Nashville Invasion

If all you knew of Nashville’s music scene were the dozens of artists hauling it 13 hours west for this year’s SXSW in Austin, the picture would certainly be incomplete. And yet, it’d be a far more accurate portrayal of this city’s musical output than you’d normally get from most national and international features written about our scene. Case in point: This year’s crop features artists that range from the squall-tastic static of experimental noise artist Leslie Keffer to the mainstream appeal of country/gospel singer Joanna Cotten. In between is the scuzzy stoner rock of Turbo Fruits, the spiritually soaked blues rock of Mike Farris, the plaintive folk of Justin Townes Earle and the muscular piano-pop of Mona—proof not just of our growing diversification, but also that Nashville has always had a staggering number of artists fed by ingredients you won’t find on Music Row. What follows is a small selection of acts plugging in for the indie-rock loving masses this year.

LESLIE KEFFER If you’re looking for noise-based electronic experimental music that bleeps and seduces with a promise of sunny harmony, you probably won’t enjoy the roaring static this Athens, Ohio, transplant summons from her table of electronic gadgetry. But if you’ve got a patient ear and an affinity for the background buzz that fades in and out of everyday existence, Keffer’s your woman. Part chaos and part white noise, her songs sound something like an overdriven amp tuned into the hum of the underlife or afterlife—extended moaning, pulsing waves of static, whirring, howls, feedback and distortion coaxed into a tidal wave of electricity overload. She’s released a handful of discs and tapes on cassette labels such as Rampart and Cherried-Out Merch and jammed at the No Fun Festival with Thurston Moore, who has long championed her work. (Her record Feels Like Frenching was released on Moore’s own Ecstatic Peace, and Keffer now has her own imprint, Action Claw.) Keffer continues to play the handful of local dives (read: Springwater) that push the avant-garde scene forward, and stands as one of a few lone noisy femmes in a sea of male-dominated drone. Friday, March 14, 8:45 p.m., Mohawk.

THE CLUTTERS Nashville’s finest garage-rock, this fierce trio bangs out a riotous clatter of supercharged riffs, primal beats and visceral rants. They’re called Nashville’s answer to The Ramones for their mastery of the under-three-minute hey-ho blast, and it’s no surprise that their Sonics’-influenced rock ’n’ roll is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. (That’s slowly changing, with growing national critical praise in the form of shout-outs from Rolling Stone’s David Fricke and director Cameron Crowe, among others.) They recently made the bold move of dropping the signature rollick of the Farfisa organ from their sound, and the result is an even sparser, more blistering turbocharged grit. With two records released on Chicken Ranch Records under their belt—2005’s T&C and last year’s Don’t Believe a Word—The Clutters are forging their own raucous addition to the catalog of anthemic rock ’n’ roll racket. Wednesday, March 12, 11 p.m., The Light Bar. Friday, March 14, 4:15 p.m., The Tap Room at Six Lounge.

NEXT BIG NASHVILLE DAY PARTY Next Big Nashville is the city’s most promising local festival to date—three days of non-stop local rock action spread out over the city. Organized by former local music scribe (and local musician himself) Jason Moon Wilkins, the festival is hitting the road to party in Austin this year with Nashville flair. Not only does it illustrate the range of artists working the city every night, this one-stop shop presents a “Beer, Bands and Biscuits” celebration so festival attendees don’t have to haul ass up and down Sixth Avenue to give props to the home team. Ten local acts will showcase, including country folk troubadour Justin Townes Earle, Southern rock purveyors American Bang, rising singer-songwriter Caitlin Rose and veteran alt-pop singer-songwriter Garrison Starr. Plus, there’s a gear giveaway and Southern delectables in the form of free biscuits and jam courtesy of legendary breakfast spot The Loveless Café. The grand prize is an all-expenses trip to Nashvegas for Next Big Nashville 2008. Friday, March 14, noon–5 p.m., The Tap Room at Six Lounge.