Concerts to look for in Murfreesboro and Nashville

Sunday Oct. 7: The Shins at Ryman Auditorium. $35 – $45. Show at 7:30 p.m.

The Shins have been recording music since 1996. It’s no wonder why the band played Bonnaroo last June —they put on a great live show. James Mercer’s vocals are sweet enough to make a bitter man cry. The Shins’ tunes have triumphed the Garden State soundtrack, making the movie that much better.

The Shins.

Wednesday Oct. 10: Slightly Stoopid. $22.50 at Marathon Music Works. Show at 8 p.m. Ages 18+.

This rock/reggae group is a perfect blend of beach music with urban influence. The lyrics are sung with a hip-hop flow, and the guitarists are incredibly talented. With complex guitar riffs and reggae bass jams, you don’t want to miss them.

Slightly Stoopid.

Thursday Oct. 11: Crystal Castles with HEALTH and Kontravoid. Marathon Music Works. $26, show at 9 p.m. Ages 18+.

Crystal Castles are an electronica duo with echoing, pretty female vocals and a house and lo-fi synthesizer sounds. Their manic live show with bright flashing lights and explosive energy is well worth $26. HEALTH, a noise rock band, and Kontravoid, an ‘80s-pop inspired act, will serve as perfect opening acts.

Crystal Castles.

Friday Oct. 12 & Saturday Oct. 13: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals at Ryman Auditorium. $29.75 – $35.  Show at 8 p.m.

Playing two nights at the Ryman, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals will be sure to shake the former church’s roof. With Potter’s strong, raspy vocals and the band’s raw sound, the performance is unique enough to attend both nights if your wallet can manage. GP&TN will make your booty get out of those wooden pews and rock all night.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

Thursday Oct. 18: The Temper Trap with The Neighbourhood. $22 at Marathon Music Works. Show at 8 p.m. Ages 18+.

Pop/rock band The Temper Trap has exploded recently for good reasons. Their vocalist will sing his way into your heart with his impressive high-pitched, pure vocals. They’ve been touring all summer and are now beginning a fall tour, gracing stages across the world with bands like The Neighbourhood and Coldplay.

The Temper Trap.

Thursday Oct. 18: Perpetual Groove with Tauk. $12 at Exit/In. Show at 9 p.m. Ages 18+.

Perpetual Groove offers a sound similar to their name, a soothing, instrument-based performance with 311-esque vocals and dreamy guitar solos that mimic Carlos Santana. This show will definitely be an escape from reality into Grooveland. Tauk gives a similar sound, with a bit more experimental inspiration with an organist and rougher vocals.

Perpetual Groove.

Friday Oct. 19: Die Antwoord. $22 at Marathon Music Works. Show at 8 p.m. Ages 18+.

If you’re craving something artistic and bizarre, you need to see this wild South African group. They bring a borderline insane, vulgar energy with bass-heavy sounds unlike anyone else in the rap-rave scene.

Die Antwoord.

 ~ All photos courtesy of Facebook.