FEATURE SHOW
Sunday, November 11, 9 p.m.
Cult of Youth, Lost Tribe, Buck Gooter, Pharmakon, Mutwawa, Goth Dance Party featuring DJ ZLAL & DJ Shravnasty @ Strange Matter - $8 Adv http://coy.eventbrite.com / $10 Day of – 18+
No doubt, this show is a Show of the Year candidate, but let me say this - this week there are a bunch of amazing shows going on. This week in Richmond is one of the best I’ve seen in awhile regarding live music. So, get out and support it!
New York’s Cult of Youth, off the omnipresent label Sacred Bones, comes back to Richmond with their delightful post-industrial folk rock. They are touring in support of their new, widely well-received LP, Love Will Prevail. Cult of Youth has been that band on everyone’s radar, and here is the perfect chance to end the weekend with a band that keeps gaining steam. Catching Cult of Youth in the small confines of Strange Matter should be exquisite. There are many adjectives to describe a band’s sound, but the word "beautiful" is the obvious word to describe Cult of Youth. I implore Richmond music aficionados to see this band if you haven’t already.
Joining Cult of Youth is a sensational lineup with those fabulous bastards of peace-crust punk, Lost Tribe, who are just back from tour. Then, are you serious!? Harrisonburg’s Buck Gooter is going to be a part of this Sunday’s spiritual? Yes sir! Pharmakon is aboard with her delirious noise, Mutwawa comes out of the Congo to splash us with Zulu dance grooves, and last but not least, for you Goth heads, DJ ZLAL & DJ Shravnasty will spin the dreary the final hour of the evening.
Wednesday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.
The Coathangers, Eurotics, Nervous Ticks, Hot Dolphin @ Gallery 5 - $7/All Ages
Atlanta’s The Coathangers make their triumphant return to Richmond. I’ve seen this band once before, and they are glorious with their infectious post-punk sound. Touring in support of their new LP, Larceny and Old Lace, these girls will blow you off the concrete floor at Gallery 5.
If you like your music with attitude, then, the Coathangers at a Jackson Ward gallery/venue is the place to be. The Coathangers have come a long way since I’ve seen them, and they’ve gained a bit more sophistication with their style and song crafting. The Coathangers' music is often considered the harbinger of where all-female post punk rock groups are going. I’m cool with it.
Thursday, November 8, 8 p.m
Angelspit, Cyanotic, MyParasites @ Fallout– $10/18+
Aussie dark electronic industrial band, Angelspit, come to the Bottom tonight, and they bring industrial bands Cyanotic and MyParasites with them. Fallout hasn’t wavered in bringing quality industrial-electronic bands this autumn season. This should be a hauntingly great show. Halloween is still going on down at the Fallout, by the way.
Angelspit is headed up by the vocalist and synth-keyboardist, Destroyx. This woman is a flat out showgirl. Now that she is backed by a 4 piece band, there is no telling what this temptress will do.
In the world of electro-industrial music, Angelspit continues to gain acclaim and deserves your attention. Their music is tough as nails, and the darkness of Destroyx will make you fall in love with not only her, but dancing again. Fans of KMFDM and the Crüxshadows should take in this sanctuary.
Thursday, November 8, 5 p.m.
International Punk Mayhem featuring (in order of appearance) Orgasm, Disable, Schizophasia, Truncheons, Violent Party, Merciless Game, Pissheads, Wankys, Zyanose, Chaos Channel @ Strange Matter - $10 Adv - http://punx.eventbrite.com / $12 Day of – 18+
Real punk rock can still be found in Richmond. You sometimes just have to gather it up from around the world. Tonight is officially International Loud Night, brought to us by a smorgasbord of dirty punk rock the way it’s supposed to be played. Locally, Richmond, Maryland, and Georgia are represented, as foreign punkers from Canada, U.K., and Japan join in the fray.
Japan’s Chaos Channel and Zyanose are louder than noise and will penetrate your ears with anger and dire consequences. They are headlining this shit storm, so hang in there through the early bill; I promise it will be worth it.
The early bill is a sure counterpart to this being the loudest punk show of the year. All bands are can’t misses. Richmond’s Orgasm and Georgia punks Disabled begin the firestorm of boot stomping ravages. Then, the center of this cavity is occupied by Maryland’s Merciless Game, and Richmond’s massively powerful punk super-group, Pissheads, as they join the U.K.’s Wanky’s and Canada’s Truncheons. Oh my, Lynchburg’s Violent Party are also filling in the middle of the event. Wow, it’s a full blown evening of three chords.
Friday, November 9, 7 p.m.
Black Liquid& OMG present Face Melt Friday XII featuring 5yve Footaz, Ace Of Spades, BCMusic1st, Big Ty, Black Liquid, Crossover, Doethepaperboy, Dude, Falmouf, Gritty City Records, Hot Bars Music Group, Ishaboy Luke, Joe Threat, New Era Click, P & R Records, Papercaperz, Poemack, Shot After Shot with DP Da Prophet, Prez, RAIGE Records, Reckless of Odd.i.See Music, Slim Kartel, Soul Sun, Tatum, DJ Swerve 36 @ Strange Matter– Price at door/18+
If I pimped out awesome sex in order for the greatest lineup of Richmond emcees to occur in one night, I bet I still couldn’t get a lineup as golden as this one. Black Liquid has done it again, putting together a mix of science and miracles. I have been listening to a lot of local hip hop music lately, and to put it ever so bluntly, I have been flabbergasted.
Well, let me say this: make your knowledge more powerful towards the Richmond street sound. Come out to 929 W. Grace St. tonight. I can’t begin to explain the awesome sensation of head bopping you will endure as you listen to Richmond’s lyrical masters exude their poetic mindsets.
At this point, I would love to single out performers from tonight, but they are all worthy of witnessing. At the microphone, there will be a constellation of consciousness, so grab a forty--well, a pint, because they ain’t got any forties at Strange Matter--and join in the new Richmond order.
By the way, I will give one shot out, and that goes to the extraordinary DJ Swerve 360, the beat master himself. Richmond’s master of words will be given even more credence with Swerve 360 on the ones and the twos.
Saturday, November 10, 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Paint Fumes, Bazooka, Olde Shame @ Steady Sounds 4 p.m. (Donations) All Ages.
Paint Fumes, Bazooka, Nervous Ticks, Age of Asparagus (members of Tungs, Heavy Midgets), DJ Elon @ The Nile 10 p.m. (Donations) 21+
Paint Fumes is such a great band, they’re giving Richmonders two chances to witness the vomit spewing bombastic sound they so proudly deliver. Paint Fumes are a nasty concoction of grime, garage, and psychedelic foul [not soul? -ed.]. Touring in support of their new LP, this trio is bringing the mess back to rock and roll music. Paint Fumes are without a doubt a band that will make everyone’s top ten shows list in Richmond for 2012. Paint Fumes are pure slobs, scuzz, and sleaze all rolled up in one. To call them rude would be a compliment. Also, be prepared to drink heavily during their set.
Greece’s Bazooka is touring with Paint Fumes, and word is that they are just as vulgar as Paint Fumes with their take on the slime rock. Is it me or is this show going to be gross? I feel sorry for the cleanup crew. Oh lord, to add insult to injury, Richmond’s Nervous Ticks open the Nile gig with their garage spazz, and Richmond super-group of the nasty, Olde Shame, open the Steady Sounds gig. They’re promoting their new tape, Griz On the Sidewalk. I want one.
Saturday, November 10, 6 p.m.
Worthless Junk Records& Kingdom presents The Dead Milkmen, The Bastards Of Fate, The Mothball Fleet, Hold Tight!, Cheyenne @ Kingdom - $20 - http://ampedandalive.com/eventdetails.aspx?eventId=714 / All Ages
Worthless Junk is presenting a show of all shows tonight, and the headliner is none other than the City of Brotherly Love’s punk band full of satire and the party punk sound. Joe Genaro, Rodney Linderman, Dean Sabatino, and Dan Stevens (bassist since ’08) are back, and they are ready to turn every girl in Shockoe Bottom into a punk rock girl tonight. Without a doubt, this seminal punk band that spawned many others will perform many great tunes from their repertoire of ten albums full of blood, sweat, and hilarity. Punk is no funny business, but the Dead Milkmen get a pass. They started their own genre, come to think of it, and I, as well as you, should tip your hat to that.
Roanoke’s self described show-tunes rock band, the Bastards of Fate, are the perfect opener for this night of zaniness and get-down. Eartly on the bill will be Richmond bands: the Mothball Fleet (got to love an accordion), Hold Tight! (get ready to slam dance), and Cheyenne with their fancy free emo-punk.
Sunday, November 11, 6 p.m.
Stevie Tombstone @ McCormack’s Whiskey Grill (204 N. Robinson St.) – Free/All Ages
Okay, I have to be honest. Lately I’ve been inundated with folk and singer-songwriter artists. Most suck. Sorry, but it’s so watered down that you miss the few that are actually talented. Well, I’ve been rejuvenated, thanks to a very powerful, no bullshit, folk and blues singer-songwriter: Stevie Tombstone. Tombstone is that guy who has been everywhere, yet no one knows about him. That’s about to change. I honestly think this guy will blow up large in 2013. For this reason, it’s a big time thrill to have the opportunity to see Tombstone perform again at McCormack’s. This performance will be at McCormack’s Whiskey Bar on Robinson Street--not to be confused with McCormack’s Irish Pub in the Bottom. So, get ready Fan District, Stevie Tombstone will pack a punch with a sure to be gut wrenching performance full of honesty and lifelong tribulations. His approach to music compromises nothing, and can best be described as a rugged road full of beer, whiskey, and brawling. See this musician, Richmond. His performance is early in the evening and free, so there are no excuses.
Monday, November 12, 7 p.m.
Deerhoof, Liam Finn, Formica Man @ The National - $15/All Ages
Holy Virginia deer season, Deerhoof is in town. How can anyone not want to take in this band that was doing their original style of noise rock before everyone else? Deerhoof never compromises, and always tweaks their sound ever so slightly to give their new sound a fresh approach to their old sound. Frontwoman Satomi Matsuzaki possesses a mesmerizing voice that leaves you in a trance. It’s what I’d define as wonderfully obnoxious. That may sound demeaning, but I'm talking about vocal art here, that can only be proper for the proper ear. Deerhoof could have gone the way of the indie darlings, yet, to their credit, they stayed on course. If you are a fan of the Boredoms, Stereolab, or OOIOO, don’t run away, it's Deerhoof returning to Richmond, Vee-Aye. Find 15 bucks in your pocket or underneath the mattress and invest in Deerhoof’s promiscuously enticing tunes.
There’s a lot of talk just under the surface about Neil Finn’s (Split Enz/Crowded House) son, Liam. This New Zealander is a plate full of kiwi goodness with his dream pop. Checking in early at the National might be worth it with this singer-songwriter warming things up.
Tuesday, November 13, 7:30 p.m.
Dr. John, Blind Boys of Alabama @ CenterStage (Carpenter Theatre) $34-42/All Ages
The master of the New Orleans’ sound is coming back to Downtown Richmond. Some of you might remember that Dr. John played June Jubilee back in the early nineties. Don’t remember June Jubilee? That’s your mistake, not mine. Anyway, I don’t really remember that show, as I was so drunk I passed out in my Jeep, while my friends saw an amazing performance by the man that meshes jazz, zydeco, boogie-woogie, and blues rock and roll like no other.
Dr. John is beyond an American treasure, he epitomizes music and the soul it conceals. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this 72 year old is a must see before your inevitable death. An extra quality about this show is that it’s at the Carpenter Theatre, which is one of--I’m not kidding here--the most beautiful theatre facilities in all of these United States.
Opening this night of the best grooving music you will ever hear are the beautiful voices of Blind Boys of Alabama. Roll tide! These Grammy award gentlemen have been delivering the real gospel for over 70 years. This group, like Dr. John, is beyond an American treasure. If you appreciate high end music from the depths of soul, run, don’t walk, to 6th and Grace St. tonight. You might want to run earlier than expected; this show is a possible sellout, yet it's worth every cent the ticket cost.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)