The close of a year seems like a good time to look through the many artists we’ve covered over the years, pick one out of a hat, and think out loud: "Say, what’s Milk People been up to lately?" Then you ring them up on the old Facebook and see that they’re playing a show at The Cobra on January 10th, along with solo act Ever and Cali-tinged 90s-throwback group Sandra Bullets, whose EP Lightweight got a bit of buzz this past year. Visiting Music City from the cold, cold city of Boston is headliner Daisybones, who’ve just released their record Gold. This is a night of music you’ll want to catch, especially since Milk People are taking the stage, and you never know what kind of lightning will strike when they do that. Take a listen to "I’m Not Changing My Mind", the single from their latest album Hullabaloo, below. – Will Sisskind

Folks, if you’re searching for New Year’s Eve plans, here’s a word of advice: Stay home. If you’ve ever gone out on the so-called NYE, you know the risks you take by exposing yourself to the masses. Save yourselves!

But: After you’ve avoided the drunken carousals and traffic nightmares, perhaps you’ll venture outside to see a show. And if you do, you should catch power-pop group Pacific play The High Watt on January 10th. The Nashville indie newcomers take their sound from the early 2000s; think All American Rejects or softer Blink-182. That kind of catchiness will get to you on their newest single "Crumble", a crunchy track with all the makings of an indie pop radio-ready hit. Pacific will play their January 10th single release show with openers RYLY and Chasing Ella; start your new year off right with some new tunes from all of those fine groups. Take a listen to "Crumble" below. – Will Sisskind

Greta Van Fleet may have nailed the Led Zeppelin impression despite their dismal showing on Pitchfork, but The Blam Blams have arrived to give you your dose of throwback glam rock goodness. The group, which convened through Craigslist communications in late 2017, just released their debut EP as a holiday offering; the disc includes three tracks from their upcoming full-length record Opening Night. The first track, "Roll On", smacks of Queen and David Bowie without getting too derivative; you can imagine lead vocalist Brad Owens strutting across the stage a la Freddie as he sings. Speaking of stage, if you want to make the drive up to Clarksville, The Blam Blams will play at Wicked Good Sandwiches on January 26th; the band will tour throughout next year to support the LP. Watch their socials for upcoming dates, and take a listen to their EP below. – Will Sisskind

Still filling out your 2019 calendar with all of the shows you want to see? Don’t miss this bill at EXIT/IN on January 19th which includes Tennessee rock legends The Katies and ruthless rock trio CUSSES. Savannah-born and now Nashville-based CUSSES released their album Golden Rat earlier this year, having regrouped to take advantage of an opening slot for Bon Jovi. The new album unleashes some of the most fiery rock to come out of the Nashville scene this year, with tracks like "Pop Racer" pummeling your eardrums with its relentless beat and Angel Bond’s piercing vocals. The Katies, who will follow CUSSES, also recently just reformed; their album White Light covers their personal struggles during their almost two-decade hiatus, such as substance abuse, relationships, and loss. Don’t miss these two bands performing at the EXIT/IN on January 19th; you’ll want their fire in your bones to kickstart your year. Take a listen to CUSSES’ "Pop Racer", their single from Golden Rat, below. – Will Sisskind

It’s the holidays, which means the release calendar has wound down and any shows you might want to see have something to do with either Christmas cheer or the bombastic observation of another passing year. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start filling your calendar with shows to see in 2019, though. Sludge pop masters Deezy and Alex of Sad Baxter will play Drkmttr Collective on January 13th, bringing their grunge-tinged sound to the all-ages DIY venue. Their latest EP So Happy showed up on Bandcamp’s Best Albums of 2018 list, along releases by The Beths, Car Seat Headrest, Camp Cope, and Let’s Eat Grandma. Plus, Nashville Scene handed Sad Baxter the Best Band of 2018 Award. Regardless of their winnings, Sad Baxter will play you their heavy tracks with the usual angst live at Drkmttr Collective on January 13th, so head down there and ring in — belatedly — a new year with them. Take a listen to So Happy below. – Will Sisskind

The Vegabonds have a new album slated for early 2019, and they’re hitting the road in support of it; the Alabama-born Southern rockers will play The Basement East on December 22nd. With four albums under their belt, the Vegabonds have taken time to craft their infectious Americana sound, rising from the Southeastern college circuit to headlining their own shows and opening for groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd. Their upcoming fifth album, titled V, showcases the latest iteration of their sound with tracks blending folk, country, rock & roll, and pop hooks, as well as the catchy wordsmithing of songwriter Daniel Allen. Fans of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, the Allman Brothers, or Springsteen will rave about V, which comes out on January 18. You can listen to the first single "I Ain’t Having It" below. – Will Sisskind

One of the best parts of Nashville’s indie scene — as is the case with scenes all around the country — is that talent comes from far and wide to make their art. In doing so, they both blend into the American cultural landscape and stand out in it. Team Wild are one such example of this talent; their frontwoman, Amelie D. Noordzee, moved from Paris to Nashville in 2016, just as America was undergoing one of its biggest political shakeups in modern times. Noordzee made her anxieties known in the form of her debut album Clear Eyes / Full Hearts / Can’t Lose. Now, two years later, she returns with Team Wild to release her EP The American Diary / Vol. 1, a collection of thoughts put into song over her two years of living in the States. At times dissonant and dark, and at others bright and punchy, the three tracks on this first volume of The American Diary show a songwriter using all elements of music to spell out her emotions and observations about the current state of not just the nation, but the whole world. Take a listen for yourself below. – Will Sisskind

As the holiday season approaches, we here at The Deli jump at the bit to promote events that help the community, especially when good music is involved. If you’re in town on Saturday 12/15, want to get off the naughty list, and enjoy some local music, head down to The End with your non-perishable food items. Local rock and roll bands Digital Brains and Strolling Omens are hosting a food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, so you can do your good deeds while rocking out to songs like Digital Brains’ new song "Self Destruction", which comes out 12/14. The first thirty people to bring donations to the show will receive a free copy of Digital Brains’ newest EP III, so pack as much non-perishable food as you can and get to The End early. Then grab a whiskey toddy and warm up with some excellent music. Sounds like a night full of holiday joy.

Take a listen to "Catch A Break", the first track from III, below. – Will Sisskind

Genre-weavers Little Raven, who released their EP Black & Blue last year, will open the bill at The Cobra on December 18th. The quartet of Rafael Green, Keenan Keaton Payne, Kyle Edmonston, and Brad Owens pulled out all the stops to put their songs to tape last year, adding strings, horns, and mystical vocal overdubs to their jazz-rock jams. The recordings on Black & Blue capture not just their musical talent, but also the energy of their live performances; you can catch them on stage opening for Louisiana-based Alex Abel and NYC-based HER, kicking off a night of unapologetic rock-and-roll sure to make that Tuesday night an unforgettable one. Listen to Black & Blue below. – Will Sisskind

Over the last fifteen years, songwriter and guitarist Michelle Sullivan has had her hand in a bowl full of Nashville indie bands, including Sherbert, TV Sisters, and Mini Meltdowns, the latter of whom just released their latest EP in April. Now Sullivan plans to release her first record, Expiration Date, under her own name in early 2019. The first releases from her upcoming debut — singles "Little Pink Room" and "Psychopharmacology" — feature Sullivan’s backing band The All-Night Boys, who mash indie rock with brash protopunk and a bit of folk to produce a tight, gritty sound. Listen to them both below, and stay tuned for more word on the release of Expiration Date. – Will Sisskind

Celebrate the holidays early with Whoa Dakota and a whole slate of her fellow LunaSea Media artists on December 9th at The East Room! It’s the second anniversary of the Nashville indie record label, and its artists are turning out for a night of music in which they’ll cover some Christmas classics as well as each others songs. For example, Whoa Dakota will cover the songs of Tayls, her indie-psych pop tour-de-force label mate; in return, Tayls will perform some of Whoa Dakota’s latest NPR-approved tracks. Among the other artists joining them are Kelly Hoppenjans, Molly Rocket, Athena, Pet Envy, and more! Plus, you can enjoy the music while shopping at a holiday market filled with local vendors. Get festive with your favorite local artists! For a taste of what you’ll hear, take a listen to Whoa Dakota’s "Patterns" from her NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission below. – Will Sisskind

Sophie Allison has taken Soccer Mommy far beyond Music City, but on 12.15, she’ll come home for a show at Mercy Lounge to wrap up her fall tour. It’ll act as the beginning of a little holiday siesta for the now world-famous songwriter before she takes off on a tour through Australia, plays a show in Japan, and traverses the western states this winter. For her Mercy Lounge show, Sophie has a couple of friends joining her on the bill. The first is Motiongazer, the experimental indie rock project of Soccer Mommy guitarist Julian Powell. The second is Dream Wave, the songwriting outlet of Kelton Young, who has collaborated with Sophie on many Soccer Mommy projects. The night at Mercy Lounge should be a fun one for anyone who’s followed Sophie rise up through the Nashville scene. Take a listen to her latest single, "Henry/I’m On Fire", below. – Will Sisskind