Ben Hall is a thumb-style guitar player in the manner of Merle Travis, meaning that he's a preserver of and conduit for a distinct style of American music that's moved well out of the spotlight. But Hall, who moved from Mississippi to Nashville several years ago to attend college, is more than some time capsule. Like his Tompkins Square labelmate Frank Fairfield, Hall climbs inside his particular form, making it his own and delivering it with the believable gusto of youth. He'll play first tonight, at 8:30 p.m. The former Charlie Louvin sideman, who can just now take a legal drink of whiskey, is a lot to look forward to. If you have evening plans, Hall plays in Carrboro at 4 p.m. at All Day Records. —Grayson Currin