It’s shocking that Screaming Females are still playing a venue like The End, a divey show space with a capacity of less than 200, because this New Jersey trio has been delivering captivating and consistent guitar-driven modern rock for more than a decade. Where’s their sold-out show at the Ryman? Where’s their platinum record? WHERE ARE THEIR GODDAMN GRAMMY NOMINATIONS? Their latest, All at Once (out last month via Don Giovanni Records), just might be the record that ensures a step up to the next level, commendable DIY ethics be damned. One of the album’s first singles, “‘I’ll Make You Sorry,” suggests a sharp turn into sunnier pastures — singer Marissa Paternoster quips: “I once was in love before I knew you / I’ve given up! / I once was in love before you.” She delivers the lines with damn-near pop-punk perfection, following it with a joyous 45-second guitar solo that perfectly demonstrates why Spin named Paternoster the 77th best guitarist of all time. (Do you know how many guitarists there are in the world? There are so many.) But don’t be fooled! All at Once still showcases Screaming Females’ knack for deeper, darker moods. “Black Moon” starts with a rumbling bass line, and Paternoster’s incomparable howl is on full display. Surely more than 200 people in Nashville have enough sense to know how fucking good Screaming Females are, right? Don’t miss openers Radiator Hospital and Butthole. MEGAN SELING
Screaming Females w/Radiator Hospital & Butthole
