This particular show was advertised to be at the Funhouse, which has recently ceased operation, so it took a little while for word of mouth to spread and amass a crowd throughout the night. There were a lot of kids killing time skateboarding while equipment trickled in, until the first act started at about 9:30.

Starting things off was Midsts, a one man noise act from Chicago who used his guitar and keyboard as a vessel to manipulate sound with sequencers and loop stations. The loops got rather repetitive after a short bit, but the guy was clearly skilled at arrangement and creating an atmosphere.

Up next was Frustrations from Detroit who upped the ante with their onstage antics (purposefully ripping guitar strings off, etc). Think early At-the-Drive-In with a shot in the arm of gritty 70's punk, throw a bit of atmospheric flavor in and you've got an idea of what this band is all about. They had an unbelievable high energy performance and the crowd ate them up.

Local noisy post-punk quartet MARJ! took the stage next, playing an unusually short set but feeding off the energy of the almost-full room even more so than usual. Huge sing-alongs ensued to set favorites such as "Outer Space" and "Salutation Station", and the crowd didn't seem to lose a beat waiting for JEFF the Brotherhood to go on.

The guys ripped through a set that is just as satisfying every time you see it. Staples like "Screaming Banshees" and "Ghostride Th' Whip to Berlin" sent the already pumped-up room into a frenzy of rhythmic bouncing. Everyone seemed to forget about the late starting time because the performances kept everyone energized and wanting more. Thanks to the overall blistering energy of all the bands, the night ended with everyone looking like they'd just gotten there and were ready for more. With awesome music and drunken skating aplenty, this impressive bill ushered in a respectable turnout for an unassuming Tuesday night. - Jesse Baker

The evening began with a solo acoustic set by the self-proclaimed “dark cat” of the Glib, Mr. Stormy Mormann. His selections could have been referred to as “Classic Glib”, as they have only been audited in the great northeast or on pre-lineup podcasts. (Refer to “five minutes with the Glib” at their website). The standout number in this Nashville debuting was the pop sensible “Flowers Can Wait”. Unfortunately, the singer himself couldn’t wait any longer to call his band to the stage to revile a pop sensible surprise. As an incentive to dance, the audience was blessed with a roll of jumbo bubble wrap to accompany the full band set. To the audience members who did not partake in the orthopedic pleasure, it must have looked less like dancing and more like vineyard grape squashing (or maybe I should just speak for myself). The Glib concluded their set with a song simply entitled “Piss”.

The night was then owned by two songstresses, (both alike in dignity), who go by the name, The Garland Sisters. With Tristen on guitar detail, and Caitlin Rose on tambourine, the two led off their set with a harmonious original entitled “Whiskey Wash”. It was as if the tune was postmarked 1945, and sent straight to the audience. Caitlin Rose was highlighted in her solo set by a very confident and ambitious performance of her original classic, “Sinful Wishing Well”. Her elder sister then went electric with her latest accompanist, Adam Gold (from Eureka Gold). The ensemble shined brightly around a memorable vocal delivery of the anthematically infectious “Doomsday”.

The cheap liquor buzz of a Thursday night was then intensified by the airtight performance of And The Relatives. The one-two punch of “Animals” into the soul driven “Not The Passion” was only a small expose` of dynamic well-seasoned musicianship and sophisticated songwriting. Andrew Braslle effortlessly pulled impossible sounds out of his guitar while singing lines too counterintuitive to be replicated by the experienced. The centerpiece, “Cowboy Jazz” was the dark sing-along that would make both Black Sabbath and Weezer very proud. As the star of And The Relatives is on the rise be sure to catch them on Fri. Aug 22,at the Basement. -Zack Matthews

I am speechless. After seeing Louisville based southern rockers My Morning Jacket, there really isn’t anything you can say that hasn’t been said before. They consistently pump out incredible albums, do an insane amount of touring; make the world seem like a better place, etc. This past Friday they brought their legendary live performance to Nashville’s own riverfront stage, and absolutely blew everyone away.

Nashville was the first stop on their tour promoting their newest album, Evil Urges, and they started the show off with a bang. No, I mean it literally started with a bang, thanks to the Tennessee Titans' victory that night. The fireworks of the Titans football game across the river created the perfect background for the start of the show, and the loud bangs and bright colors added a surreal effect to the already haunting atmosphere. The concert ticket was labeled “an evening with My Morning jacket”, and it was a pretty accurate description. There was no opening band, no waiting around, and over three hours of live music.

It didn’t feel like three hours though. The band seemed to enjoy being on stage just as much as the crowd enjoyed watching them. They have this raw energy about them that most bands simply can’t attain. With lead singer Jim James jumping around in a vampire cape teetering on the edge of the stage belting his lungs out, countless glow sticks thrown into the crowd, the fans climbing dangerously high on the stage scaffolding, the crowd surfing, and the overall cohesiveness and precision of the band, this concert was something special. They played songs spanning their entire career, pleasing both new and longtime fans in the process. Though their newest release, Evil Urges, was met with mixed reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed each song I heard and cannot understand what the negative critics were talking about. It’s really great stuff.

It’s not always easy to recognize greatness, but I firmly believe that My Morning Jacket will forever be remembered as one of the important bands of our generation. That may sound like a bit much, but I stand by it. It was without a doubt the most fulfilling concert experience I have had in recent memory, and I will continue to preach the gospel of My Morning Jacket the rest of my days. I urge you to see them if you haven’t already. You can check out our pictures of the event here.–Madison Conger

New Nashville band Eastern Block officially released their self-titled EP this month. They have been earning local credibility by playing shows all over Nashville in the past seven months as they follows in the footsteps of local favorites like Death Comesto Matteson and Imaginary Baseball League. They play indie pop that has just enough singer-songwriter influence to win over casual listeners and hipsters alike.

Eastern Block show serious potential on their debut, especially for a band that has only been together for about a year. The first song on the EP is an acoustic number that features a waltz-like guitar backing a very Thom Yorke-ish vocal delivery from singer Aaron Ahlstrom. After the first track they immediately launch into the faster paced “Pre Dawn Cantina” and deliver a healthy dose of Brit Pop influenced guitar riffs. My favorite track is “The Woods.” Intimate vocals and subtle instrumentation slowly roll forward as the song builds momentum. The song never climaxes as you would expect it to however; clever song structure keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for an eruption of some kind, but in the end it's strangely satisfying how it never comes.

I see Eastern Block moving in one of two directions on future endeavors: they can play the upbeat garage rock that is all the rage right now, or they can continue moving forward and building their own sound that is present throughout much of their debut. They have the talent and song writing ability to pull either scenario off but hopefully they’ll continue to explore a sound of their own. You can hear the EP in its entirety on the band's Myspace page. Highly recommended for fans of Kent, Radiohead, and Death Comesto Matteson. - Jason Goucher

Over the past year Cheap Time has been making some pretty impressive progress with their eccentric punk energy and catchy glam pop infused hooks. Songs about skipping school, girlfriends and gossip are all on par for the punk coarse here. Don’t take my word for it; go check out the song “Wild Life” and see if you’re not crooning it to yourself the rest of the day. It's some really catchy stuff.

Cheap Time is Jeffrey Novak’s brainchild. After he quit the Rat Traps (a two piece with his sister) two years ago, he formed Cheap Time with Jemina Pearl and Nathan Vasquez of Be Your Own Pet. Not being able to focus on both groups, Jemina and Nathan quit to concentrate on B.Y.O.P. Luckily, Novak has been making a name for himself for a while and easily recruited replacements Jon (drums) and Stephen (bass).

Enter new band members; enter new band. No longer are they playing straightforward punk rock a la Redd Kross but a much more distinctive mix of punk and glam rock using elements from the likes of Sparks and Pussy Galore. They recently signed with In The Red Records and have been touring with label mates Jay Reatard and The Barbaras (both from Memphis), ergo the reason you might not have been able to catch them in Nashville. They are going to take a break though and will be here August 18th at The End. So go out, get wasted, get kicked out, and sneak back in; just make sure you see them. -David Bermudez

When arriving to the sold out AA Bondy and Bon Iver show at the Exit/In last night, I couldn't help but to think of the venue's legendary status. The line was stretching down Elliston Place and around the corner. It consisted of what turned out to be one of the most attentive and appreciative crowds that I have witnessed in Nashville. After thankfully skipping ahead of the line and entering the stripped down, no-distractions venue, I had made it just in time for AA Bondy to start the show.

This being my second time seeing Bondy I had a good idea of what to expect. This didn't seem to be the case for the rest of the crowd, however. I watched their attention quickly focus in on the Dylanesque melodies, and their expressions seemed to ask "who is this guy and why are his songs not in regular rotation on my iPod?" Even the whispering ceased when the NYC based singer-songwriter made it into his second song covering John the Revelator. A few could be heard singing along to American Heart, but for the most part it was Bondy captivating some newly made fans.

The tables turned when Bon Iver took the stage. I hadn't heard anything by the headliner before the show, but was surprisingly enamored with singer Justin Vernon's voice, who's style is similar to that of Antony and the Johnson's. With all three backing members playing drums in sequence while also singing backup, the driving rhythms and giant melodies were more than enough to hold my attention throughout the set. Bon Iver closed their set with an accapela cover of a Bowerbirds song (which I didn't catch the name of) accompanied by Vernon's friend and Nashville's own Sarah Siskind. The time of Exit/In's glory days are well past their prime, but the venue proved to be adequate for what turned out to be the most intimate of shows. Let's hope we can see more shows like this from the Exit/In in the future. -Ryan Bruce

Taking a deep breath of musty air in an aquarium of Parliament cigarette smoke and stale beer vapor, amongst the transexuals, transvestites, and sexuals of all types, I finally felt at home. The score to my night was the grinding almost Pouges-like rhythms of Wild Card Family Revival. My first impression was, "this band could use a bagpipe or two." This was ultimately my final impression of the Revival. For you see, the visceral nature of my surroundings forced me to spend the rest of their set at the bar dulling my senses. However I must praise them as a worthy contender among those in Nashville's barrage of happening rock bands. They were well received.

Next up was The Pushy Lips, who's beauty and intensity was matched only by their ability to magnify my own sense of male guilt and male inadequacy. Thus, I spent their entire set at the bar as well.

Finally, sufficiently buzzed I swayed into light crowd to the familiar sounds of The Tits. The same band once called the Titts with two "t"s now spells their name with one "t". This change took place after the recent and tragic death of their original drummer, the late Chadwick Titty. His solitary dying wish was that his former band would carry on without him, rocking as before, and rock they did.

Beginning their set with the masterpiece 'She Told Me She Was 17' whose thought provoking refrain "Come in your back door, l leave you wantin' more" indeed does just that. During one low point in the show, singer-activist, local drunk jackass, scenester wannabe, "front man of The Glib", the so called "Stormy Mormon" forced his way onto the stage to vomit out one of his own songs, taking this liberty no doubt out of jealousy that his band The Glib now shares its drummer with The Tits.

Despite setbacks however, The Tits went right along rocking perhaps harder than any band in the last 30 years. Trying to Take in the general crowd reaction I overheard multiple individuals express their approval with phrases like "Man, they f***ing rock!" and "who are these guys?". The simple answer? They are The Tits. The name you've heard, the band that if you haven't, you must. -Danny Indiana

True, this post isn't about Nashville, but it is about The Deli Magazine. You are therefore interested. The Deli has been going strong for 5 years now up in New York City, and now our friends at The Deli LA are proud to anounce the release of their first written issue of The Deli Magazine! The magazine will be released quarterly and is available for free at most indie venues, stores, etc. Yes I am aware that California is both on the opposite side of the country and a blue state, but it's still a pretty big deal for fans of The Deli Magazine all across the globe. If you happen to make it out west, pick up a copy!

In commemoration, The Deli LA threw an all out celebration bash that had music lovers of all genres turning up. With performances by Io Echo, Year Long Disaster, The Dylan Trees, and many others, it looks like all the hard work paid off. I'm pretty jealous I wasn't there. Deli LA editor Bryce Pinkos explained that the goal of The Deli was “to help burgeoning artists gain recognition and basically help them realize their dreams." Sounds right to us! You should check out the live footage of the event here and show The Deli LA some love. Seriously, do it or we'll hunt you down and eat your brains; we're not called "The Deli" for nothing.-Madison Conger

What are you doing this weekend? Working? Going on a Date? Being a recluse? Well cancel those boring plans, get out of the house, and make sure you’re at Local Honey Saturday the 9th at 6 P.M. This weekend Local Honey will be throwing another get-together and it is sure to be worthwhile. MEEMAW, The Valentines, and The Carter Administration are all on the bill, so there will definitely be good music, and Local Honey parties are always awesome.

MEEMAW’s been getting their fair share of coverage here at The Deli, and for good reason. These young punk rockers have been making quite the name for themselves; if you have not experienced a live MEEMAW performance then shame on you. Don’t let this one slip by.

The Valentines are a band from Murfreesboro, and they have done their homework when it comes to making catchy pop music. Their blend of low-fi electronic and feel good dance pop is always a crowd pleaser. I dare you not move to the music when they play, and if you can walk away without smiling then you have no soul.

The Carter Administration will wrap up the night, but make sure you stick around. This Theory 8 three piece blasts some serious indie rock. They’re pretty straightforward, but believe me, that is not a bad thing here. They can definitely write a hook, and their newest album, Here Comes the Copout, is full of them. They should be the perfect closer for the evening.

Mark your calendars now! Don’t end up continuously hearing about how this show was way better than whatever it is you were thinking about doing; it’ll get annoying. –Madison Conger

Following the release of their LP The Dead Language, Evil Bebos have kept themselves pretty busy. The band played at the South By Southwest music conference, signed a deal with Scared Rabbit Records, and booked their own mini-tour of the Northeast. The album is six tracks filled with sludgy guitars, growling vocals, and atmospheric eruptions. Judging by the fact that some of the songs clock in at over ten minutes long, I would say Evil Bebos are more concerned about making music for themselves than getting radio airplay.

The first song on the CD, “From Caves Mouth,” starts quietly enough, but that only lasts for a few seconds. An explosion of distorted guitars and booming vocals soon enter into the fray. Around six minutes into the song, quiet instrumentation and a bit of spoken word are utilized to allow the band to erupt into another heavy, distorted groove. Although an overall heavy album, softer and more melodic parts are buried into songs such as “Cronus” and “Sirens Beckon,” with the latter even containing some good old fashioned clean vocals. (Don't worry, the growl makes an appearance towards the end.)

Evil Bebos bring a well appreciated diversity into the Murfreesboro scene. The Dead Language combines the band's love of post rock with metal to create something altogether different. So if you are looking for virtuoso guitar solos and upbeat tempos, you may want to search elsewhere. Fans who are already deeply rooted in the genre of metal will probably like The Dead Language upon first listen, whereas casual fans or people just looking for something different may want to see the live show first. Highly recommended for fans of Mastadon, High On Fire, and Russian Circles. -Jason Goucher

Despite the fact that going to Springwater is rarely in my top priorities, Sunday's show was an exception. The Howlies, who have become one of my favorite musical interests, were gracing Nashville's premiere dive bar.

I unfortunately arrived just after the Werewolf Killers had finished their set, and I barely had time to choke down a cigarette and a beer before I heard the Howlies go on. They kicked off their set with the title track from their recent single "Sea Level," which was produced by the legendary Kim Fowley. The song's simple and infectuous melodies quickly spread through the crowd and we were all singing in unison by the second chorus. The Howlies' sound merges up-tempo psychodelic garage rock, soulful doo-wop grooves and surprisingly articulate harmonies, which offers a more than pleasant rock and roll experience . This, along with the band's good humor and the crowd's occasional outburst of drunken dancing, would become the theme of the Howlies show. With hardly any dead space between each song the Howlies performance kept my feet tapping and my fist pumping with every hook they threw out.

Ok, so The Howlies aren't exactly from Nashville, but The Atlanta based quartet are currently making their round through the midwest, Northeast and back to the Southeast in August. You will be able to catch them again with How I Became the Bomb at the Mercy Lounge on the 30th and for the LakeFever showcase at The Exit/In on September 13th. Keep your ear to the ground for these guys for sure!

After rocking out to the Howlies I quickly bought the "Sea Level" single and braced myself for my first encounter with Nashville's own Outlaw Lovers, who refused to play until they got some front and center attendance. This proved to be worthwhile after hearing the band's fast paced hard hitting songs, which are remiscient of The New York Dolls with a healthy dosage of southern rock. All in all, a great night for Springwater and for Nashville!-Ryan Bruce

OK, Festival may have found new stomping grounds up in Chicago, but we here at The Deli Nashville aren't so eager to give them up. Maybe we're just stubborn, but the small folk duo will always seem like a local band to us. Festival consists of Lindsay and Alexis Powell (of Cake Bake Betty and Skyblazer) and these girls can compose some seriously haunting songs.

Festival's folky melodies lull you into a lucid dream like state that leaves you wanting more and has you silently contemplating your existence long after the music has stopped. They just came out with a new record, Come Arrow Come, on Drag City Records, so now is the perfect time to see what they are all about. Festival will be making their way down South once again and you'll have not one, but two chances to see these sister sirens.

First catch them at The Basement on Sunday, August 10 alongside Cortney Tidwell, Sharon Van Etten and Kelli Shay Hicks. Then they'll be playing a small more intimate in-store performance at Grimey's Records on Monday August 11th at 6 P.M. Both shows will be great, and the Powells sadly don't play in Nashville as often as they once did, so make sure you see them while they're here.-Madison Conger

There really aren't many bands like The Protomen. For those of you who are unfamiliar with them, The Protomen are a Nashville-based concept band that have been around for a few years, earning a name for themselves through their unique live performances and rock opera music. Yes, I did say both “concept band” and “rock opera” in the same sentence, but before you roll your eyes and shrug them off, know that this band is one of the few examples of how to do both of those titles justice.

The Protomen take the story of Megaman (the awesome video game from the '80s) and his brother Protoman and apply it to society today, and it works surprisingly well. If you spent your childhood days outside instead of in front of a TV screen and don’t know who Megaman or Protoman are, you might not fully understand the genius of this band. Their self-titled debut album tells the story of Megaman’s journey to save an ungrateful mankind from the evil Dr. Wiley and his robot minions. Trust me though; they make it sound a whole lot cooler. Themes of destiny, coping with loss, war, robots, fighting oppression and the weakness of man are prevalent throughout; so yeah, it’s actually pretty heavy stuff. The liner notes of the album explain it all in depth, and it’s a pretty ambitious first album. It’s not just their studio recordings either--their live shows are truly a sight to behold. With ten or eleven members on stage at once, The Protomen deliver an 8-bit hardcore rock opera that will send shivers down your spine. Fans of the game series might even notice a few of the samples taken from the original Megaman soundtrack. If you’re lucky, you might even hear an Iron Maiden cover somewhere in there as well. They play shows fairly frequently, but their tour has interrupted the steady flow of live performances. Whether you like video games or not, be sure to check them out at Next Big Nashville in September; this is a band to keep your eye on. -Madison Conger

Pictured: Witch Detectives

Loud was the theme this past Friday night at Murfreesboro's one and only House House. A lineup of five bands played sets in the premier DIY venue. Marj!, Reid & Wright, Dawn, Witch Detectives and out-of-towners Realicide shared the stage (or should I say living room) for a wildly diverse evening of music. The crowd was split in between the yard and the house most of the night. Hopefully no one missed Marj!'s energetic set which combined elements of punk rock with mathy time signatures. Exceptional guitar work and phenomenal drumming made up for the fact that the vocals could not be heard. Their myspace page lists them as roots music, but don't be fooled. Marj! deliver kick ass melodic punk that will leave you wanting more. Electro punk band Realicide played an aggressive set to the people brave enough to withstand the volume of feedback. Armed with grooveboxes, a mixer, and endless effect pedals, the duo received a good reception from the crowd. Although I am smothered in the smell of Pabst Blue Ribbon and stale cigarette smoke, it was a good night.

Sadly, after writing this article, I have found out that House House will not be booking for a while due to people repeatedly breaking their door and leaving trash in the yard. Remember, when you go to someones house who is nice enough to have bands play, be respectful. Treat their home like it is your own so we can continue to enjoy the diversity of music that house shows provide. -Jason Goucher