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!
The Zut Alors: Boy Girl Party
December 16, 2010
Local synth rockers The Zut Alors are a shining example of what can be accomplished through Kickstarter. They started a campaign to raise money to press their debut album Boy Girl Pary on vinyl. They succeeded, and now they have the shiny new records in hand, ready to ship. The album is an impressive collection of medium-tempo sometimes dark, sometimes catchy, synth pop/rock. Singer Nick Bennett’s voice is often draped in reverb or delay and fuzzed out with distortion, but always with a clever underlying melody. You can clearly hear a strong Echo & The Bunnymen/Smiths influence on the vocals. Every instrument and layer in every song sounds calculated and precise, and the parts seem to fit together like a puzzle. The end result, though, is a set of carefully crafted pop songs that make an album well worth your money. It took this album a few listens to grow on me, but now I find myself putting it on repeat. Highly recommended.
The album will be available in Nashville at Grimey’s and online at their bandcamp page starting tomorrow, 12/17. Also, they’re hosting a listening party in the Blue Bar at Goldrush this Sunday night (the 19th). The party starts at 9pm and they’ll be selling the vinyl LP (which includes a free download code) for super cheap.
Download- Take Take Take
Weekend in Nashville/snowpocalypse redux
December 10, 2010
As always, I must shamelessly self-promote for a minute. Tonight my band POWERBRRRD is playing at The End along with Big Surr, Diarrhea Planet, Evan P. Donohue, and Casa Castille. 5 bands? Yes, 5 bands, BUT rest assured that every band on this bill has a setlist of 30 minutes or less. In fact, POWERBRRRD’s set will probably barely crack 20 minutes. This show will be a conglomeration of insanity, I promise. And it will only set you back 5 bones. Also, Joaquin Phoenix will be there. (Oh, and sorry, Michael Eades. At least we advertised all 5 bands from the get-go!)
Now for some other shows that I recommend:
FRIDAY:
Ok, if you MUST go to something else tonight, my pick would be Howlies, with Oblio and Field Days at the Basement. 9pm, 21+ $??? Also, there’s an afterparty for that show at Mercy Lounge.
SATURDAY:
Natural Child, Ex Humans, The Cannomen, Foster Care, and Cy Barkley at Glen Danzig’s House. $5, 7pm
SUNDAY:
Cold War Kids at Third Man Records. I can’t find a time anywhere but it’s probably something like 7pm.
AXWY, Shoot the Mountain, Tallest Trees at the 5 Spot. 9pm, 21+ $5. (AXWY is an bloopy, glitchy, Postal Service-esque project started by Ryan Malina about a year ago. He put out an album that was quite good, but to my knowledge hasn’t played the material live until now.)
It’s also worth noting that the Scene has posted their yearly local Rock ‘n Roll Poll. The “outtakes and extended jams” is worth a read too.
You may have heard that Nashville is supposed to get a little snow this weekend. I’ll throw my official weather nerd opinion in the hat: DON’T FREAK OUT. It’s not going to be #snowpocalypse2010redux. What they’re forecasting is maybe an inch late Saturday night into Sunday morning. I’d say Nashville itself will get a dusting at best. This is one of those systems where the low pressure is well to the north of us, and the cold front is swinging around to the south, hitting us. There will rain/warmer weather ahead of the front as it pushed west-to-east, but very little moisture behind the front. I’d say the rain will change to snow late Saturday night as they predict, but again, no more than a dusting in Nashville. I hope I’m wrong, as I’m actually a fan of snow, but history says to take official forecast amounts with grain of salt. (Haha, get it? Salt melts snow. Haha…)
Have a great weekend!
This weekend in Nashville
December 3, 2010
Before I get to my picks for what to this weekend in Nashville, I must very briefly mention the famous Arsenic bacteria that NASA announced yesterday. It’s all over every news site in the universe, so I feel no need to say anything other than- this is totally awesome and it will force biologists and astrobiologists to rethink their theories of what type of life might exist on other worlds. It also proves that life can be much more adaptable than we ever thought. And I can’t help but post this great comic from XKCD:
Now for this weekend’s picks:
FRIDAY:
Charlie Louvin, w/ Porter Hall, TN at Foobar. This will be in the new Foobar expansion room, not the tiny stage at the main bar. And it’s fucking Charlie Louvin! Dude’s a living legend. 9pm I would assume… but I can’t find a definite time listing anywhere, so you might wanna show up early- dude’s a legend but he’s also very old, and old people tend to go to bed early.
Tim & Eric Awesome Tour Great Job! Featuring Tim & Eric, Pusswhip Banggang, and Neil Hamburger at the Cannery Ballroom. 9pm, but I hear it’s sold out. So hopefully you already have tickets…
SATURDAY:
Duh! Where else would you be besides La Paz? As I mentioned yesterday, I’m throwing a tacky sweater holiday disco party at La Paz with DJs Potamus and Vitalic Noise. La Paz is now at 2214 Elliston Pl., where Ombi used to be. It’s 21+, is FREE between 10-11pm, and $3 after 11pm. We’ve got $2.50 PBRs, $4 margaritas, and a round of $2 jello shots coming out at midnight. We’ll also have a disco ball, fog machine, and plenty of dark corner makeout sessions.
BUT if you MUST do something else tomorrow night-
Old 97’s w/ Hayes Carll at Mercy Lounge. 9pm but it’s sold out.
Black Cab Sessions day show: in-store at Grimey’s with Tristen and We Were The States (who have a new album out!)
Black Cab Sessions night show: at the Basement with PUJOL, Tristen, Cheap Time, Altered Statesmen, and more. If you don’t know what the Black Cab Sessions are, go here.
Have a great weekend!
This Saturday- La Paz Late Night Presents: Tacky Holidisco
December 2, 2010
Remember last fall/winter when you could go to La Paz (now in Ombi Bar’s old digs on Elliston) and dance the night away with DJ Potamus and friends every Friday? Yeah, it was called La Paz Late Night, and though the former owner put the brakes on it after a few months, the new owner is all about some dance parties, so Potamus and I have brought LPLN back from the grave! We’re gonna be doing it on the monthly instead of the weekly, and the first party of the new era is THIS SATURDAY: Tacky Holidisco. We’ve enlisted the help of DJ collective/blog/party promoters Vitalic Noise as well, and between the three of us it should be a party to remember, every month. We’ll be spinning a smooth mix of classic disco, nu disco, french house, and electro. We also have some irresistible drink deals- $2.50 PBRs, $4 Margaritas, and a round of $2 jello shots at midnight. We will also have a special prize for the tackiest holiday get-up. As always, dark corner makeout sessions are encouraged. What more could you ask for on a Saturday night? Here’s the skinny, in case you didn’t feel like actually reading all that:
La Paz Late Night Presents: Tacky Holidisco
THIS SATURDAY DEC 4th at La Paz Mexican Restaurant: 2214 Elliston Pl.
FREE 10-11pm, $3 after 11, ages 21+ only
$2.50 PBRs/$4 margaritas/$2 jello shots at midnight
Disco/house/electro by DJs Potamus, Burgers, and Vitalic Noise
For a sample of what you’ll hear, check out my latest mixtape BURGERS Fall 2010 MIXXXX below, or tune into 91.1 WRVU tonight from 6-8pm, as I’ll be performing a mini-mix on Sam & Kelly Patton’s awesome show Penguin Parade.
My birthday 8 off 8th- grunge style tonight
November 22, 2010
So I had PRK (laser eye surgery) last thurs., thus I’ve been waaay out of my normal routine for the past 4 days. So this post is rather pointless this late in the day, but regardless, if you’re a Nashvillian who happens to read this in the next few hours (it’s 6:15pm as I type), I do encourage you to come down to Mercy Lounge tonight to help me celebrate/kick off my last year of being a 20-something. I’ve recruited some fine Nashville bands to cover songs from that epic sub-genre of the late 80’s/early 90’s known as GRUNGE. Bad Press had to drop off the bill due to illness and a host of other mishaps have shown me that the Gods 0f Rock are frowning upon this evening of nostalgia. However, my will shall not be broken, and a good time will be had by all. Best of all, THERE WILL BE FREE CAKE.
Powerbrrrd show tonight/William Tyler album/MAVS remix contest
November 16, 2010
Wow, there’s a lot of good stuff to report today.
First of all, let me say that this morning sucked. Quite frankly this started out as a bad day. But I found out that local guitar wizard William Tyler (who’s played with Silver Jews, Lambchop, and most recently KORT) has a new solo album out, and it’s streaming on NPR. I had no idea what to expect, but I started playing some tracks and my day immediately improved. The album is mostly instrumental acoustic guitar compositions with roomy, spacey samples and horn parts washed in here and there. A few tracks feature ambient sound effects with distant druid-like chants. It was one of those times where just the right thing happens to come along to set you back in sync. Good job Willy T!
Now for a brief moment of self-promotion. My band Powerbrrrd is playing a free show at the Exit/In tonight, along with Nite Nite, The Grayces, Little Viking, and Frank the Fuck Out. A good time is guranteed. We had a 4th Brrrd in line to make his debut tonight, but unfortunately he inured his wing and won’t be able to rock with for a few more weeks.
One more brief moment of self-promotion. Saturday I turn 29. To kick off my last year of being a coveted twenty-something, I’m hosting an 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge next Monday, and it’s a grunge cover night. Yes, break out your flannel, ripped jeans, and chucks- it’s time to get filthy. The lineup is Eliza the Arrow (former members of Forget Cassettes), Foxcore (members of Take the Power Back), Anchor Thieves, Powerbrrrd, Sweet Tempers, Kelly Kerr, and Bad Press (Nashville Cream staff). There will also be FREE CAKE.
If you’re a music maker of the electronic type, or just a DJ who dabbles in production, you should head over to Makeup & Vanity Set’s website where can download stems for an official remix contest he’s hosting. The track being remixed is “Charles Park” off of Charles Park II. I really look forward to hearing some of these remixes, and tackling the remix myself. Whether I can come up with anything noteworthy remains to be seen, as my time is stretched thin…
Finally, I must warn that my posting may be limited to non-existent past today. Something blog-worthy may pop up tomorrow, but Thursday I’ll be having PRK eye surgery, and unfortunately there is a bit of recovery time involved, during which I may have be doped up on pain meds while my corneas heal. Most of you haven’t a clue how severely near-sighted I am, but suffice it to say that even though this surgery will only reduce my corrective prescription, that alone will be well worth it.
Slow weekend/Caitlin Rose’s album gets U.S. release date
November 12, 2010
Before we get to the sparse show listings for this weekend, here’s some long-awaited local music news:
Caitlin Rose’s debut album Own Side Now will finally see a US release on March 15 of next year. People state-side have been wondering and waiting for news as to the US release, since it’s been out in the UK and Europe for several months now. The release will be followed-up by what should be a pretty extensive US tour in the spring/summer months. Good news indeed, for a truly great album.
Wow. It’s a slow weekend in Nashville, rock show-wise. I honestly have nothing for you tonight. Nada.
TONIGHT:
I almost forgot about Black Mountain/Black Angels tonight at Mercy Lounge. But personally they are too jammy for my taste. So… meh.
Wooops. That show was actually last (Thursday) night.
SATURDAY:
Mashville ft. DJs Wick-It, Bitch Please, Mike Vulcan, and Bateman @ The End. 9pm $5
SUNDAY:
Codaphonic, Listen Like Thieves, Kat Jones, and StereoPhidelics @ the 5 Spot, 9pm $5
I must also mention that my band POWERBRRRD will be playing a Rock the Block at the Exit/In on Tuesday, along with Nite Nite, The Grayces, Frank the Fuck Out, and Little Viking. POWERBRRRD will be debuting our new 4-piece lineup, so make of that what you will.
Yeah! Have a good weekend!
If Harry Underwood’s art came to life…
November 8, 2010
This is probably what it would look like:
(Via Yewknee’d)
If you don’t know who Harry Underwood is, you need to learn. Thank me later.
In other news, the latest We Own This Town podcast is out and it contains some tasty new treats from Nashville artists both new and old such as Jasmin Kaset, Fly Golden Eagle, Tristen, and Relax With Fiction.
Tex vs. Basil Marceaux dot com/weekend shows
November 5, 2010
First off, here’s what I think is good this weekend:
FRIDAY:
The Features, Tristen, Bows & Arrows @ 12th & Porter. 9pm. I swear I read somewhere that this is some kind of benefit show, but I can’t find any evidence of that now. Regardless this is an AMAZING lineup. I need not say a word about the Features- we all know they rule the universe. Tristen has gotten better and better every time I’ve seen her the past 3 years, and just when I think she couldn’t possibly be better, she is. Speaking of getting better- Bows & Arrows are now totally awesome as well. (Not that they weren’t before, but now they’re really awesome.) I saw them last Sat. night at Grand Palace in M’boro and they totally blew me away. They’ve got a batch of new songs and have been slowly chipping away at a debut full-length with Alex at GP’s recording studio.
OK Go, Those Darlins, Samuel @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm, $15. I’ve not a clue about Samuel, but I can promise you’ll hear almost all new material from Those Darlins (which I deemed fantastic while I was on tour w/ them for a week), and a fun, crowd-participatory experience from OK Go. I saw most of their set at Bonnaroo this past summer and while the last album or two hasn’t impressed me, they did put on a helluva live show.
SATURDAY:
Milktooth, XPIA, the Zut Alors, and Flashbulb Fires @ the 5 Spot. 9pm, $5.
Turbo Fruits, Big Surr, Deadbeat Beat, D. Watusi, Reid Magette @ Glen Danzig’s House, 7pm, $5.
SUNDAY:
Fang Island, Delicate Steve, Sleeper Agent, and Bad Cop @ The End. $10, 9pm.
And now here’s some footage of the one and only Tex Rambunctious interviewing the one and only Basil Marceaux dot com:
(Via Nashville Cream)
steve cross loves music and science 