If there were a spirit animal for October 11th, it would have to be some sort of neon-colored panda riding a cigar-smoking dolphin, because thinking of that trips us out and makes us happy in the same way catching a Chalaxy show does. However, this Saturday’s show at the East Room is one better than those tape-crazy psych-rockers: Friendship is a 9-piece supergroup conceived and executed by Chalaxy frontman Taylor Cole. With members from The Subnovas, Mesmer Tea, Girls and Money, Creature Comfort and Dotcom, it’s a riot of talent that will be squinting in the stagelights as a collective for the first time this weekend. Considering that Friendship is so new and barely-formed, we can’t even be sure of what they are going to sound like, but we have faith that the evening will be entertaining and include some left-of-center leanings. Also, since Friendship is only in its budding stages, we leave you with this video from Knoxville’s "Trop ‘N’ Roll" outfit Marina Orchestra, who will be supporting the evening of the strange and wonderful along with Dr. Jungle Cat and Girls and Money. -Terra James-Jura 

Brave Town’s Artist of the Month Win falls in with their month of solid successes. They started September with a show at 3rd and Lindsley, had some spins of their first single "Jubilee" on Lightning 100, and then put out this gem in the middle of the month.

Yes, it’s so good that we f*cked up our usual formatting just to drive the point home. This track scratches that itch that (reaching back a few years here) Cold War Kids left after “Loyalty to Loyalty” left us a little underwhelmed, with it’s sharp piano backbone and just-unhinged waver in Jay Ragsdale’s vocals. It’s a promising chaser to last year’s EP “Flavor,” and we can’t wait for more. –Terra James-Jura

BraveTown.Bandcamp.com

Here’s testament to how heavily environment can play into music. Two years ago Foreign Fields recorded their first album "Anywhere But Where I Am" in the duo’s Wisconsin hometown. In 53 quiet, dreamy minutes they managed to distill the slow dread and surrender of yet another soul-deadening sink into the cold season (Midwestern émigré writing here). Since then, the duo of Eric Hillman and Brian Holl have received well-deserved recognition for their artfully rendered winter-listening, and also made the move to Tennessee. It’s clear by their single “Little Lover” that the South has quickened up their blood. Richer and fuller in even the silences, it’s a tantalizing glimpse of the sophomore album planned for early 2015. Foreign Fields will be playing Mercy Lounge on October 9th for Communion Nashville with Field Report, Water Liars and Great Peacock before heading out on tour with The Lone Bellow in November. –Terra James-Jura

http://www.foreignfields.net/

Alanna Royale’s debut album, "Achilles" has been out since September 16th. However, October 4th will be when the band, friends, and special guests ring it in proper with an epic show at Exit/In. Because an album that is the culmination of two years of establishing the Royale name through heavy touring and intensive mind-blowing, not to mention a little, potentially career-ending brush with a hemorrhaging vocal cord demands a celebration. The band has been lauded for their airtight brass section almost as much as Royale’s staggering stage presence, both of which will be in full-force on Saturday, as their joined by Kansas Bible Company and ELEL (fingers crossed that all groups joined Royale on stage for a final number. Just to prove the integrity of the venue’s support structures.)

While the show is sure to be a high-energy stiletto kick in the nuts, “Achilles" explores several dynamic avenues: sweet and wistful on “Phantom Limb,” fierce and vengeful on “Animal,” to maybe a little funky on “Big Time Me.” This magazine is partial to “Rock and Stone;" we interpret it as a neo-soul version of Reba McIntire’s “Fancy” (sans the prostitution bent. We’re focusing more on the process of a woman coming into her own.)  and we love the addition of the string section of since the track’s appearance on their 2013 EP.   “Achilles” is a showcase of the band’s tested mettle, and their, as the opening lyrics of “Last to Know” perfectly sums up “backbone for days.” Saturday’s show starts at 8pm, and cover is $10. We’ll be amazed if it doesn’t sell out. –Terra James-Jura

October 1st marks the beginning of Aaron Lee Tasjan’s 5-week residency at The 5-Spot. Dubbed "The Happy Hour of Power," the event will take place the next five Wednesdays from 6-8pm. Tasjan will be bringing in a number of talented cohorts to round out the evening, including Todd Farrell Jr., Erica Blinn and The DuPont Brothers.  "Don’t Walk Away" is the first single from his recent EP, "Crooked River Burning." The recording gained acclaim not only for it’s emotional intensity, but also the crisp and very tangible energy gained from tracking all the instruments simultaneously; the impact of the recording will not deviate far from the impact of the live show. With recognition as "One of the greatest next-generation songwriters" from ASCAP and five opportunities to see him, there’s little excuse to not make it to the 5-Spot a some point this month. -Terra James-Jura

Just to throw some more options at you for where to destroy some auditory and/or brain cells this weekend, here’s another: The Basement will have Sol Cat, Future Unlimited and Octajohn on their stage this Saturday, September 27th. While the first two names are common topics around the Nashville dinner table, Octajohn is a little less so. This could be changing in the near future, judging by the bout of activity from the group this summer, which does not seem to be slowing as we hit fall. Their unorthodox instrumentals seem right on for warming a crowd for this particular bill. Songs like "The Landing" are at once cinematic and ambient, and sound like there could be some extraterrestrial DNA in the duo behind the music. Better check them for fingerprints on Saturday night. Show starts at 9pm, and cover is $7. -Terra James-Jura

Can’t make it out this Saturday? No worries, Octajohn also has a show on Monday, September 29th at the East Room!

The Grayces have recently put out a video for their song “Do It To Me”. It is pretty cool, a little trippy, and cute. The trio’s album “Westing” is set to be released October 14^th, but their 18-date tour supporting it kicks off today. Heaven help the states on their route. The Grayces play freaky, heavy garage rock that you won’t want to stop listening to. Ever.  Check out our review of "Westing" here. If you haven’t listened to their music, that should do it. Songs like “Do It To Me” and “Lord and Gods of Alcohol” are worth listening. The videos are also pretty sick. Sick meaning awesome, of course. –Amanda Aydelott

As a follow-up to their August release of their single, BASECAMP put out this video for "Shudder" on September 22nd. The single was met with a great deal of enthusiasm, having been featured in not one, but four different dance remixes (including GXNXVS, Goodnight Cody, and Twinztrack.) This video puts a visual element to the low-profile trio; it maintains their sublety and starkness, and allows stillness to speak as many volumes as their quiet they deploy in their music. It is also as high-tension as their sound. There is just something unsettling about a girl in a lake looking lonely.  It doesn’t bode well. The group is preparing to put out another EP later this year. For anyone itching to see this aural black magic unfold in a live setting, BASECAMP is opening for Mikky Ekko at Acme Feed & Seed this Saturday. The show begins at 8pm, and, being a Redbull Sound Select event, there is the oppurtunity to drop the $15 cover to $3 with an RSVP. -Terra James-Jura

The Deli is a big believer in balance; for every yin there is a yang.  So after this past week of not being able to turn a corner without running into something Americanaramalama-ding-dong, it’s nice to hear a song like this one. Daddy Issues could be the antithesis of all the Ritters, Ellis’ and Eastons out there; three gals driven by pizza, the Electra complex and reviving the corpse of grunge rock circa 1991. Single "Ugly When I Cry" was released September 18th. This is half of the entire two songs recorded, and Daddy Issues have only a handful of shows under their skirts, but the way these tunes gnash along with the girls’ cheekiness keeping their music’s doom-y apathy in check shows the promise of future darlings of Nashville’s garage rock. This band hase a handle on their sound, and it won’t be long before they have a handle on their scene. -Terra James-Jura

Mouth Reader had us at their first submission to the Deli, where they made it perfectly clear that they were at the front of the ranks in this garage rock revolution in Nashville. This fact was driven home with their win in our Artist of the Month Poll back in April. Hard, fast, and fuzzy, they hold down their corner of the DIY scene with furious tenacity while hustling the business side; they have a single on Culture Cringe Records compilation and a split with Private Lives on Semi-Pro Records, both to be released on Cassette Store Day on September 27th, and just put out this video for “Inside You” last week. It’s lo-fi to its core, but has everything you would want in a video: aliens, junkies, sparks flying off guitars and half-eaten babies. It contains all the attitude that 2 minutes of film can possibly fit, along with, and pardon us for fixating on details, one of the most pitch perfect yelps about a minute in. Keep up with the band here. -Terra James-Jura

Before you get all hot and bothered for not knowing who Book Swap is and, oh god they must be awesome because they’re playing with Meth Dad, RIcHIE and Kelly Ruth, chill. In this case a cigar is totally a cigar and a book swap is simply an opportunity to pick up some new literature and unload that copy of "Ulysses" that impressed nobody, while offering the added bonus of listening to said awesome bands. The lineup will satisfy a range of tastes, whether it’s for quirky folk pop, booty-shakin’ grooves or straight party rock.  The show gets going at 8pm, and cover is $6, but drops to $5 with the presence of a book to trade. And why a book swap in the first place? As organizer and contributer to creative collective 2 Jung 2 Dye Jeremy McAnulty summed it up: "We just liked the idea of people coming together to enjoy music and art, but bringing something personal of theirs to exchange with each other. It’s a fun way for people to interact at a show." 

And, since we touched on the topic of booty-shaking groove, check out this video of Meth Dad laying it down for Ourvinyl.tv earlier this year. -Terra James-Jura

Earl Burrows may be one of Nashville’s most under-the-radar supergroups. Founded by Mark Watrous as a vehicle for the songs he had been banking while working as a touring member for acts including The Shins, Racounteurs, Karen Elson and Brendan Benson. Backing him is a crew of musicians with similarly impressive resumes: guitarist Carson Medders is a member of The Non-Comissioned Officers The Medders and Fox Bear Snake, drummer James Freshwater played for Lovedrug, and brother/bassist Joel Watrous played for DC’s Dance Imperative and Mu Meson. Together they perform what the band describes as "music for thinkers by thinkers;" ie: impeccably executed compositions with decidedly left-of-center origins. They’re sharp and intelligent, but don’t let their wit get in front of the 70’s-flavored pop fun or ability to spin a yarn. True to their dark horse nature, Earl Burrows has been appearing as a supporting act on consistently great bills for the past year they’ve been together, and are building up to an early 2015 release of their debut full-length album. For the interim, check them out live at The Basement on October 2nd, and dig into their available music online here. -Terra James-Jura