For some people, marriage is the beginning of a new life. For others, marriage only signals the end of something good. There are a few couples who have defied the expectation to become lame and boring upon nuptials. Those brave few, we salute you.
photo by Lindsey Spurrier
A few couples in particular spring to mind. Robert Barrow and Alison Hancock, for instance, have made their marriage into each having a constant collaborator. Tyrannosaurus Awesome was one of their projects, and their current one is Hot Dolphin. Check them out this coming Tuesday, 6/5 @ The Camel with play/start (Portland, OR new wave), noon:30 (Brooklyn party-pop-punk), and Eurotics (RVA garage glam). Hot Dolphin are also playing @ Gallery 5 on 6/8. Below, you can check out a video taken at Cellar Door in April by atransguyinrichmond.tumblr.com.
Sometimes these duos haven't actually tied the knot, but they're long term partners, sometimes for life. Other RVA musical duos include: Brandi Price and Kyle Harris (The Diamond Center, Peace Beast, etc.TDC plays @ Strange Matter 6/24), Jonathan and Antonia Vassar (JV and the Speckled Bird, Bluegrass Mass, etc.), Fuzzy Baby's Giustino Riccio and Molly Berg (Fuzzy Baby plays @ Balliceaux this Thursday, 5/31 with Paleface [student of Daniel Johnston, played on Avett Bros. albums, influenced Beck, discovered by former Ramones/Stooges manager Danny Fields, etc.]), and Gene and Gayla Mills, who play folk music with leanings towards bluegrass and country. Gene also wears a philosopher's hat, as he is one of the leaders of VCU's philosophy department. You can catch the Mills' 6/16 and 7/7 at the South of the James Farmers Market (Forest Hill Park).
photo by Eric Anthony
Moving on, we have a seasoned "On the Horizon" musician, Dank D, with a couple tracks done as a collaboration with Mista Izm. The two tracks are "Heavy Remmenicence" [sic] and "Peace Be Da Journey," with the latter incorporating a sweet trumpet a la Miles Davis. The title is taken from a soundbyte from "Cool Runnings," which is a pretty vital movie to reference in anything. Hit up Dank D's next gig @ Balliceaux 6/20 before he heads out on summer tour!
Sounds of RVA did a little write-up at the beginning of the year about Pike Possum's new album. Now the instrumental stoner rock/doom trio is playing a few gigs, kicking ass, and taking names. Sounds of RVA got to chat it up with Matt Colvin (guitar), Gibby Hardy (drums) and Turtle Wolz (bass):
You released an album earlier this year. Where did you record it?
Matt Colvin: I've always been a bit hesitant recording our songs because we have always been a live act, but this year I decided to record with Hex Recordings at my practice spot. I wanted a raw sound to the album, so the band would sound the same as we do live. Bryan Conner, of the RVA band Cut the Architect's Hand, did the recordings for us. He also played drums in our band for a brief time to help us out before we got our new drummer, Gibby Hardy (from Sour Milk Sea, Black Heart Valentine, Top Heavy).
(We couldn't help but notice that) the girl on the cover is really pretty. Is she someone's girlfriend? Did you get to watch the photo shoot?
Matt Colvin: The girl on the cover is a model from Virginia. She isn't anyone's girlfriend and unfortunately we didn't get to watch the photo shoot. It's basically a picture to help promote the band on the internet. Sometimes [if] people see something shiny, they will click on it. It was also to try and make sure people would not think our band name means road kill. The actual album art is going to be a painting from my friend and local RVA artist Eliza Childress. There will be limited CDs out with the model on the front and later this month the CDs will be out with Eliza's artwork on the cover.
Have you always been strictly instrumental?
Matt Colvin: We have always just been a band. We occasionally have singers get on stage with us and sing a few songs, like our friend Ryan Kent (from the RVA band Gritter), but we haven't found a permanent singer, because the range of vocals required for the music we play is really hard to find. We need someone who can sing metal, punk rock, stoner rock, doom vocals... sometimes all in one song, which can be a bit of a challenge. Also, my approach to music is a bit like jazz, where all the instruments get a chance to shine--the drums, the bass, the guitar, the vocals--so the singer would also have to be comfortable onstage while the band was playing without vocals, and each instrument was getting its place out front.
Do you notice any limitations due to playing in an instrumental band?
Turtle Wolz: Musically, yes. However, that could be self-imposed limits to produce greater results with less.
Matt Colvin: I guess some of the limitations are that most people want to hear vocals and most promoters want a band that has vocals. But I would rather be a band that kicks ass and [have] people say, "Man, if they had a singer they would be over the top," than a have singer that just isn't up for the challenge. Mostly I don't think of being in an instrumental band as a limitation. I take it as a welcomed challenge to write more interesting music, [music] that has lots of twists and turns/time changes etc. I feel that a lot of bands rely on the vocals to carry the music, and I just wouldn't be happy unless the whole band was carrying the song. I enjoy when people see us and they either approach me about my guitar playing or they say how talented the bass player and drummer are. What I find most satisfying about our music is the ability to hold the crowd's attention with the music alone, and earn the respect of the other bands on the bill. To me, that's an accomplishment.
Do you have any plans to record again anytime soon?
Matt Colvin: The band is currently writing songs that are more complex and take a bit of a different turn than our usual material. We will be recording and releasing another album in the fall of this year.
Turtle Wolz: We've got some newer material written that will need to be documented. Probably looking to make that happen this summer.
Describe one of the best/worst gigs you've ever played.
Matt Colvin: I've never really played a bad gig. Any opportunity to get on stage and jam out with buds is a good time. Some of my favorite bands I've played gigs with are Throttlerod, Karma to Burn, Jucifer, Drugs of Faith, Admiral Browning, U.S. Brass, Hell Bear, Might Could, Crimson Electric, Sour Milk Sea, Gritter, Dorthia Cottrell, etc...
Turtle Wolz: Best gig was at McCormick's Irish Pub. Leading up to our set, we weren't feeling it--a little too in the tank, and a shitty week. But we nailed the set. It was a transcendent moment when everything disappeared.
What have you been listening to lately?
Matt Colvin: Kyuss, Slayer, Clutch, Hail Hornet, Throttlerod, Suzukiton, High on Fire, Burnt by The Sun, The Allman Brothers Band, Jack White.
Turtle Wolz: Nasum, Suffocation, Eyehategod, and bad ass sludge band called Hail!Hornet.
Gibby Hardy: Evergreen Terrace, Mogwai, GBH, In Flames, At The Gates
Suzukiton! I saw them live at Plaza Bowl back in 2009 I believe, and they are the most amazing metal band from Richmond, in my humble opinion. In fact, I just had a dream last night that Suzukiton was playing a huge metal fest here in Richmond. A girl can dream! Who is the most metal guy or chick you've ever met?
Matt Colvin: Well, I've met a lot of musicians over the years that I've gotten a chance to share a gig with, from the guys in EyeHateGod (Jimmy Bower of Down and Superjoint Ritual) to the guitarist from Acid Bath, Sammy "Pierre" Duet, who also plays in Goatwhore, but I'd have to the say the people I've had the most interaction with over the years and that are best musicians/songwriters would be Erik Larson (Avail, Axe Handle, ATP Alabama Thunder Pussy, Birds of Prey, Parasytic, Hail Hornet, Might Could etc.) and Kevin White (Sunnshine, Throttlerod, Gritter). Those are guys I have the most respect for as musicians--they have worked hard on everything they have been a part of, to really make quality music over and over again.
Turtle Wolz: Most metal chick ever met? Dot Matrix from Spaceballs.
Gibby Hardy: I can't tell who's more metal than others, but I can tell you who thinks they are! It was this dude at the Cannibal Corpse show. He had on all leather in the middle of summer, 6" lift biker boots on and Kerry King arm spikes.
What are you looking forward to in Richmond this summer?
Matt Colvin: I'm looking forward to playing in Pike Possum, getting out playing gigs with my friends, and having a good time. Mostly getting a chance to play another gig with my buds from Georgia at Strange Matter [July 20th, with Sons of Tonatiuh (former Leechmilk members, some of which went on to play in Mastodon)].
Turtle Wolz: I'm looking forward to more opportunities for band to get known. New venues, bands, promoters (No Pay to Play).
Catch Pike Possum @ Wonderland this Saturday, June 2 with Freedom Hawk (VA Beach hard rock, Small Stone Records) and Burley (RVA post-hardcore).
Finally for this week we have The Privies, a newish garage punk band. Their demo's sound is gritty and unpolished, just like the band name of a British toilet suggests. This music somehow always puts me in a house party mood. Listen to "Lakeside Losers," because I'll bet you know a few.
The Privies also released a few tracks not on their demo, including this cover of GG Allin's "Bite It You Scum."
By Sarah Moore Lindsey (soundsofrva.tumblr.com)