EastNashvilleBlog.com Rotating Header Image

Music

Big June in Store at Mad Donna’s

Jun 1st, 2010
by Jason Kirk.
No comments yet

If you love music and fashion, Mad Donna’s is the place for you all throughout the month of June. First there’s the June Artist Residency:

Singer/songwriters, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen will be Mad Donna’s June 2010 artists-in-residence. Mad Donna’s Artist Residency features local talent that makes Mad Donna’s Loft home for a weekly month-long showcase. Performances will take place every Wednesday beginning June 2nd. Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen will also perform June 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th, when the residency ends. Doors open at 7PM, music starts at 8PM. There is not a cover charge. Drink special are 2 for 1 drafts. Wednesday is Service Industry Night – 30% off with a valid ABC card or check stub.

Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen

Then, this Thursday, there’s Music Row East featuring Mason Douglas:

Mad Donna’s Music Row East, a showcase of up and coming artists and writers by Music Row publishers, labels and managers will feature singer/songwriter, Mason Douglas on Thursday, June 3rd. Doors open at 7PM, music starts at 8PM. There is not a cover charge. Drink specials are $2 off wine by the glass and $5 off wine by the bottle.

Mason Douglas possesses a distinguished diversity, sounding like Chris Isaak with his signature sexy falsettos, Garth Brooks with his honesty and range, others even say he’s ‘country music’s Rob Thomas. Mason has been showcased at the Ryman Auditorium as well as opened for Trace Adkins, James Otto & Jewel. He has had continued radio airplay with the song “Home Free” released on his 2010 debut CD with Rural Rhythm Records. Mason says, “I am so excited to get this music out to the world and all audiences to let everyone have the opportunity to enjoy it as well. Thank you for these few minutes and for taking a listen.”

Mason Douglas

This Friday will see Heidi Burson take to the stage:

Mad Donna’s is proud to announce that multi-talented singer/songwriter Heidi Burson will perform on Friday, June 4th at 8PM. Drink specials are $5 Smirnoff and specialty martinis until 10PM. Co-owner Rachel Fontenot is excited about bringing this innovative vocalist to Mad Donna’s.

Heidi Burson knows true happiness when she is surrounded by friends with a microphone in one hand and a wine glass in the other. While her voice brings joy to many, it also invokes an insight and depth of the soul that few professionals can touch, yet alone master. Heidi’s vocal stylings lean to blues, soul, and R&B, however, much like her personality, she thrives on variety. Heidi has performed at a multitude of venues in the Nashville area since she moved from her hometown in Ohio five years ago.

Woodland Street’s Lipstick Lounge calls Heidi “an unbelievable talent with range, style, presence and grace. Her voice is fluid and her style draws comparisons to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin.” At 25 years old, Heidi has played the piano for 22 years. A passionate songwriter, Heidi often turns into her own dark corners to find untapped sorrow, rage, strength, and hope to weave into melodies and lyrics that support her powerhouse voice. Heidi throws not only her whole self, but all of her surroundings into her music, with the hopes that one day it will be able to support her in return.

Heidi Burson

And finally, there’s Splash! A Pride Pool Party Fashion Show:

On Friday, June 11th Mad Donna’s will host Splash! A Pride Pool Party Fashion Show. The fashion show will be produced by Milton White of The Fashion Office and will feature swimwear from Hue in East Nashville. Donations from this event will go to support Nashville Pride. Suggested donations for general admission is $5.00 and $10.00 for VIP which includes a seat on the runway and swag bags. Doors open at 8PM. The fashion show starts at 9PM. Drink specials are $5 Smirnoff and specialty martinis until 10PM.

Splash! will feature several well known runway models, a selection of male models from RAMP Ripped, a locally based model management company that represents some of the hottest fitness and physique models as well as a few local personalities. The models will be wearing swimwear from Hue. The show will include looks from Salinas, INsight and Sundeck in addition to several vintage pieces. A cool music mix by DJ Jane Dupree will accompany the show.

The event is open to the public and donations will be taken at the door supporting Nashville Pride. The purpose of the Nashville Pride is to maintain a sense of community and awareness of, about and for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and culture throughout Middle Tennessee.

Mad Donna’s is located at 1313 Woodland Street here in East Nashville. For more info on all these events, check out the Mad Donna’s website.

TwitterFacebookGoogle ReaderShare

Keep on Movin’: The Monday Night Dance Party

May 24th, 2010
by Aaron A. Coleman.
No comments yet

With the beautiful weekends of spring now in full effect, Mondays have become more difficult to endure. Rising temperatures and heavy pollen counts make me think one thing: I have to go out. Thankfully Keep on Movin’: The Monday Night Dance Party has buoyed my spirits on my least favorite day. I recently made the six-block jaunt to The 5 Spot to check up on this East Side tradition.

Monday night is dancing night!

The 5 Spot, with its plethora of local players and East Side staples, makes you feel like you’re in a music town; it can feel like musicians outnumber everyone else. After paying the $3 cover, I was greeted by long wooden bar tables that serve as convenient locations to centralize groups. I headed to the bar where I was pleased to see both Boddingtons and Pabst in the same beer cooler; I always like to have at least one good beer before I travel down Pabst Alley.

Music gear dominates everything at The 5 Spot. The muted light of a drum set chandelier illuminates an old sturdy pool table. Broken cymbals are reborn as curtains. The bar’s many local show posters proudly proclaim, “Yes, this is a music venue.  Please do not request Freebird.” This all sets the scene for a velvet lined stage that supports the most rockin’ DJ rig this side of the Cumberland.

The weekly event is hosted by Electric Western Records co-founder/artist Jacob Jones, who splits DJ duties between himself and other troubadours. He throws down the dance party gauntlet by playing old school favorites like The Four Tops and Sam Cooke. I dare you to be a wallflower after hearing the grooving tunes at the spot. Electric Western has redefined the Monday night barscape by creating a friendly environment that is free of pretense and full of dancing.

Keep on movin'!

I know what you’re saying. “I can’t dance, and I don’t want people to make fun of me.” Stop it! You’re not in high school. When you mix alcohol, good music, and fun-loving people in one space you get magic: a room full of sweaty adults moving around without a care in the world. The floor at The 5 Spot is full of kids trying and failing in their attempts to recreate the twist, all of them having a good time. If that’s not enough, there’s always safety in numbers: the dance floor is empty and intimidating at 10pm, but by 11:30 the whole floor is grooving.  Good things come to those who wait.

Keep On Movin’: The Monday Night Dance Party has become more popular as of late, so don’t be surprised if you only have enough room to shuffle around during the most busy moments.  This influx of our friends from across the river has made it more difficult to get a drink, but it’s all worth it to share some East Side love from our favorite dance party host.  Overall, Electric Western Records has given the East Side a great cure for the Mondays.

TwitterFacebookGoogle ReaderShare

Reno Bo “There’s A Light” Video

Apr 20th, 2010
by Jason Kirk.
No comments yet

Among all the many happenings in town today are a few other things – including the release of Electric Western recording artist (and East Nashville resident) Reno Bo‘s new video for his single, “There’s A Light.” Meticulously crafted from hand-drawn pieces and cutouts by Reno himself, this video is part Beatles, part Python-era Terry Gilliam, and all good.

RSS readers, click through for the Reno Bo – “There’s A Light” video

If you like what you see, go check out www.RenoBo.com for links to purchase his album, Happenings And Other Things, and to get a free copy of the “There’s A Light” single. And if social media is your thing, you can follow Reno on Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace.

TwitterFacebookGoogle ReaderShare

A Weekend Treat: Jacob Jones and Emmylou Harris Videos

Apr 18th, 2010
by Jason Kirk.
No comments yet

Between Jacob Jones‘ CD Release Party at The Basement on Thursday and Record Store Day at The Groove yesterday, we were lucky enough to catch a fair bit of live music over the last few days. We even managed to catch a bit of it on camera, though we won’t be winning the Quick Draw McGraw Award for Catching Full Performances anytime soon.

While we train to become contenders for that coveted prize, you can still enjoy these two videos. Our RSS readers will want to click through on the links to view these on YouTube.

First is Jacob Jones covering The Beatles’ “The Ballad of John and Yoko” with a band of Nashville all-stars at The Basement this past Thursday.

Jacob Jones – “The Ballad of John and Yoko” video

And here’s Emmylou Harris solo at Record Store Day taking about her dog rescue organization, Bonaparte’s Retreat, and playing her song “Big Black Dog.”

Emmylou Harris – “Big Black Dog” video
TwitterFacebookGoogle ReaderShare

Record Store Day Performance Schedule @ The Groove

Apr 17th, 2010
by Jason Kirk.
No comments yet

It's a free live music bonanza today outside The Groove

For those of you who are planning to head out to Five Points and The Groove today to hear free music on Record Store Day, here’s the schedule:

  • 12:00  Daniel Pujol
  • 1:00  Illnana
  • 1:50  Danger & The Steel Cut Oats
  • 2:45  Emmylou Harris
  • 3:15  The Grayces
  • 4:15  Chris Crofton: The Alcohol Stuntman
  • 5:15  The Distribution
  • 6:15  Outlaw Lovers
  • 7:10  Hans Condor
  • 8:00  Tristen
  • 8:50  Tallest Trees

The autographed Emmylou Harris guitar, provided by Fanny’s House of Music, will be given away before The Distribution plays at 5:15 – even more reason to stick around after Emmylou and check out the spiky art-punk of The Grayces and inimitable insanity of Chris Crofton. See you out there!

TwitterFacebookGoogle ReaderShare

East Nashville’s Open Lot Hosts Art and Music Tonight

Apr 16th, 2010
by Jason Kirk.
2 comments

Interested in catching some art, hearing some music outside of your ordinary routine, or perhaps even both? East Nashville art space Open Lot has you covered with a pair of shows tonight.

Curated by Meagan Rust and Richard Harper, Translation aims to highlight the process of interpretation from the visual medium to text and vice versa by having a number of writers and visual artists interpret one another’s work. The opening reception for Translation runs from 6pm-9pm tonight, and the show continues Saturday, April 17th, from 12pm-5pm. It’s free, it’s all-ages, and there will be beer and wine available with ID.

More details from the horse’s mouth:

The curators of Translation have selected two poems, a sculpture, and a painting that are included in the show.  Visual artists were asked to create a response or interpretation to one of the written pieces, and writers are asked to create a response or interpretation to one of the visual pieces.  Translation features artwork and performance by James Perrin, Lauren Youngling, Charlie Rauh + Megan Harrold (Cultural Reflex Dance), James Ford, Jonathan Lisenby, Matt Jernigan, Sara Figel, Angelica Paige Ridley, Todd Hogue, and Meagan Rust, with prose and poetry by Jeff Hardin, Richard Harper, Claudia Overstreet, Declan Gould, Drew Maynard, Laura Elizabeth Faison, and Scott Metzger.

Once the art show winds down, Open Lot will welcome Dutch composer and lutist Jozef van Wissem to its space.

Jozef van Wizzem rocks the lute (Photo: Stuart Green)

Hailed by Rolling Stone for his “tender, minimalist picking and gold-spray overdubs” (and really, how many lutists ever get reviewed by Rolling Stone?), van Wissem will reinvent the lute before your ears and eyes from 9pm-11pm. Che Chen and Robbie Lee open. Price is $10 at the door, or $15 with an open bar. Mmmmmmm, open bar.

Open Lot is located at 1307 Jewell Street here in East Nashville.

TwitterFacebookGoogle ReaderShare

Jacob Jones CD Release Party at The Basement

Apr 15th, 2010
by Jason Kirk.
No comments yet

Earlier this week we had the chance to drop by the East Nashville offices of Electric Western Records and take a little tour of the digs. We’ll have a little more about our visit for you in the near future, but for now we want to tell you about Electric Western co-founder Jacob Jones’ show out at The Basement tonight.


It’s the official CD Release Party for Jacob’s newest album on EW, Bound For Glory, which hit stores on Tuesday. If you don’t already have a copy, you can listen to it for free over at his Bandcamp.com page and guarantee that you’ll be able to sing along with all the songs tonight. You can also buy the album there for $10 in your choice of high-quality digital format; they even do FLAC files, so you can get the most out of those expensive audiophile headphones you somehow managed to justify to your wife a few months back.

Jacob Jones CD release party video

Opening for Jacob Jones tonight at The Basement will be Chicago’s Go Long Mule and Raleigh’s American Aquarium. The show is scheduled for 9pm, so plug that time into your favorite “what time will the show actually start” formula to figure out when you actually need to get there. If you’ll be attending, give us a shout on Twitter – we’ll be heading across the river for this one ourselves.

TwitterFacebookGoogle ReaderShare

Emmylou Harris at The Groove on Saturday

Apr 14th, 2010
by Jason Kirk.
No comments yet

Stupid day jobs, always getting in the way of what we’d rather be doing! They’ve turned the EastNashvilleBlog.com staff into busy bees the last few days, but we couldn’t miss the chance to spread the word about Emmylou Harris playing at Five Points. So here we are sneaking away from our regular duties and letting you know that the country music legend will perform at The Groove this Saturday afternoon in celebration of the third annual Record Store Day.

The legendary Emmylou Harris plays East Nashville this weekend

Emmylou Harris is an American music icon, a 12-time Grammy Award winner who has released more than 20 studio albums and collaborated with countless artists including Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Carl Jackson, Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes, and Mark Knopfler. And The Groove, of course, is your local East Nashville record store.

In addition to Harris, The Groove will feature performances from Chris Crofton: Alcohol Stuntman, The Grayces, Daniel Pujol and several other acts. There’s stuff to be given away, food from Mas Tacos, a booth from our friends at the Tennessee Teens Rock & Roll Camp, discounts in the record store and all kinds of other cool things that you won’t find anywhere else on April 17th.

Get more info from The Groove’s blog, and head down to 103 South 11th Street to get in on the fun this Saturday. And please, please, please don’t tell the boss we posted this, mmmkay?

TwitterFacebookGoogle ReaderShare
← Earlier Posts Newer Posts →

Switch to our mobile site