If you’re hanging around this evening, looking for a great band to see, head on over to Grimey’s and catch the everybodyfields, doing an in-store performance at 6 PM. Their new album, Nothing is Okay, is in stores today, and from what I can tell of the tracks I’ve heard so far, sounds pretty great. You can sample some of the new stuff on myspace, or through their virtual jukebox on the official website. The show is free! The CD will be worth every penny.

Nothing much to report over here. We went down to BarCamp this weekend, and out to the movies to see Superbad. Matt works for Emma, so it was kind of a given that he would be attending BarCamp. I had hoped for something a little different, maybe more conversation on music-related topics. I mean, seriously! There was a guitar in the logo. It’s my own fault for not really paying attention to the schedule of speakers beforehand. There were some interesting topics, and Alison (and Dean and Kelly) were kind enough to let me hang on the bus when the heat was too much to handle. Overall, it was an interesting experience, and I did get to meet a few new people and say hello to a couple of blogo-friends that I don’t get to see very often.

Superbad was, of course, excellent.

This week is kind of quiet for Matt and me. Dave, over at the NashvilleFeed, mentioned to us at BarCamp that he was happy to see our blog getting a little use. I do want to continue to blog around here, at least for the forseeable future. I had a lot on my plate, especially at the beginning of the year, that prevented me from really devoting a lot of time to anything outside of my job and my family. Some of that has subsided, at least for now, and I’ll have a little more time to write. Matt (heyyyy, did you know that there are two of us? ‘cuz most people don’t!), I think, is fresh out of blogjuice, so I think I’ll probably be flying solo around here for a while.

I start teaching full-time next week, so this week is devoted to doing all the things that I’ve avoided all summer. One of these completely unexciting tasks is scrubbing the kitchen floor. Here’s my OH BOY, IT’S TIME TO SCRUB THE FLOOR! mini-mix. There’s no real rhyme or reason to it, just stuff that I’ve been listening to lately.

Soundtrack to a Scrubbing:

1. Son Volt: Catching On, from Trace
2. Golden Smog: Corvette, from Another Fine Day
3. Rosco Gordon: No More Doggin’, from Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues - A Musical Journey
4. Elvis Presley: Mystery Train, from Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues - A Musical Journey
5. The Frames: God Bless Mom, from The Roads Outgrown

happy wednesday,

celine

1. Most importantly:

eeeeeeee! Huge buttsmacks (I’d like to institute the use of the word “buttsmacks” instead of “thanks”) to Alison for the ticket.


2. I have been battling the wilds of Craigslist for three weeks in search of a bread maker. This has almost become an obsession. I thought I found one last week, but I think that the person flaked. This has been the third or fourth flake-out via Craigslist, and I am slowly being driven into madness. First of all, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF HOLY JESUS, if you have something to sell on Craigslist, don’t be a flake. If ninjas come to your house in the middle of the night and steal your breadmaker, the one you’d promised to me, have the decency to shoot me an email and say, “hey, SORRY, BUT NINJAS STOLE MY BREADMAKER.” If your grandmother decides to buy it from you and you can’t say no, just say that! If you realize that you do actually want to make bread with it, that’s cool! Just say so! Seriously! I hate Craigslist sometimes.


Anyway, all of this to say: Please, if you have a breadmaker that you would like to get rid of, I have money pretty much burning a hole in my pocket. I will come to your house and buy it today. I will even bake you a loaf. And then I will eat it, and tell you how wonderful it was. Please, we are dying over here. This obsession is about to ruin me.. I seriously check Craigslist for new breadmaker listings multiple times everyday.


3. And finally: If you are on facebook and into FACEBOOK SCRABBLE, I would like to challenge you to a scrabble-off. My friends are tired of me pestering them for games.


Ah. Rufus Wainwright, facebook scrabble, and obsessive checking of the Craigslist classified ads. This is obviously the best Tuesday ever.


love, celine


Facebook | ScrabulousFacebook | ScrabulousFacebook | ScrabulousFacebook | ScrabulousFacebook | ScrabulousFacebook | ScrabulousFacebook | Scrabulous !!!

We have just (very reluctantly) returned from a trip to Austin, Texas, where we checked out UT (I have to go back to school soon, for my doctorate! It makes me want to kick things) and ate a lot of food. I have actually never ever spent any time in Texas at all prior to this weekend, which is sort of shameful. We had an amazing time, and didn’t want to come back home. BUT NOW WE ARE BACK. And Nashville, this weekend, is boring as ever. But! There are a few good things going on this weekend, so here goes:

Friday, Curt Perkins and Luke Doucet are playing a show at the The Basement. I really like Doucet, he has a very friendly, poppish/alt-country sound.. I love his voice, and he’s a killer guitar player. That show starts at 9 PM on Friday, and the cover is $7.

We’d also recommend catching Claire Small over at the Family Wash on Friday. She’s a little over a month out of her performance at the Austin City Limits Festival, and has a new album up for sale. Her music is a great mix of pop, Latin-infused jazzy rhythms, and a beautiful, sweet and clear voice to top it all off. That show starts at 9 PM, and there’s no cover, just take a few dollars to throw in the hat.

Saturday, The Exit/In is hosting the Hotel Cafe Tour. There’s a great lineup for this show - Cary Brothers, Joshua Radin (who is also doing an in-store at Grimey’s on Saturday at 5 PM), Joe Purdy, Jim Bianco, and Sanders Bohlke. RACHAEL YAMAGATA (one of our favorite ladies on earth!) is also on the bill!! A stellar line up, only 12 dollars a ticket (purchasable through The Evil Empire, or at the door). Doors are at 8, show begins at 9.

Also on Saturday - The Steep Canyon Rangers perform at the Station Inn at 9 PM. Tickets are 10 dollars.

Two big shows over at the Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom on Saturday. The Mercy Lounge has a great show scheduled - Greg Dulli’s (Whigs!) group, The Twilight Singers performs with the Stars of Track and Field. Show is at 9 PM, tickets are 12 and can be purchased online. Marc Broussard also performs with Sons of William over at the Cannery Ballroom on Saturday at 9 PM. Tickets are, again, 12 dollars and can be purchased here.

THE END! We love you.

Joshua Radin: The One You Knew, from First Between 3rd and 4th

Rachael Yamagata: The Reason Why, from her EP

Luke Doucet: New York, from Aloha, Manitoba

The Twilight Singers: Martin Eden, from Blackberry Belle

Peter Salett: Hey Susan (okay, so we only wish as fast as our little hearts can carry us that Peter Salett would make his way to Nashville), from Heart of Mine

love, celine

It’s gross here in Nashville today, but we sure are glad that it’s Friday! I don’t have much to say today except maybe you should go see Tilly and the Wall at the Exit/In, tomorrow night at 6 PM. Or Mojave 3 with Tim O’Reagan at the Belcourt (Saturday at 8!). Or the Jake Leg Stompers at the Station Inn (Saturday at 9).

Tonight I am selling my CUPCAKES! At the Improv Nashville show. Improv Nashville and Troupe 93 are performing a Halloween improv show tonight - wear a costume and receive a dollar off the $8.00 admission price. That show begins at 8 PM, and will probably sell out. You need reservations! Use the dollar you’ll save on admission to buy a delicious homemade cupcake.

This mix is hereby dedicated to the celebration of cupcakery. (It was hard to find any songs in my iTunes library that were cupcake related, so I just went for.. cups. And Halloween. And a tiny piece of self goodness.)

Belle and Sebastian: For the Price of a Cup of Tea, from The Life Pursuit

NORTH AMERICAN HALLOWEEN PREVENTION INITIATIVE: Do They Know It’s Hallowe’en? [CD Single]

Self: Pattycake, from Gizmodgery

The Shaggs: It’s Halloween, from Philosophy of the World

Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire: Measuring Cups, from Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs

love, celine

I am down on blogs, life, work, weather, et cetera this week. But really, it’s okay, because I don’t have to work for the next FOUR DAYS! It’s fall break for my Monday school. And I don’t work on Fridays. EVER! Suckers. This is why it pays not to work for The Man.

Anyway, I’m fairly disappointed in the Nashville goingson this weekend, at least until Sunday. And I don’t want to spend a ton of time blogging today, so I’m just going to throw out a few ideas and some nice music to get you through the gloomy Friday.

Did you know that there is a meteor shower tonight? NashvilleWX promises such a thing, AND they’re also swearing that we’ll have sunshine by the afternoon. Which is great, as we’ll be in Fall Creek Falls tomorrow, drinking in the scenery and the sunshine - it’s peak weekend for fall foliage there, and it should be fairly warm.

If you’re staying in Nashville this weekend, here are some great shows that are going on all around town:

FRIDAY:

- The Basement has a set from Eef Barzelay tonight, starting at 9 PM. Casey Dienel supports. Dienel is worth hearing, she’s an amazing jumble of musical styles, with a sweeping, jazzy-pop influenced sound. Comparisons to anti-folk pianist/singer Nellie McKay abound, but I think Dienel is more delicate, and has a greater musical sensibility about her.. Her sound is just more interesting to me than McKay’s. Barzelay + Dienel will be a great show, and only $8! That’s a bargain.

- At the Belcourt tonight, you can head over to hear Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars. The show starts at 9 PM, with doors at 8 PM. The Scene did a great story on the All-Stars this week. Tickets are $21, and can be purchased online through the Belcourt’s website.

- GHOSTBUSTERS! is also showing at the Belcourt tonight. There’s an 11:30 showing tonight and tomorrow night, as part of the Late Show series.

SATURDAY:

- The Americana Folk Festival is going on this Saturday, down in Dickson. The lineup this year is underwhelming, compared to last year (to me, at least), but there are still a few great acts scheduled to perform. Patty Griffin headlines. Mindy Smith, The Avett Brothers, the everybodyfields, Paul Burch, and Zane Williams are acts that we would wholeheartedly recommend! The festival starts at 10 AM (with gates at 9), tickets for the whole day are $40, and there should be some great food (Christopher Pizza! Our favorite).

- LADYFEST MUSIC CITY is going on all weekend, with tons of shows at various venues, but we’d recommend the Saturday night show at The End, just because I like Cake Bake Betty the best. That showcase starts at 8 PM.

- Todd Snider plays a showcase to benefit the Cumberland River Compact at the Mercy Lounge, along with Molly Thomas and Tommy Womack. That show begins at 9 PM, and the only tickets left are $25 general admission tickets, which can be purchased through the Mercy Lounge website.

SUNDAY:

Sunday is our favorite day so far. Dear Sunday: YOU WIN. Love, Celine. Two huge things going on Sunday, and I am so excited but sad because I just can’t choose.

- First, Minton Sparks is doing a show at The Basement that I’m sure will be amazing. It all starts at 7 PM. To have the chance to see Minton in such a small, intimate space is a rare thing indeed. She’ll be opening for Rodney Crowell later in the year, so this could be her last feature-length show for a while. Tickets to the show are $10, but you can get in for free with the purchase of her new DVD from Grimey’s upstairs. Sparks is a haunting storyteller - the show should be well worth your time.

- Second, the Devil Music Ensemble will be providing music as a soundtrack to the movie Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The showing at the Belcourt begins at 8 PM, and tickets are $12. The Devil Music Ensemble came through a couple of months ago, and I ended up missing it, so I swore I’d make it out to this one.. Minton Sparks is hard to beat, though, so it’s a conundrum. I love the idea of live music as a soundtrack to silent films. The Spankers did it a couple of years ago, with a few Charlie Chaplin films, and I’ve always wanted to see more.

- Also on Sunday, Ex-Wilco guitarist/keyboardist/producer Jay Bennett will perform at 3rd and Lindsley. That show begins at 8 PM, and tickets are 7 dollars.

Happy weekend!

Casey Dienel: Embroidery
Jay Bennett: Cajun Angel
Todd Snider: Enjoy Yourself
the everybodyfields: His Pontiac
Avett Brothers: A Gift for Melody Lane
Sierra Leone’s All-Star Refugees: Big Lesson
Minton Sparks: Grace on the 4th

love, celine

Country music star Billy Ray Cyrus will be performing the national anthem at Saturday’s Predators-Canucks home game. Cyrus, who is currently promoting his song “I Want My Mullet Back” from the album Wanna Be Your Joe, will also host a mullet contest during the second period of the 7:00 p.m. game.
via The Predators website

Seriously, if this doesn’t get you to a Predators game, you are probably a Communist.

-Matt

There’s quite a bit going on in Nashville this weekend, as usual. I’m particularly looking forward to the weekend, mostly because it will be our one-year wedding anniversary! HOORAY FOR US. Other than that, a ton of concerts and extra interesting things are going on all around town.

Obviously, I have to plug my event first. Come out on Saturday evening (or the morning, if you want to bring the kids) to see the Nashville Chamber Orchestra perform in the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center. I’ll be playing with the NCO on Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. They’re also performing Arvo Part’s Orient and Occident, a beautiful work for strings, the 3rd and 4th movements of Haydn’s 6th Symphony, and the Concertino for Two Mandolins and Guitar, by Nashville composer Don Hart. The concert will also feature photochoreography from photographer James Westwater. We’ve been rehearsing in the evenings over the last week, and I have to say that the Schermerhorn is probably one of the best halls I’ve ever laid ears on. Definitely the most beautiful-sounding hall I’ve ever had the opportunity to play in. Clear and crisp, with just the right amount of reverberation, I’m able to hear myself and everyone around me with great clarity. It’s gorgeous. And the hall itself is beautiful! Very ornate, clean lines, and a very nice color scheme. I like it. The mix this week includes the first Beethoven’s Fifth (performed by the London Symphony Orchestra), as well as an excerpt from a chamber work by Arvo Part (visualize the umlaut!).

If you’re interested in coming out to see the NCO on Saturday, there’s an 11 AM Kid Pan Alley concert, geared towards families - tickets for that can be purchased here. Tickets for the 8 PM concert can be purchased here.

So, enough self-promotion!

Tonight! Beck is playing in our least favorite Nashville venue, City Hall. Come on, yes, it’s Beck, but would we pay real dollars to hear him play in a venue that makes him sound like he’s yelling into a trash can? Probably not. Sucks, too, because he is an amazing live show. General admission tickets to the show are 45 bucks, too, and the show is sold out, although tickets are available for sale through a myriad of Craigslist advertisements (PS: I wouldn’t trust that dude with “front row seats”).

Tonight, at the Mercy Lounge, The Long Players are getting together to perform the full-length Beatles album, Meet the Beatles. The Long Players are comprised of some of the most talented Nashville musicians around - session players who have toured and performed in recording sessions with various country/rock music greats. The Long Players get together a few times a year to perform their renditions of some of the greatest albums of all time - they’ve done Sgt. Pepper’s, Blonde on Blonde, Revolver, and about a dozen others. The vocals on each song are performed by different people, usually well-known Nashville personalities, but you never know exactly who you’re going to see. Matt’s been to a couple of these and says that it’s one of his most favorite, “only in Nashville” things to do. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased here. The show starts at 9:30.

Also tonight, Improv Nashville and Troupe 93 will be performing improv comedy at the 12th South Arts Venue. Tonight’s show also features a stand-up routine from comedienne Julie Dove, a Second City alum. Tickets for that show are $10, and reservations are essential - the space isn’t huge, and they always sell out. You can make your reservation by emailing Emily at info@improvnashville.org or calling 615-418-0905.

Saturday, if you’re not coming to my concert (I will try not to punch you in the face next time I see you), you can always check out Germantown’s Oktoberfest, going on all day. There’s a concert of sitar and tabla music at the Sri Ganesha Temple, over in West Nashville. The concert begins at 6:30 PM, and tickets are $20, or $10 if you can finagle a student ID.

One of my favorite Bens, Ben Kweller, performs at RCKTWN, Saturday at 7 PM (doors are at 6). Tickets are EIGHTEEN DOLLARS (oh, my wallet), and are purchasable through Ticketmaster, sigh. Sam Roberts Band and Hymns are supporting.

We’ve sung his praises here in the past, but we just have to do it again. The wonderful Josh Kear will be performing with friends/cowriters Mark Irwin, Chris Tompkins and Jameson Clark on Saturday evening at Douglas Corner. The show begins at 6. Kear and Tompkins have written Carrie Underwood’s most recent single (and her best, obviously), “Before He Cheats,” as well as Jimmy Buffett’s newest single, “Bama Breeze,” by Kear, Tompkins and Irwin. Needless to say, these dudes are having a great couple of months.

Another favorite Nashvillian of ours, Don Henry, will be performing on Saturday evening’s In the Round, at the Bluebird Cafe, 9:30 PM. Reservations are obviously essential. Admission to the show is $10.

At the ExitIn, on Saturday, Adrienne Young performs at 7 PM, as a part of the National Land Trust Alliance conference, which is happening in Nashville this weekend. The show is $12 for a general admission spot. We have to say that Adrienne Young doesn’t really tweak our, uh, buttons, but we’d head out to the show anyway - from 7-9, admission to the Exit In also allows you to enjoy the “Good Food for Good People” Festival. Here’s a description from the site:

Come early for an evening celebrating the family farm!

Local chefs will prepare local foods, donated by area farms.

Sponsored by Wild Oats, the Nashville Farmers Markets, the Turnip Truck, Produce Place, and many, many others, this evening will provide a festive atmosphere abundant in opportunites to meet your local growers, support locally grown, sustainable produce, learn about the benefits and preparation of raw food - if you haven’t yet sampled enzyme-rich, ‘living’, aka ‘raw’ cuisine, then you are in for treaty treat as concoctions made by the fabulous Laura Button will be available for your enjoyment, as well as farm fresh goodies, and a chance to sign up and learn about CSA’S in our region, as well as listen to representatives from the TN Land Trust, the American Community Garden Association, Nashville Farmer’s Markets, Hills & Hollers CSA, AND MORE!

Sounds delicious!

Happy weekend - and happy anniversary to my wonderful husband. One year ago today, we were batchelor/ette partying, FREAKING OUT, and throwing up on books about jazz that do not belong to us. I love you.

Weekend mix:
London Symphony: Symphony in C Minor - Allegro Con Brio (Beethoven)
Ulster Orch./Leslie Hatfield/Rebecca Hirsch: Tabula Rasa - Ludus (Arvo Part)
Ben Kweller - In Other Words, from Freak Out, It’s Ben Kweller
The Bens - Wicked Little Town (Tommy Gnosis Version), from Wig in a Box
Don Henry - Where’ve You Been, from Live at the Bluebird
Josh Kear - Mansions on Your Mind

love, celine

I have a short list of movies that I could watch over and over again. The Princess Bride. Ghostbusters. Spinal Tap. Groundhog Day. The aforementioned Goonies. There are others that semi-qualify (Annie Hall, Young Frankenstein, The Jerk, etc.), but there are two that top the list, and both of them are Coen Brothers movies. My first love will always be Raising Arizona, but The Big Lebowski is the one I love best.

Why is The Big Lebowski the best movie of all time for repeat viewing? There are a few simple reasons, which I shall outline here:

1. The Dude - Jeff Bridges has a long and distinguished list of acting roles, but he will never top The Dude (much as Nic Cage will never top H.I. McDonnough, but that’s another story). The Dude is quite simply the perfect embodiment of the leftover hippie, as well as the onscreen representation of our own laziness. This is one of the most underrated performances ever I think. I don’t think anyone else could have pulled off all of those “um, ah, um, aahhhh” scenes as well. He should have won an Oscar for this. I’m not even kidding.
2. Walter - I’ve spent the better part of my adult life looking for a pair of Walter sunglasses. I honestly never thought Goodman would top Gale Snoats, but he did.
3. The Jesus - Holy shit, the Jesus. Does this scene ever get old?
   

   No. No, it does not.

4. Imminently Quotable - How many times a week do I say “phone’s ringing, dude,” or “this aggression will not stand, man,” or even “am I the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules?!?” How many times have you been talking about someone you don’t like and inserted an “eight-year-olds, dude”? How many times have you have you been bowling and screamed “over the line!!” at someone? Other favorites you get to use on occasion:

   “Hey, careful, man, there’s a beverage here!”

   “I got a rash, man.”

   “I’m just gonna go find a cash machine.”

   “That had not occurred to us, Dude.”

   “Smokey, this is not ‘Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.”

   “You mean…coitus?”

   “How you gonna keep ‘em down on the farm once they’ve seen Karl Hungus?”

   “Is this a…what day is this?”

   “Life does not stop and start at your convenience, you miserable piece of shit.”

   I could go on forever. I mean, I could literally post the whole script here. That’s really what makes the movie, the amazing writing.

5. The Little Things - It’s Maude in a harness painting her vaginal artwork, it’s the bowls in the ashtray shaped like bowling pins, it’s The Dude dropping a roach in his lap while he driving and trying to put it out with his beer, it’s the poster of Richard Nixon bowling on The Dude’s wall, it’s Jackie Treehorn drawing a picture of a huge erection on a notepad while he’s talking on the phone. The Coen Brothers are the masters of tiny details, and they make every movie of theirs seem authentic, even in such ridiculous circumstances. Those details are also why it’s worth watching a hundred times, because you never know when you’re going to see something new.

Anyway, The Big Lebowski is playing at the Belcourt’s late show this Friday and Saturday night. The show starts at 11:30 on both nights, and I’m sure it will be packed, so get there early. A word of warning though: DO NOT go to this expecting a peaceful polite crowd. Everyone will be quoting along, drinking, and generally having a party. That’s the whole point. I didn’t know that going to The Goonies showing, and it ruined the experience for me. If I’d known in advance, I think I would have had a great time.

We’re heading out of town for the weekend, so we will miss my favorite movie at the Belcourt. But have no fear! I’m going to pop in my DVD copy, pour myself a Caucasian, and participate remotely anyway. We’ll be back on Monday though.

Take ‘er easy, dude.

-Matt

Happy Friday! I have a few tidbits that I wanted to share about this weekend, and I have a Harvest Moon Mix for you. Did you know that there is a harvest moon tonight? Do you want to go outside and stare at the moon with me? We can hold hands and I will stuff your face with cupcakes. OH WAIT, nevermind, you’re just a blog. You don’t eat cupcakes.

First: Improv Nashville’s Mainstage and Troupe 93 will be performing short-form and long-form improv comedy on Saturday night. Reservations are essential if you’re interested in going. Tickets are $8, and the show begins at 7:30 PM at the Bravo Creative Arts Center in Franklin. You can email them for reservations, or call 615-418-0905.

Second: Saturday, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center is hosting a day of free music. You can pick up a pass in the morning and spend the whole day exploring the various concerts throughout the venue. There are some really wonderful groups scheduled to perform - the Nashville chamber group ALIAS, the NSO, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Gypsy Hombres, and a variety of choral groups and salsa/jazz combos. Admission is free, just show up and get your pass at the door. Music starts at 10 AM, and the NSO has a schedule of performances at the site.

Don’t forget that there are a variety of awesome things going on in town this weekend!

Third: Happy Harvest Moon! Fall is here.

Asylum Street Spankers - Shine On Harvest Moon (mp3)
Liberace - Harvest Moon (mp3)
Charles “Speck” Pertum - Harvest Moon Blues (mp3)
Bobby Bare - Shine On Harvest Moon (mp3)
Neil Young - Harvest Moon (mp3)

love, celine

Okay, first off: We know that most of y’all will be at home, watching the premiere of LOST tonight (we won’t lie - we’ll be at our weekly potluck LOST dinner! i’m so glad it’s back), but if you’re, you know, not “into” television, Frank Black is doing a free in-store performance this evening at Grimey’s - show starts at 6. He’ll also be performing at the Mercy Lounge tonight at 9 PM. Tickets are 20, they can be purchased online, and doors are at 8. Kentucky Prophet opens.

There are a ton of great shows this weekend. As usual, we’ll be out of town, but I just thought I’d throw a few ideas out there, in case you’re still looking for something to see.

Thursday is hard. haaaaard. There are two great shows going on, HOW WILL YOU EVER DECIDE? Okay. So, here’s the situation. Mary Gauthier is performing tomorrow night at the Bluebird Cafe. They called her a mix of Ani DiFranco and Patsy Cline, which I’m not exactly sure I agree with.. I can hear the Ani, but the voice is more Lucinda to me. She’s got a beautiful voice and intense-but-oh-so-melodic lyrics. That show starts at 9 PM, it’s 20, and you should probably make reservations, oh, right now. Here’s where it gets tough, though, see? Over at the Mercy Lounge on Thursday, the Starlight Mints are performing. De Novo Dahl and Eureka Gold open. That show is a much more affordable $10, and doors are at 8, with the show starting at 9. If it were up to me? Starlight Mints would win. Up to Matt? I think he’d choose Mary. Either show should be a great time. Audio samples are posted below in the blog-mix.

Friday? Two more great shows to choose from. Porter Hall TN are playing a set at the Radio Cafe, over in East Nashville. That show will probably be cheap and fun - it starts at 9 PM. Hem are also playing on Friday, at 3rd and Lindsley. We caught Hem’s set during the Americana Music Conference - it was a good show, despite the fact that it took them about three hours to get everything set onstage. Listening to Hem is like taking a bite out of a big fluffy cloud. Very dreamy, mellow and sweet. That show is $10, and it starts at 8 PM. You can get your tickets online from the 3rd and Lindsley website. Leigh Nash, from Sixpence None the Richer, opens, along with folkpop duo Judd & Maggie (HELLO! i love them).

I especially regret that we won’t be here on Saturday, because the Tarbox Ramblers are performing at the Radio Cafe as part of a great lineup - four bands for $5. The Ramblers are amazing, especially live. I haven’t seen them in YEARS, as I always seem to miss their Nashville shows, but if you get the chance, definitely try to make it out to this one. They have an electric, gritty blues sound, and do a lot of traditional music with a rock-and-roll edge. The lead singer is an amazing slide guitarist and a great performer all around. His voice! His voice! His voice! It makes me so happy. They’re based out of Massachusetts, and don’t play down here very often.. The last time I saw them live, I was falling-down-on-my-face sick, with a stomach flu virus of death, and I drove to see them in the attic of a furniture store. It was one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. I’ll imagine it will be a great show all around. Phil Hummer and the Tecumseh Two are also performing, alongside The Cumberland Runners and Mike Younger. Show is $5.00, and the whole thing starts at 8 PM.

Also performing on Saturday night is Nina Nastasia, at Springwater. Nastasia has a clear, sparse simplicity to her voice, and her songs are sweetly dark, rich, fantastic, heartful.. She performs at Springwater on Saturday alongside Tom Brosseau, Imagine Asians, and the Cherry Blossoms. Show is $6 (a freaking deal!) and it all starts at 9 PM.

SUNDAY - there’s a FREE SHOW at 3rd and Lindsley, featuring Mindy Smith and a mysterious “special guest.” This is part of Lightning 100’s Sunday night broadcast. Show starts at 8 PM. If you can’t get to 3rd and Lindsley on Sunday, Mindy is performing again at Grimey’s on the 10th for her CD release party. The show starts at 6 PM.

Whew, okay. That took me a long time.

Otherwise, what’s going on? I have celine-news. I am performing with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra on the 14th. It will be my first time to see the Schermerhorn. Buy tickets! I’m playing on the Beethoven, but the NCO is also doing some Haydn, Part, and a piece by Nashville composer Don Hart. It should be an amazing concert.

ALSO, my favorite part of today: The trailer for the newest Christopher Guest movie has been posted online. Here: For Your Consideration. Ricky Gervais joins the cast of Christopher Guest regulars. Guestulars!! Hey, I just made up a new word. It looks very Guffman-esque, but that’s never a bad thing.

ALSO ALSO, something that will surely make you want to dance:

And the aforementioned blogmix. Take the opportunity to check out some good music this weekend!

Mary Gauthier: I Drink (mp3)
Starlight Mints: Irene (mp3)
Hem: Lazy Eye (mp3)
Porter Hall TN: Middle Tennessee (mp3)
Tarbox Ramblers: Honey in the Rock (mp3)
Mindy Smith: Jolene (mp3, from an album of Dolly covers)

love, celine