The only way to make an 8 off 8th even better is to give it a theme. We even threw a themed 8 off 8th once (it was Prom, and it was awesome). Now, since the holidays are rapidly approaching it only makes sense for someone to step forward and give us the holiday-themed 8 off 8th that we know in our heart of hearts that we deserve!

And boy, has it been delivered. Tonight’s event will surely (probably? maybe?) feature some holiday music from Devious Angels, Yellowfire, Uncle Skeleton, Chancellor Warhol, Colorfeels, the Kicks, Brandon Jazz and His Armed Forces, Toy, and The Go.

As usual, the event is 21+ and starts at 8pm. And don’t get too grumpy that it’s still early December, Nashville has to get a lot of these holiday events out of the way because the college kids are leaving soon, and it seems like Nashville’s population decreases significantly (along with the number of awesome events) when school isn’t in session. So break out the Santa hat and elf costume already. I know I have.

-Emily

September 21st 2011 was a sad day for fans of rock’n'roll. It may forever be known as the day REM broke up. People wept. People tore at their hair and banged on their chest in sorry. A lot of people were indifferent or just thought “bummer dude,” or “I thought they broke up a long time ago,” but some people were really upset!

Regardless of your reaction to the news you have to admit that REM put out some pretty solid music during their time together and they influenced a lot of musicians.

And that is why a few brilliant thinkers decided to throw a big old REM tribute show during the Mercy Lounge’s weekly free 8 off 8th. The Stateside Menace, Emily DeLoach, Ugli Stick, It Crawled From the South, Mayhem, Tom Schreck, Kyle Christopher, and Black River Falls will all be showing their appreciation for REM the only way musicians know how: by playing their songs.

As usual, thing will get started at 9pm and the event is 21+. Enjoy!

-Emily

You can’t look me straight in the eyes and tell me that there’s no great music from Canada. You’d simply be wrong, and you’d know it. Be you a fan of Rush, Neil Young, or Alanis everyone has a musical favorite that hails from our neighbor to the north. It may be a guilty pleasure, but if you know all the words it’s not an ironic love anymore, it’s genuine. I could insert a bunch of Canadian jokes here, but I won’t. Yet.

I’m not busting out the bad jokes because you’re going to hear enough of it tonight. Tonight is the Mercy Lounge’s annual Canadian-themed 8 off 8th entitled: Blame Canada! A Tribute to the Music of the Great White North. You’re gonna hear Rush. You’re gonna hear Loverboy. You’re going to hear all kinds of awesome and awesomely terrible (but you know you still kind of like it) Canadian pop music. Hats with ear flaps are preferred, but really inappropriate for this weather.

But why does the Mercy Lounge do this every year? Are they celebrating a holiday that only exists in Canada? Are they secretly Canadians (get it)? I have no idea, but who knows, you might be singing “O Canada” and planning your next ice-fishing expedition by the time the evening is over.

-Emily

I don’t usually spend much time writing about specific 8 off 8ths (unless N4F is hosting), so I figured it was a bit over due.

This week’s show is hosted by The Deli in Nashville, an online magazine that focuses on the local music scene, and for once I’m actually familiar with several of the bands playing. Well, probably because a lot of them have attended Belmont, but that’s not the point. Here’s the lineup:

• Holmes & Presley
• Erin Manning
• Alvin Love
• Paper Machete
• Evan P. Donohue
• Turtle Bangs
• Modoc
• Overzealous

There you have it, free rock for a Monday night. That makes them a little more bearable, right? And if you’re feeling especially sharp in the rock trivia department, show up at 6:30 with some friends and partake in Rock’n'Roll Trivia: The Of Montreal and Chromeo Edition. 8 off 8th starts right afterwards, around 9 or so.

As always, the show is 21 and up, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.

-Emily

Well hello there. I hope all of you have recovered from our super sweet 8 off 8th prom. Some great bands played, some “great” prizes were given away, there a bunch of free posters (from the Beggars Group), coupons for free pizza at Bosco’s, Lost Highway Sampler CDs, and there was cake. Tasty cake.

Oh yeah, there was a photobooth too, where Alex Crawford took some super sweet “shitty prom portraits” for us. Look at that set! It’s incredibly similar to my actual prom portrait booth.

Some of the incredible prizes given away Monday night included a pineapple, a mesh safety vest, a Pink Floyd clock and flag, a Metallica flag, a box full of random CDs from Lance’s personal collection (seen to the left there), an autographed OCMS CD (autographed by the band, not by us, I promise), a whole cake, a DVD that shows images of fires burning in fireplaces, and a bunch of crap that I can’t remember but was personally happy to see it all go.

In our raffle-mania we also decided to raffle off crowns from prom king and queen! The Queen was none other than Yvonne Smith, the Traveling Vegetarian! Prom King was a fellow by the name of Stephen Turney, who is a friend of ours. You might remember him from my post from August about free tours at United Record Pressing. You’ll see a picture of the lovely random couple in the photo gallery.

Personal highlights from last night for me personally include Natalie Warner’s last show in Nashville before her big move to LA, the Forties playing a Tears for Fears cover, and the cake. How about you guys?

Please enjoy some of my favorite not-too-dirty-or-weird portraits from the photobooth. All the photos can be seen at Alex’s Flickr.

Thanks again for making our first prom AWESOME!

Well hello there. I hope all of you have recovered from our super sweet 8 off 8th prom. Some great bands played, some “great” prizes were given away, there a bunch of free posters (from the Beggars Group), coupons for free pizza at Bosco’s, Lost Highway Sampler CDs, and there was cake. Tasty cake.

Oh yeah, there was a photobooth too, where Alex Crawford took some super sweet “shitty prom portraits” for us. Look at that set! It’s incredibly similar to my actual prom portrait booth.

Some of the incredible prizes given away Monday night included a pineapple, a mesh safety vest, a Pink Floyd clock and flag, a Metallica flag, a box full of random CDs from Lance’s personal collection (seen to the left there), an autographed OCMS CD (autographed by the band, not by us, I promise), a whole cake, a DVD that shows images of fires burning in fireplaces, and a bunch of crap that I can’t remember but was personally happy to see it all go.

In our raffle-mania we also decided to raffle off crowns from prom king and queen! The Queen was none other than Yvonne Smith, the Traveling Vegetarian! Prom King was a fellow by the name of Stephen Turney, who is a friend of ours. You might remember him from my post from August about free tours at United Record Pressing. You’ll see a picture of the lovely random couple in the photo gallery.

Personal highlights from last night for me personally include Natalie Warner’s last show in Nashville before her big move to LA, the Forties playing a Tears for Fears cover, and the cake. How about you guys?

Please enjoy some of my favorite not-too-dirty-or-weird portraits from the photobooth. All the photos can be seen at Alex’s Flickr.

Thanks again for making our first prom AWESOME!

First of all, I need to make a disclaimer. The photos in this blog are not from Monday night’s show, they are from some other Mercy Lounge show (although the photographed performer is the same). When I went to take the card out of my camera to edit them, it was discovered that there was no card. *gasp* I have a sneaking suspicion my darling husband has it somewhere and just has not told me. Anyway. On to 8 off 8th….

Tyler (above mentioned darling husband) and I got there way a little early because I am anal and I have to be able to sit down in a place where I  want to sit and not just wherever is left. (don’t ask, ok? just go with it.)

We got there while Rock ‘n Roll trivia was still going on. Have any of you guys ever participated in that? I never have, but Tyler and I are going to try and make it to one soon. It seems like a lot of fun and the winners get free booze. I repeat. Free. Booze. We should get a whole N4F team together and come up with an awesome name. Because there are prizes for the best team name, too. Sound like a good idea? Great.

The main attractions for me personally were Jeremy Lister and Gabe Dixon. I’ve been long time fans of both and try to catch them whenever I can. The other performances were entertaining as well.  There was everything from funky rock to peaceful, earthy tunes. Hard to believe we get this all for free every week! If you don’t take advantage of this already, you should. Yeah, you stay out kinda late, but it’s worth sacrificing your old woman/man bedtime. And I am definitely an old woman bedtime kind of person.

This week’s theme was Paul Simon and the acts that performed Paul Simon songs really brought it home. I think hearing other performer’s interpretations of songs is really cool. To hear how other people perceive a song vs. your perception is interesting to me. (I’m not the only one, right?)

The best part of going to these shows is not only being able to hear your favorite local artists, but discovering new favorites as well. There is a lot of talent in Nashville, people. I would encourage you to step outside of your pop CD’s and experience live Nashville music. Lucky for you, there is FREE live Nashville music all the time. Which is why you should check our blog often for events every week!

And don’t forget to come to 8 off 8th Monday, April 12th! Your very own Nashville For Free blog is hosting and it will be beyond fantastic! Come out and say hi!

I had to add this picture of Richie Lister because it is just so cool. Enjoy.

21+, FREE

RSVP!!!!

21+, FREE

RSVP!!!!

For the week of 9/13/09

Monday

Matt Friction and the Cheap Shots debut at 8 Off 8th at the Mercy Lounge – 9pm
Once again, just like every other week, the Mercy Lounge brings us 8 off 8th, so you know the drill by now. What you might not know is the lineup, which is as follows: American Bang (who you might have seen at Live on the Green two weeks ago), the Privates, the Comfies, Mean Tambourines, Powerbrrrd, Jonesin’, and Xpia. Expect drink specials, but don’t expect the Kings of Leon. Seriously. 21+.

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