Nashville for Free

Record Store Day is one of the most wonderful days of the year. Exclusive releases, massive sales at the record stores, free live performances, it’s such a wonderful day. Here’s a low-down of happenings at some of Nashville’s record stores.

Grimey’s

RSD at Grimey’s is hard to beat. There will be a massive outdoor parking lot sale with $1 CDs and vinyl, a sale on all new goods in the store, food from Mas Tacos, beer from Yazoo, and tons of live bands. There will even be a few films screening in The Basement! My tip – bring cash for the outdoor sale. It’ll save a ton of time for yourself and everyone around you. and bring a milk or mail crate if you have one.

Here’s the live band schedule: 11:30 – djb (dj set)

12:00 - Langhorne Slim
12:30 – Best of Bread (dj set)
1:00 - The Grenadines
1:30 - Chris Crofton
2:00 - Blouse
2:30 – Pimpdaddysupreme (dj set)
3:00 - JEFF The Brotherhood
3:30 – Geezus (dj set)
4:00 - Caitlin Rose
4:30 – Kelley Anderson of SGRRC (dj set)
5:00 - PUJOL
5:30 – DJ SRC (dj set)
6:00 - Lovedrug
6:30 – Janet from Out the Other (dj set)
7:00 - Kansas Bible Company

And here’s the film schedule:

1:00 - Don’t Follow Me I’m Lost (a film about Bobby Bare Jr.)
2:45 - Andrew Bird FEVER YEAR (a feature length concert documentary film)
4:30 - Brick And Mortar And Love (a documentary film about indie record stores with some footage shot at Grimey’s from last year’s Record Store Day).

The Groove

Like Grimey’s, The Groove will be having a big outdoor blast with bands, a big sale, and more. There will be a bunch of records and CDs priced at $1 or less and everything non-RSD specific will be 15% off all day long.

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After years of various bands Jack White is finally releasing a solo album. It’s called Blunderbuss, and everything I’ve heard from it is really good. But duh, it’s Jack White. Like him or not, you have to admit the guy is talented.

The record isn’t out yet, but tonight at 6pm you can swing by Grimey’s and listen to the whole thing! It’s free, there will be free beer, and one lucky fan will win a test pressing of the album. And you thought those 45s tied to balloons were hard to get!

Just to be clear, if you’re expecting Jack White to actually be there you’re probably going to be disappointed. He will not be performing.

-Emily

According to their bio, Umbrella Tree‘s first show at The Basement’s New Faces Nite is “the stuff of legend.” I wasn’t there, so I can’t confirm this, but Grimey’s sure does invite them back a lot. I remember a few years ago stopping by Grimey’s when they debuted their 16 video DVD for The Letter C (there was free cake)!

They didn’t actually perform that day, but they’ll be performing tonight at 6pm at Grimey’s to celebrate the release of their new Kickstarter-funded LP To the Memory of a Once Great Man is out now. Apparently it’s about the life and death of Napolean Bonaparte. It’s vinyl-only with mp3 download.

-Emily

Sometimes one in-store just isn’t enough. Today is one of those days. Yep, this afternoon Grimey’s will be bringing you free, intimate performances by a pair of pretty awesome bands.

The first up is Fanfarlo at 4pm. Fanfarlo is a British band that “fuses elements of folk, indie rock and post-punk using eclectic instrumentation including trumpet, violin, mandolin, musical saw and clarinet.” The show is a little earlier than most, but if you can make it out for this set I HIGHLY suggest that you do.

Then, at 6pm Scissormen will take the room. Scissormen will be releasing their new CD/DVD set entitled BIG SHOES: Walking and Talking the Blues. According to Grimey’s, “the movie captures the Nashville-based contemporary juke blues band on tour in the midwest and is part road movie, part concert film and part blues history lesson.” It sounds pretty awesome. Absolutely worth sticking around after Fanfarlo for.

-Emily

Jim White is a described by Grimey’s as a “zen master” and a “lyrical genius” who “distills life into a few phrases that can floor you with pithy insights.” I can personally attest to the fact that he is very good. His new album Where it Hits You is out now and he’s playing a few record stores on his way to SXSW!

It starts at 6pm and is free and all-ages, as always.

-Emily

Moon Taxi is easily one of Nashville’s most-loved local bands. You know they have to have a damn good following when people who don’t personally know any of the members are fans and they can fill up Exit/In for two nights around New Year’s Eve.

I didn’t know this until a few days ago, but Moon Taxi is releasing a new album today! It’s called Cabaret, was recorded at the excellent Alex the Great, and they’ll be celebrating its release by playing a special acoustic in-store at Grimey’s at 6pm today.

-Emily

This event was rescheduled from last week.

Local punk reggae soul rockers Dogs of Oz are looking to make their mark on the local scene. They just released their debut 7? EP (which comes with a CD) and Grimey’s is showcasing this new band today at 6pm. All ages are welcome.

-Emily

I first saw Rachael Yamagata when she opened for Ryan Adams something like 6 years ago and I really enjoyed it. Her songs were solid and she knew how to put on a good show. Sadly, I haven’t been able to catch her live since then, but it seems that the tides have changed because tonight she’s playing a free in-store at Grimey’s at 6pm.

Rachael has some really great music and has collaborated with Jason Mraz, Rhett Miller, Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne, and more. She’s even been featured on a few movie soundtracks including Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. That’s a pretty good group of friends and supporters. She has a new album out called Chesapeake and will be playing at 12th and Porter later tonight.

-Emily

Here’s the thing about Black Friday – you go to places like Walmart and Best Buy instead of local shops and less of your money stays local. I totally understand why we do this. That dirt-cheap TV is so tempting, and DVD box sets are such an easy gift to get someone. Also, it’s pretty much one-stop shopping, whereas if you want to buy local chances are you’re going to find yourself driving all over the place.

If you’re as tired of the cut-throat bloodbath that is Black Friday at the big-box retailers as I am then I’d like to present to you a few options for your holiday shopping today: Grimey’s and the Green Wagon.

Let’s start with The Green Wagon, or 5 Points in general. Local retailers will be slashing prices for the day, which is pretty standard, but at this Black Friday, I’m sorry, 5 Points Friday event there will also be live music, local beer, a local home brew contest, a home brewing 101 lesson, and some awesome local restaurants. You can feel good about yourself too, because 5 Points Friday will be raising money for Promise Neighborhood, a new program of the Martha O’Bryan Center.

Oh yeah, and the Grilled Cheeserie will be celebrating their first birthday by dishing out free gooey cheesy wonderfulness to their first 100 customers of the day. Are you sold on 5 Points Friday yet? By the way, they’ll start serving at 11:30. The whole event runs from 9:30am-11pm.

And now to Grimey’s! The folks who put Record Store Day together have assembled a bunch of new limited edition records and singles from some awesome artists for your purchasing and listening pleasure. But it wouldn’t really be Black Friday without a sale, right? Well, Grimey’s is making you work for your discount this year. You’ll get 15% off all non-Black Friday specific titles only if you bring in 3 non-perishable food items. Also, if you buy any 2 “sale” LPs or 7″s, you’ll get a 3rd sale LP or 7″ of equal or lesser value. Grimey’s opens at 10am and will close at 8pm.

In addition to the special releases and the sale, at noon Brendan Benson will be in the Basement signing copies of his new record, which was recorded live at our very own United Record Pressing, and hanging out with fans. Man, I love Nashville.

-Emily

To quote their press release, “Defeater is a band recognized not only for their musical talent, but also for their social awareness and environmental activism in a musical landscape plagued with insincerity and complacency.” They’ll be at The End later tonight, but the lead singer and guitarist Derek Archambault will be at Grimey’s early for an in-store performance at 6pm.

This might not make up for the sorrow we felt in our hearts to learn that The Evan P. Donohue in-store was postponed, but if you’re really craving that Grimey’s in-store action this could certainly tide you over.