Out the Other

February 23 show preview (and The Whigs @ Mercy Lounge tonight!)

Today's show is going to be another hour of catching up on new releases and bands playing in town - and there were a bunch of great new albums that came out last Tuesday, so I have my work cut out for me trying to fit it all into one hour.  The thing is though, I was feeling so super indecisive about choosing a featured album of the week that I decided to forgo picking a new release entirely.

That's right, today's featured album of the week is Mission Control by The Whigs - an album that actually came out (almost exactly) a month ago on January 22.  But I chose it for good reason, because not only is it an excellent record (and one that I didn't really get a chance to play last month when it came out), but The Whigs will also be in Nashville tonight to play a show at Mercy Lounge.  I've been listening to Mission Control all week and getting more and more excited about tonight's show, so I thought I might as well share three songs by the band I'm so excited about.  Here's a tune off the new album to let you know what you're in for:

"Right Hand On My Heart"

Also on the agenda for today's show - lots of new goodness.  And to be perfectly honest, I have way more than an hour's worth, so I'm not sure what I'm going to have a chance to play - hopefully new stuff by No Kids, Headlights, Bon Iver, No Kids, The Epochs and more.  You'll have to tune in at 2 to find out!

And remember - The Whigs at Mercy Lounge tonight.  The excellent, excellent Delaware band The Spinto Band is also on the bill, along with local kids Umbrella Tree.  The show kicks off at 9 p.m., the cover is $12 and this one is going to be 18+.

Wild Sweet Orange @ The Basement TONIGHT!

Last Fall I had the opportunity to check out Birmingham's Wild Sweet Orange at Exit/In with the Whigs - I had previously heard good things about the band, but had never heard any of their music before.  Going into a show with basically no expectations is always a crapshoot, because if the band doesn't really wow me, it's likely I'll have forgotten them by the end of the week.  But Wild Sweet Orange played a great set and left a favorable impression, enough so that I made a little mental note to check them out the next time they're in town.  Well, tonight they're playing over at the Basement with Matt King, so I definitely plan on heading out.

Since that show back in October, the band has released their The Whale EP - a nice little 5-song sampler of the band's sound - ranging from acoustic and subdued to all-out rocking.  And speaking of rocking, I'm pretty sure this is the track that's going to get this band noticed: 

"Wrestle With God"

Can't wait to hear this one live, now that I've listened to it 50+ times. Tonight's show kicks off at 9 p.m. and the cover is only $7.  And like all shows at the Basement, this one is 21+.

Tonight- Phosphorescent @ The Boro

I've been in Nashville for exactly four years and five months as of yesterday, and in that time I have taken exactly three trips to Murfreesboro.  Yeah, I know.  I really and truly have no problem with the town (and I heart Grand Palace!), I'm honestly just lazy I think, and spoiled in that most bands I want to see come straight to Nashville, or at least also play Nashville in addition to Murfreesboro.

So you know I'm pretty psyched about a band when I actually drive down to Murfreesboro to see them play - and tonight I'll be doing just that, to see Phosphorescent at The Boro.  If you remember, two weeks ago on the show I gushed about Phosphorescent's new album, Pride, and unsuccessfully (with lots of sighing and tongue-tied DJ unprofessionalism) tried to describe how incredible the album is and how it makes me feel.  I'm certainly on my way to wearing out my copy - morning, noon and night it sounds just perfect, and I've been ticking off the days until this show.  But I have to be completely honest - I have no idea what to expect from Matthew Houck tonight (Houck is the man who is essentially Phosphorescent).  As you're about to hear, the album is choral and breathtaking and it wraps itself around you - and I'm sure it sounds completely different in a live setting.  But for $6 (maybe actually $5, but let's say $6), I certainly plan on finding out just what it sounds like in person tonight. 

"The Waves At Night"
"Wolves"

While I can't personally vouch for Phosphorescent's live show yet, I can certainly vouch for one of the other bands on the bill - local Out the Other favorite Lylas.  They are worth the trip to Murfreesboro alone, since the band hasn't been playing very frequently these days and they have some excellent new material, like this tune (which I've posted a few times):

"Call Her Home"

Also on the bill is Bodies of Water, a band I'm not incredibly familiar with (but who rumor has it might also be backing up Houck for Phosphorescent's set tonight, which means the choral thing might happen).  They released an album earlier this year called Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink, and here's a sample:

"We Are Co-Existors"

Like I said, tonight's show is $6 (or maybe $5), it should get started around 10 p.m. and all shows at The Boro are now 21+.  Hopefully I'll see you there!

Menomena at Grimey's AND Exit/In TONIGHT!

Okay I am AWFULLY excited about this one - Out the Other faves Menomena are in town this evening to play TWICE - first an all-ages show at Grimey's at 6 p.m., and then a full-blown show at Exit/In with Illinois and Don Caballero later tonight.  I certainly would have been satisfied by one Nashville performance, so two within the space of a few hours feels like Christmas.  Er... Halloween. :)

In case you missed the memo, let me catch you up.  Menomena is from Portland, OR, and the band is a three-piece consisting of members Brent Knopf, Justin Harris, and Danny Seim.   They got my attention early this year (actually, the tail-end of last year) with the Barsuk-released Friend and Foe, which has been one of my favorite and most-listened to albums of 2007.  The album is the follow-up to 2003's self-released debut, I Am The Fun Blame Monster, which is cool for three reasons (more actually, but particularly these three):  the title is an anagram of "the first Menomena album," the CD comes with an 80 page flip-book, and the album got an 8.7 on Pitchfork - when the band had never heard of the website. Fun Blame Monster has since been re-released on FILMguerrero and the band has also released a three-track instrumental album called Under an Hour, which was written for a experimental dance company and is delightfully weird and beautiful. 

I was fortunate enough to catch Menomena while I was in Austin for SXSW this past year, and while the mid-afternoon set I caught at a day party was tragically short, it was certainly long enough for the band to make a terrific impression on me.  I've been waiting (im)patiently for this Nashville date to arrive since the band announced this tour back in July, and I hope you decide to check them out tonight (at least at the free show - because really, what do you have to lose?).  Of course, all the words in the world can't persuade someone that a band is worth seeing live, so I'll let the music do the convincing:

"Wet and Rusting" (from Friend and Foe)
"Air Aid" (from Friend and Foe)
"Cough Coughing" (from I Am the Fun Blame Monster)

The Grimey's show tonight kicks off at 6 p.m. - but I'd be there earlier to get a good spot.  And if you're heading to Exit/In as well (and you should be), the show starts at 9 p.m., costs $12 and Don Caballero and Illinois open.

Tonight - Nada Surf and Sea Wolf at Exit/In (and a BUNCH of other stuff)

Tonight is the first crazy-crazy-packed night we've had here in a Nashville in a while - where there are literally four different options that I would be way more than happy to check out.  (Five, actually, if you count Glossary's in-store at Grimey's today, but that's at 6 p.m. and it doesn't really interfere with anything else  so you should ALL go to it.)  So I suppose as a blogger it's my job to tell you what I'm choosing to see and why, which will maybe help inform your own decision.  Right?

Anyway, my pick for the night is Nada Surf and Sea Wolf at Exit/In.  I've been pretty excited about this show for a while - I saw Nada Surf at Exit/In back in February of 2006 and I really enjoyed the show, and I've been patiently waiting for Sea Wolf to come to town since I first heard "Black Dirt" and then all of my friends started raving about him.   And while I can't give you my first-hand opinion on Sea Wolf (we'll all have to judge for ourselves tonight, but all signs point to goodness), I can definitely provide you with my opinion on Nada Surf's live show.  One of the awesome things about having a blog (and part of the reason I started one) is that it's a super handy way to keep track of the stuff you've seen and what you thought about it.  I just doubled back and read my own review of that Nada Surf show at Exit/In 20 months ago, and now I'm even MORE excited.  Moderately embarrassed by my rambling, but psyched.  I don't know if that review means anything to anyone else, but it just helped me remember exactly how I felt at that show.  So here's hoping they sell out Exit/In again.

My friends at Barsuk actually sent me a brand new Nada Surf tune the other day; it's going to appear on their new album Lucky, which is due out on February 5, 2008.  A long wait for sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion we might hear a bit of the new stuff tonight.  I played this one the other day on the show and got about five phone calls, so hopefully you like it as much as my listeners do:

"See These Bones"

And here are two more Nada Surf songs - both highlights at the show last year:

"Fruit Fly" (from Let Go)
"Do It Again" (from The Weight Is a Gift)

Of course, you need to sample some Sea Wolf too, so you can make sure you get there in time for his opening set:

"Black Dirt" (from Leaves In the River)

Hopefully see you out tonight!

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Also going on tonight:

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @ the War Memorial Auditorium (sorry, SOLD OUT). 

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead @ Cannery Ballroom - 10 p.m, $16, although conveniently $10 if you have a stamp/ticket from Nada Surf or Ryan Adams.

Jennifer O'Connor @ The 5 Spot with Hotel Lights, Field and Stream of Consciousness and Deanna Veragona - $7 and 21+.

But first:

Glossary @ Grimey's - a free in-store at 6 p.m. to celebrate the physical release of The Better Angels Of Our Nature.  Which is excellent.  So be there. 

WRVU Benefit @ The Basement TONIGHT!

Okay Nashville, it's Friday, and I'm sure you're all looking for a fun way to kick off the weekend tonight.  Personally, I'm thinking your first choice should be the WRVU Benefit at the Basement, because I know you all want to head out and support your favorite radio station (where you can find your favorite DJ on Saturday afternoons - hint hint) by checking out a few excellent, excellent bands.  Here are the bands on the lineup:

Turncoats - these Murfreesboro boys are definitely becoming one of my local favorites.  They kicked some rock 'n roll ass at the End during Next Big Nashville last month (in fact, they may be Beatle Bob's new favorite band), and if you haven't seen them live yet you HAVE TO.  I mean that.  I'm definitely looking forward to their new EP.

"Hostage of Love (demo)"

Bad Friend - I STILL haven't seen Bad Friend play live (which kind of makes me a bad friend, because I've known one of the members pretty much since I moved here) but they'll be releasing an EP a little bit later this month and will definitely be making the rounds to promote its release.

"Monterrey"

Hands off Cuba - I haven't caught this band yet either, but that's more because I haven't had the opportunity - the electronic group rarely plays around town.  Part of that probably has to do with the fact that Ryan Norris (recently named Best Local Rock Band Whore by the Nashville Scene) also plays with Lambchop, The Privates, Cortney Tidwell and Lone Official - so catch him with Hands off Cuba tonight while you have the chance.

"Romulus"

Megafaun - Rounding up the lineup is a band I'm not familiar with but have heard wonderful things about - Megafaun (I have to admit I thought it was "Megafun" until about ten minutes ago).  The southern-flavored blues trio hails from Raleigh, NC, and they're the only band on the bill that isn't from Nashville (or Murfreesboro), so be sure to show them a little love.

"Lazy Suicide"

The party gets underway tonight at 9 p.m., the cover is only a $5 donation, and like all shows at the Basement it's 21+.  Plus, in addition to the bands there will be giveaways - gift certificates to Local Honey, Fido and other local boutiques and restaurants, as well as tickets to upcoming events from Great Big Shows.  If you'd like to go a step further in supporting WRVU, you can even drop a little cash on a new hoodie, t-shirt or koozie.   

Grimey's and The Basement's Autumn-Matic for the People TOMORROW!

It's that time of year again - tomorrow marks another Grimey's and The Basement outdoor parking lot concert and big-ass sale.  It's one of my favorite regularly scheduled events here in Nashville and one of the best ways imaginable to spend a Saturday - drinking beer, watching bands and buying records.  If you were there for the Cinco de Mayo Blowout  earlier this year, you know what a blast these parties can be, so make a point of heading out tomorrow to check out some free live music in your favorite little parking lot in town.

I'm actually not going to make it to this one, because my sister and I are having a bit of b-day party tomorrow (we scheduled it before Grimey's scheduled their shindig), but the lineup looks spectacular - Glossary, Bobby Bare Jr., Sons of Roswell, Those Darlins, Black Swans, The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, The Howlies, and Turncoats. 

The sale itself kicks off at 11 a.m. (sales on everything in the store, $2 CDs and $1 LPs in the back parking lot) with live music beginning at 12:45.  Once again the Yazoo truck will be set up, and Mafiaoza's will be there selling pizza.  And in addition to the free music you can score some free stuff - they'll be giving away an iPod Nano thanks to Blu Hammock Music, plus tickets to see The Good Life on October 9 with some other Good Life goodies.

After the jump, the (tentative) schedule:

French Kicks and Through the Sparks TONIGHT @ the Basement!

Okay, all week long I've been pointing you in the direction of excellent shows happening here in town, but seriously pay attention to this one, because it is absolutely hands-down my concert pick of the week. Tonight, French Kicks and Through the Sparks are playing at The Basement at 9 p.m., and you can check out the show for $8.

I'll gush about how much I love French Kicks in a second, but first let's talk about Through the Sparks.  It was a pleasant surprise when I got an email at the beginning of this month from Travis at Skybucket Records letting me know that this band was coming to town - because I've actually been enjoying Lazarus Beach since it came out back in May.  I was first tipped off to the Birmingham five-piece when I downloaded the track "Mexico (Every Last Buffalo)" off of another music blog, and fell head over heels for the little '70s-ish groove the tune had going on.  So I picked up the whole album on eMusic and was delighted to find that the rest of it is great as well - kinda Southern, kinda '70s, pretty poppy with surprisingly dark lyrics and themes in certain places.  It's not predictable at all, which I think may be my favorite thing about Lazarus Beach, and I think it appeals to the same part of my brain that loves Wilco, though don't take that too seriously because the comparison isn't that strong.  Time to hear for yourself:

"Mexico (Every Last Buffalo)"
"Falling Out of Favor With the Neighbors"
"Local Moon"

I would already be completely sold on attending this show, even if OTO faves French Kicks weren't on the bill, but they are, so we get a completely kick-ass bonus.  I got a chance to see the band at Exit/In (and I got to interview Josh Wise!) almost exactly a year ago and I'm thrilled that they're coming back - especially since both Two Thousand and The Trial of the Century are never very far from my iPod, CD player or ears.   French Kicks definitely kick up the rockin' aspects of their tunes on-stage, which is a nice variation on the fairly subdued records they release, and if you haven't seen the band play live yet this is pretty much the perfect opportunity - a nice intimate gig in my favorite venue in town.  And it's only $8... you can't really argue with that. 

Here are a few selections - from Two Thousand, The Trial of the Century, and the Roller EP, respectively - to push you in the direction of the Basement tonight:

"So Far We Are"
"One More Time"
"Roller"

See you at the show tonight!

The Silent Years @ Belmont's Curb Cafe tonight

The other show going on tonight (see my Warm in the Wake post below for your first option) is The Silent Years at Belmont's Curb Cafe.  I heard about this one pretty last minute, which is why it wasn't on the concert calendar until recently - the Curb Cafe is an atypical venue and I usually don't hear about things playing there.  And initially I wasn't too upset that I'd miss this because I'm pretty psyched about going to the symphony tonight.  But then I pulled out my copy of the band's 2006 release The Silent Years and promptly became ridiculously bummed.

I actually featured The Silent Years on my show back in November last year - I remember falling in love with the album when I first heard it and having a hard time choosing only three songs to play on the radio.  I had sorta forgotten about the album though, so it wasn't until I gave it a few spins earlier this week that I remembered how much I love it.  The album is pretty solid indie goodness from beginning to end, and I love almost every track - which is pretty rare.  It's also pretty diverse, with different songs seeming to pull from different influences, so when you listen to the whole thing you get a fairly eclectic mix.  I couldn't decide which two tracks to share with you so instead, I just decided to give you three:

"No Secrets"
"Someone To Keep Us Warm"
"Take the Money Out"

Seriously, go check this band out tonight - if I can't go I want to at least live vicariously through someone else.  The show, which also features Nathan K and David Condos (man I'm bummed about this too - remember the interview I did with him?) kicks off at 7 p.m. and The Silent Years should play at 8.  I'm not sure what the cover is, but if I find out later today I'll edit this to let you know.

Warm in the Wake tomorrow night @ Cannery Ballroom

I have to say I'm a little bummed - back at the end of July I bought tickets for tomorrow night's Nashville Symphony performance, and at the time there was really nothing on the concert calendar that I thought I'd miss (yes it was two months out, but I usually hear about things pretty early).  Now there's not only one but two excellent shows going on tomorrow night that I'm going to miss.  Which sucks, but at least I'm excused from making a tough decision.

First up is Warm in the Wake.  If you remember, the Decatur band came to town back in April, and the week before their performance I featured their EP on the show and did a phone interview with lead singer Chris Rowell.  I also caught their performance at the Global Stretch benefit, which was great, and somehow ended with me doing shots with the band in front of a film crew from Paste magazine (still don't know what happened to that footage - hopefully nothing).  Anyway, the band originally was going to hit the Basement again next week, but instead they'll be playing tomorrow night at the Cannery Ballroom with Drive-By Truckers at 9 p.m.

Since we last heard from Warm in the Wake, they've released their new full-length, American Prehistoric.  The album came out on August 28 and it definitely lives up to the promise of the Gold Dust Trail EP - not to mention the description the band has been using for their music for a while now:  "simple American songs that have been gently thrown into the space rock realm."  Things are mostly warm, melodic and simple enough to sound classic, but every now and then a space-y influence comes creeping in to keep the album from being too middle-of-the-road.  Certain songs actually remind me quite a bit of Guster, so fans of that band should definitely take note.

"American Prehistoric"
"Reservoir"

Go check 'em out tomorrow night at the Cannery, $20 will get you in and you get to see Drive-By Truckers too.