A Few Good Shows: 11/9/12
November 9, 2012
Pre-show listing importance: The NYC/New Jersey area is still suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. There’s a great opportunity to help this Saturday at The Well in Green Hills form 1-4pm. The Nashville Food Bloggers and Sweet Betweens are organizing a bake sale! So stop by and pickup some goodies to benefit Sandy victims.
Now for the weekend show listings: It’s gonna be another good weekend to get out and see some local shows in Nashville! Here are my recommendations:
FRIDAY:
Take the Power Back: a tribute to Rage Against the Machine, with Tipper Whore and Hotel War @ Exit/In. 9pm $10
Faux Ferocious w/ Hi Electric and Timmy & The Tumblers @ Springwater. 10pm $5
SATURDAY:
Peelander-Z with Electric Eel Shock and The Joy of Painting @ Mercy Lounge. 8pm $12
Schools, Evan P. Donohue, Calicocat, and Heavy Chase @ The End. 9pm $5
My So-Called Band plays Weezer’s Blue Album and Pinkerton @ the Stone Fox. 9pm $7
Ponychase record release in-store performance @ Grimey’s. FREE 5pm (Their new EP is fantastic check it out below!)
SUNDAY:
Regina Spektor w/ Only Son @ The Ryman. 7:30pm $24.50-$37.50
Snowmine w/ Bows and Arrows @ The End. 9pm $7
Have a great weekend!
Self to reunite for benefit show on Dec. 29th!
November 8, 2012
I knew the day would eventually come- the day that Matt Mahaffey, one of my all-time musical heroes, would get his defunct band/project Self back together on a stage. That day has finally arrived! It was announced today that Self will indeed finally return to the stage on Dec. 29th to play a benefit show at the Exit/In with Forget Cassettes. The show benefits the Music for Life Alliance, an organization that supports music education for kids who might not otherwise have access to it. I’m very curious as to who Matt will enlist for the band. I’ve no doubt Seth Timbs of Fluid Ounces/Seth Timbs Thing/Hot New Singles will be involved, but other than it’s anybody’s guess as to how many of the original members will be down for it.
Tickets go on sale 11/15 via the Exit/In website.
A Few Good Shows: 2/17/12
February 17, 2012
Nashville’s got options this weekend! Here’s some stuff I think is worth your time and money:
FRIDAY:
A Valentine’s Prom at the 5 Spot, benefitting Tennessee Teens Rock & Roll Camp ft. Jason Thomas, Jason Eskridge, Kansas Bible Company, and DJs Matt Smith & Chris Doubler. $4 if you dress the part, $7 otherwise. I will also be there doing a very prommy photobooth, so I recommend coming out to the east side and helping out a very special cause!
Caitlin Rose, Buffalo Clover, Evan P. Donohue @ The Basement. 9pm $8
The Clutters, Cy Barkley, Bad Touch @ Dino’s Bar & Grill. 9pm $???
My So-Called Band @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $10
SATURDAY:
By Lightning album release show w/ Cortney Tidwell, Glossary @ The Basement. 9pm $5
Sex Cult, D. Watusi, Useless Eaters, Dirty Dreams @ Little Hamilton. 9pm $5??
Fly Golden Eagle, Little Viking, Forwards Edwards, Winnebago @ The Other Basement. 9pm $3
Screaming Females & Girl Scouts @ Grimey’s (in-store show) 4:30pm FREE
The music of Les Miserables in a concert benefitting YEAH: tonight & tomorrow at Mercy Lounge
December 7, 2011
It’s been a big season of benefit shows for YEAH! but this one is probably the biggest- a bunch of local musicians/artists have teamed up to present the music of Les Miserables live in concert two nights in a row at Mercy Lounge. It kicks off tonight, tickets are $18, and it will be awesome. With Larissa Maestro and Jordan & Alex Caress at the helm and a huge cast of local musicians from such acts as Uncle Skeleton, By Lightning!, Ponychase, The Privates, Umbrella Tree, The Non-Commissioned Officers, Happy Little Trees, Blue Heart Hour, and many more, this is quite the undertaking. Again, this is a two night stand, but I have a feeling tonight will be the biggest of the two since Hall & Oates are at the Ryman tomorrow night. YEAH! is just about the coolest non-profit in all of TN and I’m proud to be an active volunteer with them. They deserve your support!
On a completely separate note (but still relevant to this blog), I’ve been approved by YEAH’s music programs director to start a new workshop at the Tennessee Teens Rock & Roll Camp this year- the Science of Music. Here’s the description I came up with, with the help of fellow volunteer (and former camper/fellow nerd) Alyssa Scheele:
How does an electric guitar work? How does a microphone work? How does MUSIC work? Learn this and much more in the brand new Science of Music workshop. This workshop will give campers a crash course in the science behind music and how different instruments and audio equipment create and amplify sound. This workshop is ideal for campers who might be interested in the production side of music. The Science of Music will empower campers to pursue science as well as music by showing them how science is an integral part of art.
I’m ecstatic about getting to teach kids how basically everything, let alone modern music, would not be possible without science. I want to get them to make that connection and realize that science isn’t all far-off labs, atom smashers, and old dudes in white coats. It’s also a part of literally EVERYTHING. I think that focusing on how science makes music possible is the best way to make it “hit home” with them. AND it will hopefully jumpstart some of them in the direction of music production, both studio and live.
Before I list this weekend’s Nashville show offerings, there are a few newsy-bits that need to be shared:
Caitlin Rose stopped by the Daytrotter studio recently to record a lovely live session. Go grab the mp3’s here… the free ones are an ugly 128 kb/s in quality, but for a measly $4 you can get the high quality version. I still haven’t heard an official release date for her album (which was recently completed), but it should be this coming fall/winter. (Via Yewknee via Hartley)
Some other big news from the Hartley camp- De Novo Dahl’s new album Tigerlion is officially out, and you can get it at their bandcamp for whatever price you wish to pay. They celebrate the release tonight at Mercy Lounge. (More on that below.)
Brooklynvegan is a bit behind on their coverage of Nikkin Darlin’s injury, but I mention the post because they included a pretty cool short documentary video about them that was shot during this year’s SXSW. Check it:
Now for this weekend’s plethora of show offerings…
FRIDAY
As I mentioned above, tonight is the release party for De Novo Dahl’s new album Tigerlion. It’s at Mercy Lounge, they’ve enlisted the help of How Cozy!, Tallest Trees, and Fly Golden Eagle. The show’s proceeds will benefit Ms. Candice Burnside, who you’ll know if you ever frequented Grimey’s New & Preloved Music over the past few years. She’s currently battling breast cancer (which as I understand, she’s all but won).
There’s a pretty kickass house show happening tonight in east Nashville- the Non-Commissioned Officers, Tristen, and the Whole Fantastic World. More info on the facebook event.
I must also mention that tonight is the 2-year birthday of Happy Valley, taking place at the Cannery Ballroom. Jim O’Shea and the staff of Cannery Ballroom have put their heads together to create a light show/atmosphere that will surely blow your mind. DJ’s are Coach, Mindub, Sanchez & the Shockers, Ducko, and Hands off Sam. I also hear that a certain hat wearin’, trash talkin’, Dime managin’, former oil tycoon will be there….
SATURDAY
There’s yet another benefit for Candice Burnside happening on Saturday, this time at the Exit/In, with none other than the Features, Cortney Tidwell, and a re-united (with a slightly different lineup) Hotpipes. There will also be DJs between bands: Sean Maloney (as LWWS LRRRGNT), Curse of the Drinking Class, and yours truly (Burgers). Facebook event here.
The other big show for Saturday is the Moustache May closing party at Mercy Lounge. Michael Eades has put together a great lineup for this one: The Whole New Usuals, Tristen, Shaboi, Roy Ira, and Uncle Skeleton. The big story here is Uncle Skeleton, the (formerly) side project of Ross Wariner of Kindercastle fame. Ross put out his debut album Pancho Chumley last year under the Uncle Skeleton moniker, and now the follow-up Warm Under the Covers will be unofficially released at this show. I say unofficially because Mr. Eades (whose label YK Records is handling the album) said “Sadly, the vinyl version will not be available in time for the release so I’m not making it official official until that time.”
I must also mention now, since it’s Memorial Day weekend, that this coming Monday, May 31st is my next 8 off 8th. It’s actually 7 off 8th, but that’s because it’s the official afterparty of the Rock & Roll Trivia 1-year anniversary, which is happening earlier that night and may run a little later than usual due to the festivities. The lineup is (in no particular order): The Whole Fantastic World, Bad Cop, Powerbrrrd, How Cozy!, Evan P. Donohue, Zut Alors, and Kingston Springs. As always, it’s FREE and is 21+. They also have $2.50 Yuenglings. Flyer (links to facebook event):
Nashville Flood photos/volunteer info
May 4, 2010
The flood waters that have turned Nashville into “Nashlantis” came close to our house but thankfully spared us. There are many, MANY who were not so lucky, so first and foremost I want to direct you to this post on Nashvillest, where they are continuously and tirelessly updating info about where volunteers are needeed, where they’re not, where supplies are needed, where they’re not, and just about anything else about how to help. Seriously, those girls deserve a medal of honor for their awesome work aggregating information and putting it all in one easy place. Morgan/Christy- I’m buying you both a drink next time I see you out. If manual labor is not your thing, the best thing you can do right now is CONSERVE WATER. As of now the water supply is perfectly fine and safe to drink, however officials are concerned that with one water treatment plant flooded and another threatened, Nashville may end up with a clean water shortage. LIMIT YOUR WATER USAGE TO ONLY THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES. WHEN YOU TAKE SHOWERS, LIMIT THEM TO 3 MINUTES OR LESS, AND DON’T USE DISHWASHERS OR LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES. DON’T EVEN WADE THROUGH FLOOD WATER UNLESS YOU HAVE TO, BECAUSE IT IS LIKELY CONTAMINATED WITH RAW SEWAGE.
Relating this to the local music scene: there will be many benefit shows in the next few weeks, the first of which is happening at Mercy Lounge tomorrow (Wed.) night. They have turned their Cinco De Mayo party into a benefit show, and it will feature Paper Route, How I Became the Bomb, the Dozen Dimes, Hillbilly Casino, and possibly more. Please come out and donate some $$$ to help out. Also, my band Powerbrrrd had our first show in many months booked this Sat. May 8th at the End, and we’ve all decided to turn it into a benefit show as well. Other bands are Diarrhea Planet, Frank the Fuck Out, and Bad Cop, and Spanish Candles. We’re gonna try to start right at 9 since we’ve got 5 bands. It’s Diarrhea Planet’s EP release show as well.
If you’re interested in some of the statistics on this event, check out this public information statement from the National Weather Service containing most of the records that were set/broken this past weekend.
In dire times like these, it’s good to lighten the load on your mind for a minute and just laugh at something. So in case you haven’t already seen it, I give you the Great Nashville Weather Penis.
Here are a few select photos I took Sunday and Monday at the Farmer’s Market and in my neighborhood in north Nashville. The full set is on my flickr.
Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger/Benefit show in M’boro
January 26, 2010
I’m not quite sure whether to breathe a sigh of relief, or still be worried about the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. I haven’t really had a chance to fully think the outcome through yet. But the news is: the merger is on, but with special provisions mandated by the government to prevent a full-on monopoly on the entire live music business. Basically, AEG Live will get to use Ticketmaster’s software, and Ticketmaster’s Paciolan ticketing and software services unit will be sold to a division of Comcast or another possible buyer. I guess the biggest worry here was that the merger would go on unchecked and that did NOT happen, so I guess we can all sigh a breath of relief… for the time being. More details at Business Insider.
There’s a pretty cool fundraiser/benefit show happening in Murfreesboro this Thursday 1/28/2010 for YEAH. (If you’re unfamiliar with YEAH, which stands for Youth Education through Arts & Humanities, please click on the flier to visit their website and learn more about their AWESOME program.) The show lineup is Shoot The Mountain, Hammertorch, and How I Became the Bomb, and there will also be Yazoo and New Belgium beers! (The beer part is a big deal because normally this space is alcohol-free because it’s an all-ages venue/hangout.) It’s obviously an 18+ event, and your attendance will help out one of the best local causes I can think of.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of local electronic/8-bit wizard Matt Pusti. We went to MTSU together and he was mostly responsible for my introduction to electronic music in general. Before that, I thought drum machines were evil and anything not made by a “real” instrument was terrible. I recently mentioned his newer, more experimental endeavor DAAS and was quite glad to see him getting back to producing that genre of electronic music. (His material before Makeup & Vanity Set sounded much more like the DAAS material.) His Makeup & Vanity Set project has been somewhat idle for a couple years, but that has just changed with the release of his new Jambox EP on Bandcamp. GO GET IT NOW FOR NOTHING MORE THAN YOUR EMAIL. This is apparently just a taste of the goodness to come on his next full-length, due out later this year. I will probably do an interview with him as my first “official” interview on here… one of more to come.
Weekend stuff/DAAS/Turbo Fruits get p-forked/beer
December 11, 2009
The A.V. Club takes a look at some of 2009’s strangest/craziest/most ridiculous band names. Some of my favs- Bitches With Instruments, the Whore Moans, Pabst Smear, Gay for Johnny Depp, the Christopher Walk-Ins, OMG! Check it out.
Turbo Fruits’ latest album Echo Kid got a 6.4 on Pitchfork today. I’m a little surprised at how late they reviewed this record considering that it’s a Be Your Own Pet-related project, and that Pitchfork lost their shit over both BYOP and the first Turbo Fruits record… (Echo Kid has been out for at least a few months now…) It’s a damn good record though, and I suggest it.
One of my favorite electronic music artists is actually from right here in Nashville- Makeup & Vanity Set, aka Matt Pusti. He’s recently started a side project called DAAS, and the debut album RASLP is available on Bandcamp for free. Go grab it for a blippy, experimental, atmospheric good time. My bandmate and friend Seth Graves has been doing some fantastic video production work recently, and since the two share some influences Pusti asked Seth to do a video for a song from RASLP. The result is a 4 1/2 miutes of data-moshing AWESOMENESS:
That holiday porter I was telling you about a few posts back is now officially ready for consumption. I tried it for the first time last night and while the spices didn’t come through quite as much as I wanted, it’s still by far the best batch of beer I’ve made thus far. You can buy a 6-pack for 6 bucks, just email/facebook/call/come up to me at a show and I’ll hook you up.
As for this weekend, I’m really stoked to be seeing Apollo Up! tonight at the 5 Spot for the first time in several years. They took a hiatus back around 2007 and I’ve missed their awesome live shows ever since. So that’s where we’ll be tonight.
Saturday we’ll be in Murfreesboro to check out the big YEAH benefit show featuring Those Darlins, Six Gun Lullaby, and special VIP storyteller performance from Caitlin Rose. YEAH is pretty much the best thing to happen to youth in middle TN. EVER. So they are more than worth your monetary support, therefore I highly suggest going.
Sunday night I’ll be taking pics and having a total nerd-gasm at the Star Wars interactive/orchestral event Star Wars: In Concert, which is at the Sommet Center (soon-to-be-Nashville Arena).
Other shows of interest:
Friday- La Paz Late Night w/ DJs Potamus and Hippo @ La Paz. Shoot the Mountain, Hands Down Eugene, & Hammertorch @ The End.
Saturday- Brendan Benson & Cory Chisel @ Exit/In (I wish this were on a different night so I could go!).
Have a great weekend!
Creed tix drop to 7.79/Next Big Nashville/weekend stuff
October 2, 2009
I find it absolutely hilarious to learn that tickets for the upcoming Creed concert at Sommet Center have dropped to $7.79. I can’t see how this show could go on with ticket prices that low… with the production costs in a venue that big, there’s no way this show could happen without the promoters or someone losing a lot of money. As one Cream commenter said, “these are cheap enough to buy [for] someone as a practical joke..” I hope Stapp & co. get the message here: Your band sucks. Your band is an embarrassment to humanity. Stop now. No one likes you. In fact, even Jesus hates you.
Every once in a while Oddee.com comes out with a truly interesting/ridiculous list of bizarre (insert phrase here). This list of “accidental deaths you won’t believe” is quite possibly one of the most hilarious/terrifying/depressing things they’ve published yet. A stripper suffocating inside a birthday cake? Falling into a vat of scalding chocolate? Being crushed to death by a woman committing suicide? You couldn’t make this shit up…
Next Big Nashville is only a week away! You can still get wristbands and VIP badges here. Don’t think you can just walk up to a venue and be able to pay a cover to get in… that may work in some cases, but I’d say there will be at least a few of these shows that will fill up to capacity with badges and wristbands, and walk-ups won’t be able to get in.
As for stuff to do this weekend, you probably won’t find us out quite as much as usual. As far as I know, I’m not shooting any shows until Them Crooked Vultures on Monday… so the main thing we’re doing is the art crawl saturday night. If you’ve never been, just head down to the Aracade on 5th Ave tomorrow night around 6-7pm. All the art galleries are free and open, and most have free wine and snacks. It’s a great way to hang out, look at some awesome art, and get drunk for free. There’s even a free shuttle to haul your drunk ass around to the other galleries that aren’t within walking distance. I actually have to work Sunday morning so I can’t stay out late Sat. night, but if you’ve ever been to the End, please do head over there for a benefit show to celebrate the life of Stacy Fleeman, the former doorman who passed away last month. Playing are Dharmakaya, Silent Friction, Creeping Cruds, The Billy Goats, Jah’s Addiction, The Destructions, Lovebucket, and Fire Walk With Me. These are all bands that Stacy had some sort of connection with and/or loved. The show will start at 3pm and go late into the night.
One last note: I’m really REALLY stoked for the series premier of Stargate Universe tonight on SyFy. I’ve been looking forward to this show for a good 6 months now, ever since the final episode of Stargate Atlantis. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the whole Stargate franchise, but I’m still cautiously optimistic about the new direction this show is taking. We’ll see how it goes.
Impromptu Matt Mahaffey (sElf) show at the Boro
November 25, 2008
Last night one of my favorite musicians/artists of all time, Matt Mahaffey (of sElf), played a last-minute show at the Boro Bar & Grill in Murfreesboro. I already was planning to attend the benefit show he’s playing this saturday in Johnson City for his late brother Mike’s kids/family, and to see him play twice in one week was all the more awesome. His fans, especially the old-school ones from around middle TN, are all just great people. It’s amazing how his music seems to only attract the best of people as fans. The show was really just a “warmup” for saturday’s show, which he said will include his longtime friend Seth Timbs of Fluid Ounces collaborating on some songs. I was fortunate enough to catch last year’s benefit for Mike, also in Johnson City, and I can only imagine how this one will be even better with Seth’s contributions. It’s amazing how last night’s show was announced at 1pm yesterday, and in about 8 hours word got around enough for 80-100 or so people to cram into the Boro. I won’t get into how that place has gone downhill in the last few years, but Matt and the crowd that showed up definitely made it cool again at least for one night. I was doing some videotaping, but I doubt I will post anything from last night since I’m also taping Saturday’s show. However, Jess McKelly was also recording with her pocket video camera, so check out her YouTube page in the next couple of days for some clips.
Nashville Cream has been doing some cool ticket giveaways lately. They’ve been posting some absurd photos and giving the tix to whoever comes up with the wittiest/snarkiest caption in the comments of the thread. Just go over and read some of the hilarity, or even post one yourself for a chance to win.
This has seriously got to be one of the coolest optical illusions I’ve ever seen on the web. Drag the lines slowly for the best results. Link via Bad Astronomy.
Nicole Kidman apparently loves Nashville, and is a little worried about the “secret getting out.”
steve cross loves music and science 