The August concert schedule is *packed* | The Pick

August doesn't pull punches, y'all.

It's another stacked month for must-see live entertainment in Music City, U.S.A. Tennessean music reporter Matt Leimkuehler here with a few shows I'll be breaking the bank to catch:

• Aug. 4-7: Country legend Vince Gill at the Ryman

• Aug. 12: Rock radio staple Red Hot Chili Peppers (you know, the band that sings about California!) with the Strokes at Tundercat at Nissan Stadium

• Aug. 23: Reunited emo-rock favorite My Chemical Romance at Bridgestone Arena (with Turnstile!)

• Aug. 25-28: Ace comedian John Mulaney at the Ryman Auditorium

Get details on a handful of other can't-miss August concerts with our monthly guide here.

We went to Kendrick Lamar (and, yes, it was excellent)

Kendrick Lamar returned last weekend for his first Nashville show in five years (!!!). An unmatched wordsmith, Lamar took audiences through a set that weaved some of his best-known music ("Humble," "Alright," among others) with top-tier cuts from his 2022 album "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers."

• A takeaway: My first Lamar show lived up to the hype. As Tennessean music scribe Dave Paulson noted in his review, Kung-Fu Kenny balanced minimalistic art with maximum energy aided by his rabid followers. He's equally as impressive on stage as on record — a tough bar to clear.

Summer songs

A few weeks ago, we asked you to share your go-to summer jam. Here's a collection of your favorite tunes for beach mornings, red-hot afternoons and long nights.

• Lizzo - "About Damn Time"

• Will Smith - "Summertime"

• Zach Bryan - "Something in the Orange"

• Caroline Rose - "Soul No. 5"

• Caamp - "Lavender Girl"

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: The August concert schedule in Nashville is *stacked*