Shake off your crappy Monday with a night of music from Solid Attitude, Toxie and Data Drums! Murphy’s is the place to be tonight, unless you’re one of those football types, in which case you can probably watch the game at Murphy’s before the show starts. Everybody wins! Check out music from all three bands below, then get to Murphy’s by 10 p.m. tonight with $5 in your hand.
Welcome to the 27th edition of my Weekend Roundup! August begins with a whole slew of high profile artists coming to Memphis, along with great local bands performing all weekend long. Let’s get it on…
Friday, July 31st.
Traveller, 7:30 p.m. at the Levitt Shell, free.
Some advice from frontwoman Leah Wellbaum of Brooklyn-based band Slothrust delivered in the song “Crockpot”: “Don’t shake hands with the lonely kids, ’cause I hear that shit’s contagious.”
The lonely kids, contagious or not, will be in high form this coming Monday at the Lamplighter Lounge. Julien Baker, known around town for heading the band formerly known as the Star Killers (recently renamed Forrister), will play a set from her recent solo project — heartbreaking send-offs about lost love and stalled feelings; music for driving alone without knowing your destination. Also on hand will be Small Fires, an indie-emo-inspired acoustic project led by Ryan Azada (also of DADS) that sometimes includes Baker.
Shervin Lainez
Slothrust
Slothrust’s set (that is Sloth-rust) will emotionally graduate from longing into careworn apathy. Impose Magazine, in a review of the band’s most recent album, wrote: “Combining Leah Wellbaum’s slurring malaise with her punchy, post-grunge guitar, everything about Slothrust’s sound feels both earnest and cathartic, like a heart that pumps raw after a winter run.” Slothrust — a three-piece that also includes bassist Kyle Bann and drummer Will Gorin — is technically tight as hell, with lyrics to match.
Local Goner act Toxie will round out the evening in their underwhelmed, post-riotgrrrl style. Toxie, fronted by Alexandra Burden, smokes a cigarette, asks you to dance, and refuses to break eye contact.
Thelma and the Sleaze play Bar DKDC Saturday Night.
Like live music? You’ve come to the right place. From local bands to up-and-coming touring acts, here’s a selection of whats going down around town this weekend.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6TH: JoJo Jefferies and Ronnie Caldwell, 6:00 p.m. at Lafayettes Music Room.
The River City Cadillacs, 6:00 p.m. at Murphy’s.
Dank, Zigadoo Moneyclips, 8:00 p.m. at the Hi-Tone (small room), $5.00.
Weekend Roundup Part Four (3)
Star and Micey, Magnolia Sons 8:00 p.m. at 1884 Lounge, $12.00.
Big Barton, 8:00 p.m. at The Cove.
Weekend Roundup Part Four (2)
Marcella and Her Lovers, 9:00 p.m. at Bar DKDC
CCDE Bob Marley Tribute show, 9:00 p.m. at the Hi-Tone Cafe (big room), $10.00.
Whores, The Devils Right Hand, 9:00 p.m. at the Buccaneer Lounge, $5.00.
Weekend Roundup Part Four
Ori Naftaly Band, 10:00 p.m. at Lafayette’s Music Room.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7TH:
River Bluff Clan, 11:00 a.m. at Lafayette’s Music Room.
Prosevere CD Release, 6:00 p.m. at the New Daisy Theater, $10.00.
Waka Winter Classic featuring Agori Tribe and more, 8:00 p.m. at the 1884 Lounge, $5.00.
Jeremy Stanfill and Joshua Cosby, 6:30 p.m. at Lafayette”s Music Room.
Churchyard, Toxie, Liquid Teens, 9:00 p.m. at the Lamplighter, $5.00.
Weekend Roundup Part Four (5)
Dead Soldiers, Strange Wave Connection, 9:30 p.m. at the Young Avenue Deli, $10.00
Weekend Roundup Part Four (4)
One Word, Hazy Skies, Orion, 9:00 p.m. at the Buccaneer, $5:00.
Atlas Road Crew, 10:00 p.m. at Lafayette’s Music Room.
Jack Alberson CD Release, 10:00 p.m. at P and H Cafe.
Faith Ruch, 10:00 p.m. at the Hi-Tone (small room), $5.00
Good Paper, Art Edmaiston, 10:00 p.m. at the Hi-Tone (big room), $5.00
Thelma and the Sleaze, 10:30 p.m. at Bar DKDC, $5.00
Weekend Roundup Part Four (6)
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8TH:
Poppa Top’s West Coast Turnaround, 4:00 p.m. at Lafayette’s Music Room.
The Local Saints, 7:00 p.m. at Lafayette’s Music Room.
Enabler, Call of the Wild, Dawn Patrol, 8:00 p.m. at the Hi-Tone, $10.00
A couple of issues ago, Joe Boone wrote a feature on all of the Australian bands coming to Goner Fest this year. If you’re a fan of any of the bands mentioned in his article, head to Murphy’s this Saturday to check out Rat Columns, a band that boasts members of acclaimed Australian acts Total Control and Lace Curtain . Opening the show is Toxie and the new band Aquarian Blood, which features members of the now defunct Moving Finger. Check out the Rat Columns video below and get to Murphy’s by 9 p.m. Saturday. $7 gets you in.
Cleveland Avenue becomes the center for underground music in Memphis this week, as both the Hi-Tone and the Buccaneer are trading off shows Tuesday, November 5th through Saturday, November 9th. Here’s a guide (complete with videos!) to the diverse shows both venues are offering this week.
Tuesday, November 5th – Hi-Tone – Small Black, Dream Team, Grid. 8pm doors, $10.00 advance, $12.00 at the door, 18+.
Brooklyn’s Small Black play what is best described as chill wave, but don’t let that scare you off. Underneath the repetitive synth beats are carefully crafted songs, and though the band hails from Brooklyn, their latest video (above) was partially shot in Memphis. Opening the show are locals Dream Team (members of Tiger High) and the new band Grid.
Hunters have been on the road for most of 2013, touring with big name acts like Jeff The Brotherhood and Hunx and His Punx. With that much time to hone their sound, it’s no wonder Hunters are being heralded by music writers as one of the best live bands to see in 2013. Opening the show are locals Paradice (formerly Warm Girls) and the new band Loser Vision.
The hardest working rabbit in garage rock returns to Memphis on Thursday, in support of his new album Secret Songs released on Goner Records earlier this month. Known for raucous energy, rampant nudity and killer power pop riffs, NoBunny’s live show is one that must be seen to be believed. Opening the show are locals Moving Finger (read more about them here) and the new hardcore band Buldgerz (featuring members of Hosoi Bros and No Comply).
Local new wave group Toxie had a productive summer touring by themselves as well as opening for the chill wave group Toro y Moi on a string of East Coast shows. The group seems to be due for another single, as the “New Gate” single that was released on Goner earlier this year gained a lot of attention. Also playing the show is Trampoline Team (a new punk group from New Orleans) and 60’s Rock and Roll Revivalists The Sheiks.
Saturday, November 9th – Hi-Tone – Nights Like These, Crowlord, Holy Gallows. 9pm doors, $7.00 18+
After almost a four year hiatus, Memphis’ metal kings Nights Like These have decided to reform. The story of Nights Like These is an interesting one. The band went from the suburban underground label Smith Seven to one of the largest Metal labels in the world (Victory Records) seemingly overnight, only to fade back into obscurity after a behemoth of a second album. If the Nights Like These reunion show at Minglewood Hall this past summer serves as any indication, this group certainly remembers how to shred. Opening the show are local metal groups Crowlord (featuring members of the Unbeheld) and Holy Gallows.
Shervin Lainez 
