Mercy Lounge announces 9 year anniversary parties Jan. 20 and 21
January 11, 2012
Mercy Lounge is arguably the best venue in Nashville in the 300-500 capacity range, and they’re celebrating their anniversary (as they do every year) by throwing some free shows! Just as in past years, they’ve invited a slew of local bands to play and secured sponsorships from some of your favorite brews.
Lineups:
Jan. 20th– How I Became the Bomb, Cheer Up Charlie Daniels, Ponychase, Kyle Andrews, Wild Cub (ft. Keegan Dewitt & members of Pico vs. Island Trees) and local funksters ReLapse will close it out.
Jan. 21st– Heypenny, Evan P. Donohue, The Nobility, Mayhem performing Elvis Costello’s This Year’s Model, Escondido ft. Tyler James, and ReLapse will once again close the night out.
Both nights are FREE so arrive early in case things reach max capacity.
A Few Good Shows: 1/6/11
January 6, 2012
I know it’s been a while. Sorry, after all the holiday-ing gets me out of a rhythm it takes a minute for me to get back into the swing of blogging.
This weekend is a tiny bit slow when it comes to rock shows, but here are a few things worth mentioning (and some shameless self-promotion):
FRIDAY:
Vitalic Noise presents CRAVE at Tavern. FREE, 21+, ft. resident DJs Losici (Josiah Lester) and Dali Drama (Jenn Harbin), and guest BURGERS (aka me). We’ll spinning the best in nu-disco/house/french touch/indie dance. Did I mention it’s FREE? It’s free.
The Dead Towns, Siberian Traps, The Bad Swears, & The Dirty Holidays @ The End. 9pm $5
SATURDAY:
The Tendoor, Kat Smo, Taxicab Racers, Ugly Kids Club @ The End. 9pm $5
Metal at the Mercy: a KISS tribute @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $5
A Few Good Shows: 12/16/11
December 16, 2011
Before I get to the regular listings I have a bit of shameless self-promotion. I’ve been drumming in a new-ish (at least to Nashville) band called Scale Model, and we’re playing a free show at the 5 Spot this Sunday night along with I Believe in Hotpants, Girls & Money, and Karma Kite. This show is all noobs, so we decided it should be a freebie- therefore you have no excuse not to come. All of us are good bands with good songs and each is worth your attention. Now, on to the other good stuff happening around town this weekend:
FRIDAY:
Futurebirds w/ Grass Giraffes @ The Basement. 9pm $10 Adv/$13 DOS 21+
Mayhem performs The Doors’ LA Woman w/ Buffalo Clover @ the 5 Spot. 9pm $5 21+
SATURDAY:
Moon Duo, D. Watusi, Spanish Candles, and The Black Faces @ The End. 9pm $10
3rd annual Beatles vs. Stones Christmas Bowl, benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. Ft. Mayhem & members of By Lightning!, Lonely H, Nite Nite, Jeremy Lister, Derek Hoke, Mike Grimes, Nikki Lane, Chuck Mead, Tommy Womack, Warren Pash, and many more… 9pm. $7 or 3 cans of food for admission. 21+
Natural Child, Ranch Ghost, Electric Dollhouse Groovebuggy, NEW BAND ft. members of the Cannomen and Bad Cop. @ Mount Swag. $3 It’s a house show so if you wanna go you can figure out the address. 🙂
SUNDAY:
Scale Model, I Believe in Hotpants, Girls & Money, Karma Kite @ the 5 Spot. 9pm FREE 21+ (See above!)
Have a great weekend!
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.
A Few Good Shows: 11/18/11 (My 30th birthday edition)
November 18, 2011
Before we get to the show listings, I have a show of my own to plug: I’m turning 30 this Sunday the 20th, and to celebrate I put together the 3rd-ever “Nashville Under the Covers” show at Mercy Lounge. That is, Nashville bands covering other Nashville bands. AND, it’s all to benefit YEAH‘s TN summer youth music camps- SGRRC and TNTRC. It’s gonna be a blast, and the lineup is fun (though Matt Friction did have to drop off the bill at the last minute), and the minimum donation is only $5! For more, read the generous blog post the Nashville Cream gave me yesterday. That’s this Sunday Nov. 20th, 9pm at Mercy Lounge, 18+, $5 minimum donation. (Hot tip: past YEAH volunteers will get in FREE with their volunteer tshirts!)
Now for the rundown:
FRIDAY:
Lucero (night 1 of 2) w/ Glossary @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $20
Hanzelle, The Greater Good, Casa Castille @ The 5 Spot. 9pm $5
Hull, Tijuana Goat Ride, Laser Flames, The Ascent of Everest @ The End. 9pm $7
SATURDAY:
Wanda Jackson w/ The Black Belles @ Marathon Music Works. 7pm $15
Lucero (night 2 of 2) w/ Austin Lucas @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $20
Bad Cop, Ranch Ghost, Denny & The Jets, Majestico @ The End. 9pm $5
Manchester Orchestra, White Denim, The Dear Hunters @ Cannery Ballroom. 8pm $17
SUNDAY:
SEE ABOVE. And come celebrate me getting old!
Have a great weekend!
What to do this weekend
January 28, 2011
Not a lot of time today. Here’s a quick rundown of some good shows happening in Nashville this weekend.
FRIDAY:
Smith Westerns, Yuck, and Big Surr @ The End. 9pm, $5. Big Surr is the shit. Wasn’t impressed by Smith Westerns when I saw them at Exit/In a year or so ago. Yuck has really been growing on me with their shoegaze-pop.
SATURDAY:
Gentlemen Divers album release with Carter Administration and Hollow Ox @ fooBar.too. $5 9pm. Carters haven’t played in quite a while. It’ll be a good’n.
We Were the States, Jimmy Duke, The Riot @ The Basement. 9pm $5 21+
Natural Child, D. Watusi, Big Sir & the Greater Good, Paper Machete @ The End. 9pm, $5
Have a great weekend!
This weekend’s shows
December 17, 2010
Not much time this morning. Here we go:
Before we get to the show picks, I must point you toward The Nobility’s Christmas EP that just popped up on their Bandcamp page. It’s quite good, and I basically agree with everything Tracy Moore McDonald said about it in her critic’s pick for last night’s show at Bongo After Hours.
FRIDAY:
Cobra Cheetah Tiger Viper, Big Sir (Big Surr?), Richard Hirsch @ Open Lot. 9pm. $5 This is CCTV’s EP release show. I’ve heard the EP and was rather impressed.
Tim Chad and Sherry, Loose Cougar, Spaceship of the Imagination Christmas show @ the Basement. 9pm $5 (I think). This will be insane because that last band isn’t a band at all. It’s the one and only Matt Rowland (keys for Ghostfinger) with an array of keyboards playing Christmas jams. Expect the unexpected.
SATURDAY:
The annual Beatles vs. Stones cover night benefit show at the Basement. Ft. Tristen, Rayland Baxter, Reno Bo, Grimey’s Inexpensive Winos, and many more. 9pm, benefit for Toys for Tots. $7 or a toy donation.
Hans Condor, Alcohol Stuntband, Stallion @ the 5 Spot. 9pm $5.
SUNDAY:
A very British Christmas @ Mercy Lounge. I won’t try to explain this, just go to their calendar and read the description.
Have a great weekend!
Two Powerbrrrd shows this weekend + a BURGERS DJ set
August 27, 2010
First of all, I must espouse how amazing last night’s Chromeo show + afterparty was. Oh. My. God. Of course it could never top seeing them with Daryl Hall (and his silvery flowing mane blown by TWO leaf blowers) at Bonnaroo this year, but still, last night was fucking heaven. I must congratulate How I Became the Bomb for BOTH of their amazing sets of Hall & Oates covers. I saw both and was blown away. Russell Hanberry (their moustachioed guitarist) had clearly been analyzing every John Oates dance move from the H&O music videos, because had that shit down. Chromeo’s set was of course amazing, and after going through my pics, which can be seen at the Cream (review will be up sometime later today), I have developed a bit of a man-crush on Dave Macklovitch. Especially after briefly meeting him backstage after the afterparty with HIBTB. Watching Jon Burr throw down some good convo with one of his favorite bands of all time was pretty… endearing? Awesome, definitely.
Now for the good stuff:
I apologize to other bands with shows this weekend, but I must do a bit of shameless self-promotion here. My band Powerbrrrd has two shows this weekend, and you should definitely come to at least one of them.
TONIGHT: We are playing at the End with Diarrhea Planet, Lewd Minx, and the Dirty Streets (from Memphis). It’s only $5 and we promise you a good time. The bands we are playing with are rad, especially Diarrhea Planet… seriously they’re one of the funnest live shows in town. You don’t wanna miss this!
SATURDAY NIGHT: We are playing a house show at 1805 Rosebank Ave., east Nashville. Spanish Candles and Frank the Fuck Out round out the bill, and they’re both perfect house show bands. Rowdy party punk in the best way possible. I will be doing a DJ set as BURGERS following the bands, and after last night, there will doubt be a few Chromeo tracks/remixes in there. There’s a $5 cover that gets you in, and all the beer you can drink because we have 2 kegs to float! Be sure to park along the road, in the proper direction, and don’t get wasted and act like a dumbass in the front yard because that shit pisses off neighbors and gets the cops called. Don’t be a douche.
Please do come out to one of these shows! You won’t regret it.
I must take this opportunity to shamelessly self-promote for a moment. Tonight is Rock the Block at Exit/In, and this week I’m the host. I had a bit of a time getting the lineup together, but in the end I think it’s a pretty solid one. This is a FREE show, and it will kick off between 8:30-9pm. Please do get there early because every act on this lineup is definitely worth your time, and they’re only playing 20 minute sets (there are 6 of them afterall…). Also between the 2nd & 3rd and 4th & 5th acts Miss Jenn Ross will be doing bellydances to keep you entertained. I’ll use the same words We Own This Town used to promote their 8 off 8th last night: “There’s no reason to go to anything else tonight because this is where the goods are.” Also, Lost is on Hulu, so get your ass off the couch for once. I promise to have you home in time to get your beauty sleep because I have an early-ass day job just like you do.
Look what Nashville DJ just showed up on this flier for a Fool’s Gold-sponsored dance party in NYC, alongside the likes of Treasure Fingers:
Random news/Ke$ha covers Radiohead/weekend stuff
February 26, 2010
This somewhat old news by now, but if you haven’t seen this video of Ke$ha singing “Karma Police” by Radiohead at a junior high talent show, go do so now. (Via the whole internet)
Speaking of Ke$ha: Nashville’s own Justin Kase, who recently had a stint as her live DJ, is now on Twitter. Go follow him immediately, because when he hits 666 followers, he’s going private. Word is that he’s planning some secret dance parties this spring:
looking to reach 666 followers by march and then going private, tell everyone to getinb4 lck dwn. secret parties coming this spring.
The list of Nashville acts headed to SXSW this year keeps growing. So far Those Darlins, We Were the States, How I Became the Bomb, Glossary, Heypenny, Protomen, The Ettes, Madi Diaz, The Young Republic, and Matthew Perryman Jones are what I’ve seen/heard, but I’m sure there are plenty more.
Now for what’s going down this weekend:
Tonight I will be running the Generation Domination photobooth at Happy Valley, taking place at the usual downtown location- Aerial.
Of course the other big show happening tonight is My So-Called Band at Mercy Lounge, with Dozen Dimes. These guys have enough glorious 90’s nostalgia to have you jumping around doing beer-spews into Dave Paulson’s face… not that I’ve done that before or anything…
Saturday there’s a great Haiti relief benefit show at Blackbird Tattoo & Gallery, featuring Powerbrrrd (my band), the Admirals Club, Julia the Menace, Woodgrain, and supposedly some sort of Holly House supergroup. The $10 cover goes toward the UN World Food Program. Rumors Wine & Art Bar are also involved. Come on out and support a good cause!
Cassino, Korean Is Asian, and Tristen will be rockin the 5 Spot. *Correction- this show is at the Basement!*
Akron/Family, Warpaint, and HP Witchcraft will be rockin the Exit/In.
On Sunday I’ve heard rumors that American Bang will be filming a music video… so take that for what it’s worth.
And last but not least, I must do a little more shameless self-promotion and mention that I’m hosting Rock the Block at Exit/In on Tuesday. If you’re unfamiliar- it’s a bit like 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge, except it’s on Tuesdays and not strictly 8 bands. Mine will feature 6 bands with 20 minute sets each, and I just confirmed Jenn Ross to do a couple of bellydances between acts! The lineup will be (not in performance order): We Were the States, Bows & Arrows, Cody Blaine & the Whole Fam Damnly, Powerbrrrd, Tristen, and Jordan Caress.
Have a great weekend!
steve cross loves music and science 