Great news for the tragically hip in Nashville: Morrissey has rescheduled his Ryman appearance for March 29th! According to the Ryman’s website, all original tickets for the canceled Jan. 29th date will be honored. Lauren and I were devastated when the Jan. 29th show was canceled due to Moz’s bleeding ulcer. Thank goodness he’s back in good health, though! We’d heard rumors that the tour would be rescheduled for the summer with Patti Smith opening… but I guess one could only dream of being so lucky as to witness such an amazing bill…
In case you’ve been under a rock recently, Caitlin Rose has a brand new album ready to drop March 5th. I’ve heard nothing but good, good, and more good about it. And this new song “No One To Call” makes me even more excited about this album than the last teaser track “I Was Cruel.” Stream it below and pre-order the vinyl here and receive a free digital copy of the album on March 1st. DO IT.
Those Darlins are back w/ a new song, Spilt 7″ w/ Heavy Cream
October 2, 2012
Those Darlins are returning to the spotlight with their first new song since founding member Kelley Anderson left the group. Jessi Darlin sings lead on the new track, which has a strong, driving backbeat with tons of hand claps a gang vocals. The single is available digitally now on iTunes, and the split 7″ with Heavy Cream will only be available on vinyl at their upcoming tour dates:
10-06 Dallas, TX – Bryan Street Tavern’s Anniversary %
10-07 Austin, TX – The Mohawk:Indoors^ *Summer’s Dead Tour begins*
10-25 Washington, DC – DC9*
10-26 Brooklyn, NY – Glasslands Gallery*
10-27 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s*#
10-28 Allston, MA – Great Scott*
10-30 Toronto, ON – The Garrison*
10-31 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern*@
11-01 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s Tavern*
11-02 Grinnell, IA – Grinnell College: Gardner Lounge*
11-03 Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry*
11-06 Seattle, WA – Sunset*
11-07 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios*
11-09 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Shop*+
11-10 West Hollywood, CA – Troubador*+
11-11 San Diego, CA – Soda Shop*
11-13 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge*
* w/ Heavy Cream
^ w/Bobby Jealousy
# w/Slutever
@ w/The Very Knees
+ w/Pangea
% w/Turbo Fruits, White Mystery, and Royal Bangs
Check out the new track “Summer’s Dead” below:
As you should know, this Satuday is National Record Store Day. Record stores (you know, the places you can actually walk into and touch a real album and buy it… imagine that) across the nation will be having huge special sales, and labels and artists across the nation have pressed limited edition vinyl releases, usually 45s, that will only be available at a record store, on Record Store Day. There are tons of awesome happenings here in Nashville, the biggest being Grimey’s “big ass outdoor sale.” They have a killer lineup of live music slated for the parking lot, and they always have tons of used records and CDs on sale for super cheap. Check out grimeys.com for the full lineup and schedule. East Nashville’s The Groove also has a killer lineup of bands playing on their backyard stage, and you can get most if not all of the official RSD exclusive releases there as well. Check their website for the full lineup and schedule. Those are the only two doing performances that I know of, but The Great Escape might be doing some sort of sale. There’s no mention of it on their website, however. Third Man Records will of course have lots going on in the way of sales and limited releases, etc… however they do not have live performances this year. (How can they possibly top Jerry Lee Lewis last year?)
Secondly, the flyer above is for a show that includes my band, thus a bit of shameless self promotion:
Come see Scale Model, Anchor Thieves, Century Club, and The Goldroom at The End Saturday night after all your RSD shopping/festivities! Anchor Thieves are releasing a free CD single, and Nashville’s own Griffin Technology will be giving away free RSD themed iPhone 4 cases. Find out more about Scale Model, the Goldroom, and Century Club (ex-Carter Administration) at their respective bandcamp pages. RSVP on Facebook here. Cover is only $5, show starts at 9:30pm, and the beer is cheap. Come party with us!
Formed by former members of We Were The States, Echo Group is a new band poised to take Nashville’s music scene by storm. I’ve listened to their free EP Chalktalk Record Collection several times and simply can’t get enough of it. (If you haven’t already, hit play on the player above. Go ahead- DO IT. Then download it for FREE at their website.) It’s perfectly produced with just the right percussive touches and liberal yet tasteful use of reverb to give everything a Spector-esque 60’s-throwback tinge. I simply can’t get enough of the triumphant horns on “Supra” and the sexy sax on “Don’t Don’t Don’t.” They’re also releasing a split 7″ via Right Nice Records with local noise rockers Mom & Dad which features the track “Work It.” Mom & Dad are already creating some good buzz around town, though I’ve yet to see them live. While I can appreciate the intent of the noised-out/heavily distorted production value of their recordings, it’s honestly a little too noisy and distorted for my taste. I’m quite positive I’m going to love these guys live, however, because they have some seriously awesome songs under all that fuzz.
They are celebrating the release of said split 7″ this Thursday at the brand new High Watt stage in Mercy Lounge. My band Scale Model opens the show, so of course I STRONGLY urge you to come and come early! The show will start promptly at 9pm and is only $5 to attend. We all have short sets and promise to get you home in time for bed on a weeknight. 🙂
RSVP here on Facebook.
Ranch Ghost 7″/By Lightning Video
February 22, 2012
Some cool things to report about two great new local bands:
- Ranch Ghost is awesome. They’re possibly my favorite “newish” local band. Their scrappy, catchy, jangly, hook-laden garage-pop hits all the right buttons on my musical palate. They have a limited edition 7″ that is available for pre-order through Jeffery Drag Records. You can stream the songs at their bandcamp. Love these guys soooo much.
- New local supergroup By Lightning! just played their album release show this past Saturday (my pics and the Spin review are up at the Cream) and followed it up by releasing a very cool animated music video for the first “lead single” off the record- “Weather.” Check it:
Tristen needs your help to press a Christmas 7″
November 10, 2011
UPDATE: Tristen made her goal not long after I posted this, but you should still buy the 7″ when it comes out!
You’ve probably already seen this in a few other places, but it’s a cool thing that deserves repeating:
Nashville’s budding startlet Tristen loves Christmas, so she recorded her own version of 3 of her favorite Christmas songs and needs your help to put it out on vinyl. As awesome as vinyl is, it’s really damned expensive to produce, so many lesser-know bands/artists have a hard time coming up with the dough for the up-front costs. So Tristen has started a Kickstarter campaign, and is asking for your help in making this Christmas 7″ a reality. Check it out, and help her out. She’s a rad gal and is one of the best local acts in the game right now, so let’s make this thing happen, eh? Watch the video below and click here to donate.
The Summer of The Features
May 11, 2011
As reported today on the Nashville Cream, Nashville/Murfreesboro’s hometown heroes The Features are prepping for the release of their 3rd full length album Wilderness on July 26. Their last album Some Kind of Salvation was simply fantastic, but this next one seems as though it will be the “perfect” Features record. I’ve heard absolute rave reviews from the first few local folks who got a promo copy to review, and hopefully *ahem, Rory/Rollum/somebody* I’ll have one to review soon as well. I can remember having a somewhat drunken conversation with producer/vacuum tube wizard Brian Carter one night at Mercy Lounge late last year in which he excitedly said something like “this is the record the guys and I have always wanted to make.” Basically I get the feeling this album was done the way the band wanted to do it, where they wanted to do it, and with whom they wanted to do it. Mad props to the Kings Of Leon for signing them to their own 429 Records and allowing the band to do what they want, when they want, and how they want.
Building up to the release, the first of probably many promotional items to whet our appetite is a 7″ single with the track “Rambo” b/w “This Much I Know.” The video above it a promo for that release, set for May 31st.
Remember Grand Palace records in Murfreesboro? While Chuck and Bingham have kept the screen printing business going full steam-ahead, and Alex Norfleet kept the recording studio up and running, the record store, venue and label have all gone somewhat dormant. As a matter of fact, (most locals know by now) the whole operation is moving out of the charming old building on the square that’s been its home for the past 6 or so years. Word is they’re moving to Nashville, but that’s as much as I know.
The point of all this is that Rod from the awesome Boro-based band Bows and Arrows is working with some friends to revive the label portion and has some new releases planned for this year under the GP moniker. Leading up to it, his own band is releasing a series of free digital 7″‘s. Here’s the news straight from the horse’s mouth:
Us and Grand Palace Records have a bunch of really exciting physical releases planned for most of the year, and to lead up to them Bows and Arrows will be releasing a Digital 7″ every week and they will all be downloadable for free on our bandcamp page at the bottom of the email. This first Digital 7″ consists of two covers, “Leave Me Be” by The Zombies and “All I Wanna Do” by The Beach Boys. They were each recorded in a couple hours in the house our debut album is named after, 1010 Eaton Street. Side B features our roomates on vocals, electric guitar and bells. Future Digital 7″ releases will include more covers, demo versions of songs, brand new songs and collaborations with other artists among other things.
So do yourself a favor and go grab the new digital 7″ from their bandcamp, and keep an eye on all things Grand Palace. They’re back.
Your chillwave name/Todd A/weekend stuff
September 24, 2010
I could sit and generate new chillwave band names all day on the Witch House//Chillwave//Name Generator. Seriously, be careful. You might not be able to stop. (Via gorilla vs. bear)
Remember waaaay back when NasvhilleZine existed and the entire Nashville indie rock scene used it as an outlet for all their secret jealousy/anger/frustration? Yeah, those were the good ole days… I got an email from Todd A, who created/killed NashvilleZine, and he’s been up to some awesome stuff out in Orange Co., California. Check out his website/band/music collaboration project the Hit On List. He writes tons and tons of songs and records video demos of them/posts them. He also makes full-on multitrack recordings, some of which you can download, remix, change, etc… all for free. It’s certainly not a new concept, but it’s one that deserves more attention than it gets. I’m glad to see it and help promote it.
Now for what’s going down show-wise in Nashville this weekend.
FRIDAY:
Tonight I recommend catching Aaron Robinson (of Imaginary Baseball League fame), with Korean Is Asian and Cassino at the Basement.
Those are all very singer/songwriter-oriented bands, so if that’s not your bag, check out the best scratch DJ in Nashville- DJ Kidsmeal, along with Creative Control, Amerigo Gazaway, and Gummy Soul at the End.
SATURDAY:
Jenny & Johnny (aka Jenny Lewis and her BF Johnny Rice) with Eternal Summers and Whispertown at Mercy Lounge. Awww how cute.
During the day you don’t want to miss Grimey’s bi-annual big ass outdoor sale. Starts at 10AM in the back parking lot and there will be tons of cheap-ass records and CD’s, as well as a killer lineup of bands playing outside including Majestico, Cy Barkley, Apache Relay, and many more.
Not gonna go into detail right now, but in addition to the Next BIG Nashville festivities next week, the notorious Tex Rambunctious has put together a couple days of bands that didn’t quite make the NBN cut and it’s called “Tex Big Nashville.” It’s monday & tuesday of next week, so more on that in monday’s blog.
Have a great weekend!
(Via Kelliente)
Nashville’s Dead showcase at Third Man Records/Irish Hand-Dancing
September 22, 2010
Geez, the boys over at Nashville’s Dead had an outright blog-gasm. Probably the biggest news they dropped was that PUJOL recorded a track with Jack White, and it’s gonna be on a 7″ which will be available at their Next BIG Nashville showcase happening at White’s own Third Man Records. The Jack White-produced track was total news to me, but the showcase wasn’t- they’ve been sorting out the details of that for a while but didn’t want to mention it till it was figured out… But seriously, they’ve got 2 days of awesomeness lined up for NBN at Third Man. Oh, and PUJOL has another 7″ coming out as well: a live recording of their show opening for Nobunny at Third Man a while back. Here’s the NBN/ND show rundown:
Friday, Oct. 1st: JEFF the Brotherhood/The Ettes/Cheap Time/Heavy Cream/Cy Barkley
Saturday, Oct. 2nd: Jacuzzi Boys/Turbo Fruits/PUJOL/D. Watusi
I should also mention that there’s a pretty cool update over at WOTT about the goings-on of Battletapes over the past few months. Mr. Ferguson has been busy as fuck with tons of good stuff, and is about to be flown to Brussels, Belgium to record a band called Lucy Lucy, who had an ear-gasm when they heard his work on Turbo Fruits’ album Echo Kid. Congrats, Jeremy! (And of course congrats to his girlfriend Candice who has all but kicked her breast cancer’s ass.)
I was going to post the video of Chromeo’s awesome performance on Letterman, complete with a string section and backup singers, but then I came across this ridiculously awesome video of Irish hand-dancers doing a routine to “Speak No Americano” by Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP.
steve cross loves music and science 