number two of debauchery, headlined by local alt-country darlings Those Darlins. Get to Exit/In early to get the most bang for your buck, featuring post-industrial noise band Wolf Eyes, acid folksters The Paperhead and Music City indie rockers D Watusi. [JR]
ODESZA w/ LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WILD
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | $15-18 | 18+
Seattle based indie electro-pop duo Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight are sailing in to Marathon Music Works this Friday as ODESZA. Their sound is dancy with ambient beats comparable to Purity Ring and The Naked and Famous, so we highly recommend bringing your springiest kicks. The young group exploded onto the scene with their very well received album Summer’s Gone in 2012, and they followed up with even more hair raising grooves in 2014 with In Return. Opening the show will be DJs Little People and Big Wild, who are sure to spin some sick remixes of the best indie music on all your favorite playlists. [MC]
AVERS w/ ANDREW LEAHEY AND THE HOMESTEAD, MATEJA
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $8 | 18+
We already gave you the full rundown on eclectic Virginia indie rockers Avers, and their performance with locals Andrew Leahey and The Homestead and Mateja right here, and we’re definitely pegging this as one of the weekend’s best under the radar shows. [PO]
MURDER BY DEATH w/ O’DEATH
@ Mercy Lounge | 9:30pm | $15 | 18+
Gothy folk punk outfit Murder By Death return to Nashville with frequent tourmates, Brooklyn punkgrass group O’Death, and we already provided you with a full preview right here. [PO]
SATURDAY
AUSTIN MANUEL, JULIANA, CITY OF THE SUN, REVERIE LANE, AMANDA FIELDS, STERLING ABERNATHY, BOBBY MCGRATH
@ Fat Bottom Brewery | 1:30pm | FREE | All Ages
It’s always great to see shows for free, but when they’re located inside one of Nashville’s best local breweries, it’s truly a treat. This show over at Fat Bottom Brewery on Saturday will be one half of the Road to SXSW – East Nashville Edition. See the listing for The Crying Wolf below for the second half. Each venue will host 7-8 acts, all en route to Austin for SXSW. There’s too many acts to get into the specifics, but, with seven bands for the price of free at a brewery, can you really go wrong? [JS]
LILLY HIATT
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | FREE | All Ages
Local singer songwriter Lilly Hiatt is riding high following the release of her stellar sophomore album Royal Blue, which parlays a sometimes melancholy story with a range of instrumentation that reminisce of everything from synth pop to grunge rock. Join her today for a free in-store as she warms up for the pilgrimage to Austin. [MH]
FREAKIN’ WEEKEND VI: NIGHT THREE: JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD, PUJOL, GG KING, DIRTY FENCES, HEATERS, JAWWS
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $17-45 | 18+
The finale for Freakin’ Weekend VI is going down this Saturday, with three local bands that love tearing the roof off Exit/In. Look for JEFF the Brotherhood, Pujol and Jawws to rep it hard for Music City, and they’re just a fraction of the final night shenanigans. Be there or be LAME. [JR]
HOZIER w/ GEORGE EZRA
@ Ryman Auditorium | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
Irish crooner Andrew Hozier-Byrne will literally be taking fans to church at the Ryman Auditorium this Saturday night. While it’s very rare for a newcomer to sell out three separate nights at the Mother Church, we’re not surprised that these tickets went as fast as they did. George Ezra, whose hit “Budapest” skyrocketed to the top of the charts recently, will open the show to make a night full of soulful singing. [MG]
ELEL (EP RELEASE SHOW) w/ JO’SHUA ODINE
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $8 | 18+
ELEL‘s long awaited and highly-anticipated debut EP finally dropped earlier this month, and, in celebration, the eclectic indie rockers are throwing a release show at The Stone Fox with Jo’shua Odine. By now, you guys have surely heard their tunes (we’ve been telling you about ELEL since their first ever show), but, if not, get acquainted below, because they’re the next Nashville act that’s about to explode. [PO]
GANG OF FOUR w/ PUBLIC ACCESS TV
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $20 | 21+
Though their current lineup is absent some key members (most notably vocalist Jon King), British post-punk pioneers Gang of Four have proven surprisingly resilient, employing the use of guest singers on their pretty impressive new album, What Happens Next. Most notable, perhaps, is their work with The Kills and The Dead Weather’s Alison Mosshart, who happens to live here. Though we don’t know for sure, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ms. Mosshart show up to sing a few tunes. Only one way to find out! [PO]
REVERSE BUZZARDS, MONTAUK PROJECK, ANDREW LOWRY BAND, WYLAND, MAX & THE WILD THINGS, 2/3 GOAT, ALLISON BENCAR, ANU SAVA
@ The Crying Wolf | 6pm | FREE | 21+
A few posts ago, we mentioned that The Crying Wolf will be hosting one half this years Road to SXSW – East Nashville Edition. A total of 7 acts will perform for free throughout the day over at Fat Bottom Brewery, and then you should saunter/stumble/lyft/uber/etc over to the Crying Wolf for 8 more acts. This is a great chance to familiarize yourself with some incredible up and coming talent for free! [JS]
LINDI ORTEGA w/ COREY CHISEL, AUBRIE SELLERS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Lindi Ortega hails from Toronto where she was a part of that city’s thriving indie scene for nearly a decade before moving to Nashville, a place that feels more like her musical home given her traditional country influences including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Patsy Cline. She’s always existed more on the dark, authentic, alternative side of the country establishment, though she easily could have cashed in and become a countrified pop tart. She hasn’t had a record out since 2013’s Tin Star, and I think I can speak for her fans by saying we’re ready for new music. Ortega just released the song “Tell It Like It Is,” which I’m hoping is a sign a new record is in the works. She’s playing the 5 Spot with folk singer Corey Chisel and country singer-songwriter Aubrie Sellers on Saturday and this is a rare opportunity to see Ortega in such a small venue. [JSa]
CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN
@ The High Watt | 9pm | SOLD OUT | 18+
British indie-rockers Catfish and The Bottlemen are poised to do big things. Industry hype from last year’s SXSW evolved into a burgeoning radio takeover with irresistible single “Kathleen.” If you grabbed tickets to the sold out High Watt show, we’d guess you’re in for a “I saw them when…” experience. Unfortunately, with all the buzz, this one sold out in advance. [WD]
CHINGY, NAPPY ROOTS, UGLY KIDS CLUB, DRAE JACKSON, HOT TUB CLUB, BUCKEYE: THE WORLD’S GREATEST
@ The Greenhouse Bar | 12pm | $15 GA / $35 VIP | 21+
Looking to deplete your stockpile of Red Bull and wild out? Head to The Greenhouse Bar for a Southern hip-hop fiasco in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day- The Lucky Stache Bash III. Headlined by early ’00s hit maker Chingy and dirty South progenitors Nappy Roots, the lineup also boast Nashville’s own indulgently ridiculous Hot Tub Club and Ugly Kids Club, among others. Oh, and you get can free rides from Uber. Party responsibly, friends. [WD]
CREATURE COMFORT, EVERYTHING’S EVENTUAL, GIRLS AND MONEY, QUIET ENTERTAINER
@ fooBAR | 9pm | $5 | 21+
It’s a party of epically eclectic proportions at fooBAR on Saturday night featuring the alliterative Creature Comfort and Everything’s Eventual, No Country Presents alums Girls And Money, and Quiet Entertainer. This low dough show is a perfect fit for those that are looking for a little piece of everything on the east side. [MH]
AMANDA SHIRES, SEAN MCCONNELL, BEN DANAHER
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 6pm | $15 | All Ages
Local singer-songwriter (and wife to Jason Isbell) Amanda Shires is a longtime site favorite, and a welcome fixture in Nashville’s alt-country and Americana scene. She’s be performing her fantastic tunes to benefit Ride For Reading, and she’ll be joined by Sean McConnell and Ben Danaher. [PO]
SUNDAY
THE WHIGS w/ SONS OF BILL, THE LONDON SOULS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 7pm | $10 | All Ages
New wave garage punks The Whigs top one of the best bills of the weekend that isn’t part of Freakin’ Weekend, also featuring some brotherly love from sibling rock ’n’ rollers Sons of Bill, and the hard hitting New York based rockers The London Souls. [JR]
JUSTIN COLLINS, PONY BOY, LIZ COOPER, PRESTON LEATHER, T. RUST
@ The Basement | 8pm | FREE | 21+
Though you might recognize Justin Collins for his production work with successful acts like Middle Brother and Deer Tick, you may not yet be aware of his solo project, Justin and the Cosmics. This act has the same Southern twang and clever lyricisms as many of Collins’ previous projects, but utilizes a more reverb-heavy, dreamlike approach. Collins is set to go on tour with Diamond Rug, so this will be your last chance to see him play around town for a bit. Check it out for free with Pony Boy, Liz Cooper, Preston Leather, and T. Rust. [JS]
HABIBI
@ Fond Object Records | 4pm | FREE | All Ages
This all-girl quartet was founded by Detroit natives Rahill Jamalifard and Lenny Lynch over their shared love of that city’s Motown and punk music. The group’s name means “my love” in Arabic and Habibi find inspiration in Middle Eastern culture from Jamalifard’s Persian background and a love of traditional music from that part of the world, which works its way into their melodies and mystical lyrics. That unique blend of influences has built considerable buzz around the band before they’ve even released a full-length record, so come down to Fond Object on Sunday afternoon and check them out for free! BYOB if you feel so inclined. [JSa]
TETHERBALL, TOMMY HANS, JONNI GRETH, DARRIN BRADBURY
@ The Crooked House (1262 2nd Ave S) | 6pm | FREE | 18+
We feel like Tetherball was one of our best finds of 2014. So much so that we’ve invited them to play our Acme Feed & Seed showcase on April 14th. You should get some Tetherball in your life immediately though, and support them and some friends as they are throwing a costume party show in preparation for their journey to Austin. Let’s get weird. [MH]
MERCY BELL, WE SPEAK IN COLORS, LONELY BENSON, GOLDEN YOUTH
@ Scout’s Barbershop | 7pm | FREE | 18+
No Country Presents alum Mercy Bell headlines this spring party at Scout’s Barbershop on Sunday, but the show will also serve as a release party of sorts for We Speak In Colors‘ EP Ashton. You can check the EP out below to get you in the mood, and head out early to enjoy a free event to help you hop into spring. [MH]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JMo] Jeff Moody
[JS] Jack Smith
[JSa] Jacqui Sahagian
[MC] Matt Cairns
[MH] Matt Hall
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[PO] Philip Obenschain
[WD] Wes Davenport