FEATURE SHOW
Saturday, October 27, 10pm.
A Place To Bury Strangers, Bleeding Rainbow, Canary oh Canary @ Strange Matter - $10 Adv - http://aptbs.eventbrite.com / $12 Door (Possible Sellout)
You know this is going to be the feature show this week. This event just oozes supremacy. A Place To Bury Strangers returns triumphantly to Strange Matter, and if, like me, you saw them a year or so ago at Strange Matter, you left astonished. This is a band all unto itself. They’re no copy cats--no imitations contribute towards their sound.
Brooklyn’s A Place To Bury Strangers, which consists of ex-Virginians, is a mix bag of noise, psych, shoegaze, and atmospheric rock. APTBS started out as a concept band from the genius guitar mind of Oliver Ackermann. Now, APTBS has evolved into a trio; along with Ollie, Dion Lunadon on bass and Robi Gonzalez on drums round out what I consider one of the best bands around today, who will be as important to music history twenty years from now as they are currently.
If Oliver Ackermann sounds like the name of the guy behind the ever so famous Death by Audio venue and collective in Brooklyn that designs and manufactures hand-wired guitar-effects pedals, well, that’s because it is him. I don’t know about you, but I want to see a guy with that kind of knowledge perform over and over again on the Strange Matter stage.
Bleeding Rainbow and Canary oh Canary open. I got my tickets, hope you did too.
Wednesday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
Iron Chic, Worn in Red, After the Fall, Antillectual, Anchors @ Gallery 5 – Price at door/All Ages
This is going to be a night of miracles. The Charlottesville/Richmond stand-alone hardcore punk band we all know and love, Worn in Red, is sure to demolish Jackson Ward tonight. Joining Worn in Red is the night’s guest of honor, Iron Chic, bringing their bent-out-of-shape punk rock from Long Island. Watch out for these lads, as they are a robust bunch.
If you have fallen and can’t get up, may I recommend After the Fall. Like Iron Chic, After the Fall, from Albany, gives us outside-NYC hardcore punk on a silver platter. These slobs have been gaining steam and turning heads, so see what all the racket is about, would you?
Antillectual from Holland and Anchors from Australia supply the international hard punk rock hooks tonight, and we as Richmonders could not be happier they remembered their passports.
Thursday, October 25, 10 p. m.
Bear in Heaven @ The Crust Café (249 Richmond Rd. – Williamsburg, VA) - $5/18+
This is not quite a Richmond show, but it is on Richmond Street in Williamsburg, Virginia, so it's close enough. Bear in Heaven caught my attention a few months back and gets constant play in the Museum District. Describing this Brooklyn band’s sonic acid house, with a dab of drone-like prog-rock, in one word is easy: remarkable. This band might just be one my favorite bands outside of Richmond at the moment. So good, in fact, that a forty minute drive eastward is no big deal. A small venue like The Crust will be a real treat and no trick, as Bear in Heaven possess a live show that stays in your head for days. The backdrop to this event will no doubt be a powerful journey through your soul, and a bunch of really smart William and Mary students; nothing wrong with that. Experience this band, Richmond - they are, without question, the tops.
Thursday, October 25, 7 p.m.
Titus Andronicus, Ceremony, Devil’s Hand, James Badfellows @ Strange Matter - $15 - Advance http://titus.eventbrite.com (possible sellout) / All Ages
Touring in support of their Local Business LP on the XL Recordings label, New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus continue to flourish with their lo-fi punk rock. They have been gaining more attention recently thanks to very strong reviews and their unforgettable crazy-as-a-shit-house-mouse live shows. Getting rowdy and loose has a nice ring to it, so join in this sing-a-long on Grace St.
Ceremony returns to Richmond from the Bay Area with hardcore punk in tow. This band just might be the perfect touring mates for Titus Andronicus, as their energy electrifies any crowd.
Richmond punk-metal bands Devil’s Hand and James Badfellows open this spectacular--which might sellout, so get your tickets early.
Friday, October 26, 7 p.m.
The Return of the Living Dead Bands... part IV featuring tributes to Minor Threat, Misfits, Minutemen, Black Flag, GG Allin & the Murder Junkies, W.A.S.P @ Strange Matter – Price at door/18+
Talk about perfect annual events. The Return of the Living Dead Bands is definitely one the best nights in the calendar year. This night actually has been going on in Richmond for quite some time now; this is its fourth year. There will be covers of the usual bands, like the Misfits and Minor Threat, but every now and then some new band’s sounds spring up to be tortured. Each band is obviously comprised of local musicians, and it’s always fun to see them portray famous living or dead rock stars. My favorite tribute, as I’m sure it will be for others, is GG Allin and the Murder Junkies. Who is going to play GG? I’ll be sure to keep away from that guy and his feces. The screams will be endless, so for the best time you’ll have this Halloweekend, make it to Strange Matter--with a meat clever embedded in your skull, of course.
Friday, October 26, 9 p.m.
WRIR presents The 5th annual Monster Mashquerade, featuring The Eurotics, Goldrush, Red Hot Lava Men (reunion show), WRIR DJs Michael Miracle of The Lotus Land Show and Melissa, host of Mercury Falls @ The Camel – Donation please/18+
It’s going to get really spooky tonight as the folks from above the Camel creep down from the attic and supply us with the spirit of Halloweek for the fifth time in a row. Ghouls, goblins, goons, thugs, and white people who enjoy craft beer are all invited. It’s better than any time spent at the last house on the left. It’s a night of costume contests, debauchery, and live music. The music will be a potpourri of the Richmond sound. The Eurotics will give us a thriller with their punky garage rock to die for, and then Goldrush will play a very frightening set that will perpetuate the atmosphere of our city, once inhabited by Edgar Allan Poe’s Tell Tale Heart.
Not enough horror for you? Well how about a reunion show by the Red Hot Lava Men? Oh my! Surf rock on Halloween? That’s a trick and a treat! As always this is a show where proceeds go to WRIR, so get out to the Camel tonight. If you don’t, Dracula will bite off your neck.
Saturday, October 27, 8 p.m.
Imperative Reaction, Everything Goes Cold (pictured above), The Ludovico Technique, The Witch Was Right @ Fallout $10 advance
Imperative Reaction is truly made up of D.N.A. Yes, from the now-defunct band D.N.A [though not, apparently, the No Wave band from NYC -ed], Ted Phelps and David Andrecht formed Imperative Reaction 16 years ago. This seminal electro-industrial band comes back to Fallout to start Halloween week off properly in what is sure to be the scariest club in Richmond. Of late, Imperative Reaction has become more guitar-driven, and with Richmond being the guitar-loving city that it is, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Joining Imperative Reaction as this evening’s power industrial chairmen is Everything Goes Cold. Winter is not quite here yet, but tonight it’s a full on below zero. Everything Goes Cold is high energy industrial music that will keep your costume sweaty as all hell.
The Ludovico Technique and the Witch Was Right open up this bestiality with their industrial metal that will have you bleeding black. Death, Doom, and a Scream, this night before Halloween is sure to be in the middle of a nightmarish dream.
Sunday, October 28, 10 p.m.
RVA Noise Night #5 featuring (in order of appearance) Erdrick's Armor, JM WAVE, Flesh Control, Pleasure Island, Heavy Breathing, Chamber Maids, Winter Ritual, Head Molt (pictured above by De Santis) @ The Nile – Donations/21+
When the levee breaks there’s going to be harsh noise with power electronics. After my tarantula goes to the bathroom on my face, Chamber Maids will clean it with their experimental harsh noise sound. Next phase will be JM Waves’ surfing enterprises that shower us like a horny porpoise full of industrial noise.
Let’s get a drink…Okay. Hey that’s…? Yep, that’s the one and only Leo Heinzel, aka Flesh Control, kicking that harsh sound noise like a pregnant lunatic. Post Leo’s collapsing of stability, be sure to stick around for the harshest of the harsh, that being Pleasure Island. Ginger and Mary Ann want to have threesome with you. And, there’s more, as winter approaches, let’s begin our ritual of putting razor blades in apples.
This night is both fantastic and ghastly. I need more ears. You sure do Mr. Buck Wild Pony Buick. Here, take this milk of magnesia and catch Erdricks Armor. Underneath, I promise you, there’s some 8-bit in that Nintendo Gameboy. Then, well, unfortunately it’s the end. No, not suicide, but somewhat similar, I guess you could say - I‘m talking about the harsh noise, power electronics, and black metal of Head Molt. Hampton’s finest.
Gee, I thought I was getting candy; instead I got a cyst on my ear.
Sunday, October 28, 8 p.m.
The 25-piece Balinese Gamelan Orchestra @ Balliceaux – Free/21+
In residence at University of Richmond, home of the Spiders, Balinese Gamelan Orchestras, directed by Professor Andrew McGraw, incorporates bronze gongs, chimes, cymbals, metallophones, drums, fiddles, and many other instruments. This is some of the most beautiful music you will ever endure, and to witness it in the form of 25 pieces will be mesmerizing times extraordinary.
Balliceaux continues to deliver the best in world music along with dance, and the The 25-piece Balinese Gamelan Orchestra is a mandatory event.
Monday, October 29, 9 p.m.
Electronica Weekly presents Into the AM Tour featuring DJ/Producers Candyland, Singularity, MitiS, Eli Cash x Beat Down the Kid @ Canal Club - $3/All Ages.
Holy Ketamine! This Monday night spectacular is a dance card that has everyone freaking. Freak in the morning, freak in the evening--here along the canal, we be freaking.
Tonight is a sure cavalcade of DJs and producers who mix it right and tight. Candyland bring the youthful exuberance of a man and woman from California known as Ethan Davis and Josie Martin. Canyland’s dubstep, electro house, moombahton, trap and glitch hop has been flat out destroying it at a dance floor near you. There are many, and I do mean many, DJ duo/collectives out there, but Candyland is out of the underground and has staked residency on top of your moves.
Singularity is a 20 year old whiz kid who produces rhythms that are heavily percussion-based and will have the floor shaking. This electronic dance maestro already is the next big thing. His beats are beyond intoxicating.
Pennsylvania’s MitiS, aka Joe Torre (no, not the ex-Yankees manager), comes from classical a piano background, of all things, and has been rising fast with his take on electronic music through producing and DJing. MitisS has already opened for superstar DJs and artists such as Steve Aoki, Dillon Francis, and Dirty-Phonics. Along with locals Beat Down the Kid and Eli Cash, MitiS is sure to warm up the inferno this Monday before All Hallows Evening.
Tuesday, October 30, 10 p.m.
Silo Effect @ The Camel – Free/18+
Pregame Halloween like it’s nobody’s business. This night is being billed as the Killer Halloween Eve party you cannot miss if you’re into electronic jam music. This is also the official STS9 Afterparty, so the night just won’t end for the newest generation of dead heads.
Silo Effect shows never waver. In fact, they are some of the best live shows you’ll ever see. There will be plenty of visuals, lights, midgets, and goon-like behavior to make this show one full of trails. Candy corn? Thanks!… Now excuse me, I have to feed my black cat a bone.
Costumes, of course, are strongly recommended at this boo house. Personally, I plan to come dressed up as a dead fetus. I got the idea from looking at one of those posters the fetus-in-the-jar-crowd protesters hold up in front of my favorite abortion clinic on Grove and Boulevard. Perhaps it’s your favorite as well.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)