Bird Dog rolled out this video for "Until the Sadness is Gone" on July 22nd via the blog Audiofiles.  It’s pretty straightforward, consisting of a simple street performance by the quartet, but goddamn if it doesn’t inspire a wave of well-or-mis-placed feels to see a band of bros demonstrating their ability to pull some gear out of their van and make their ‘Muricana magic happen anytime, and anywhere.  Its a very organic representation of the lifestyle, right down to the beer bottle on the floorboards in the background that makes me want to grow a moustache, pack up my guitar and head for the sunset.  Bird Dog found their way to Nashville from New Braufels, TX, further upholding this city as the Ellis Island of the industry.  They showcase their brand of dusky Southern rock on their album, "Age of Anxiety," released independently thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. It’s crunchy and gritty with an undercurrent of pathos, kind of like an ice cream cone dropped in the red dirt of their homeland. However, their own description of "Lowdown chooglin’ Americana" probably does Bird Dog the most justice.  The band is going to be performing in at The End on September 18th.  -Terra James-Jura

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

Anyone who doesn’t get caught up a little in the bombacity of hyper-produced, aggressively emotional pop love anthems have probably had one too many dreams crushed in the slow unravel of their existence.  The rest of us whose lives cannot be compared to a tattered sweater flapping on a tree branch until it disintegrates will find something to to enjoy in Daniella Mason’s single "Shade of You." So many elements of this track scream Top 40, but something in the delivery makes it go down as a well-made dream pop gem rather than spiritless club remix fodder.  The lyrics are essentially the inverse of a love song, and the line that hooked me is also the most satirical of the track: Everyone loves you, so I do too/ I need what they want, and I guess that’s you.  She’s drawn comparisons to Ellie Goulding and Jessie Ware.  -Terra James-Jura

Wowee!!  Had we known that this last poll was going to be so tooth and nail, we’d have called animal control!  It became apparent early on that this was a fight between post-punk outfit The Whippoorwills and inexplicable surf rockers Sexx (the Deli Nashville will never fully comprehend this phenomenon in Nashville.  We dig it for sure, but as Black Francis once said, "Yo soy playero pero no hay playa, bien perdida la surfer Rosa. Oh my golly!") In the end, and just by the slightest margin, The Whipoorwills won out.  A shade over a year old, the trio delivers some meaty jams with the rancor of a freshly-flunked-from-art-school Karen O.  Vocalist Heather Gray screams, croons, murmurs and squeals, and her antics round out the spartan drum and guitar supporting her.  They also have the wherewithal to rustle up enough votes for our poll while out on the road, no less, proving themselves as industrious as they are well-dressed.  The Whippoorwills released their self-titled debut album this past June via Mattress House Music; check out their latest video for "Tattooed Smile."  -Terra James-Jura

 Visit The Whippoorwill’s website HERE.

If it feels like it’s been a minute since Great Peacock has played Nashville, well, that’s because it has. The folk players trapped in a rock band’s body seems to have been giving love to all other points of the dirty South BUT Music City this summer, playing Hangout Fest in Florida and spending more time in Alabama than… George C. Wallace.  But that just means fans will be good and frothy for this long overdue show at The Stone Fox this Saturday.  Not only does absence make the heart grow fonder, but time on the road has likely heightened their already air-tight and heartfelt live show into temporary blackout territory.  Don’t bring your grandma to this one.  You’ll probably slap her.  -Terra James-Jura

Great Peacock will be joind by Belle Adair and Erin Rae.  The show begins at 9pm, and cover is $7. 

The Deli caught wind of Rachel Pearl earlier this July at NAMM, where she charmed an afternoon crowd with her jazz-influenced pop (accompanied by Bakithi Kumalo, the bass player on Paul Simon’s "Graceland.") The fiery-haired songstress has a handle on both ends of the spectrum; she’s capable of strumming a quirky little ditty on her ukelele or belting an sparkly, auto-tuned, area-worthy piece.  The start of this month saw the release of her single "Dodgeball." While it is a freakin’ cute track, the clever language and interesting instrumentation (and the branding.  Oh, think of the branding.) reveal Pearl’s very shrewd handle on pop as an artform. The thing has more hooks than a Reno truck stop.  Pearl’s personality and inclination for pushing the envelope with beguiling results makes her an artist to keep an eye on.  Whatever she cooks up is going to be sweet. 

Rachel Pearl is hosting a series of open mics at the Rutledge.  More information can be found HERE. -Terra James-Jura

After some soul-searching and recalibration (as every finely-tuned pop rock machine requires from time to time) Hot Mess Loves You is now operating under the moniker of Stereosparks.  The Chico, CA natives decided on the name change after coming to the realization that their sound was moving in a direction that could no longer be contained beneath the Hot Mess Loves You umbrella.  "Stereosparks" is also much easier to get tattooed across your knuckles. The trio is still going to be cranking out slick, pop-forward tunes and will not be dropping the lap steel anytime soon.  They released a 3-track EP "Secret" on July 10th;  "Secret (Say You’ll Stay) is the first video under the new title.  Bounce over to stereosparks.com and update all of your HMLY feeds.  -Terra James-Jura

Grace and Tony recently released this video for "Resonate" from their album "November." Saturated with candlelight and lent a potent dose of macabre by a 4-piece string section, it is exactly what a fan would expect from the duo.  The track draws a great deal of impact from the restraint in Tony White’s vocals; it’s one of those performances that makes a listener move in a little closer, where some of the quiet bits carry more weight than notes struck.  It’s only the bearded half of the pair singing here, so this might not be a video for fans that like their punkgrass power couples locking eyes and yowling at each other for the duration of a song.  However, it ought to suit anyone that appreciates growth and organic development of artistic vision.  Grace and Tony are preparing for a tour supporting Dom Flemons in the fall; stay up to date with their activities at graceandtonymusic.com. -Terra James-Jura

Jonathan Timm released "These Hours" on cassette as a teaser for his upcoming EP.  The title track is vignette of haunting electric guitar and swoops of lapsteel; a perfect slice of moodiness and desolation. It’s one of those trust-establishing tracks that hooks into you, and opens up your ears to whatever else he’s created.  The other three tracks on the tape range from more brooding Americana to full-on traditional country, all crafted with a steady hand.  He’s a seasoned perfomer with several trips across the US under his belt, so his Saturday EP Release show at Mad Donna’s promises to be entertaining.  Listen to the "These Hours" below. -Terra James-Jura 

Where will you be Saturday July 26th? Either at Exit/Inn, or wishing you were there. The night is filled with four talented bands. The headliner is Blue Matches, a band nominated for the Nashville Independent Music Awards (vote here.) The band has been our very own Artist of the Month this past January. Also playing this night is Small Town Sleeper, Black Market Research, and Stereosparks. The lineup is great, it’s a Saturday night, and the show is only five bucks. There really is no excuse to not be supporting all of the kick ass talent going on in one night. It’s my birthday. Do me a solid, get out and celebrate. Drink till you puke; it’ll be worth it the next day. -Amanda Aydelott

Kelly Ruth was mentioned here early this past spring, as she took up a residency at the East Room, and subsequently transformed it.  She had a hand in involving a number of local artists that we love (Honey Locust and Phantom Farmer, to name a few) for the month of April, and has earned a place in our hearts for that, because beneath our thin candy shell runs a neverending reel of new and emerging artists.  She’s been playing her sweetly vintage folk rock around Nashville since, with her next performance this evening at fooBar as part of Palaver Records weekly showcase.  The evening’s well-curated lineup also includes Juliana Daily and Midnight Pilot; it’s going to be a great show.  Watch Ruth perform "Blue-eyed Lover" below and get a concentrated hit of her throwback style (and see if she doesn’t rival Zooey Deshanel in adorable dissaffection.) Tonight’s show starts at 9pm, and cover is $5.  -Terra James-Jura

http://www.kellyruthmusic.com/index

Majestico, featuring Graham Fitzpenn (AKA the jungle king of Nashville) has released this video for "Gimme Love." The track is off their debut full-length, "When Kingdom Come," which came out on ATO Records this March.  The video channels the same hazy, feral vibe originally hatched behind the Grassmere Zoo; you’ll want to fist pump when Fitzpenn’s headdress makes its first appearance. May the gods smile upon this garage band with a tribal soul. The next chance for some of Majestico’s ju-ju to rub off on you is August 8th, where they will be part of the Tomato Art Fest’s lineup.  -Terra James-Jura

Exit/In will be featuring some of the freshest, most innovative talent in the South this Thursday night.  The KDSML Revue is the brainchild of its namesake, a UK-born turntablist with a DJ pedigree (his father wrote Babe Ruth’s "The Mexican"). The purpose of the Revue is to showcase new artists and foster a collaborative spirit that reaches beyond genre and medium boundaries; the lineup for the evening includes Atlanta’s Skymatic, SOSA, Black Cat Sylvester, Audeon, and live painting on Exit/In’s new patio by REX2.  Check out this video of KDSML and Black Cat Sylvester showcasing the newly-patented Synth Table.  Expect just as much noodle-y dancing and more grooves on Thursday.  The event kicks off at 9, and cover is $5 (although ladies get in free before 11.) -Terra James-Jura