Out the Other

Next Big Nashville application deadline - THIS FRIDAY, JULY 17

Are you in a band? Do you want to play this year's Next Big Nashville, which is going down October 7-11? Well, you have until Friday to apply over on American SongSpace.  All it'll take is two songs and a small submission fee, and you'll be officially under consideration (and FYI, I'm helping out with the considering again this year as a part of the programming committee, so if you apply and know I already love your music, let me know so I can campaign appropriately).

And an FYI - despite the name, Next Big Nashville isn't just restricted to Nashville acts.  The fest is branching out a bit more this year, and while acts with ties to Nashville are preferred, absolutely anyone can apply.  This is a celebration of the Nashville music scene, after all, and part of that music scene is all of the phenomenal touring acts that love to play in Nashville.

This week will fly by, so why don't you go ahead and apply right now?

Me and My Arrow: Harry Nilsson night @ Mercy Lounge TONIGHT!

If you caught this Monday's show (I'll be posting the playlist later today with some mp3s), you already know about the fantastic event going on over at the Mercy Lounge tonight, which I fully expect all of you to attend.  Me and My Arrow is both a tribute and a benefit show - a crazy number of fantastic musicians coming together to celebrate the music of Harry Nilsson, all to benefit Terry Price (from Nashville's own Oblio), who was recently diagnosed with Bell's Palsy and hit with some serious medical bills (if you didn't already know, Oblio may be the biggest Nilsson fans in town, seeing as how they're named after the boy from The Point).

So who's on this amazing bill?  The Features, Brendan Benson, Heypenny, Pico vs. Island Trees, Eureka Gold, Oblio, Jon Rogers, David Mead, James Wallace and the Naked Light, Daniel Tashian, Carl Broemel, and Marc Pisapia. Things will kick off at 9 p.m. with James Wallace, and the cover is a $10 donation that will benefit Terry Price.

See you there?

And a mini-mix of Harry Nilsson tunes, of course:

"Everybody's Talkin"
"Jesus Christ You're Tall"
"Coconut"
"Let The Good Times Roll"
"What's Your Sign"

Playlist - May 25 - Deli Nashville

If you haven't noticed, I've been spending most of my time lately on my Bonnaroo previews page (less than two weeks to go!), which is why things have been quiet around here.  But hopefully you've noticed that the Summer of Guest DJs is officially in full swing on the radio version of Out the Other, and this week I had my second round of guests. 

On Monday night, Madison Conger and Ryan Bruce of The Deli Nashville (along with their friend Elle) joined me in the studio, and we spent two hours chatting about tonight's Turbo Fruits 7" release show, spinning some ridiculously great tunes, and trying to fend off issues with the mixer and turntable speed (hilarious technical difficulties are pretty par for the course on OtO).  We had a ton of fun and played a TON of music, and hopefully the boys were convinced they should try to launch a Deli show on WRVU someday soon. Go ahead:

Stream the May 25 edition of Out the Other

One of the highlights of the show was definitely getting the chance to premiere some new Turbo Fruits tunes - we played both sides of the Mama Mad Cos I Fried My Brain 7" that's out today, plus a BRAND new track ("On the Road") that will appear on the band's first full-length for Fat Possum.  If you loved what you heard, you should absolutely head out for the 7" release party tonight at the End - Bad Cop and the Tits are also on the bill, and the Deli-sponsored after party with Third Man DJs will keep things going after the show wraps up.  The cover is only $5, the show starts at 9, and if you stick around for the after party, the Deli will even be raffling off copies of the 7". 

And here's Monday's playlist, with a few bonus mp3s (warning: the Beach Boys tune will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day):

1.  Shoot the Mountain - Invitation (Shoot the Mountain EP)
2.  Turbo Fruits - Mama Mad Cos I Fried My Brain (Mama Mad Cos I Fried My Brain 7")
3.  The Holy Modal Rounders - If You Want to Be a Bird (Easy Rider Soundtrack)
4.  T. Rex - Ride a White Swan (Ride a White Swan single)
5.  JEFF the Brotherhood - Bone Jam (Bone Jam)
6.  The Non-Commissioned Officers - Frozen Tongue (Make-Out With Violence Soundtrack)
7.  The Clean - Big Soft Punch (Anthology)
8.  Corndawg - Oversteppin' (I'm Not Ready to Be a Daddy) (mp3)
9.  Meat Puppets - Like a Fire (No Strings Attached)
10.  Ricky Nelson - It's Late (Legendary Masters Series)
11.  Velvet Underground - I Can't Stand It (A Collection of Previously Unreleased Recordings)
12.  Jonathan Richman - New England (Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers) (mp3)
13.  Lansing-Dreiden - A Line You Can Cross (The Dividing Island)
14.  Silver Jews - Honk If You're Lonely (Straight Thru to Nashville)
15.  The Gerbils - Fail to Mention (Battle of Electricity) (mp3)
16.  Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson & Clover (Anthology)
17.  Screaming Females - I Do (I Do)
18 . Turbo Fruits - Lotta Lotta Ladies (Mama Mad Cos I Fried My Brain 7")
19.  Beach Boys - I Can Hear Music (Sunshine Dream) (mp3)
20.  Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man (Donovan's Greatest Hits)
21.  Big Brother & The Holding Company - Combination of the Two (Cheap Thrills)
22.  Turbo Fruits - On the Road (ureleased)
23.  The Tits - Hands To Yourself (Jesus Says Relax) (mp3)
24.  The Kinks - Starstruck (Village Green Preservation Society)
25.  The Doors - Touch Me (The Doors Greatest Hits)
26.  The Clash - The Train in Vain (London Calling)

The Road to Bonnaroo 8 off 8th - Part 3

Before I scoot off to face my Monday morning, just a quick reminder that tonight marks the final 8 off 8th in the Road to Bonnaroo series that's been going down for the past few months.  In case you've been living under a rock since March, Mercy Lounge has transformed three of their regular Monday night 8 off 8ths into opportunities for our favorite local bands to score a slot at Bonnaroo, which takes place next month from the 11th-14th right down the road in Manchester. 

Here's how it works - you show up to Mercy Lounge,  you watch eight excellent acts, you vote for your favorite, and the winner gets to play Bonnaroo.  Half of the votes come from the audience and half come from a panel of judges - including yours truly - but it's pretty much up to you guys, and The Features and The Protomen are already playing the festival after having won rounds one and two.  So who's on tonight's lineup?

Hotpipes
Shoot the Mountain
Space Capone
Kindergarten Circus
Heypenny
The Tits
Jacob Jones
Elle Macho

I can already tell it's going to be a tough decision.  The show kicks off pretty promptly at nine (immediately after Out the Other wraps up on WRVU - how convenient!) so show up early and make sure you vote.  Like all 8 off 8ths, this one is free and 21+.  See you guys there!

Cinco de Mayo @ La Paz today/tonight, with How I Became the Bomb, Jensen Sportag, Heypenny, Shoot the Mountain and MORE!

I am so excited about tonight's Cinco de Mayo celebration at La Paz, I even got up this morning to go for a run to earn my margaritas.  And as you read this, I'm sure I'm back to working my ass off so I can actually get out of the office in a timely enough fashion to enjoy said celebration.  But you needed a friendly reminder of the awesomeness going down in Green Hills tonight, so here I am on my uber-brief lunch break to provide one.

So the La Paz 30th Anniversary Cinco Bash actually kicks off at noon this afternoon, but most of the local awesomeness that will reel you in starts around five.  Here's the latter part of the lineup (in the order they're performing):

Coral Castles
Justin Kalk Orchestra
Mean Tambourines
Shoot the Mountain
Heypenny
How I Became the Bomb
Jensen Sportag

Like I said, Coral Castles are on around 5, and the whole thing will be wrapping up at 11.

Admission is $10, which seems a little steep, but not so much if you consider the fact that the 21+ crowd gets a free draft beer with admission. And if you decide to go early, leave and come back, you'll have a wristband (or something along those lines) that will prevent you from paying twice. Plus there are specials on draft beer ($4) and margaritas ($5) and I believe delicious snacks as well.

Okay kids, see you there - and save me a margarita, por favor.

How I Became the Bomb - "Fancy Meeting You Here"
Jensen Sportag - "Jackie"
Heypenny - "Parade"
Coral Castles - "Phatic, Static, Magic!"

May 4 show preview: How I Became the Bomb

As I mentioned a little while back, tomorrow's Cinco de Drinko festivities are going to kick a lot of ass this year, thanks to the La Paz 30th Anniversary Cinco Bash going down in Green Hills, which includes a stellar lineup including the likes of Jensen Sportag, Shoot the Mountain, Heypenny, Coral Castles, Mean Tambourines, and a bunch of other acts.  Also anchoring the bill?  OtO faves How I Became the Bomb, who will be my guests on the radio show tonight.

I'm still not sure what the gents have planned for the hour - I suggested a fiesta theme or a rematch after last summer's battle of the song selections - but whatever they bring to the airwaves between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. tonight, I can promise it will be a delight. They have two digital releases under their belts so far this year, so you can bet at the very least we'll be enjoying some of the new tunes.

Tune in at 7!  And seriously kids, mark your calendars for La Paz tomorrow - because local rock + tequila = a Cinco de Mayo to remember (or you know, drunkenly forget).

"Fancy Meeting You Here" (from They Can What It Seems They Cannot)
"A Formal Occasion" (from Who Dares Wins)

Junior Boys at Mercy Lounge TONIGHT!

If you've had half the week that I've had, I bet you're counting down the hours until tonight too. Why's that? Because tonight, Junior Boys are going to be in town to play the Mercy Lounge, and the heat of their synthy goodness is going to melt away the past five days of stress, frustration, long work hours and cubicle monotony. This has been the shimmery, electronic light at the end of my beige-colored tunnel since Monday, and I've earned it dammit. I'm ready to put on my drinking/dancing shoes and get swept away a little.

I haven't written yet about Junior Boys' new album, Begone Dull Care, since its release earlier this month, but the record has definitely been in the mix lately - reviving me on afternoons where the clock creeps to a halt, propelling me that extra half-mile when I'm about to wrap up a run, subtly reminding me of its awesomeness when it pops up on shuffle.  And that's exactly what the album is - subtle.  While it didn't knock me over the head the first time I gave it a spin, Begone Dull Care consistently sounds better and better every time I pull it up for a listen. And I think hearing some of the songs live tonight will solidify my appreciation for the album and probably bump it into regular rotation for the rest of the year.

Last time Junior Boys were in town, I had the opportunity to catch about half of their set at Exit/In, and while the room was pretty empty, the duo still got everyone moving.  Reports from the road have mentioned a live drummer and dance competitions, so I have no doubt we're going to be treated to a great show at the Mercy Lounge tonight. Which, at the close of a brutal week, is exactly what we deserve.

"Dull to Pause" (from Begone Dull Care)
"In the Morning (Hot Chip Remix)" (from Dead Horse EP)

Tonight's show kicks off at 9 p.m. with Max Tundra.  Tickets are $12 at the door, and it's 18+. See you there!

April 20 show preview - The Non-Commissioned Officers!

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone who regularly listens to or reads Out the Other that I am SUPER psyched about the official release of the Make-Out With Violence soundtrack, which is finally available.  On top of that is the awesome news that The Non-Commissioned Officers, the band that has been performing tracks from the soundtrack live for the past few years, will be playing a soundtrack release party this Thursday, April 23 at the Mercy Lounge.  And how do we celebrate awesomeness at OtO?  By having guests on the show, of course!

Tonight at 7 p.m., Eric Lehning - who wrote the soundtrack with his brother Jordan, fronts the Non-Commissioned Officers and also stars in the film - will join me in the studio for an hour of Non-Com goodness.  We'll play as much of the soundtrack as we can in the hour, plus chat about its creation and the band's future plans - because word is they're officially out of "retirement" and set to be a real band.

I have NO idea how I'm going to fit all of the songs I want to play into one hour, or even begin to narrow down the two disc, 44-track album, so I might just leave the song selection up to Eric tonight.  Since I scored a copy of the soundtrack at SXSW last month, I've been listening to it rather obsessively, and it will easily rank high on my list of favorite 2009 releases - song after song after song becomes a new favorite.  And if you saw the film at this week's Nashville Film Festival, where it took top honors and the Non-Commissioned Officers won "Best Music in a Feature Film," I'm sure you'll agree that the soundtrack and score seem intrinsically linked to the film once you've seen it. The songs so effectively set a mood that every time I listen I'm immersed in that eerie, summer hazy feeling of the film, whether it's via the more ambient, instrumental bits of the score or the poppier tracks that have been effectively soundtracking my own life of late (I really listen to them that much).

Okay, enough rambling, on to the tunes:

"Ride"
"Addy's Piano Nocturne No. 1"
"Frozen Tongue"

Like I said, the soundtrack is available now and you can order a copy online for only $15. Or, you can come on out and pick one up at the show this Thursday - How I Became the Bomb and And the Relatives are also on the bill, so you know it's going to be a great, great show.

Tune in at 7!

Record Store Day Lineup!

Here in Nashville, we have two great events going on for Record Store Day - on 8th Ave at Grimey's, and over in East Nashville at The Groove. I already went on and on and on about the exclusives on this  week's show, but now let's talk about the bands you can see for free tomorrow.

At Grimey's:

noon - The Avett Brothers
12:45 - Stardeath & White Dwarfs
1:45 - Michigan City Vandals
2:30 - DeRobert & The Half-Truths
3:15 - Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
4:00 - Charlie Louvin
4:45 - Del McCoury
5:15 - Royal Bangs
6:00 - The Ettes
7:00 - Mute Math

At The Groove:

1:30 - Coolout w/ Mia Calderon
2:30 - Shoot the Mountain
3:30 - Coolin System
4:30 - Hotpipes
5:30 - Dave Cloud
6:45 - The Tits
7:30 - Red, White, Blue
8:30 - Cotton Jones

I would definitely recommend hitting both at some point tomorrow - unfortunately I'll be headed out of town so I won't be able to hang out all day (but really not unfortunately, because I'm going to see Wilco in Knoxville), but I'll definitely be dropping by Grimey's in the morning/early afternoon before I hit the road. 

Mark your calendars: celebrate Cinco de Mayo with How I Became the Bomb, Jensen Sportag, Shoot the Mountain and more

The concert calendar is pretty up to date with everything I've deemed notable on the horizon, but one freshly-announced event I'm pretty excited about is The La Paz 30th Anniversary Cinco Bash, which (obviously) will be going down this upcoming Cinco de Mayo at La Paz in Green Hills. 

As the Deli Nashville points out, the Green Hills restaurant isn't typically a spot where you'd expect a bunch of your favorite local bands to be playing, but that's exactly what's happening next month in celebration of a drinking holiday that (at least in Nashville) seems to give St. Patty's day a run for its money.  How I Became the Bomb and Jensen Sportag will be headlining basically a full day of live music, which also includes performances by Shoot the Mountain, Heypenny, Coral Castles, Mean Tambourines and a few other acts.

There's a $10 cover, but considering the fact that the event kicks off at noon and you get a free 16 oz draft with entry (you'll get a drink ticket at the door), not to mention a whole day of kick-ass music and tons of drink and menu specials (I've spent Cinco de Mayo at La Paz in the past, and I can vouch for the awesomeness that is both their food and their margaritas), it's not a bad deal. In fact, it seems like a great reason to skip out of work early.

How I Became the Bomb - "Fancy Meeting You Here"
Jensen Sportag - "Jackie"