Feature Show
Saturday, August 4, 11 p. m.
Audio Mass Transit presents Afro Beta "Queens Edition" @ The Nile – Free/21+
Mikemetic, and his real culture diary, Audio Mass Transit, continue to keep us inside of spectacular with his monthly groove session, Afro-Beta, at the Nile. This monthly expose of live drums, international vibes, fly peoples, dancing, and the deepest of the deep grooves DJs, is a sincere "can’t miss" event. Seriously, you do not count if you do not attend at least a couple of Afro-Beta’s in your life.
After a month away, Mikemetic promises to generate positive synergies with this month’s Afro-Beta theme, "Queens Edition." This will be an evening celebrating the spirit and native sounds of the motherland. This session will highlight the musical influence of a variety of women across the globe, including Miriam Makeba, Wunmi, Erykah Badu, and Janelle Monae, among others.
I’ve been to a couple of Afro-Betas in my lifetime, and they were surely the pinnacles of the true Richmond I so desire, crave and love.
Wednesday, August 1, 5:30 p. m.
Haymaker presents Old Crow Medicine Show, The Lumineers, The Milk Carton Kids @ Maymont - $34/All Ages
Oh, here we go again; another band from Nashville comes to a city with substance and not fake possibilities. Like many bands, they claim to be from a city that they think modern culture believes in; yet they technically are from Harrisonburg, Virginia. While students at JMU, band members Ketch Secor and Critter Fuqua planted the early seeds of Old Crow Medicine Show. Old Crow Medicine Show is an Americana string band that pours out old-time, bluegrass, folk, and alt-country. One of the best things about Old Crow is that they perform covers of pre-World War II blues and folk songs.
According to the animals at Maymont, the Lumineers might just steal the show, so watch out. The roots revival has been good to the Lumineers and their self described rustic, heart-on-the-sleeve music. The Lumineers open up time in a bottle as they billow some of the best melodies and soul-stirring lyrics you’ve ever heard. The Milk Carton Kids take a break from being missing, and open this wing-dinger with their fabulous folk music.
Thursday, August 2, 10 p. m.
GULL, Franzig @ Cous Cous – free/21
GULL is back, with Franzig opening! That says it all. See you there.
Thursday, August 2, 9 p. m.
Dangermuffin, James Justin and Company @ The Camel - $10/18+
I didn’t know that muffins could be so dangerous. High cholesterol, or too much gluten--there is that possibility. Anyhow, Dangermuffin’s music will transfix you into a deep trance of fun and rowdiness. This brand of jam-Americana from California is totally cowabunga, dude. Dangermuffin is one of those bands who have been touring since they sliced bread. This glorious trio comprises an acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and drums. Oh my, I’m sold.
And if you thought this night couldn’t get any better, it just did. James Justin and Company are opening. James Justin is the consummate businessman when it comes to sure fire songwriting and vocals to top it off. The Company is there to up the ante on crooning to the ladies and having the guys buy extra beers for their tears.
Friday, August 3, 9 p. m.
Electronica Weekly presents Gent & Jawns, also featuring DJs M.A.S.S Fx, MaMMaLs, Beat Down The Kid @ Kingdom - 18 & up $12 Door / 21 & up $10 (Presale $8 – Tickets: HERE)
Oh those crazy kids at Electronica Weekly. They are putting the electric in music. Gent & Jawns, or Billy the Gent & Long Jawns of Audio Ammo, are two of the hottest producers in the Moombahton scene right now.
M.A.S.S. Fx has singlehandedly changed the underground music game here in Richmond. His house/electronic sounds are an eargasm of epic proportions. I’m dancing my ass off right now just writing about the guy.
MaMMaLs is more than just a worm blooded vertebrate animal--MaMMaLs is Nick Morrison and Austin Zajur, who make dubstep from right here in Richmond. Dupstep that is so good, if Jesus really did come back, he’d have MaMMaLs playing on his iPod as he rounded second at the new Shockoe Bottom baseball stadium on his way to Kingdom.
Oh and then there’s Beat Down the Kid, the best DJ moniker in Richmond. And, yeah, the kid can flat out spin the high energy blend of Moombahton, house, and trap. This guy will have the room bouncing and gyrating like dosed eagles. Even the fruits and vegetables at the 17th Street Farmer’s Market will be bopping. Dance Shockoe Bottom, dance!
Friday, August 3, 10 p. m.
Vinyl Conflict Records presents Joint D≠, Fire Bison, Haverchucks @ Strange Matter – Donations/18+
Vinyl Conflict knows punk rock and roll. This beautiful estuary in the middle of Oregon Hill is bringing it, and bringing it hardcore. And by ‘it’ I mean the raw, dirty, sick rock that with shake the beads right out of the orifices.
Joint D≠, on Sorry State Records, is going to rip your ugly face off. Fire Bison will join you in hell with their penetrating attitude rock. Then Haverchucks will bestow the ultimate screeching pop-a-dock punk playground party funk-a-saurus on you. Kiss kiss, and screw the man.
Sunday, August 5, 9 p. m.
Beex, Lonely Teardrops @ Banditos - Free/21+
Richmond music Hall of Famers Beex are back for a reunion of sorts that is sure to make history. Old school Richmond will be in the Devil’s Triangle tonight. Get the slush out because the real way of doing it will be on display tonight.
Beex was an extraordinary late 70s/80s Richmond band. They were a seminal garage punk band that still performs every once and a blue moon. For you youngsters out there who skipped Richmond Music History 101, Beex began in 1978, with original members Christine Gibson, Richard Buchanan, Craig Thompson, Mike Tighe, and Boo Smith. The revamped Beex is Tom Applegate (Gibson’s husband), Tommy Rodriguez, Scott Schuppert, and Scott Wagner who will be playing the songs from ’78 to the late 80s, and some new stuff, there’s no doubt about it.
At least see this band once, because they still rock without any questions. If you saw them two years ago at the ‘Benny-Fit for hospice,’ then you know what I’m talking about. Its depression time again, and we love it.
Sunday, August 5, 8 p. m.
Wild Nothing, White Laces, Super Vacations @ Strange Matter – $15/All Ages
There’s something out of Blacksburg not involving Frank Beamer that everybody is talking about, and it’s the music of Jack Tatum. Jack Tatum began recording under the name Wild Nothing in ‘09. With touring musicians bassist Jeff Haley, guitarist Nathan Goodman, and drummer Max Brooks on board, Wild Nothing is on tour in support of the upcoming record, Nocturne. Dreamy indie pop rock is on fire tonight. After garnering several enthusiastic reviews, Jack Tatum is just another Virginian with a pointed opinion and we all need to welcome him with open ears. By the way, Wild Nothing’s song "Chinatown" is the tops.
With the sheer talent of Wild Nothing, Richmond better put up some equal talent of its own, and with the mesmerizing cool independent groove sounds of White Laces and Super Vacations, it appears Richmond is doing just that. Traveling through sound is easy, so why don’t you travel on down to 929 W. Grace St. and witness professionals.
Monday, August 6, 8 p. m.
The Brotherhood @ Bonvenu - Free/21+
Everybody, it's Monday night, now get down to it!
The Brotherhood is a delightful jazz, funk, soul and dance jam group from here. Yes, here. The Brotherhood consists of frontman Brandon Payne, guitar, Jerel Crockett, keys and Hammond B3, and Francisco Rollins, drums.
These guys have made Monday nights in Carytown everyone’s own private New Year’s Eve celebration.
Tuesday, August 7, 10:30 p. m.
86 Reality presents Canary Oh Canary, Black Liquid, Manorlady @ The Nile – Free/21+
Well, here we are finally, the inaugural broadcast of 86 Reality. In case you have been living on the moon, 86 Reality is the new public access cable television show that kicks off tonight at 9 p.m. featuring these same bands, which will then perform live at the Nile after the TV performance at 10:30 p.m. How insane is that!
The show, from the masterful mind of Michael Raftery, will run every Tuesday at 9 p. m. on Comcast Channel 95 and Verizon FIOS Channel 36 until September 11, for a total of six episodes. Hopefully more episodes will come down the road--we shall see. You can also stream live and or upload the episodes you missed on 86 Reality’s website.
Each show will feature three of Richmond and Virginia’s best underground bands, DJs, or emcees, along with other local music scene related stuff. It’s going to be ballistic, interesting, and is definitely describable as must-see television.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)