Night Vision

Monthly music and club event highlights

by Graham Griffith

Summer isn’t officially here yet, but Nashville nightlife is shaping up to be a scorcher this month. There’s a little something for everyone, including Mexican midget wrestling, a major rock festival, and an outdoor movie night. Here are City@Night’s top recommendations for May.

Get your Cinco de Mayo party started right with Live Lucha Libre—Mexican wrestling with midgets and minis—at Agave tequila lounge on May 3. The three-day celebration includes plenty of drink specials, plus live music featuring the San Rafael Band and Rachel Rodriguez on May 5.

Electronic dancehall artist M.I.A. provides an alternative to tequila shots at City Hall on the fifth. The British beauty stops by Music City in support her acclaimed sophomore effort, Kala.

Fans of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show will get up-close and personal with host Jon Stewart on May 9 at the Ryman Auditorium. Luckily the comic is including a live Nashville audience in a brief tour showcasing his sarcastic political humor.

Fresh off the heels of their recent modern rock hit “Believe,” New York-based indie act The Bravery appears at Wildhorse Saloon on May 10. The singles’ success prompted the band to head back on the road to promote a re-imagined version of their underrated recent disc, The Sun and the Moon.

Nashville’s burgeoning punk and rockabilly communities will be out in full force for Rioters & Rebels at Exit/In on May 14.

The booze-fueled night features performances by local acts Hillbilly Casino, Blacklist Royals, the Alcohol Stunt Band as well as titillating stripteases from the ladies of Music City Burlesque.

Wildhorse Saloon hosts yet another unexpected show May 16 when “Howlin” Pelle Almqvist and his band The Hives take the stage. The energetic Swedes are notorious for their intensely energetic live shows, so get ready to rock!

If you’re still mourning the loss of RiverStages, perhaps the Merrell Crawfish Boil will fill the void at Riverfront Park. While it doesn’t feature as diverse a lineup as the former, this year the annual festival features performances by Presidents of the USA, Finger Eleven, T-Pain, plus headliners 3 Doors Down and Paramore, among others. You can order day passes or a weekend ticket for the May 16-17 event.

Scottish chanteuse KT Tunstall shows no signs of slowing down after the success of her latest effort, Drastic Fantastic. The folk-pop powerhouse, famous for toe-tapping, high-energy singles like “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree” and “Hold On,” appears at the Ryman on May 20.

The Ryman boasts another fantastic fave, Kids in the Hall, on May 21. The Canadian funnymen’s eponymous sketch comedy show, which aired from 1988-1994, has since achieved cult status for its offbeat, surreal humor. The stage show, which features several original cast members, promises to be just as wacky and entertaining.

Soul diva Erykah Badu will pack the house at TPAC on May 27. The award winning singer-songwriter’s New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) debuted at No. 2 on the charts this past March. Expect a preview of New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), due in stores later this year.

Centennial Park kicks off its summer Movies in the Park series May 28 with a big blockbuster. We can’t reveal the name of the flick due to legal reasons, but we can tell you it’s a 1993 dinosaur-sized hit directed by Steven Spielberg. Bring a blanket and enjoy the show!

Another early-evening event series kicks off May 30 at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. The first of this year’s popular Frist Fridays events features musical guest Tony Joe White—plus access to the galleries, plenty of food, drinks and mingling.

Finally, This American Life host Ira Glass appears in person at the War Memorial Auditorium on May 31. The live show takes the audience behind the scenes of the television show, including never before seen stories and out-takes from the upcoming season.

If you’d like to see an event featured here, e-mail graham@cityatnightmagazine.com. We do not guarantee the inclusion of any submission.