TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | April 20-22

While Vandy’s annual festival this weekend may claim the name, it always feels like Record Store Day is an official Rite of Spring, and Nashville, being the music city that it is, puts on some serious big boy pants to blow this event out in epic style. We have a full guide of RSD happenings that you can check out here, but, if you disdain free music, beer, and killer vinyl, then you could always opt for a number of traditional shows that are worth your attention. Hate music, and are for some reason still reading this site? There’s also the Nashville Comedy Festival going on that features some of the nation’s top funny people at venues across the city. Regardless of what you do, enjoy your rite of spring.

FRIDAY

PALE HOUSES w/ KYLE ANDREWS, PATRICK DAMPHIER, POLY
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $7 | 18+

Local indie rockers Pale Houses are celebrating the release of their Brandon Owens (MUTEMATH) produced EP, Songs Of Isolation, which will appeal to fans of Sunny Day Real Estate, Death Cab For Cutie, and even some unique production techniques that nod to ’80s pop. It’s one of the better releases to come out of Nashville indie rock scene this year, and that’s saying a LOT. They’ll be celebrating the release along with songwriter/producer Kyle Andrews, Patrick Damphier, and long-time eclectic acoustic outfit Poly. If you are looking for a best of what’s next show, this is a good bet. [MH]

MICROWAVE MOUNTAIN w/ GRAVITY THONG, H.A.R.D.
@ The Cobra | 9:30pm (9pm doors) | $5 or $10 w/cassette | 21+

We’ve been talking about this one for going on a week now, since one of the hottest bands in the local underground garage scene, Microwave Mountain are poised to release their highly-anticipated sophomore cassette-only album, Sick Licks. You can get into the show for just a five spot, or for ten beans with a copy of of the cassette (courtesy of Cold lunch Recordings), while supplies last! Frontman Jamie Timm, via his band’s music video below, makes it no secret that he is pro all things 420 related as well, so The Cobra will be a great place to the celebrate the holiday with some buds. Look for special guests Gravity Thong and H.A.R.D. to help make it night to remember … even after catching a buzz. Read more here. [JR]

The 4/20 AARON LEE TAS-JAM ft. AARON LEE TASJAN w/ ELIZABETH COOK, DYLAN LEBLANC, DEVON GILFILLIAN, BECCA MANCARI, PATRICK SWEANY & MORE
@ The Basement East | 9pm (8pm doors) | $12-15 | 18+

It’s hard to deny the success of Aaron Lee Tasjan since he relocated to Nashville a few years ago.  Now two records in, including his well-received Silver Tears on hot shot local label New West Records, Tasjan has quickly become a not-to-miss local storyteller, and fast rising artist outside of Music City.  He’s throwing together a 4/20 (Earth Day, right?) jam session on Friday night at The Basement East featuring some top-notch talent, including sticky-sweet siren-voiced Elizabeth Cook, budding songwriters Dylan LeBlanc and Becca Mancari, the dank bluesy guitar licks of Patrick Sweany and Devon Gilfillian, and more. If you are looking for a uniquely lit Nashville event, voila.  [MH]

SMALL TALKS, ROME HERO FOXES w/ HARRISON GORDEN, BURNSIE
@ Café Coco | 7:30pm (7pm doors) | $5-10 | All Ages

The musical alias of Cayley Spivey, Small Talks hails from Myrtle Beach, and a plays a dreamy, poppy flavor of indie rock we’re obsessed with from first listen. 2017 saw the buzzy up and comer tour extensively, and we’re excited to see her return to Music City for a great DIY show at Cafe Coco. Co-headliners Rome Hero Foxes, from Texas, play a sort of dreamy, post-punk infused style of earnest, progressive indie rock, which feels like a perfect compliment. Locals Harrison Gorden and Burnsie get things going, for one of the best under the radar happenings you’ll find all weekend. [PO]

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
NEIL HAMBURGER w/ CARLA RHODES
@ Exit/In | 8pm (7pm doors) | $10-25 | 18+

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

LINDI ORTEGA w/ HUGH MASTERSON
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $15 | All Ages

Locally based Canadian import Lindi Ortega has that crispy, country fried outer layer we enjoy from our Music City singer-songwriters, but when you get deeper into her lyrics there is a darkness there that is both frightening and captivating at the same time. You can experience this multifaceted performer for yourself live this Friday at 3rd and Lindsley, where she’ll be sharing her wares, including a new record entitled Liberty.With folk musician Hugh Masterson kicking things off, it will definitely be one of the best bills of the weekend for the wordsmiths out there, or at least people all people who appreciate lyrical content. [JR]

RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE w/ CAAMP
@ Cannery Ballroom | 9pm (8pm doors) | SOLD OUT | 18+

The success of Rainbow Kitten Surprise over the past few years has been astounding.  The genre-defying band first caught traction with their undeniably catchy single “Devil Like Me,” from their 2013 debu, Seven + Mary, and followed that up with their highly-acclaimed 2015 follow-up, RKS. The band really picked up steam with a string of sold out headlining gigs and festival appearances, which highlighted their super high energy live set. Now out supporting their latest release, How to: Friend, Love, Freefall,  the group are looking to capitalize on the momentum, and bring their unique harmonies, exquisite instrumentation, and charismatic frontman to larger and larger audiences. Their set at Cannery Ballroom on Friday is their largest local show to date, and it’s not really that surprising that this one has been sold out for months. [MH]

EASY ROSCOE, FAIR CITY FIRE, JOSH MORRIS, JET SETTING
@ The Local | 8pm | FREE | 21+

With their anthemic, poppy, party rock attitude, Easy Roscoe have become one of our favorite emerging local acts in recent years. Always a blast live, the group are headlining a FREE 4/20 show at neighborhood hang The Local, along with groovy Austin rockers Fair City Fire and locals Josh Morris and Jet Setting. Can’t beat the price! [PO]

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
BILL BURR
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 7pm | $45 | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

RITES OF SPRING: DNCE, H.E.R., KIIARA
@ Vanderbilt Alumni Lawn | 7:50pm (5pm gates) | $35-50 | All Ages

Vanderbilt’s annual Rites of Spring concert is looking a bit more scaled down than usual this year, but with no shortage of big names, and the typical eclectic mix of pop, hip hop, rock, and electronic, it’s sure to be a good time. Friday night kicks off with funky dance rock faves DNCE, along with r&b singer-songwriter H.E.R. and pop singer Kiiara. [PO]

THE HOLLOW ROOTS w/ STEP SISTERS, SPIRITS REPUBLIC, LUCKY SOUTHERN DEVILS
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $8-10 | 21+

Locals The Hollow Roots met a few years back while attending MTSU, and instantly clicked musically, honing a sound that combines the retro hard rock of the ’60s and ’70s with a modern garage rock fuzz. A buzzy growing fixture in the local scene, their style just begs to be witnessed in person, and you can do just that Friday night at The Basement, along with indie/garage rock faves Step Sisters, experimental group Spirits Republic, and genre-bending trio Lucky Southern Devils, making for a great local sampling. [PO]

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
ANDREW DICE CLAY
@ Zanies | 7pm (5:30pm doors) | $42.50  | 18+ 

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

RYAN BINGHAM
@ City Winery | 8pm (6pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

WE ARE THE FINALE w/ THE HOLLYWOOD KILLS, FAUNA HALO
@ The End | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+

SATURDAY

NECTAR, CASH BASKET, BUTTHOLE, PUMPKINSEED
@ The Cobra | 8pm | $7 | 21+

Celebrating the brand new release of their debut full-length, Knocking at the Door, on Infinity Car, Illinois’ grungy, pop punk outfit Nectar are headlining The Cobra Saturday night for a show that feels perfect to end your Record Store Day. Initially the side project of Kamila Glowacki, as an outlet for music that didn’t fit her more punk-rooted projects, Nectar soon expanded into a full on band, and their debut, like all things Infinity Cat, is one of the year’s best under the radar releases so far. With support from local indie/post-punks Cash Basket, grunge pop faves Butthole, and experimental/garage rockers Pumpkinseed, this looks down right essential. [PO]

[RECORD STORE DAY]
SOCCER MOMMY, TEDDY & THE ROUGH RIDERS, DANCERS
@ Third Man Records | 12:30pm | FREE | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Record Store Day in Nashville.

[RECORD STORE DAY]
THE WILD FEATHERS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEBE BUELL, NECTAR, ORNAMENT, & MORE
@ Grimey’s | 11am | FREE | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Record Store Day in Nashville.

[RECORD STORE DAY]
R STEVIE MOORE, ORNAMENT, CHERRY BLOSSOMS, IDLE BLOOM, PETER PAN BAND, RICHIE, STEELISM, SAD BAXTER, & MORE
@ Fond Object (Riverside) | pm | FREE | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Record Store Day in Nashville.

THE DELTA SAINTS w/ FOREST FIRE GOSPEL CHOIR
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $12-15 | 18+

Local blues/indie rock staples The Delta Saints have been setting stages ablaze in town and on tour for going on a decade now. We’ve been happy to watch them carve out their spot in local lore and blossom into a national level act, but unfortunately it looks like they will be embarking on what they are calling their “Farewell for Now” Tour, after this Nashville show. Don’t freak out though; they’re not breaking up. Rather, they have said they are going to put things on pause for a little while, to refocus, after years and years of running nearly nonstop. Look for fellow locals and roots hard rock outfit Forest Fire Gospel Choir to jump start what is sure to be one of the top shows of the weekend, especially for long time fans of the headliners. [JR]

[RECORD STORE DAY]
*REPEAT REPEAT, OKEY DOKEY, LIZ COOPER AND THE STAMPEDE, DIAMOND CARTER, JEFF CARL, & MORE
@ The Groove | 12pm | FREE | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Record Store Day in Nashville.

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
JONAH RAY
@ Zanies | 9:15pm (8:45pm doors) | $20 | 18+

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

HARI w/ WATERFALL WASH, Z, THE BURPS
@ 5 Spot | 9pm | 21+

Local, shogazey pop-inspired rockers HARI have been making some standout music over the past few years, and we even premiered their EP, Daze in the Sun, last fall. Rumor has it the band are at work on a new record now, and you may get a taste of what’s to come when they host a post-Record Store Day show at The 5 Spot on Saturday night.  They’ll be joined by eclectic indie rockers and blog faves Waterfall Wash, and likeminded outfits The Burps and Z.  Save some energy on Saturday, because this one is worth staying out for. [MH]

MADDIE MEDLEY, ACHY, MAHTO & THE LOOSE BALLOONS
@ Two Boots Pizza | 8pm | $5 | All Ages

Local alt rocker Maddie Medley has been buzzing on our radar for a couple years, with a handful of releases and shows, but she’s really begun to attract broader critical attention with her excellent, earnest new single “Coming of Age.” Get to know the rising local talent with an inexpensive, all-ages Saturday night show at Two Pizza Pizza, where she’ll be joined by garage pop trio Achy, and Johnson City wacky, experimental popsters Mahto & The Loose Baloons. [PO]

[RECORD STORE DAY]
OLIVIA JEAN, BLACK VENUS, BILLY BENNETT, LAWNDRY, THE MINKS, TTOTALS, LASSO SPELLS, MICROWAVE MOUNTAIN, & MORE
@ Fond Object (Downtown) | 12pm | FREE | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Record Store Day in Nashville.

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
SAL VULCANO & NATE BARGATZE
@ TPAC’s James K. Polk Theater | 8pm | $35 | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

IVEN w/ MEANGIRLS, GRANDDAD, SKOOLGIRL
@ Betty’s | 8pm | $7

Celebrating the cassette release of their new EP, local lo-fi, experimental rockers Iven head up yet another cool, inexpensive, DIY option to end your Record Store Day. Austin emo/pop punk group MeanGirls and Minneapolis (via Alaska) emo/punks Granddad pass through on tour (and are both bands that should absolutely be on your radar), and lovable local poppy, indie rockers Skoolgirl kick things off. [PO]

RITES OF SPRING: GUCCI MANE, CHEAT CODES, GOLDLINK, BORN ANIMAL
@ Vanderbilt Alumni Lawn | 7pm (5pm gates) | $35-50 | All Ages

Vanderbilt’s Rites of Spring keeps the fun going in day two with acclaimed rapper Gucci Mane in the top spot. Rounding out the lineup are DJ trio Cheat Codes, rising rapper GoldLink, and local rockers Born Animal. Single day tickets are available in addition to weekend passes, in case you don’t want to commit to the whole thing. [PO]

[RECORD STORE DAY]
THE MEDIUM, DESERT NOISES, NIGHTINGAIL, PATRICK DAMPHIER, RALES, TELEFONES, SUN BROTHER
@ Vinyl Tap | 1pm | FREE | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Record Store Day in Nashville.

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
BILL BURR
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 9:30pm | $45 | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

VOLK, RYE BABY, THE TENDERS
@ Bowery Vault | 7pm | FREE

If you’re looking for some free evening fun to make a proper day out of your Record Store Day, Bowery Vault has you covered, with a cool local bill. Gothic western rockers Volk top the bill, while Chattanooga folk/punk/Americana duo Rye Baby and garage rockers The Tenders round things out. [PO]

SLIDER, TIME TRAP, TACO MOUTH, DARK HOUND
@ The Basement | 8:30pm (8pm doors) | $5-7 | 21+

Grimey’s is, per usual, going all out on Record Store Day, with perhaps the biggest select of releases in town, additional sales, freebies, and a course an all-day slate of free music and DJs in the back lot. If you’re still rallying by the end of it, you can stick around for a “Record Store Night” show at The Basement, which features local pop rockers Slider, party rockers Time Trap, ex-Dead Deads project Taco Mouth, and heavy metal group Dark Hound, all for just a few bucks. [PO]

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
ANDREW DICE CLAY
@ Zanies | 7pm (5:30pm doors) | $42.50 | 18+

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

JARED & THE MILL w/ LYDIA LUCE
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $12-15 | 18+

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
THE COMEDY GET DOWN ft. CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER, EDDIE GRIFFIN, D.L. HUGHLEY, GEORGE LOPEZ
@ Bridgestone Arena | 8pm | $21.50-85.25 | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

SUNDAY

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
MIDDLEDITCH & SCHWARTZ
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 7pm | $35 | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

WOLF ALICE w/ THE BIG PINK
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $18 | All Ages

British alt rockers Wolf Alice found worldwide acclaim with their indie and shoegaze-infused phenomenal 2015 debut, My Love Is Cool. Countless tours, festival appearances, award nominations, and major placements later, and they’re both with a worthy followup, last year’s Visions of a Life. A dynamic and engaging live force, this weekend marks just their second time in Nashville ever, and first since 2015. It’s Lighting 100’s Nashville Sunday Night, with The Big Pink supporting, and despite the hectic weekend schedule, this should be a top consideration. [PO]

THE VERVE PIPE
@ City Winery | 8pm (6pm doors) | $18-25 | All Ages

For the second weekend in a row (last week it was Candlebox), City Winery is welcoming legends from the world of ’90s alt rock. The Verve Pipe exploded into mainstream consciousness with their 1996 major label debut Villains. Thanks in no small part to MTV, and a music video for the legendary single “Freshman,” the record would go on to reach platinum status, and the band (with some lineup changes) have been going strong ever since. Last year they dropped Parachute, their sixth full length to date, so don’t expect there to be a shortage of great material for them to draw from. Grab tickets while you can, because even on a very busy weekend, this one is in danger of selling out. [JR]

[NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL]
CHRIS D’ELIA
@ War Memorial Auditorium | 7pm | $34.50 | All Ages

Check out our full guide to the Nashville Comedy Festival for more.

THE COLLECTION w/ MARIE MILLER
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 18+

[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain