Critic's Pick: Tim Carroll’s Rock ’n’ Roll Happy Hour

After more than a dozen years, indie rocker Tim Carroll’s weekly Rock ’n’ Roll Happy Hour shows at The 5 Spot are a Nashville institution. Every Friday, with a few exceptions, Carroll serves up two-and-a-half hours of original blues-derived, punk-informed, guitar-driven rock ’n’ roll.

One of the city’s most enduring yet under-recognized rock artists, Carroll is a prolific songwriter — John Prine recorded one of his songs — and recently released his 19th studio album Keep Coming Back, which features 11 tracks ranging from incendiary to majestic. Lyrically, the album is a mix of love songs and social commentary. “I’m really happy with it,” Carroll tells the Scene. “I think it’s a bunch of good songs, and I’m playing well. I feel like I’m still evolving, you know, and getting a little better at the writing and the playing.” Out of the “43 or 44” songs he performs each week, Carroll says he’ll be playing seven songs from Keep Coming Back at this Friday’s happy-hour show. He will be accompanied by Dave Coleman on bass and Sam Skorik on drums.

6 p.m. at The 5 Spot

1006 Forest Ave.