A Few Good Shows: 6/7/13 (CMApocalypse)
June 7, 2013
As most native Nashvillians are painfully aware, it’s CMApocalypse weekend. And although Morgan and Christy have been too busy to regularly update Nashvillest like they once did, they have indeed returned this week for one of their most popular ideas- CMApocalypse Bingo! So give that a look and have a few laughs, then check out my non-CMA show picks for this weekend. We have plenty of great rock shows to see, just be sure to allow plenty of extra driving time because traffic will be a nightmare all weekend. 
FRIDAY:
Forget Cassettes, Hanzelle, DAMS, and Fielded @ Exit/In. 9pm $10
Sleepy Kitty, Bows and Arrows, Cigarette Trees, and The School @ The End. 9pm $7
Tipper Whore, Stevie Binge & the Fork Hunts, and Choking Sickness @ Springwater. 10pm $5 21+
Orchard Lounge, This Is Art, and Quiet Entertainer @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $10
SATURDAY:
Ri¢hie, Kidd Ramius, and BF/GF Sex @ The Basement. 9pm $5 21+
The Hannah Barbarians, Gunther Doug, and Couched @ The High Watt. 9pm $5
My So-Called Band @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $15
Bad Cop, Todayshits, and Majestico @ The Stone Fox. 9pm $7
SUNDAY:
Jacuzzi Boys, D. Watusi, Cy Barkley & The Way Outsiders, and Weekend Babes @ The End. 9pm $7
A Few Good Shows: 5/31/13
May 31, 2013
Before I get to the regular show picks, I must indulge in a moment of shameless self-promotion. As you probably know, I’m in a band called Scale Model. We have an exciting show tonight at the High Watt and I strongly encourage you to come check it out! We’re playing with our friends Tipper Whore, who have been taking Nashville by storm recently, and The Static Trees, who we saw blow the roof off a house show in Murfreesboro a few months ago. This is a really solid lineup, and we’re gonna be debuting a few new songs, so if you’ve seen us recently that’s no excuse! Arrive early because the first 20 people get in for FREE!
Onto the listings:
FRIDAY:
Tipper Whore, Scale Model, The Static Trees @ The High Watt. 9pm $7 (1st 20 people get in free!)
Vitek, Hanzelle, and Phin @ The Basement. 9pm $5 21+
Megajoos, Rajhi Gahler, The Deadtowns @ Springwater. 10pm $5 21+
SATURDAY:
David Wax Museum, w/ Amanda Shires @ Exit/In. 8pm $10
Subsonics w/ Tiger! Tiger! @ The Stone Fox. 9pm $5
SUNDAY:
The Thermals w/ PUJOL @ Exit/In. 8pm $12 adv/$15 DOS
Snowden w/ Nudity @ The High Watt. 9pm $10
That’s it, have a great weekend!
A Few Good Shows: 5/24/13
May 24, 2013
Happy Memorial Day weekend!
There’s not shortage of good shows to check out this weekend, but before we get to the listings I have a few noteworthy local music tidbits to mention-
- Creature Comfort are a talented new local band I’ve had the pleasure of playing shows with, and they’ve just released their debut album Fox Tales, which can be purchased digitally on bandcamp. Stream it here!
- My band Scale Model just released a 2-song remix EP for “Do It Tonight” off our 2012 S/T EP. The remixes were done by Makeup & Vanity Set and The Leech Boyz. It’s totally free for download on our bandcamp page, so stream it and grab it! While you’re at it, also check out our limited edition tshirts designed by Funky Catsterz.
My picks for what shows to see this Memorial Day weekend in Nashville-
FRIDAY:
Night Beds, Good Buddy, and Tristen @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $10
Nashville Pioneers pep rally part 2 ft. DJs Coach and La Force @ the Stone Fox. 9pm $5
SATURDAY:
No Country For New Nashville 2-year anniversary party ft. Colorfeels, EL EL, and Beck’s Song Reader performed by Daniel Ellsworth, members of Milktooth, and more @ The Basement. 9pm $7 21+
Josephine Foster, The Cherry Blossoms, and Honey Locust @ The Stone Fox. 9pm $7
Those Darlins, Gills, Magnolia Sons, Vespers, Stagolee, Cooper & The Jam @ Eastside Hootenanny at East Park. 4-10pm Proceeds go to benefit Urban Green Lab. More info on East Side Hootenanny website.
You’d think there would more good shows Sunday night given the long weekend, but I couldn’t find anything I’m particularly thrilled about. Have a great weekend!
A Few Good Shows: 5/17/13
May 17, 2013
Here we are with another weekend full of great shows to see. No excuses, get out and see at least one show this weekend! Here are my picks:
FRIDAY;
Frontier Ruckus, James Wallace & The Naked Light, and Fox Bear Snake @ The Stone Fox. 9pm $8 adv/$10 DOS
Scorpion Child, Slick, and Blüdeagle @ The End. 9pm $10
QDP @ The 5 Spot. 9pm $1 21+
SATURDAY:
Pale Houses (new project from Aaron Robinson of Imaginary Baseball League), with Photo Ops and Audrey Rose @ The 5 Spot. 9pm $5
Molly Conley, Spike And Mallets, The Glorious Return, and Million Sellers @ Live True Vintage & Vinyl’s grand opening. 5pm, free. More deets on the facebook event.
Bobby Bare Jr., Birdcloud, and The Grenadines @ The Basement. 9pm $8 21+
SUNDAY:
R. Stevie Moore, Deluxin, Lame Drivers, and Woolen Men @ The End. 9pm $7
That’s it, have a great weekend!
A Few Good Shows: 5/10/13
May 10, 2013
What a fine weekend is in store for us Nashvillians! Lots of good shows happenin’, so I’ll cut right to the chase:
FRIDAY:
T. Rust cassette release, with Switchblade Kid, Shy Guy, and Blank Range @ The End. 9pm $5
East Nashville Underground ft. The Weeks, Evan P. Donohue, The Kicks, Young International, The Future, and Bang Ok Bang @ The East Room. 9pm 21+ $Tix here
Generationals w/ Brass Bed @ The High Watt. 9pm $10
Courtney Jaye album release, w/ special guest JP5 @ The Stone Fox. 9pm $7
SATURDAY:
Hotpipes album release show w/ Echo Group and Treekeeper @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $10 (includes vinyl copy of their new album DUST)
Turbo Fruits, Richie, Tipper Whore, and Ben Spinks Supermelt @ Ben Weber’s house. FREE (Check out the facebook event for details)
East Nashville Underground (DAY SHOW) ft. Alyssa Bonagura, Erin McCarley, Little Bandit, Justin Kalk Orchestra, Derek Hoke, and Bears of Blue River @ The East Room. 11am-8pm. 21+ $Tix here
East Nashville Underground ft. The Kingston Springs, Chancellor Warhol, Hotel War, Kink Ador, *Repeat Repeat, and Brandon Jazz & His Armed Forces @ The East Room. 9pm 21+ $Tix here
Night of the Living Cover Bands: a benefit for Nashville Rock Block and YEAH! @ The Stone Fox. 9pm $7
A Few Good Shows: 4/26/13
April 26, 2013
It’s hard to believe it was over 10 years ago when I was at a college party in Murfreesboro, TN and my roommate Blake had introduced me to Cal Dykes, this synthesizer-obsessed dude who lived with his friends Lance McDonald and Andy Stella- all of them were in the recording industry major at MTSU. At that party he showed us a couple of new vintage Moog synths he had either just bought or was working on… and also excitedly told us about this new band he was starting called The Protomen, and that they were gonna make epic rock-opera-esque music based on the backstory of the videogame Mega Man. I then attended their debut live show on April 26th, 2003 (or it might’ve been Fri. the 25th…) at The Boro and had my mind blown. Little did I know what an amazing ten years lay ahead for these dudes. This Saturday The Protomen celebrate their 10-year anniversary at Mercy Lounge, with another ally who’s been there from the beginning- the inimitable Makeup And Vanity Set. And rounding out the bill is Hanzelle, another synth-heavy troupe that originally hailed from Murfreesboro.
Now that I’ve gotten my little trip down memory lane out of the way, here are my picks for shows to see this weekend in Nashville!
FRIDAY:
The Sword, Kyng, and Laser Flames on the Great Big News @ Exit/In. 9pm $17
Magnolia Sons, Star and Micey, and Strung Like A Horse @ The 5 Spot. 9pm $5
The Weeks album release w/ Junior Astronomers @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $12
SATURDAY:
The Protomen 10-year anniversary show w/ Makeup And Vanity Set and Hanzelle @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $12 adv/$14 DOS
Ri¢hie, Cannomen, and Fragments of God @ The Stone Fox. 9pm
That’s it- have a great weekend!
A Few Good Shows: 4/12/13
April 12, 2013
I apologize for lack of content this week. I have been quite busy literally every single day. Even though I’m off from my day job today I still have a ton of yard work to do! For that reason I’ll get right to the point- what shows to see this weekend in Nashville!
FRIDAY:
A benefit for Norton Records ft. The A-Bones, The Ettes, Daddy Long Legs, The Weekend Babes, and special guest Har Mar Superstar @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $15
Los Vigilantes, Las Ardillas, Cy Barkley & The Way Outsiders, Cry Baby, and Snake Eyez @ The Other Basement. 9pm $???
Bird Peterson, KDSML, Coach, and Strooly @ SEEN Nashville. 9pm $10-$15
SATURDAY:
Futurebirds, Natalie Prass, and No Regrets Coyote @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $10 adv/$12 DOS
Buffalo Clover, Roy Ira, and Lindi Ortega @ The Basement. 8pm $5 21+ *early show! 8pm sharp!*
Hello Walls, w/ By The Gods @ The 5 Spot. 9pm $5 21+
That’s all I’ve got for ya. Have a great weekend!!
A Few Good Shows: 3/29/13
March 29, 2013
Spring hasn’t fully sprung, but it’s trying really hard. But don’t let the weather dictate what shows you check out this weekend, because you’d be missing out on something good. Here are my picks:
FRIDAY:
Cheap Time, Fast Girls, and Thelma & The Sleaze @ The Stone Fox. 9pm $5
Charles Walker & The Dynamites album release @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $12 adv/$15 DOS
Penicillin Baby, Elk Milk, Shy Guy, and Golden Spurs @ Springwater. 9pm $5 21+
SATURDAY:
Roy Ira, w/ Phantom Farmer @ FooBar too. 9pm $5
Stone Fox Garden benefit show ft. William Tyler, Reid Magette, and Stephen Molyneux @ The Stone Fox. 9pm $5, free if you bring something to donate to the garden.
Suggested:
Garden Center/Hardware Store Gift Cards
Top Soil/Compost
Lumber for Raised Beds
Screws (~3in)
Garden Tools
Seeds, Starters
That’s it! Quality over quantity this weekend. Have a great one!
East Nashville Beer Festival 2013: my picks
March 26, 2013
This year’s East Nashville Beer Festival was a complete success! I headed over with Lauren and a few bandmates and friends on Saturday ready to be amazed, and amazed I was! This festival has become one of my favorite days of the year, and Saturday did not disappoint. Lauren has a full review of everything over at Old Red Boots, but here are my top picks, with more personal insight:
Top 5 beers at ENBF 2013:
1. Kentucky Ale: Bourbon Barrel Ale
This is consistently my favorite bourbon barrel aged beer. You get a nice woody, oaky bourbon flavor up front, then a subtle hop character comes through, finishing with a lingering bourbon sweetness. It’s a symphony of all the right flavors.
2. Starr Hill: Psychokilter
Easily one of the best Scotch ales I’ve had. This beer is all about the malt- as it should be- but isn’t overly sweet. Robust and somewhat earthy. Color me impressed!
3. Calfkiller: Classic Spider
Calfkiller has burst onto the TN brewing scene in the past few years with a vengeance. All of their beers are fermented with the same Belgian yeast blend, which gives it a distinctive fruity note that says “this is Calfkiller!” Classic Spider was a special blend of their Brown Recluse and a stout, aged in a bourbon (or maybe it was whiskey?) barrel. I’m not sure if this will become a regularly produced beer, but I wouldn’t mind if it did!
4. Rivertown: Roebling Porter
This is a vanilla & espresso infused imperial porter, and it might as well be liquid dessert. It’s chocolatey, sweet, warming and simply delicious. It’s one of their flagships, too! Sadly, Rivertown doesn’t distribute to TN. Update: turns out Rivertown DOES distribute to TN- you can get them at Craft Brewed!
5. Yazoo: Hop Project #70 Dry-hopped with Stella hops
Yazoo is known for their creative Hop Project series, in which they use the same malt bill, but different varieties of hops at different boiling schedules for each batch. #70 is the latest batch and (from what I was told at the tap) for this cask they dry-hopped it with a unique Australian hop variety called Stella. As I understand it this was a special cask that Yazoo made for the ENBF, but Hop Project #70 used Stella hops during the boil as well, and is available in retail stores now.
Honorable Mentions:
Deschutes: Black Butte Porter and Northwest Pale Ale
Deschutes is an Oregon brewery that sadly hasn’t made it to TN yet, so I was unfamiliar even with these two flagship beers. The Black Butte Porter has a slightly nutty character that you’d expect in a nut brown ale, but yet it’s a porter! The Northwest Pale Ale stuck out to me because they backed away from the assertive hop bitterness that most APA’s are known for, and went for a well-balanced pale ale with a nice hoppy aroma.
Left Hand: Smokejumper Imperial Porter
Reactions to this beer amongst my peers were mixed. For me it was a fine smokey, bacon-y porter. I’ve not met a smoked beer that I didn’t like and this was no exception. Some in my group thought it reminded them too much of a campfire, while others wanted more bacon flavor.
Straight To Ale: Hellfire Quadrupel and Monkeynaut IPA dry-hopped with Citra
This Huntsville brewery produces some fine beers. Their Belgian-style quadrupel, called Hellfire, was warming, earthy, and robust. They also had a special cask of their Monkeynaut IPA that was dry-hopped with Citra hops. The tropical fuity aroma was simply blissful!
French Broad: 13 Rebels ESB
One of my favorite styles of beer is a classic English ESB, or Extra-Special Bitter. I was familiar with French Broad but hadn’t tried their ESB. 13 Rebels was an enjoyable and worthy example of the style. Well-balanced and very session-able, as an ESB should be.
Least Favorite Beer:
New Belgium’s surprise quadrupel.
I unfortunately didn’t take note of exactly what this beer was aged in or what was supposed to be special about it. It was a quad that had (I think) been aged in some sort of wood barrels. What I do remember though, is that is was too blatantly alcoholic up front. There are 10, 11, even 12% ABV beers that still manage to not allow the boozy alcoholic flavor to overrun the character of the beer. This one though, just screamed “BOOZE” at my palate. That being said, New Belgium is one of the finest, and also largest craft breweries in the nation. Everything about them pretty much rules.
Happy drinking and I’ll see you next year at ENBF IV!
steve cross loves music and science 