After making it through the final sludge of summer festival heat and the final doldrums 
before tour season, the time is finally upon us – tour season has reached a fever pitch, full swing, etc. Big time tours are rolling through town and buzzy indie bands are making the rounds every single night, it seems – which makes Nashville an enticingly diverse charcuterie board of shows to sample and check out on any given night. This week sees a vast array of tours rolling through Nashville – from one of the buzziest bands (with good reason) in all of 2016, to folk acts (soloists and groups), to all the fantastic local acts that hit the boards night in and night out, to the week ending with South Africa’s finest freak hop act around – so here are just a handful of shows worth checking out this week when you’re feeling a little frisky for tunes.
Whitney with EZ TV, HOOPS at Exit/In; Monday 10/3
Talk about a stacked lineup of 2016’s indie darlings! Whitney has what will likely be a list-topping debut record in their phenomenal cool cooing LP Light Upon the Lake. Then there’s EZ TV (who L/S has caught before) and their easy, breezy brand of power pop featuring tracks off their recent (last week!) release of High Release, and then there’s HOOPs, who brings the Midwestern charm from the Bloomington, Indiana hotbed; its going to be a hell of a show. Show at 9. $18 DOS.
Julianna Barwick at Queen Ave; Monday 10/3
One of the best post-ambient artists out on the tour circuit today (and arguably one of the best of her young generation), Julianna Barwick is doing an about face in Nashville after playing Exit/In opening for Angel Olsen last month and playing the Queen Ave Arts Collective in lieu of a “classic” music venue. Queen Ave is a cool spot and Barwick is disarmingly enchanting live, so this is a must see if you’re not headed to any of the other shows tonight. Show at 9. $10 DOS
Jillian Jacqueline with Ryan Beaver at The Basement; Monday 10/3
L/S love Jillian Jacqueline and Ryan Beaver, so if they’re sharing a bill, you know L/S is going to give it a shout – Jillian put out a solid debut EP and has been hitting the road with the likes of Willie and plenty other locals acts. Ryan has been crushing it opening up for Eli Young Band and undoubtedly stealing the show. Its an early show at The Basement, so be sure to get out there early to catch the show. Show at 7. $5 DOS.
Jessica Lea Mayfield at The High Watt; Tuesday 10/4
There are few things better than a minimalist approach to performing and songwriting, so if you’re into that type of thing, Jessica Lea Mayfield is the apparent show choice to fill your Tuesday evening with bare bones songs and open heart performing. She hasn’t released any new records in a couple years, so there’s a solid chance you’ll get to hear a few new tunes that will undoubtedly precede a full-length bound to come soon. Show at 8. $15 DOS
Darlingside at The High Watt; Thursday 10/6
More viscerally moving folk music for you this week, this time by Darlingside, out of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The band is touring in support of their most recent LP Birds Say, and to call it exceptional might be a slight understatement – the band has ethereal harmonies that would make most indie folkers green with envy, but their lyricism has a depth and slight wink that most wouldn’t even begin to be able to fathom.
The Growlers at Exit/In; Thursday 10/6
Its crazy to think The Growlers have been a band for a decade now, as they’ve continually released solid record after solid record to rightful praise and what not, but they never seem to stop. With a new record – City Club – out on Cult Records, The Growlers are hitting the road again, and bringing their surf garage rock to the legendary Exit/In yet again this Thursday. Show at 9. $22 DOS
The Dandy Warhols with Savoy Motel at Mercy Lounge; Friday 10/7
Here’s another living legend alert that seems to pop up every now and again – The Dandy Warhols, one of the best power pop garage rock bands of the past three decades are coming through Nashville for the first time in years. They’ve been through town five times before, but never playing with a local band with as much buzz as local crew Savoy Motel has. Both bands are solid live sets and even better sonics, so be sure to get to the show early before this one undoubtedly sells out. Show at 9. $25 DOS.
Lera Lynn with Steelism at Basement East; Saturday 10/8
Here’s a bill with two bands L/S absolutely loves – the magnificent Lera Lynn and the slick Steelism, playing at Basement East in what will be one of the best shows of the week (and potentially month), when its all said and done. Lynn’s brooding bouts of romance and heartbreak will be a fine juxtaposition to Steelism’s tight silver dollar saloon set. This is going to be a good one, and definitely going to come close to selling out. Show at 8. $18 DOS.
Die Antwoord at Marathon Music Works; Sunday 10/9
This show is sold out, for obvious reasons, as you only need to take one look at Ninja, Yolandi Visser, and God’s live set to know that this show is worth every dime. SOLD OUT
Lockeland Springsteen 