FEATURE SHOW
Tuesday, November 6, 10 p.m.
Election Night Show featuring Bermuda Triangles, Peace Beast, Canary Oh Canary, Hot Dolphin @ The Nile – Free/21+
I don’t know who you are voting for in today’s election driven by lies, stupidity, corporations and a fake Jesus, but I’m voting for the best live music in Richmond. Well, look at here; it’s going down at the Nile tonight. This smorgasbord of the Richmond sound will easily garner all 270 Electoral College votes. How stupendous is that? The feeling this true expression of freedom will give our souls tonight is beyond words. There is doom and gloom in the air, but regardless of whose billion dollar campaign wins, at least there is this historical show with a historical lineup.
The battle for the top will involve a two party system led by Bermuda Triangles’ tropical spaced out drum freak, and Canary oh Canary’s garage-gaze. The vice presidency is represented by the glorious psych-bomb of Peace Beast and Hot Dolphin's ballot box of rock and roll. Everyone is registered for tonight’s party to end all parties, so get your red, blue, or independent ass down to Laurel Street. See you there, as this is easily a Show-of-the-Year candidate.
Wednesday, October 31, 9 p.m.
QuiVa Productions presents The Former Champions (performing Michael Jackson’s Thriller album in its entirety), Damn Right! @ The Canal Club - $10/18+
There are a zillion things going on tonight, as it is Halloween. Personally, I think Halloween sucks, but despite all the parties and Halloween themed functions going on around various Richmond establishments, this event tonight at the Canal Club could be big time fantastic. I obviously don’t support child molesters, dead or alive, but Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was an American classic, and to have it covered in its entirety by Richmond power electronic jam band the Former Champions makes for a 5 star boo house. Jackson’s video for the title cut, “Thriller,” still resonates in my head, and is a must-see to get the Halloween moods ready to go. Who could ever forget the famous "Thriller" dance, which I’m sure will be performed on the dance floor tonight in unison amongst all the ghouls, goblins, and bros.
Damn Right come to this horrifically good-time event from Philly, and will scare the pants off everyone, including the many girls who dress up in slutty Halloween costumes. You know, like the completely played out slutty nurse costume, Little Bo Peep, a stripper, a hyper-sexed Catholic girl in her school uniform, sexy cop, etc. You know what I’m talking about. By the way, when did they start doing that? Girls never did that when I was coming up. Guess Britney Spears started that craze.
Anyway, Damn Right will amaze with their electro-jazz funk. This is a sure bet to get the Canal Club shaking as hard as its shook since they actually stored boats up in that piece. Unfortunately the Malah had to remove themselves from the bill, but the Former Champions performing Thriller, and Damn Right performing from their new LP, All the Colors, will be a werewolf-in-London good time.
Wednesday, October 31, 10 p.m.
Halloween Bashment featuring Love Logic Band, DJ Booki Bluntz, Mikemetic @ The Nile – Free/21+
The Nile celebrates its third annual Halloween Bashment tonight, and if it was like the last two, then expect a roaring good time tonight. There will be live music from the awesome band of soul, Love Logic Band, and Booki Bluntz, along with Mr. Audio Mass Transit himself, DJ Mikemetic, are sure to get the costumes flip-flopping and flying on an Ethiopian dance floor. For what it’s worth, some of the best and most creative Halloween costumes come from this event.
Welcome to what just might be best Halloween party full of severely soulful live music, wicked DJ sets, and a costume contest of all costume contests--with prizes! And, of course, drink specials!
Thursday, November 1, 10 p.m.
Woods, Widowspeak, Wolf//Goat @ Strange Matter - $10 Advance - http://woodsrva.eventbrite.com / $12 Day of Show/18+
Touring in support of their much discussed new LP Bend Beyond, Brooklyn psychedelic folk rock band Woods is across the street from a police station that used to be a head shop tonight. Woods has been around since ’05. Each year they achieve stronger reviews, and deservedly so, I must say. This band’s stripped-down lo-fi approach to Americana rock and roll is hauntingly addictive. Vocalist Jeremy Earl is a never ending tunnel full of dark flowers and lightly covered breaths that lead the listener to a desert island full of feelings. Woods’ live performances are the epitome of why this band is so good. While many so-called “Americana” acts go the way of overproduced bouncy tales of irrelevance for AAA radio, Woods stays true to the core by being fresh at every turn.
Chicago’s Widowspeak is the perfect touring mate for Woods. This duo's marvelous take on the pure rock and roll sound will mesh nicely, without sounding exactly like Woods. Molly Hamilton and Robert Earl Thomas, aka Widowspeak, will grip you with their soulful jabs. Richmond’s psych-folk pirates, Wolf//Goat, open this bag of tricks, so I’d be there if I was you.
Friday, November 2, 9 p.m.
Sugarcube Productions presents The Polychrons. Congo Sanchez (drummer for Thievery Corporation), Groove Status, DJ Phil Dice @ The Canal Club - $5 Adv - http://thecanalclub.com/online_ticket_center.htm / $10 Door/18+
This will be a perfect event for dancing and saying goodbye to Sandy once and for all. Richmond’s fused jazz, jam, electronic and lounge lords, the Polychrons, headline this night of magic. The Polychrons, already known for stellar live shows, also feature euphoric lights and visuals to accompany their futuristic sound.
And, as if it could not get any better, the drummer for the great, and I do mean great, Thievery Corporation, is joining in the fun. I’m talking about the one and only percussionist Congo Sanchez. If he doesn’t get your body moving, then you are a corpse. Congo Sanchez is considered the backbone of DC’s live party scene. First and foremost a percussionist, Sanchez is an instrumentalist extraordinaire. Name the instrument, and Sanchez can use it to deliver the sound your funky self needs to get the shakes shaking.
Locals Groove Status and the man with the party plan, DJ Phil Dice, warm up the stage and room with beat jams, I said beat jams.
Saturday, November 3, 9 p.m.
Deleted Scenes Tour featuring Blueprint, Mad Dukez, Dr. Millionaire, DJ Dizz @ The Canal Club - $10 Adv - http://thecanalclub.com/online_ticket_center.htm / $13.00 Door/18+
Out of the state that will most likely determine our next president, Ohio’s rapper/producer deluxe, Blueprint, comes to Shockoe Bottom to headline the Deleted Scenes Tour. Joining Blueprint will be Mad Dukez, as well as Richmond’s Dr. Millionaire and DJ Dizz.
If you haven’t heard of Blueprint, you might know him as part of the production team Soul Position which includes the one and only DJ of the force being with you, RJD2. Since signing with the seminal hip hop label out of Minneapolis, Rhymesayers Entertainment, Blueprint has developed a wider sound of unique hip hop and gained more of a national audience. His style of rap is truly independent and sounds nothing like the pre-programmed crap you mostly hear these days in above ground hip hop. Blueprint is an artist, and his craft comes first. Storytelling doesn’t get any better than when Blueprint takes the microphone. It is absolutely wonderful to have the talented Blueprint in our city this evening.
Mad Dukez is a high rising emcee of progressive hip hop from Buffalo, NY. Yes, the same Buffalo that gave us Rick James. Mad Dukez alone would be a must-see, and by having him along, Blueprint gives credence to the idea that original hip hop is not even close to being dead. It’s all about unique styles, voices and an independent vision, which both these intoxicating rappers posses.
Dr. Millionaire is rising fast in Richmond’s hip hop scene. Thanks to hard work, this unique emcee and producer with a straightforward vision can rhyme with the best of them. DJ Dizz, of Just Plain Sounds fame, will be on the ones and twos. Oh yes, sign me up!
Sunday, November 4, 9 p.m.
Live at Ipanema featuring Chris Ryan (photo by Melissa Brugh) @ Ipanema Café – Free/21+
Live at Ipanema returns with a benchmark performance from Richmond singer-songwriter Chris Ryan. Billed as a bourbon sippin’ evening, Ryan will be performing songs off his debut LP, Pray for the Rain. Word on the street is that Ryan’s songs set the mindset for inspirational dreams, moods and reflections.
Chris Ryan comes from a jazz background, as he has paid his dues playing amongst Richmond’s elite inside the local jazz scene. It is from this jazz scene that Ryan’s music will draw in order to parlay his talent as a songwriter straight to your ears. Described as both poignant and uplifting, Ryan will open up a canvas tonight for all those in attendance to paint a picture of sentimental endeavors. Chris Ryan’s songs matter and there is no better venue than Ipanema to keep you captivated.
Monday, November 5, 9 p.m.
Reggae Monday featuring Antero @ The Camel – Free/18+
I wish every night was reggae night. The cool running sounds of Antero are exactly what everyone needs on a Monday night, especially this particular Monday night. Clean out all the stress before the election, which will more than likely end the world, and lend your attendance to an uplifting performance from Antero. The vibes will be a guaranteed high, as the reggae pours out onto your soul, and leaves you inside of solace.
Tuesday, November 6, 10 p.m.
Cusses, Dumb Waiter, Sea of Storms, New Turks @ Strange Matter - Price at door/18+
Savannah, Georgia’s Cusses are that weirdo art-band you just keep investigating after you hear one of their tragically beautiful songs. Not surprising, as this band’s roots derive from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Led by front woman Angel Bond, Cusses possess a wide array of weirdo pop music backed by devastating guitar licks that drive this train high on fame. There is punk within the walls of Cusses, yet stories of despair and triumph billow out like a horrendous hurricane overtaking the gambling in Atlantic City. Cusses cross all experimentation rock boundaries, and incorporate fashion within their sporadic sound quite nicely, unlike many bands out there these days. Cusses are the kind of band that if you went to see them, not knowing anything about them, you would say to yourself afterwards, "I’d see them again, with no hesitation."
Richmond’s Dumb Waiter, featuring members and ex-members of Street Pizza, the Jefferson Plane Crash, and Promethean, continue this Tuesday night sound wave with their lovely take on avant-garde noisy math rock.
Locals Sea of Storms and New Turks round out the bill of what should be a grand show that sneaks up on you like a cat.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)