All sorts of novel and exciting things went down Last Wednesday at The Republic. There was a rare Kooker sighting, which I savored til the end, and The Dream Machine debuted their fierce new drummer, accompanied by Gabe Santamaria on bass. Two of Richmond's best musicians make up Kooker--Tommy Booker and Raphael Katchinoff, both of PBR and The Southern Belles. That said, I expected a lot from their new project, and they impressed the hell out of me. Kooker's set is a constantly transmogrifying controlled jam. Tommy's keys assume a miriad of forms and effects, Raphael slides all over the place on drums and together they produce a jazzy, funky, trance-y, phased out, rocking smorgasbord. It's really suspenseful watching Raphael play drums; I feel like he could go batshit crazy at any given moment, because he often does. Kooker is so instrumentally badass you might never guess that roughly 80% of the set is improvised. Download Kooker's live recordings for free on Bandcamp (HERE) and check them out on Facebook. And for chrissakes, if you have the chance to see Kooker, don't blow it, because the chance may not present itself again anytime soon.
The Dream Machine had a lot to offer as well, with a solid new drummer on the throne and the honorable Gabe Santamaria on bass. Something about Gabe's presence on stage gives me the feeling that, no matter what, everything's going to be alright. He's a rock. The new drummer kept it simple and solid, and it was evident that frontman Jason Hunnicutt was working with a newfound confidence in the band.
This Wednesday, June 13, Radio Rubber Room presents Knuckle, out of Virginia Beach. Their melodic, hard-rock sound seems an appropriate pairing for The Dream Machine. The rock will commence at 10pm. Cheap booze, hot bartenders, and FREE ROCK. See you at The Republic.
Hit up the EVENT PAGE for more info, and a list of drink specials
