Bonnaroo Preview

2009 Bonnaroo Preview
[Image from setlist.com]

Want to know who's playing where at Bonnaroo when? Check out Janet's newest blog project, Out The Other previewing every, yes EVERY artist that is playing this year.

Janet's rallied the troops and gotten some guest writers (including my flattered self) to give the artists a spin and tell the world what they're about before they hit the festival gates. Other awesome folks throughout Nashville are contributing to the list, such as Seth Graves from Nashville Cream & Lance Conzett, Belmont newspaper aficionado and photographer extraordinaire. You can check out the full run down here, including mp3s from the artists.

And I have to throw in a little plug for the article on Those Darlins, seeing as I would have never thought I'd see my writing on a blog that was represented on the SXSW panel this year (and we all know that's some fancy stuff).

Show Review: The Tits CD Release Show

The Basement wasn't quite as full as I had expected for a Thursday nite CD release party, but the folks that were there came for the right reason: to see a rock show.

The nite started out with the Clutters, who busted out quite a few new songs. I only caught three songs, thanks to my inability to maneuver Nashville interstates, but the last three were new tracks that still had that Clutters sound. The first one that I walked in to hear was more straightforward rock and I feared that synth sound they embrace had been kicked to the curb. My fears were proven wrong by the next song being keyboard heavy. From the sounds of it, when these folks drop a new record, it's going to be another great one.

Howlies were next up, my immediate attention drawn to drummer/vocalist Aaron and the sling on his arm. He quickly tore off the sling and a few songs into the set it was revealed that he had a broken collarbone, as he praised the name of strong painkillers. Of course you couldn't even tell there was anything wrong with him and the show was just as strong as ever. Those boys always bring it and the most I can say is that I highly suggest everyone see them play live or atleast pick up their record.

The headliners, the Tits, finally hit the stage and it was obvious much of the crowd had been waiting for them to go on. Folks that I'd never had expected to see at a punk show were singing along to every word as the band played straight through their record; at one point, the band had someone from the audience grab one of the cds they were still giving away for free so they would know what song to play next. After playing through the record the band busted out a few covers (MC5, Stooges, etc.), played a new song and had half the crowd come on stage with them for the last two songs.

Overall, I was quite impressed with the band and the show that they put on. I'm even two listens in to their album, "Jesus Says Relax" and I'm going to need a few more listens before I am ready to move onto something else besides this 20 minutes of music. I might get some people hating on me for saying this, but this band will be some of the biggest competition for Infinity Cat bands likes Meemaw or JEFF the Brotherhood.

Watch out Nashville, you have been warned.

Thursday Nite Preview: The Tits/ The Features/JEFF the Brotherhood

After filling your belly with some ice cream with the Protomen tonite, there's a few mighty good show options in Nashville and (first time in a while) Murfreesboro. Check out the options...

1) If you're sticking around the 'Boro tonite, head up to 527 and check out the sweet bill of The Features & How I Became the Bomb (& Dexateens more than likely, the opening act has been posted differently different places-you know how that goes). The cover is a little steep at $10 but you can feel good about dropping that much cash to do some dancing to some of Murfreesboro's finest since it's a benefit for Chuck & James who were involved in that car jacking a few weeks back. An extra bonus for this show? It's 18 and up and those are rare in this town.

2) JEFF the Brotherhood and the Screaming Females at the End. I'm not too up to date on this show, but I'm sure if you dig JEFF you were already planning on being there.

3) The Tits CD Release show is at the Basement tonite with a $5 cover for some of the best rock and roll that can be found in the southeast. Howlies and Clutters open the show and if that's enough to get this girl out of Murfreesboro and skipping 2 of her favorite bands to see, it's a pretty sweet line up. According to the Clutters twitter, they play first tonite and are going to play new songs for half of their set. As for The Tits, I have yet to actually hear their stuff, which you can get for free at Grimeys or even on their website, plus anyone who shows up tonite gets a free copy of their new record. They're getting their name out there in a strong way, so they have to be pretty good, one would think (and hope).

I won't lie though, the reason I'm heading up I-24 is for Howlies. I've caught them 3-4 times now, all starting at Grimeys and the first outdoor sale I attended in Fall 2007. If you dig surfy/garage rock with some awesome harmonies going throughout, check it out. Their full length has been out a few months on vinyl and cd, plus the 7" for "Sea Level" is a great one. All my gushing aside, come to the show and see them for yourself.

Thursday Nite Preview: Protomen Icecream Social

This Thursday is quite a day around my parts, seeing as MTSU's finals are done today, plus it's a Thursday and that's almost the weekend. And to start the summer/weekend off right, there's a few things going on in the Boro and Nashville that I'll get behind (and have had a hard time choosing between attending).

First off, the Protomen Ice Cream Social is at the Hillwood Strike & Spare up in Nashville. The party is being thrown thanks to their win a few weeks back at the 8 off 8th Road to Bonnaroo and here's the info via the group's myspace:

As promised, if we were given the opportunity to perform at Bonnaroo thanks to you, we are having an ice cream party. This might as well serve as our birthday party also due to the fact that the first battle was 5 years ago on April 22. Details:

Thursday May 7th, 2009

Hillwood Strike & Spare

3710 Annex Ave Nashville, TN

If you use a GPS device, it will NOT take you there. Google Maps works.

FREE ICE CREAM 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. $1 per game bowling 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Roller skating, Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, Games, food and beverage for little kids and big kids AND THE ROCK-AFIRE EXPLOSION!!!!! (showbiz pizza animatronics). A moment in history shall be made.

-P-

Moustache May

Photo Credit: artvandelay

Before hitting the Shakespeare paper and studying, wanted to make sure everyone knows about the Moustache May website. Mr. Michael Eades who runs yewknee & also is part of we own this town has the site up and running for gents {and ladies if they so wished and harnessed the power to grow said moustache} to boast about what's above their lip through out the month. The site has theme days in which the guys can participate in, such as show us your work [place, that is], formal friday and more. As to not condone cheating, registration was cut off slightly before May 2nd hit and the boys are going strong thus far.

Alas, seeing as today is Cinco de Mayo, some of the guys went all out on the theme and deserve being seen somewhere besides the main website...

Photo Credit: chadmcclarnon


Photo Credit: Burney


There's plenty more of where these came from, so check out the website and get to know the moustaches near and far.

[And I vote the artvandelay for moustache mayor tomorrow, Mr. Eades]

Getting by with a little help from your friends...

Last week there were a few carjackings in Nashville & turns out that two of the guys who are crucial to Grand Palace screenprinting/records/etc. & the overall music scene in Murfreesboro were caught up in this spree. They both wound up with injuries, alas the medical bills are now ensuing and GP guy Andrew Jacks has sent around the following memo if you want to help out these awesome guys:

Chuck and James, my friends who were shot in the attempted carjacking last week, are in need of financial help to cover their medical bills. You can help. Go to www.paypal.com, click on send money and enter the email address helpchuckandjames@grandpalace.us

They are both severely hampered in their ability to work at this time. Forward this to friends and give whatever you can afford. Every little bit helps. There will also be a benefit show soon, keep an eye out for that.

http://www.wsmv.com/video/19275488/
Channel 4 Nashville story about the carjacking

An abbreviated concert calendar

Here's what's coming up- if you know of anything else crucial that needs to be posted, leave a comment or shoot me an email [jannephotography(at)gmail.com].

May 2: -The Lake, We Were the States - The Boro- $5

-Ghostfinger, The Bohannons- House Pride-Free but donations being taken (located on Memorial Blvd. in Murfreesboro)

-Jazzfest on the square in the Boro- noon-? - FREE!

-Free Comic Book Day at Great Escape

May 5: Cinco De Mayo party- Lez Zeppelin, hosted by Music City Burlesque & more- Mercy Lounge- $12

May 7: The Tits cd release show with The Clutters & Howlies- The Basement- $5

-The Features, How I Became the Bomb, Dexateens- 527 Main Street ('Boro)

-Protomen ice cream party -Bowling alley on Charlotte Ave. (to celebrate The Road to 'Roo 8 off 8th win- more info soon)

May 9: Parachute Musical, Madi Diaz, Tyler James- Mercy Lounge- $5 [Wear the green, red, yellow or blue and get some free swag off of PM or something like that..]

-Kent Goolsby (The Only Sons), Jason Yeary (Hammertorch)- Acoustic show- The Pigeon Hole [727 E. Burton St. 'Boro]

May 11: Steve Cross' 8 off 8th- Line-up Here- Mercy Lounge - FREE!

May 15: The Winter Sounds, Kindercastle, Dent May- Mercy Lounge- $7

May 20: Road to Bonnaroo 8 off 8th - Mercy Lounge- FREE!

-The Middlemen- Temptation Club- $5

May 27: Camera Obscura- Mercy- $14

May 30: Ghostfinger, And the Relatives, Uncle Skeleton- Moustache May party- Mercy Lounge- $5


And a little farther off....

June 11-14: Bonnaroo- Manchester, TN

July 12: Deertick, Dawes- The Basement

July 28: M. Ward- Cannery- $18