As we inch closer and closer toward the true blue tour season, each week grows more and more inflated with shows that present increasingly difficult dilemmas for the concert-going type. This week is no exception, and now that Live on the Green kicks off this week, you can expect more than a few vexing decisions to be made in the weeks to come. Here are some of the shows to check out this week as you gear up for Live on the Green and the Tomato Art Festival later this week/weekend.
Blink 182 at Ascend Amphitheater, 8/8
If you’re someone who grew up in the early 2000s, then witnessing the pop-punk grandeur of your youth is kind of a no-brainer – Blink-182 is in town headlining at Ascend on Monday night. It appears as though most people seem to be of a similar thought, because the show is sold out, but there are plenty of great spots on the Gateway Bridge, that offer up a free show. Show at 7. SOLD OUT (or free, if you watch from the bridge).
David Bazan at Exit/In, 8/9
David Bazan has led an interesting career, exploring the inner and outer realms of goth, folk, and now electronica. Touring in support of his most recent 2016 release, Blanco, the isolationist Bazan will bring his adept dark wave of folk to Exit/In on Tuesday, 8/9, with support from a similarly solitary Michael Nau. Show at 8. $15 DOS.
Myster Lights, Savoy Motel, and Lasso Spells at Exit/In, 8/10
The Mystery Lights are coming into Nashville all the way from New York in support of their eponymous LP, Mystery Lights. There getting ample support from local standouts Savoy Motel – who just dropepd a kick ass new music video – and Lasso Spells – fantasm extraordinaires. Its going to be more than a solid night of tunes and times, so come out early to catch everyone’s sets. Show at 9. $10 DOS.
Deerhoof at Mercy Lounge, 8/10
Deerhoof’s career of dodging genre ascription is a feat in itself, but even more impressive, the group has remained fully independent – self-producing and self-managing – since their inception all the way back in 1994. Their most recent avant-garde meets noise pop release, The Magic, brings them to Nashville, running through new songs and old ones from their 22-year career to Mercy Lounge. Show at 9. $14 DOS.
Cory Branan at Basement East, 8/12
Cory is playing a hometown show a week before the release of his upcoming full-length, The No-Hit Wonder. The show itself is touted as an “Evening with Cory Branan” which would suggest any assortment of different possibilities for the outcome of the show, but one might suspsect that with it being a hometwon show, Cory will have more than a few excellent local guests in attendance to perform alongside him. Show at 9. $15 DOS.
Shannon LaBrie at 3rd & Lindsley, 8/14
Shannon LaBrie put out a killer new record this past April, War & Peace, which coincidentally dropped around the same time as the TV featuring the same name. LaBrie is this week’s WRLT Nashville Sunday Night artist of the week, so the seeing her live doubles as a unique live radio experience. Shoat at 8. $10 DOS.
Drake at Bridgestone, 8/14
Yeah, sure; why not? See Drizzy on his last tour before he’s (figuratively) murdered by Eminem. Show at 6:30. Cheapest ticket runs you $49.50, because its Drake.
Lockeland Springsteen 