Music is always somehow in the news, and this week is no exception. From crimes against the loud to our boy Matthew E. White (pictured above, photo by Samuel Dixon Photography) getting national attention at Rolling Stone, NPR, and Pitchfork, to name a few, our music is out there. Speaking of the latter, here is a video he posted from his CD release show in New York:
First up we have a video from the road in Adelaide, Australia. Josh Small (electric guitar) and Andrew Alli (vocals, harmonica, pictured above) perform "9 Below Zero" by Sonny Boy Williamson during a soundcheck. The video is shot by Tim Barry, who is also traveling with them. The blues song has a lot of heat behind it, and the guys appear to be having a pretty dang good time.
Navi has been playing shows a bunch, and Lord Candy Dish caught some video of the band at a recent show (8/22) at Gallery 5. Unfortunately the video only shows the psychedelic projections (by Lord Dish) and not the band itself. But the audio isn't awful, so it's worth checking out at least a few minutes of the 20 minute video.
photo by Mike MacKenzie
Sweet Fern has been playing around town for a while now. The duo of Alison Self and Josh Bearman (The Hot Seats) picks and grins and has a vocal harmony or two. The video is from Galaxy Girl (WRIR), who gets out to so many shows, it's incredible! Bearman plays an impeccable clawhammer and Self is there with guitar and voice at the right moments. Here are a couple tracks from August's Listening Room:
"True Life Blues"
"Tempe"
"After the Fire is Gone"
Big Meadow Sessions (by Tyler Conta) is back with a performance by Splendid Suns. The band just officially added the talents of purty Brittany O'Neill as back up singer, who gives the whole sound a nice contrast. You can check them out at the River City Shreds Pre-Show on Friday, 9/14 @ The Camel with Murphy's Kids, Herro Sugar, Among Criminals, and Red States. 7 pm, $7.
Here is "Beautiful Day":
Envoy is a band of four dudes fresh out of high school. The band just dropped this funky little jam, "Debris Lined Streets," which has insanely catchy hook. "I'm a city surfer. . ."
Dwayne Sanders is a singer/songwriter living in Richmond, and he keeps releasing material left and right. Just a few days ago, we discovered the delightful acoustic guitar-only Reflections in D, Mostly. Now Sanders has branched into singing with Complacency.
Pendleton has posted a new track called "Kitchen Love." It looks like they may have changed the name to Pendletones? But perhaps it's all a joke. This is well-produced alt-country/pop/rock with an evil cat staring into your soul, if you look at the bandcamp site (or here).
Nine Mile Island has just released a new two-song EP of killer rock riffs and a completely charismatic singer. The synths of the 80s combine with 90s Virginia Beach/county rock. The combination is borderline cheesy but absolutely appropriate.
By Sarah Moore Lindsey (soundsofrva.tumblr.com)