Cardboard Kids have been toiling away on their debut release for several months, and the fruit of their labor, “Echo Boomer” is about to meet the public on May 20th. Their music has an unabashed swagger to it thanks to their Texas upbringing, countered by a pop-punk sneer borrowed by their 90’s influences. Title track “Echo Boomer” showcases the grit and attitude that makes up the album. The band will have their release party at The High Watt this Friday with Golden Youth, Lenachka and Poema. -Terra James-Jura

With Willie Nelson and the Wild West Comedy Festival going on around town, weekend plans may already be in place, but there’s always room for some local flavor.  

Friday: 

Ex-Cult is playing with The Slammers, Weekend Babes and Waxed at The End, 9pm, $10

Scale Model celebrates the release of their album "Star" at fooBar with The Grayces and Levi Ray, 9pm, $5

The Deli Nashville has already reccomended joining Lulu Mae at Exit/In to ring in their new album "Mean River" and bid farwell to Joel Finley as he starts his journey in becoming a Doctor (maybe you can ask him if he needs a Companion).  The Oak Creek Band and ELEL round out the bill; the show starts at 7pm, cover is $5.

Catch songstress Erin Rae and The Meanwhiles opening with Pageant for Oxford, MS stars Water Liars at The Basement, 9pm, $7

Former Artist of the Month Winners Blue Matches open for Black Market Research at 12th and Porter with Hollywood Kills, 8pm, $5

Saturday: 

This will be a rager: The East Room is hosting the release party for PUJOL’s new album "Kludge." The lineup is a roll call of notable Nashville riff raff: Natural Child, Fox Fun, and Denney and the Jetts.  The show starts at 9pm, cover is $5.  

Do your good deed for the month, and support the rescue of abused animals by attending Rock for Paws at The Rutledge.  Micheal Ashley Cloyd, Vahalla, Jonesworld, Killing Grace, and Fever Hound come together to raise money for Tennessee Death Row Dogs and The Tennessee Chapeter of the SPCA. 7pm, $10

Sunday:

Gift, Lines in the Sky, Fouled Out and Spacetrain play The End, 8pm, $5 

The Basement’s Sunday Post features The Dead Deads, Tennesee Scum, Megajoos, and The Revolutions, 8pm, no cover.

Congratulations to Fast Astronaut, for absolutely carrying the win for The Deli Nashville’s Artist of the Month poll. The group started when dorm mates EJ Morgan and Andy Wildrick decided to write a song one evening, wherein they realized they had complimentary visions of creating epic yet relatable pop music.  After finding drummer John Scaffer, the threesome created EP "Invisible Sun," and are moving forward at a brisk pace.  "Stranger" manages to be anthemic and heartfelt, somewhat similar to Fun if they were relieved of their grating, wide-eyed earnesty.  The Deli Nashville urges readers to creep on all their social media feeds to stay abreast of what they do next! -Terra James-Jura

http://www.fastastronautmusic.com/

 "Mean River" is the title of Lulu Mae’s newest album, which dropped just this past Tuesday. They are celebrating its release into the wild with a show at Exit/In with friends ELEL and The Oak Creek Band.  The album is a slight departure from Lulu Mae’s previous releases; they’ve shed some of their wholesome, gee-golly-family-band persona for some meaner licks and harder rocking (keep an eye on the Deli Nashville for a full review.) Check out the official video for title track "Mean River" to get a little taste of the new edge to their rambunctious folk-rock. This show also comes with sad news for fans: lead vocalist and backbone Joel Finley is departing Nashville for medical school, which may make this the last Lulu Mae show for a very, very long time.  His gain is certainly our loss, and all the more reason to be present this Friday night. -Terra James-Jura  

After listening to a just a few seconds of The Suez‘ first song “Johnny Get Angry” off of their self- titled debut album released this May, I am in love. The Suez are a band out of Murfreesboro with a pretty cute back story. The four grew up together, grew apart, and reunited for a local fish fry. The band is a blend of older doo wop tunes and rock, pop, and punk. That mix is bound to be killer, and the outcome is pretty rad. I can’t pick out a favorite song; I try, and realize that they are all my favorites. The Suez are awesome, they are catchy, and I can see their charisma shining through in all of their kick ass songs. Their next show is at The Boro on May 30th, as part of Tennessee Scum’s record release party.  -Amanda Aydelott

June 17th is the release date for pop experimentalist Thom Donovan.  Titled "Canon," it will be his third album in his efforts as a solo artist.  He has spent years as a studio and touring musician before forming his own band, Lapush, and subsequently splitting off again in pursuit of bending pop music to his classically-trained sensibilities.  Such endeavors result in high-brow  concepts such as tracks inspired by poems from 1562 ("The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet," Arthur Brooke) with unusual instrumentation and a mind towards ear-catching repetition, like his first single, "Shipwreck." The video is an absolute feast for the sense, featuring accomplished vocalist Ruby Amanfu.  The album release party  for "Canon" is scheduled for June 11th at The Basement. -Terra James-Jura 

There are tons of shows going on this weekend; here’s our picks for the best representation of Nashville talent that’s unrelated to the Steeplechase and also most likely places to pick up a bearded hipster.  

Friday: 

Hurts to Laugh celebrates their video premier at fooBar with Megajoos and Manana Panics, 9pm, $7

The Deli has already recommended getting weird with Roman Polanski’s Baby, River City Tanlines and Thelma and the Sleaze at The Stone Fox, 9pm, $5.  

Saturday: 

Kansas Bible Company play with Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers at The Stone Fox, 9pm,$7

Penicillin Baby celebrate the release of their first 7" at The Basement with Moseley, Faux Ferocious and Quichenight, 9pm, $5

Conestyle with The Xists and Jawws play The End, 8pm, $5

Sunday: 

Jake Orvis and the Broken Band play with Call Me Bronco and Washintonian James Hunicutt at The End, 9pm, $8

The Basement’s Sunday Post features Hugh Mitchell, Jordan DePaul, Casey and the Train, Modern Medicine and Gina Venier, 8pm, no cover

If you find yourself downtown near Puckett’s around 7pm, poke your head in and catch their Sunday Spotlight Artist, Neo Tundra Cowboy.  

Upholding Nashville’s proud tradition of great bands with quesitonable names, Roman Polanski’s Baby is a bonafide riot grrrl steamroller.  The trio combines fat guitar distorion with an unapologetic attitude that sets a benchmark for what should be coming out of Music City garages.  "Shakin’ All Over" posesses a depth beyond the initial punk fizz: that first riff cracks like a whip in the opening of the song, and the satisfaction never diminishes each time the band returns to it between their steady surf creep.  Things are sure to get messy, sweaty, and definitely weird this Friday night, when RPB joins Deli faves Thelma and the Sleaze and River City Tanlines at The Stone Fox.  If ever there was a proper place and time to raise some hell after a crappy week, it would be 9pm May 9th at 712 51st Ave. N. -Terra James-Jura

Indie rock outfit Creature Comfort just premiered this epic video for "All My Friends" yesterday. Warning: the raging ”Game of Thrones" styling and firelit nudity may distract from what a solid jam it is.  It keeps the pace at a laid-back amble until the chorus, when Jessey Clark’s vocals take on an aggressive yet doleful tone.  The Deli Nashville recommends watching the video, and then replaying it minimized to fully absorb the vibe of the track, because hearing the guitar hit its high notes near the end definitely releases some dopamine.  Combine that with a few flashes of boobs, Creature Comfort will have you feeling good all day. The band’s next show in Nashville is on June 2nd at fooBar, and June 5th at the 5-Spot. -Terra James-Jura

As a follow-up to their debut EP "Loose Change," Grass Root Kids are preparing to record their first full-length album. Preparation translates into some hardcore hustling in their fundraising department, including a pre-order drive that has 6 days left before it closes.  The band made an impression with their spirited and razor-sharp set during the final round of 8 off 8th in March, and the way their exuberant meshing of folk and punk rock has matured since 2012 is all but begging for its own platform.  Check out their website for more infomation, and listen to "Boxes" if you need a little convincing in parting ways with that $5. -Terra James-Jura

On May 19th, Sound Cards will be playing a show at Dino’s in East Nashville. This three piece band from Franklin, TN is a little pop/rock, and a lot of energy. They have lyrics of love and life, and the song “Get Me High” may do just that. It is fun, electric, and downright catchy. Their entire album "Keep the Filter Off" is available for free download here. They will also be playing at 12th and Porter on May the 30th, if case you can’t catch the one on the 19th. Or go to both, we won’t judge. –Amanda Aydelott

 The Deli Nashville recently caught wind of this stroke of altruism from Arkansas Elvis: the band is donating all Bandcamp album sales for the month of May to indie radio station to iRockNashville.com.  This is a veritable group hug of local supporting local that deserves recognition. The hard and heavy rockers released their first album "Yvette" last September, and this is the perfect opportunity to get your mitts on it if you haven’t already.  If the idea of supporting a Nasvhille radio station fiercely devoted to indepent music doesn’t move you, maybe this video "Opening" will.  -Terra James-Jura