Here’s a little bit of what’s going on around Nashville this pre-de Mayo weekend: 

Friday: 

The End is Nashville’s platform for The International Pop Overthrow Festival with Dave Rave, The Scruffs, Walter Egan and the Walternative Band, Wyatt Funderburk and Neilso.  Check out some talented and well-deserving pop bands starting at 7pm; cover is $8. 

Foreverandnever, Red Sun Rising, We are the Finale and The Sweetest Sleep play 12th and Porter, 9pm, $10

Danny Trashville, Anthony Adams and the Nite Owls, Tumbleweed Company and The Joel Meeks Excuse at fooBar, 8pm

Saturday: 

The International Pop Overthrow Festival’s Saturday Lineup includes The RA-660, Dark Circles, Richard Dubois, Nine Times Blue, Greg Pope and The Decandence.  

Musician’s Corner kicks off with Holly Williams, Jars of Clay, The David Mayfield Parade, Levi Hummon and Joel Levi.  Head down to Centennial Park for the free concert starting at noon. 

Sevier Park Fest goes down in the 12 South area with Brandy Clark, KS Roads, The Midnight Riders, Magnolia Sons, Scale Model, Oh Dang Lo Mein, Zeke Duhon, Deep Fried 5 and Stacey Randol. 

Bobby Bare Jr. Album Release show at Mercy Lounge with Bobby Bare Sr., Cory Branan and Birdcloud, 9pm, $10.

Sunday: 

The Internatinoal Pop Overthrow Festival continues at The End with The Great Affairs, Joshua Ketchmark, Anchor Thieves, The Alarms and Duette, 7pm, $8.

The Basement’s Sunday Post features The Heavy Heavy Hearts, Guthrie Brown and the Family Tree, The Low Down, Them Dirty Roses and The Hunter Tynan Trio, 8pm, no cover. 

Congratulations to The Acorn People and Friendship Commanders, our new Artists of the Month!  While the Deli may have a quibble with the biological actuality of the band being "a love child of Janis Joplin and Joan Jett," The Acorn People obviously have charmed enough listeners into look past the cold hard truths of science and vote them into victory.  The Acorn People released their debut album, "Secrets" on February 28th, and it is very much a roll in the in the sweet, dewy grass between rock and blues.  Vocalist and rhythm guitarist Grace Jermysk makes sure that no hair is left unruffled and no heart unbroken with her sassy yet intensly emotional approach.  Their next show is this Saturday in Murfreesboro for a house/art show (more details here), followed by at show at The Kitchen on May 8th and a set at Music Tree Festival in Manchester, TN on June 10th.  Here’s "Oh My," the first track off their album, to drive home what The Acorn People are all about. (For extra credit, listen to final track "Monster" and see if you don’t get caught up in the awesome breakdown at the end.)

Friendship Commanders throw a hat into the ring of the nineties revival, keeping things fresh with driving, bass-heavy beats lifted right out of the punk rock playbook, counterbalanced by crystal-clear vocals and intelligent lyrics provided by B. Arson.  They’ve hit their stride in a very brief period of time, recording their debut 6-track EP, "Amos" in June of 2013, and finding bassist Cody Mcall the following October, thereing completing the current lineup of this power trio of alt-rock. They’ve been making regular appearances at The High Watt and Mercy Lounge, turning on enough hard core followers to vote as many times as their IP addresses allowed to move them into such a tight margin that a declaration of "TIE!" was in order.  The band is working on an as-yet-unreleased track called "Tuxedo Means Wolf," which, if it’s half as well done as "Unkissed," I’d be satisfied.  Friendship Commanders next play in Nashville on May 17th at The 5-Spot, closely followed by May 20th at The End.  

Be sure to check out both of these winners this month, and thank them for contributing their blood, sweat and tears to the rich local music scene that makes Nashville amazing! 

 -Terra James-Jura

Mark your calendars, May 6th is an important day. That’s when the album “…And the Walls of the City will Shake” will be coming at you. If you haven’t heard of The Colored Parade (aka the product of multi-intrumentalist Andrew Adkin’s experimentations) check it out. The newest single is called “Hysterically Speaking”. “Hysterically Speaking” has very thought provoking lyrics that are mainly sad, but a little happy, thanks to a melody and quirky instrumentation keep the tune upbeat. This song is available for free download, or you can pre-order it on Amazon. You know you want to. –Amanda Aydelott

Bobby Bare Jr. released his 7^th album, “Undefeated,” on April 15^th, after 4 years of dormancy.  Recorded with Lambchop’s Mark Nevers, it’s everything you can want in a Bobby Bare Jr. album: sharp pop sensibility fortified with distortion and the bracing bite of good ol’ rock and roll, visitation of grave subject matter with his congenial sense of humor. In short, Bobby Bare Jr. feels your pain, and can articulate it in a way that will make you smile.  He nails the universal longing to flip the bird to the daily grind in “The Big Time.”   

The release show will be at Mercy  Lounge this Saturday, May 3^rd.  Bobby Bare Sr., Cory Branan and Birdcloud will be joining in to make it a night as irreverent as it is heartfelt.  If you need more Bobby Bare Jr. immediately, check out this trailer for “Don’t Follow Me (I’m Lost),” a documentary on Bare Jr. created by William Tyler and Reelhouse. –Terra James-Jura

80’s babies ought to feel a wave of warm fuzzies listening to Trinity Schill Kill’s "Would You Be My Lover?" (the intro could be lifted right out of "Billie Jean.") The electronic duo combines bare-bones grooves with Reagan-era synthesizers to arrive at a song that’s a little throwback, a little hokey, and entirely danceable. The band just put up three tracks on Soundcloud, and have been playing a few shows around Nashville as of late, the next of which at The East Room May 20th with Brother Lover.  -Terra James-Jura

Earlier in April, this editor made the trip out to Hermitage to sit down with The Daily Howl, Reader’s Choice winners of The Deli Nashville’s Best Emerging Artist of 2013 Poll. Between their hyperactive stage show, devotion to specific era of the Beatles career, and savvy promotion tactics, The Daily Howl are a powerhouse of a band that demanded their own feature this Friday. Read on to learn more about their history, social media strategies, and the worst place to get a burger in North Carolina. -Terra James-Jura

 Here’s a brief list of musical goings-on around Nashville that ought to lift the spirit of anyone still suffering from the post-RSD blues (anyone with 5 bucks in their pocket, that is.)

Friday: 

The Cunning with Gorilla Baby and Judson McKinney at the Basement, 9pm, $5

ELEL with Sad Baxter and The Reneaus at The Stone Fox, 8pm, $5

Omega Swan, The Grayces and Tetherball are joining the festivies for Chris Wild’s Vinyl Release/Birthday Party Extravaganza.  In addition to live music, movies, ping pong and cornhole will be offered.  10 Quality Way, Nashvile, TN.  No cover.  Check out Christopher Wild’s debut single, "Save My Soul," below.  

Saturday:

Current Artist of the Month The Wooly Mamas will be appearing with North by North, Gorilla Baby, The Jon Rice Band, and former Artist of the Month Modern Royals at fooBar, 9pm, $5.  

No Regrets Coyote, The Sleepwalkers, and Hurts to Laugh will be playing at Springwater Supper Club, 9pm, $5

Rock/Folk Sould Brother (and part-time Nashvillian) Adam Faucett opens for Damien Jurado at Mercy Lounge, 9pm, $12 ADV, $15 DOS. 

Sunday: 

Megajoos and Sh*tstorm play Springwater Supperclub, 9pm, $5. 

The Allen Thompson Band, Roman Williams and the Prey, Jennifer Gibbons and Greg Amell play The Basement’s Sunday Post.  8pm, no cover.

 Whoa Dakota released their first EP March 21st, after several breathy assurances onstage from frontwoman Jessica Ott that is would be "soon" (which, in the music industry, translates to 3 days to a year from time spoken.) Along with it comes this video for "So Much Touble," a slow burner that showcases Ott’s crystalline vocals and the jazz influence that drives the band. The EP is nicely gritty, ranging from folk rock ("Get Along") to vengeful, knock-you-down blues ("The Rock That Made Me Mistep,") all laid out with a teasing sense of deliberation. The self-titled debut is available for download here, and keep checking their website for their next Nashville appearance, as they have an commanding live show. -Terra James-Jura

The Deli Nashville has a tendency to shy away from the country scene, by and large, as it feels that ball of wax gets plenty of attention.  However, The Deli Nashville also has a penchant for artists with personality that flirt with the boundaries of their respective genre, who are also decidedly not awful.  If they represent a good cause, all the better.  That being said, Olivia Lane is holding a fundraiser for anti-bullying foundation +Works tomorrow night at The Listening Room.  She’s joined by Ben Bradford, Leland Grant and Baylor Wilson for an in-the-round performance beginning from 6-8pm.  Check out the song "You Do You" and notice how refreshingly free it is from mentions of porch swings, screen doors and being 22. -Terra James-Jura

Between Good Friday and Easter lie ample opportunities to see some of Nashville’s finest perform (twice), as well as pick up some swag, sample from food trucks, and contribute to the scrappy brick and mortars that keep independent music alive and humming.  

Saturday, April 19th:

Start the day off at Third Man Records, where you can check out  Jack White’s stunt of performing, recording, pressing and selling the "Lazaretto" off his upcoming album.  The performance will start at 10am, and the single will be available for purchase by 4pm.  Additional sets by Waxed and Jawws will start at noon.  

The most logical option for your next stop is Grimey’s, just about a mile down the road.  Starting at 11:30 am and going on until 7pm are performances by Lower Caves, Secret Sisters, Needtobreathe, John Oates, Promised Land Sound, PUJOL, Bully,  Ranch Ghost, Majestico, and Apache Relay. 

Since you’re there, you might as well cross the street and check out 8th & Argyle’s Rock’n’Roll Yard Party in honor of Record Store and Earth Day.  Vendors will be offering crafts, vinyl, and food for your perusal.  The event is schedule from 10am to 5pm.

This is where you are going to have to cross the river and find out what the East Side has to offer.  Head to The Groove to see Shy Guy, Bully, Blank Range, Nudity, Nikki Lane, Mouth Reader, and Gay Vibes; the whole show is hosted by Olivia Fancytramp.  

Go a little further up Gallatin to Fond Object’s blowout, featuring Joey Plunket, The Tendoor, Buffalo Clover, Fly Golden Eagle, Kings of the F**King Sea, PromisedLand Sound, PUJOL and Misfruits. Infinity Cat and Palaver Records are also setting up pop-up shops, and this is the only event on Saturday that has a freakin’ petting zoo.

If you’re in Murfreesboro, Little Shop of Records has bands playing from 12-5pm, including Forrest York, Hoodoo Men, Tomato Face, That’s My Kid, and Josephine and the Wildfront.  The day’s performances will be recorded for a future album, "Live at the Little Shop of Records."

If you’re still raring to go on Saturday night, you can catch one of these shows:

Feedback Revival, De La Torre and Swampbird at The High Watt, 8pm, $8

Tennessee Scum, Bare Knuckle and Mouth Reader at Springwater, 9pm, $5

Peaceful Warriors, Applegate Nance, Easy Roscoe and Brandon Brains at The End,9pm, $5

Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang, Richie, and Samantha Harlow at Exit/In, 8pm, $10

With Record Store Day just on the horizon, here’s an item worth hunting down this Saturday between Bully sets and taco breaks. #RAPCLUB stalwart kidDEAD released his debut album a few months ago, and it’s an intense, quick-witted effort that demands a space in anyone’s catalog.  While you might have missed his set last weekend at Tour de Fun, hang around the East Room long enough and you’ll be sure to catch another.  For now, read the full review of "Rap and Destroy" HERE, and for kicks, watch this video for "Thieves" below.   -Terra James-Jura