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    Music City Rocks: March


    2010 - 03.03

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    Posted in Nashville | No Comments »

    Let me draw your attention to a new item in the sidebar specifically for my local readers. Under the headline “Music City Rocks!” I will be maintaining a list of ¡viva la graham!-approved performances and events right here in Nashville. Right now I’ve only featured music, but in the future it may include art and comedy items as well.

    So far for March it’s a mixed bag of lovely ladies: the stunning modern-Motown stylings of local sister act Like Candy Red, sultry jazz courtesy of the phenomenal Annie Sellick (pictured, above) and the irresistible kitsch of ABBA tribute outfit Knowing Me, Knowing You.

    Otherwise, we have a diverse group of talented gents passing through town as well, including country-punk band Lucero, California-based rock act The Soft Pack plus indie hipster faves We Are Scientists.

    I’ll be updating the list in the sidebar as more events are announced, so please feel free to submit a suggestion. Disclaimer: I can’t guarantee its inclusion.

    Elle Macho Update: New EP, Feb 5 Gig


    2010 - 02.04

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    Posted in Indie, Nashville | No Comments »

    It’s been more than a year since I raved about Nashville-based band Elle Macho. Though I haven’t written about them since, the stylish power-pop trio has made some progress in the past 12 months (not as much as I’d hoped, but this is more of a side project, of course…).

    The group has periodically performed in Music City as well as one-off gigs in New York and Chicago, among other U.S. cities. Most notably, however, they finally released their debut studio EP, ¡Es Potencial! late last year. The stellar 5-track collection is available to download at nimbit.com, or you may stream each track in full on MySpace.

    If you’ve missed one of Butterfly Boucher and the boys’ high-octane shows thus far, you can catch them at The 5 Spot in Nashville tomorrow night. Unfortunately, I already have tickets to see The Features (which is sold out, by the way), or I’d totally be there.

    American Bang Plots Major-Label Success


    2010 - 01.14

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    Posted in Nashville | No Comments »

    Check out “Wild and Young” by Nashville rockers American Bang, an infectious jolt of Southern garage-rock that could end up being the band’s breakthrough single (the track is due to impact rock radio Jan 26). This particular clip comes from the group’s 2008 appearance on the ABC Family television series Greek — admittedly not hipster-approved exposure, but you’ve got to get your name out there somehow.

    Surely these guys are sick of being likened to Kings of Leon, though the comparisons are inevitable. Yes, they come from the same town and there are obvious stylistic similarities, but these guys have been doing their thing for years now here in Nash Vegas. KOL were simply signed first.

    No word yet on the official release date for “Wild and Young,” though American Bang recently unveiled its debut LP to Warner Bros Records. This is merely the quiet before the storm.

    Pop Act Like Candy Red Brings Motown to Nashville


    2009 - 12.15

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    Posted in Nashville | 1 Comment »

    Like Candy Red

    Meet Like Candy Red, a Motown-flavored pop act straight out of Music City. The exciting emerging band opened for soul songstress Denitia Odigie last week and I was immediately smitten by their unique brand of smart retro-soul with a modern indie twist.

    The 3 sassy sisters who front the group — Hailey, Bree and Lyndee — have been performing together for years with their father’s band, Sonny Joe Blues Band, and later as Collier, the girls’ surname. They remind me of irresistible U.K. outfit The Pipettes, not just for their charming, ’60s girl-group-inspired choreography but also a penchant for gorgeous harmonies and undeniable hooks.

    If you’re in Nashville you have 2 chances to sample Like Candy Red live this week. The ladies will perform an intimate set at The Basement tomorrow for ASCAP’s New Faces Night (Dec 16) and they will be joined by the full band Dec 17 at The Rutledge. You don’t want to miss them in action; Like Candy Red is definitely a sweet treat.

    Like Candy Red

    Denitia Odigie Breaks the Nashville Mold


    2009 - 12.08

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    Posted in Indie, Nashville | 1 Comment »

    Denitia Odigie

    Nashville is teeming with starry-eyed singer-songwriters, and as a result it can be difficult for the truly deserving to distinguish themselves from the pack. This is hardly the case for up-and-coming indie-soul artist Denitia Odigie.

    Her remarkable talent stands out thanks to amazingly emotive pipes and a level of lyrical honesty that is refreshing in a city where tall tales of whiskey and loose women tend to dominate. Even labeling her a soul singer is kind of a disservice, as her style tends to encompass several genres, from folk to alt-rock to R&B.

    But don’t take my word for it — if you live in Music City you can experience Odigie’s live show this Thursday, Dec 10, at Play or Dec 18 at Lipstick Lounge. I’ll be in the audience at the former.

    And if you need further persuading, head to her MySpace and listen to “Lover, Why” or “Heartbreaker,” two of several standout tracks she has posted online (download the latter — plus more than a dozen other gems — on iTunes). How someone with such marketable mainstream talent has eluded the major labels is a mystery to me — I’m guessing it’s a creative choice — but I guarantee Denitia will win over most of you.

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