Out in support of their stellar new sophomore album, All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell, breakout Massachusetts alt rock/dark electropop trio PVRIS are set to return to Nashville tonight,Oct. 6 for their largest local headliner to date, at Marathon Music Works, on the heels of a high-profile supporting slot earlier this year at Ascend with Muse and Thirty Seconds to Mars. PVRIS alone is exciting, but making this show even more essential is the addition of beloved electropop singer Lights, whose latest, Skin & Earth, pushes her artistic medium and conceptual nature to new heights, and buzzy up and comer Party Nails. Tickets are still available right here, and whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to these acts, we encourage you to take the plunge and catch what promises to be one of the best shows of the fall. Read on for more about the lineup below!
PVRIS
Thanks to their unbelievably strong 2014 debut LP White Noise, buzzworthy Massachusetts alt rock/dark electropop trio PVRIS have, over the last few years, ascended from a tiny touring entity (they’ve played plenty of Nashville dives and DIY spots in the past) to a certifiable, mainstream rock juggernaut, earning critical praise and radio buzz, and nabbing appearances at high profile festivals and on the late night TV circuit. After re-releasing a deluxe edition of White Noise last year, then following up a huge tour with Muse and Thirty Seconds to Mars with their highly-anticipated sophomore effort, All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell, earlier this summer, PVRIS feel inevitably poised to become one of the biggest new acts in rock, as evidenced by their largest headlining show in Nashville to date this time around. An absolute live juggernaut, propelled by the immense talent of frontwoman Lynn Gunn, PVRIS are a band you must see live to fully appreciate, and now that they’ve had a few years to cut their teeth, they’re as inspired and engaging as ever. Formed only in 2012, the young trio are likely to soon leapfrog the alt/punk scene, and graduate to the mainstream echelon, so far following a similar career trajectory to breakout acts like Paramore and twenty one pilots. An absolute band you need to know, if you’ve somehow slept on them up to this point, this is a must-see show to understand what all of the hype is about. You won’t be disappointed.
LIGHTS
Though she claims Toronto as her home base, Lights (that’s really her legal name these days, though she was born Valerie Poxleitner) was raised by missionaries, moving around through various corners of the world. Gravitating towards playing in bands at a young age, Lights developed her signature synth-heavy pop sound in the mid-’00s, largely a DIY writing effort, finding swift and significant success with her self-titled debut EP and subsequent LP, The Listening. With even more acclaim and award recognition in her native Canada, the singer connected with the punk community in the U.S., nabbing an early spot on Warped Tour and gaining further attention with a national ad campaign with Old Navy. Though her debut is a near-perfect pop album, later releases would incorporate both more conventional instrumentation and broader EDM, hip hop, and dubstep-dervived influences, helping Lights connect with a wider and even more eclectic audience. Through years of touring with a wide array of acts, she’s developed an unbelievable live show to match, boasting a full backing band, light show, tons of synths, and incredibly polished performance chops. With her recent fourth album, Skin & Earth, her most ambitious to date, the singer also incorporates her love of comic books, going full-on concept album and broadening her medium with a great tie-in comic series that she wrote and illustrated herself. Distinctly different but well matched for PVRIS, Lights on her own would be worth the price of admission.
PARTY NAILS
Los Angeles based Party Nails, the live alias of New York native Elana Belle Carroll, has more in common with Lights’ shimmering electropop than PVRIS’ more rock-oriented sound, but should nonetheless be a treat for fans of both, crafting lush, infectious hooks and indie pop bliss. A relative newcomer, the promising singer has been earning up buzz and drumming up a following thanks to a string of great singles over the past couple of years, and just dropped her debut EP, Come Again, earlier this year. Show up early!
PVRIS, Lights, and Party Nails will perform tonight, Oct. 6 at Marathon Music Works. The show is all ages, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $27.