Salutations, Creamsters, and a happy Friday to ya. On Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams will play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. No matter who wins the game, it's going to be tough to beat the Rams' 1986 pop-rap jam "Let's Ram It," a high point in the history of delightfully corny and weird sports anthems.
It's also worth pausing to consider how the NFL still doesn't support its players taking a knee during the national anthem as a peaceful protest against police violence, though individual teams' responses vary. Several artists declined to play the Super Bowl halftime show this year as a sign of solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the players who he inspired to protest. But Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi are all set to play the show this year, and Roger Waters hopes they'll take a knee.
In the music section this week, we have a look at Cher's iconic legacy (she played Bridgestone arena on Thursday); a talk with Blank Range's Jonathon Childers and Grant Gustafson about In Unison (out today, and they play The Basement on Feb. 15); and a talk with Kathy Wariner about Jessi Zazu Inc., ahead of the second annual benefit for the organization, going down at The Basement East on Wednesday.
Let's talk shows! Take a look at our top picks for the weekend below, let us know what we missed in the comments, and have yourselves a baller weekend.
Friday:
* Hannibal Lokumbe at Nashville Public Library downtown (part of a residency with Intersection)
* The Magpie Salute at Cannery Ballroom
* Daniel Romano w/T. Hardy Morris & Jonathan Stone Phillips at Mercy Lounge
* Justin and the Cosmics w/Wes Charlton (7 p.m.) at The Basement
* Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Ryman
* Dara Tucker at Rudy's Jazz Room
* Larry Stephenson Band at the Station Inn
* Grand Ole Opry feat. Charles Esten, Steep Canyon Rangers, Charlie Worsham & more
Saturday:
* Kent Osborne w/Upchuck, Overwhelm_ed & Offhand & BW Gallery (1911 Nolensville Pike)
* Jamie Baum at Nashville Jazz Workshop
* Ruston Kelly w/Savannah Conley at The Basement East (sold out)
* Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Ryman
* The Mighty Jabronis w/Hurts to Laugh & Wrong Eagle at Springwater
* The Band Camino at Exit/In (sold out)
* Diane Marino at Rudy's Jazz Room
* The Grascals at the Station Inn
* Grand Ole Opry feat. Lee Greenwood, Rachel Wammack, Charlie Worsham & more
