This past weekend, the young and young-at-heart flocked to Richmond for Stay Sweet Fest, a three-day/night festival showcasing the grimiest and dopest pop punk bands. Richmond bands like Close Talker, Hold Tight!, and Sundials sweated it up at the Camel with the coolest punk rock kids in the region. Not only was Richmond host to this "sweet" event, but this weekend we have the Year of Shit After Next, aka Year of Shit III, at Strange Matter. RVA's Bastard Sapling (black metal) headlines Friday ($8), April 20 (whoa, 4/20 dude!) while RVA's Inter Arma (doom metal) headlines Saturday ($12), and Sunday ($10) involves a SURPRISE SET CLOSER. Get a whole weekend pass for $25 at yearofshit.eventbrite.com. Other RVA bands on the bill include Street Pizza, Degeneracy, and Unsacred.
Listen to this rough mix of Inter Arma's title track to their forthcoming EP, Destroyer:
If you can't get there before it sells out, there are plenty of other RVA-music related events this weekend to attend and items to peruse for your leisure. Here goes:
Did you know that bluegrass Dobro player and living legend Jerry Douglas recently (April 15th) came to the Landmark Theater here in RVA? Here is his rendition of the country standard "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn," which takes the sometimes boring Dobro into an appealing direction, going from stripped-down solo acoustic guitar to full-band playing and audience clapping. Thankfully, Richmonders are tasteful in our handclapping (for the most part). You've got to let the musician do his or her thing. If I wanted to pay to hear someone clapping along to something, I'd bust it on down to a Flying Squirrels game or something (which I've been meaning to do, btw).
photo by Laura Harmondale
Wake the Captive has just put out a pretty cool post-rock/emo album called Rogue on Scratch Pop Music. They are playing @ Kingdom THIS SATURDAY (4/21) with Daycare Swindlers, In Circles (former On the Horizon interviewees), and 45 AD. If you miss them then, you can try again May 5 @ "Race for the Build."
photo by Kenny Shultz
RVA native Russell Lacy has been playing in bands since he was 15, and you might have heard of his band Grease Trigger. He has just released a beautiful solo Americana album called Charlestown. The bluesy "Wasted Wine" has an infectious kick-drum that just begs for the dance-inclined to get on up. The Hammond B3 organ lifts the track even higher as the disc really settles in your bones. Lacy recently answered a few questions for us:
What do you hope listeners take from your new release?
Russell Lacy: Well, I always liked rock 'n roll that was based around songwriting. So aside from being able to listen to a sad song or a rocker, I just hope people take the time to hear what's in between the lines. There's a lot of ground covered here.
Who are some of your influences musically?
Lacy: Everything from Son House to the Black Crowes. Check out Bongo Joe. He's in there too. No one in particular, but it's all in there somewhere. I did learn a good bit from being exposed to great Richmond bands like the House of Freaks and Bruce Olsen and the Offenders.
What band or musician that's around today would be a dream come true to share the stage with?
Lacy: I think I'd lose my cool if I could play with Marc Ribot, Levon Helm, Neil Young, Phil Lesh, and Leon Russell. That'd be one hell of a band. Any one of them would suit me fine.
What is your favorite part of the Richmond music scene?
Lacy: Richmond has always had great players. Pound for pound I'd put them against anyone, but recently my favorite thing has been the emergence of so many original bands. Along with that, though, is the amazing support and recognition that people are giving them. From bloggers like yourself to RVA Mag or Radio Rubber Room, it seems as though there is a vibe coming into its own.
Grease Trigger plays Wednesday 4/18 and 5/16 @ Cary Street Cafe and Lacy solo opens for The New Belgians Saturday, 4/21 @ Cary Street Cafe.
pic by Zac Taylor
Jo Casino released Gritty Gully on April 15th, the anniversary of Joe "The Boss" Masseria's assassination in 1931. Masseria's mug also graces the cover. In the "Outro" Jo Casino asks, "Did I keep it gritty enough?" The answer is yes, this album's got enough texture and dirt to require a Parental Advisory Explicit Content label. Turn it up!
Jo Casino will be a special guest performer on May 17th at Mic Mayhem 4 at Charged Up Studios. $5 to watch, $10 to participate. Rumor is there will be a classy surprise at the end, but no spoilers here!
Night Idea was in last week's column, and they have just put out a fun little video (by Derek Keaton) of a tight practice session.
photo also by Derek Keaton
The Diamond Center has a few new songs it has been performing lately. Here is a video of "Samo" from March in Memphis, at a place called Lamplighter Lounge. The trippy sounds take control as Brandi Price's hypnotic vocals lull your ears into a sound stupor.
Brandi and Kyle from TDC will be performing in Peace Beast Thursday 4/19 @ Balliceaux.
picture by PJ Sykes
Finally, there is a video from 8t88 at a house show (by TheBellyheart). Instead of boring ambient electronics, though, the sound is more retro and muzak. Will Hooper is the man behind the name, and it looks like he's also in bands Cheyenne and Midair. This guy is BUSY.
Words by Sarah Moore Lindsey (soundsofrva.tumblr.com)
Logo by Joshua Osborne of the Subterranea Collective