FEATURE SHOW
Friday, December 7, 10 p.m.
Negative Plane, Vomitor, Bastard Sapling (pictured above), Organ Donor @ Strange Matter - $12/18+
While reflecting on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, it should be necessary to go hear black metal at its best. Out of the city of gators--Gainesville, Florida--Negative Plane will destroy your ears with the loudest, rudest, and penetrating down and dirty doom you can feel. Vomitor comes all the way from down under (Australia) to bludgeon your ears as they put the death in death-thrash metal. Vomitor currently reside in Ireland, and the band has come a long way to blow you away, so I think it’s only fair you get up to the Strange Matter stage, or floor, and welcome these lads to Richmond.
Local black metal stalwarts Bastard Sapling and Organ Donor fill out this bill of death and blackness. I deem this show a beautiful night of doom, and pure unadulterated head-bashing black metal. Don’t worry, this show will keep away the faint of heart, and be left entirely to the real metal aficionados. Richmond has plenty of them.
Wednesday, December 5, 8:30 p.m.
Wrenn Mangum @ Poe's Pub– Free/21+
How can anyone miss Wrenn Mangum? Elvis impersonators and tribute artists, along with the rockabilly genre itself, sometimes gets a bad name. Perhaps deservedly so, but Wrenn Mangum is without a doubt the real deal. Wrenn is beyond an entertainer; he is a Richmond institution and an experience beyond description. That’s why I ask: how can you miss this man? You have to see him to believe him. It’s not cheesy at all--his performances are professional, but more importantly, they're a foot tapping, hand clapping miracle of a swinging good time. Whether performing alongside the Richmond Symphony Pops or in front of a bunch of drunks, Wrenn gives 110 percent, and then some, with every performance.
I’ve seen and heard a ton, if not hundreds, of Richmond musicians, and let me say this about Wrenn - he is fun personified. Wrenn captures your imagination immediately with his perfect attention to historical detail when it comes to emulating the King or conjuring the 50s way of life in his music. His voice is a wealth of rockabilly, sung the way it should be. His moves, stances, and gyrations rival, well, Elvis’s. Swing on down to the Bottom of Libby Hill Park and see this magician of the stage on the microphone. Wrenn is where entertainment goes to see entertainment.
Thursday, December 6, 7 p.m.
The Trigger System presents Every Time I Die, The Chariot, Letlive, Kills & Thrills, Dream Atlantic @ Canal Club - $15/All Ages
The Trigger System once again delivers glory to Richmond and Shockoe Bottom. Buffalo’s hardcore punk band of 15 years, Every Time I Die, returns to Richmond ready to steam roll rambunctious kids with power chords and meaningful metal. Touring in support of their new LP, Ex Lives, on the Epitaph label, Every Time I Die prove they can come back to life every time and give us a resounding performance.
Joining Every Time I Die are hardcore friends The Chariot, Letlive, Kills & Thrills, and Richmonders Dream Atlantic. All five of these bands put more than enough into their live performances, so if you enjoy metalcore, this night at the Canal Club is a show that you absolutely must attend. I expect a big crowd for this, so get that ride from your parents, older siblings, or the guy with a car down the dorm hall earlier than you normally would, because like I said, all five bands, especially the juggernauts Every Time I Die, are worth the price of admission.
Friday, December 7, 7 p.m.
Winter Fest featuring So !lla, Ms. Proper, HaBitS, Chance Fischer, Black Liquid & the New Juice Crew, Tre No Y, Tony Graham, Conci$e, Hero the Artist, and other local emcees @ Kingdom - $15/All Ages
This could be the hip hop sensation of the year. Screw Christmas morning under the tree, this is the real present. Headlined by Ms. Proper, the lady with the golden microphone, and the absolute wordsmith, So !lla, this night for all ages at Kingdom is the Christmas miracle. There will be several legendary local emcees at this rhyme fair, with the likes of HaBitS, Black Liquid, Chance Fischer, Tre No Y, Tony Graham, Conci$e, and a slew of others. Diction, pronunciation, and words are all combined only in only a way Richmond, Virginia can spit it. It will simply be a tremendous night of head bopping.
They say this is a night of Richmond royalty, and "they" are right on. Richmond’s hip hop scene is on fire and only looks to explode. Hence, you should witness it now at Kingdom before it’s too late. Having all this talent under one roof is easy one stop shopping to getting in tune with the best lyricists our city has to offer.
Saturday, December 8, 8 p.m.
EQ presents Future Rock, Ghost Payne @ Canal Club - $15/18+
EQ continues to bring Richmond the big time shows. Chicago electronic trio Future Rock will take you back to the future with their inspiring electronic rock guaranteed to groove you out. Famous for their spectacular shows on the festival circuit, Future Rock has been mesmerizing audiences for eight years. As Future Rock continues to get bigger and bigger on the scene, seeing them at the intimate Canal Club will be a certified treat. Felix Moreno (bass/synthesizer), Mickey Kellerman (keyboards/synthesizers), and Darren Heitz (drums/synthesizer) are three of the best complete musicians you will ever hear. Let it be known that I’m thoroughly enjoying what I’m listening to as I write these words, from Future Rock.
Richmond DJ Ghost Payne opens up by turning the dance floor into an inferno. If you’re looking for the best in French-house, electro, and nu-disco, then Ghost Payne is your guy. This show is going to be a big one folks. Get down to the east end of Canal Walk immediately.
Saturday, December 8, 10 p.m.
Dead Fame, Mirror Kisses, DJ Mike Murphy of No Richmond @ Balliceaux - $5/21+
Dead Fame returns to Balliceaux with attractive new wave that is sure to have everyone dancing. A throwback in style with a nonetheless delightfully current postpunk sound, Dead Fame is that band you have to see if you haven’t already. Playing within the wonderful confines of Balliceaux, this show is obviously going to attract the beautiful people. My point here: well, you’re beautiful, so you should be here as well. Those famous dead people that will have you shaking the Saturday night fever away will be KC Byrnes (guitar), Eric Klemen (drums), Sadie Powers (bass), Michael Means (vocals), and Christopher DeNitto (synths).
Harrisonburg’s Mirror Kisses, with their throwback sound reminiscent of Echo & the Bunnymen, also perform during this night of Ickey Shuffles. And this is another band that, if you haven’t seen, you should catch as soon as possible. DJ Mike Murphy of No Richmond will get everyone ready for the glamorous parade that is to follow.
Sunday, December 9, 5 p.m.
Veil of Maya, the Acacia Strain, Upon a Burning Body, Volumes, Twitching Tongues @ Kingdom - $14/All Ages
If you haven’t seen an early all ages Sunday matinee at Kingdom, you just aren’t spiritual enough. If Jesus were still alive, he too would be at this show. Let’s face it: church is boring, but a bunch of teenagers glued to video games on smart phones and Red Bull cans as they slam into one another is too fun to pass up. Getting out aggression as a youngster has never felt so good. Who cares if Cindy from third period algebra won’t go to the prom with you? You are rocking out to some of the best Walmart music for teens that you can hear this side of the CW Network.
Deathcore is on tap tonight, as the headliner will be Veil of Maya. This Chicago band is brutal, and savvy with the dark sound. The other gruesome headliner will be yet another strain of deathcore out of Massachusetts. Of course, I’m talking about the Acacia Strain. More brutal metal will be delivered to your young eardrums as Upon a Burning Body, Volumes, and Twitching Tongues start the engines with their symphonies of hardcore metal.
Monday, December 10, 8 p.m.
My Darling Fury, Wayfarer, Dalliance, Floodwall @ The Camel– Free/All Ages
This is to be an elegant evening of singer/songwriter and ambient folk music, I feel it’s safe to say. A stopover at the Camel tonight is a perfect excuse to escape the retarded hustle and bustle of corporate Christmas shopping. Come back to reality and listen to music with passion and purity. My Darling Fury is a high riser of late, based on solid song craftsmanship. Singer-songwriter Nik Piscitello, aka Wayfarer, chimes in with his stoic guitar songs that will keep you searching deep. Richmond’s scintillating ambient rock band, Floodwall, will hold back the cresting James with their songs from within the soul, and Dalliance will transfix you for sure. So, therefore, this Monday is obviously mandatory.
Monday, December 10, 6 p.m.
Spoonboy (members of Max Levine Ensemble), Volunteer, Wrist x Rocket (pictured above), Jake Mayday @ Strange Matter– Donations please/All Ages
This will be yet another boysenberry of a matinee all ages show. The only thing is that it's Wrist x Rocket’s last show. Damn, damn, damn. Well, at least you’ll know it will be an exemplary send-off for Matt Fisher’s emo-pop punk project. The Max Levine Ensemble was supposed to be headlining this show, but don’t fear--Spoonboy, the Max Levine Ensemble’s guitarist, will fill the void with some of the finest DC songs you’ll ever hear. Richmond pop-punkers Volunteer and Jake Mayday fill the bill that will be sure to get everyone’s mind off final exams on this fine Monday afternoon.
Tuesday, December 11, 10 p.m.
Pedals On Our Pirate Ships, Sea of Storms, Luau, Sneeze @ Strange Matter - Price at door/18+
Pedals always bring the party. Their folk punk from the mind of wild eyed southern boy Matt Seymour punches every ticket to the world of heavy drinking. It’s a triumph to witness the jubilant behavior of Matt, Louis, Adrienne, and Richard (pretty much the entire staff at 821). These cats always get the real Richmonders in a tizzy. Tuesday is the new Friday, so run, and I mean run, for glory as it stands at 929 W. Grace Street.
Boston pop metal stalwarts Luau, and pop grunge keepers Sneeze, have ventured south to join in the sloppy beautification which will be this show tonight. Oh yeah, arrive early for the storm--Richmond’s Sea of Storms, that is; a parade of postpunk from some ex-Mouthbreather dudes. Oh, this evening should easily be considered a donnybrook. Drinks on everybody!
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)