You may remember way back when in 2009 when The Deli reviewed Nashville pop rockers The Kicks‘ The Rise of King Richie. We dug their poppiness and rockiness because it’s catchy as hell and has an endearing 80s quality. Since the release of their debut, The Kicks got busy sharing the stage with the likes of John Mayer and Rooney, touring with Los Lonely Boys and most recently, recording a new video for their hit single, "Hawk Eyes," featured on the TV series Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. It’s been a while since the band’s played their hometown, so check out their live show Friday at 12th & Porter.

If you’re like The Deli and think The Dirt Daubers‘ Wake Up, Sinners! was one of the best records of 2011, then you were probably thrilled with their new video for "Get Outta My Way." Shot by Joshua Black Wilkins, this one’s pretty sexy and retro.

Tonight is folk night at The End with bluegrass rowdies The Thank You Ma’ams, gypsy folkies Honey Locust, Kentucky singer/songwriter Kelsey Waldon and Indiana’s Carpenter & Clerk. The Deli’s particularly glad to see The Thank You Ma’ams play in Nashville; unfortunately, it’s easy to go unnoticed hiding out in Murfreesboro. The band’s Handkerchief EP, released almost a year ago, is worth a listen or five if you haven’t heard it.
 

Who says you can’t tackle ramshackle folk with precision? The Thank You Ma’ams do by dressing up the record’s opener, “Miles and Miles of Nothing but Miles and Miles,” with vocal harmonies worthy of Fleet Foxes, and punctuating new-grass “Devil Knows It’s True” with a jaw harp (Taylor Lonardo). The off-kilter crack in Greg Stephen’s lilt adds some charm to these old-timey/new-timey romps that emulate equal parts of The Avett Brothers (found in the lyrical back-and-forth between details and repetition) and The Legendary Shack Shakers (found in their unbridled enthusiasm).

The Deli’s favorite? This little verse from the opening track: “Well you could help me understand/Why I’m such a lonely man/Why my memories are tangled/And my dreams don’t make sense/Why this life seems so short/Yet this life seems so long/Why there doesn’t seem to be/Any right or any wrong.” Or “Jubilee,” as beautiful and romantic a song about a prostitute as Ryan Adams’ “Tiny Toledo” is abrasive and sexy. Infectious banjo fingerplucking (Hank Parker Pruett) and guitar sweep through the lyrics like water. Listen to it below and come out to The End tonight. 9 p.m, $5. – Jessica Pace

Caitlin Rose, Buffalo Clover and Evan P. Donohue are playing The Basement tonight, which we know is motivation enough for most to make it out. But as a side note, Evan P.’s friend, roomie and sideman/drummer of the past five years, Mike Kavouras, is moving to NYC tomorrow. Kavouras, also a web developer, is the guy behind The Civil Wars’ website. Donohue says, “I’m going to miss him very much, and I want to make sure everyone who will miss him as much as I will won’t miss the show tonight!” Show is at 9; $8.

With two records out and a third almost ready to go, The Deli thought it was about time we caught up with Murfreesboro hardcore punk band Tetsuo, namely frontman Ardis Redford. For a loud and prolific band, they’ve been making their mark around town quietly and to few. But The Deli thinks they’re too interesting a band to go unnoticed. Here, Redford talks about Tetsuo’s first two records, These Crystals Don’t Burn and Inmates, and how they do or don’t fit into Nashville. Read interview.

Mercy Lounge swooned while the mobbed corners of the viewing floor spun. Filtered through moist screams, friends of molly and children with exes on their hands and smoked liquor in their hearts, happy to have companions who have fun the same way they do, a chant could be heard bouncing across the rafters. “This is baby-making music,” said one swaying observer when asked to describe the bands capricious, cross-genre vibe. With thoughts of Al Green and Barry White running wild, it was surprising when two white kids from Murfreesboro stepped to the podium, and the lusting crowd went nuts at the sight of Cherub. It was apparent there would be plenty of babies made that night in Nashville and with the release of Cherub’s new album MoM & DaD, a follow-up to Man of the Hour, many more would be made to their music soon enough.

Cherub had arrived to give audiences what they needed; a dose of white boy sex appeal and heart- revving soul style.

Cherub is made up of two new age, electronic savvy b-boy crooners with R&B soul, also known as Jason Huber and Jordan Kelly. The two met in “the boro” two years ago while attending MTSU, and have been performing together ever since. Before meeting, Jason was a member of the Boroughs, a Murfreesboro outfit with occasional gigs in Nashville, and Jordan was a relatively unknown creator of music in a do-it- yourself fashion with a midi keyboard and some recording equipment. Jordan, originally hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, came to Middle Tennessee with metal music and hip hop on his mind. While those influences are still heard in many of Cherub’s songs, he was inspired to use the low budget tools at his disposal to produce lyrically cache, electronic club ballads. And it is true; Jordan does not shy away from going falsetto. After a few rehearsals, it was evident that the duo’s musical ambitions were aligned.

The pair was signed to Elm & Oak during the recording process of MoM & DaD, sometime during early winter 2011, only a few months after coming together and forming Cherub. The band’s first official show was Dec 1, 2010.

A Cherub show is reflective of their music. Lights, smoke and heavy doses of frenzied crowd participation, with moments when every bloat in the room is singing along. If you don’t mind getting your feet stepped on by either drunk women or blinded concertgoers, because yes, the lights are damn bright, then follow the guys as they go on tour. Cherub will be taking the album on the road and is hoping to release MoM & DaD on vinyl soon. – Dh Wright

Kitty Wells was dancing somewhere up in heaven last night as Tristen and the girls of Birdcloud swooned the rowdy crowd with a southern spit shine charm that had even the hecklers on two feet and dancing around. If The Ryman is called “The Mother Church of Country Music,” last night Exit/In became the house that Tristen built.

Ranch Ghost started the night of music. We have seen Ranch Ghost play in houses before but never on a stage like Exit/in. While there is no denying the sheer energy of playing in a compact house, hearing and seeing the guys on the big stage was an experience, and playing before audiences with a sound system that has seen the likes of The Ramones and Buddy Holly, this is where these guys belong, so seeing them crammed in a house is a must-see before they become too big to fit their local savage fan base into any local dwelling.

Next came guitar virtuoso and possible standup comedian, if he gets tired of playing guitar anytime soon; William Tyler. His set was a perfect middle ground as it entered late night. It is not often that a single player can stand on stage and play three or four songs without vocals and get a crowd to sit and stand in complete awe.

Ahead of Tristen in the lineup, the incantations of everything sexy and raw about the matron south, the women of Birdcloud graced the stage with guitar in hand, mandolin on chest and harmonica on crotch. This was our first time we have seen the girls in concert, and like the rest of the crowd, we were moved. Their reference to local Nashville stomping grounds, even naming a song after some crazy man at Springwater, in which the girls sing about taking a piss in the shape of Africa outside the venue, gives their tunes a hometown glue that would stick anywhere played. These girls are too dangerous for Bluebird but simply perfect for anywhere else under the sun, whether playing songs in a field or getting drunk in the mud, these girls are powerful and confident, and know how to have a rocking time.

Tristen took the stage like the veteran she has become since joining the ranks of Nashville performers, after moving to Music City from Chicago in 2007. Backed by Buddy Hughen and Jordan Caress, along with drummer Sam Smith, Tristen’s sound has grown to become a force in the Nashville indie music landscape, with a foreseeable future of crossing over into the mainstream. As long as Tristen does not change her sound, that’s fine with us. I want everyone to know about this amazing songbird. She won the Deli’s Poll for this years “Best Nashville Artist” and is sure to win the hearts of fans across the genre boards for years to come. Capriciousness, sorcery, an affinity for banter; Tristen’s music takes listeners on a roller coaster ride from the hollow banks of emotional turmoil like in “Eager for Your Love,” a mixture of country chords with a sweet hardy melody, to songs like “Baby Drugs,” a romp through the ups and downs of loyalty. The songstress seems to be a rebel with a cause coming triumphantly forward in every song. – Dh Wright

Last night, or is it today? It is difficult to tell anything. The party still continues from the show at the Mercy Lounge on Thursday. It ain’t a party without smoke talkers on the back porch taking in the view of Gotham Nashville. The landscape is soon to be a giant parking lot once the convention center is built. The city is already a cement sea. We go inside the venue and immediately the music of Thief is engulfing. The song "Cadillacs" has just begun. Like most songs, the melody is classic, and the guitar-laden riffs blanket a heartbeat-style drum section and walking base. The song about ideals lost on the back roads of Tennessee is impossible not to dance to. For a band with a guitar-centric energy, Thief’s melodies are rhythmic and explosive. Thief was once known for 12-minute songs that played out like classical movements rather than short, to-the-point songs, but Thief remains drenched in the same reverence for creating complex musical landscapes textured in walking base lines, pounding drum beats that never get off beat, reminiscent of John Bonham and a guitar that transcends all genres, from Spanish classical to blues and jazz. Lead singer, Matt Tubandt, has become a frontman to reckon with in Nashville. "I have never seen a more entertaining performer on stage," says an audience member. Tubandt brings a fearless altruism, draining his energy out on every song so that the crowd can live vicariously through his onstage turmoil and reluctance to give anything less than his best.
 

Like all Thief shows, and I have been to a couple, the band bled their musical energy dry. It was a symphony of raw Nashville talent, and rehearsed elegance as a band coming together toward the creation of something unique. Thief cannot be compared to the local garage scene in Nashville. While the band would love to play with bands in that scene, they are happy creating their own niche. For bands like Thief, who do not fit into any mold that Nashville has readymade, gaining a fan is the same as gaining a friend. It happens one person at a time. The band invites anyone interested in hanging out after the show to come over to one of the guys’ houses to continue the night’s festivities. Because, like true rockers, to the guys of Thief, each show is a night-long spectacle. The guys will be playing at The 5 Spot on Feb 9 along with the Joy of Painting, Mom and Dad and the Mike Coleman Quartet. Expect a romping good time in East Nashville. The bar will be packed and the stage will be set ablaze with a night of live music and dancing. Come to the show. If you plan on filming the show or taking pictures, let the guys of Thief know, and they will get you in for free. See you there. – Dh Wright

The final results are in for the overall winners of The Deli Nashville’s Best of 2011 poll. The Deli has compiled the votes of fans, jurors, open submissions, Deli writers and staff from all branches of the blog and it appears the bewitching honey-sweet vocals of Tristen are irresistible to everyone. The lady enchanted us with her live performance at our unofficial SXSW show in March 2011. The Nashville chanteuse came in first place, followed by the retro rock of Natural Child. Finally, Hans Condor, with their noisy and vintage garage-rock (performed unstoppably live), scored number three. Congrats to these artists, and thanks to everyone who voted.

1. TRISTEN

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2. NATURAL CHILD

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3. HANS CONDOR

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Here’s the chart with the final results:

BAND J W F OS TOTAL   1 Tristen 8   0.5   8.5 2 Natural Child 4   1.5   5.5 3 Hans Condor 3 1 0.003   4.003 4 Ranch Ghost 3 1 0.002   4.002 5 Heavy Cream 3 1 0.002   4.002 6 Protomen 1   3   4 7 Diamond Rug 2 1 0.006   3.006 8 Birdcloud 3   0.004   3.004 9 Casa Castile 3   0.004   3.004 10 Cy Barkley & the Way Outsiders 3   0.003   3.003   Nahnee Bori 3   0.003   3.003 12 Colorfeels 3   0.002   3.002 13 Nikki Lane 3   0.002   3.002 14 Thief 3   0.002   3.002 15 Heypenny     0.002 3 3.002 16 Chrome Pony 2 1 0.001   3.001 17 Glossary 3   0.001   3.001 18 Christopher Wild 1   2   3   Derek Hoke 3   0   3 20 Those Darlins 2   0.01   2.01 21 The Features 2   0.006   2.006 22 Bad Cop     0.004 2 2.004 23 Kingston Springs 2   0.004   2.004 24 Natalie Prass 2   0.003   2.003 25 Among Savages 2   0.002   2.002 26 Sharpneck 2   0.002   2.002 27 Cherub 1 1 0.001   2.001   Modoc 2   0.001   2.001 29 Thank You Ma’ams 2   0.001   2.001 30 Canon Blue 2   0   2 31 The Stephen Sebastian Band     1 1 2 32 Rachel Pearl     0.017 1.5 1.517 33 The Danberries     0.002 1.5 1.502 34 Prophet Nathan 1   0.015   1.015 35 Andrew Combs 1   0.006   1.006   Rayland Baxter 1   0.006   1.006 37 Honey Locust 1   0.005   1.005 38 Fly Golden Eagle 1   0.004   1.004   King Arthur 1   0.002   1.002 40 Thelma & the Sleaze 1   0.002   1.002 41 Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes     0.001 1 1.001 42 Umbrella Tree     0.001 1 1.001 Legend: J = Jury – OS = Open Submissions – W = Deli Writers – F = Fans

The Deli’s Staff

Photo by Emma Story

The results are in for The Deli’s Best of Nashville 2011 readers’ poll. Protomen nailed this one big time with a ridiculous 879 votes (click on “last poll results” to the right to see). Christopher Wild came in second with 179 votes, and Natural Child was a close third with 164 votes. Thanks for voting, and check back tomorrow to see the overall Nashville winners (this means the fans’ votes will be combined with all other votes).

1. Protomen

2. Christopher Wild

3. Natural Child

Gretchen Peters graced the stage of The Rutledge last Friday in celebration of her new album, Hello Cruel World. The album’s title, a pun on the famed exit line, reminiscent of the Shakespearean quote, “once more into the breach, dear friends, once more,” the 11-track record is a masterful voyage through the pains and promises of morality, presupposing the album will be a favorite among fans of the singer/songwriter for countless years to come.

Gretchen, backed by four of the city’s most dynamic professional musicians, including husband Barry Walsh on the keys and accordion, took the audience on a flirtatious voyage through a set textured in raw chords and minimal exposure to distortion, taking on Americana roots and genre-defying flexibility. Songs like the title track “Hello Cruel World” maintains an eerie and dark-textured country and bluegrass feel, while a song like “Camille” is a slow-paced bluesy and jazz-sounding trip. The set, a reflection of the album, was a poetic voyage that showed Gretchen’s vulnerability, strength and triumphs, finding comfort in a chaotic world she has come to know so well.

Her textured rhythms and full band sound rounded out the set with grace and an honest grit only known as southern elegance. Gretchen’s voice is sweet, aged in honey, with each note a mellifluous stroke of environmental beauty meeting a hard working industrial past. She approached the stage last night the same way she approaches life, with a rock ‘n’ roll temperament, a poetic soul and in the company of Nashville musicians that are as professional as it gets.

In songs like “5 minutes,” Gretchen embodies every person who has ever lost something that has shaped them more than ever could be said, and before being taken away by the memory, continuing with life after 5 minutes are up. On “The Matador” she tells a story of love and pain, suffering from the ephemeral woes quickly made, deep seated emotions bring. The performance is possibly the most elegant Nashville has seen this year, and as Gretchen takes to the road for a European tour, fans from all around the world will be rejoicing to experience so much of this woman’s life through honest storytelling and poetic vulnerabilities.

The lines from the song “Paradise Found,” “I don’t believe in no hold jihad, I don’t believe in original sin, I believe in theheat underneath our skin,” it’s clear Gretchen Peters sure as hell believes in her art, and seeing her play live is an experience in personal discovery and a soul warming attraction. – D.H. Wright

Stream the whole album here.