FEATURE SHOW
Saturday, December 15, 10 p.m.
The Soul Remedy + Turnstyle present “BEATFREQ” featuring turntable technicians spinning house, breaks, electro, funk, and Jazzy Jungle beats with DJs JGWAR, Karri On, Jesse Split, Joanna O (pictured above), Jasonindasky; along with Heaven-Leigh Kennedy "The People's Diva!" as Drag Santa @ Godfrey’s - $5/18+
It’s nice to see an event like this at Godfrey’s again. Tonight is sure to be an illuminating jubilance. Get the dancing shoes from out of the closet and shimmy your way downtown to Grace Street, home of all the glitz and glamour. Norfolk DJ JGWAR, aka Ken Murray, headlines this dance marathon with his rock solid skills on the ones and twos, rotating the very best in the dark side of tech-house, along with deep, funky, electro beats. As a unique producer of the best beats this side of your mind, JGWAR continues to expand in the world of pure house beats and techno music.
Joining JGWAR as the master of ceremonies will be ex-Virginian Karri On, as she comes up from Miami to shower us with her magical eclectic sound. Karri On has been everywhere of late, from all across America and Europe; she is a regular on the club and festival circuits. Karri On is absolutely guaranteed to get you moving on that illustrious dance floor at Godfrey’s.
Joining these two glorious out of town DJ’s will be Richmond’s best electronic DJ, well, ever. Joanna O of Turnstyle, EvolveVA, and WRIR’s “Frequency” will set the tone with the sounds of Richmond street life. Drum and bass, house, breaks and electro beats from right here in Richmond are more than adequately hyped for your dancing pleasure. I tell you this - there is no better pleasure than Joanna O’s smooth and sweet drum n bass sounds.
DC and Norfolk’s Jasonindasky is a highly praised underground DJ. He is sure to become one - with deep soulful house, acid house, disco & renegade funk. It’s a mixed bag that is sure to develop the evening into an orgasmic bliss.
Just when you thought there might not be such a thing as a drag Santa, think again, Heaven-Leigh Kennedy - The People's Diva! Will be on hand for you to sit on her lap and list off everything you want this Christmas. After you do so, it’s back to the dance floor.
Man. I’m already at this event--are you?
Wednesday, December 12, 8 p.m.
Wanda Jackson, Jonny Fritz @ Capital Alehouse Downtown Music Hall - $20 Advance - http://myticketstobuy.com/capital-ale-house-music-hall / $25 Day of Show / 18+
The absolute queen of stripped down rockabilly music, the way it is supposed to be performed, stampedes downtown Richmond tonight. This beautiful gal, all 75 years of her, can still out-sing, out-rock, and outperform most, if not all, twenty-somethings.
Since the 50s, Jackson has been performing rockabilly and real country music to those whose ears appreciate the purity of those genres. Now touring again thanks to resurgence in the rockabilly genre, Jackson is a big get for that downtown music hall we all know and love. If I were to go to one rockabilly show this year, this would be the one. Richmond has had many legends of rock and roll come through of late, but Wanda Jackson is a spitfire you just have to curl up beside.
Thursday, December 13, 10 p.m.
The Catalyst, Olde Shame, Burnt Books @ The Nile - $5/21+
You like loud music? Who doesn’t? Step into the Nile and wash away your doldrums. This show has miracle written all over it. The Catalyst will be performing songs from their new split 7” with France's Aussitort Mort. I can’t stop listening to it. It’s a Christmas tree and a Menorah rolled into one! For relaxing hardcore stoner-noise-grunge times, make it the Catalyst times.
Those kids from the Undertaker’s Row, Olde Shame, share in this night of fixated debauchery and heavy drinking hillbillies who have ruined their lives. If you’re in search of piss poor punk, then Olde Shame will give you the best in golden showers.
South Carolina gets represented this evening as well, as Burnt Books, featuring members of Thank God and Guyana Punchline, come to Paw City--not Fist City--with gasoline, lighters, and a small library in tow. These guys are brutal punk rock. I would be too, if I lived in South Carolina.
Friday, December 14, 8 p.m.
Live Music by Dave Brockie (of GWAR), Antietam 1862, Carbuncle @ Gallery 5 - $10/All Ages
Yes, Dave Brockie is a funny man. Perhaps we can refer to him as a satirist now. Want proof? Well, make Jackson Ward a destination tonight. Brockie, outside of his work as Oderus Urungus, is a pretty darn good guitar/bass player with an entire acoustic set. Tonight, with his acoustic bass, El Capitan, Brockie will be performing original and plagiarized music to present a musical/comedy experience Richmond has never seen or heard before. I know I’m thoroughly intrigued.
Joining Brockie’s antics will be the black metal band of southern darkness, Antietam 1862. This is a high rising band from right here in Richmond, and these guys absolutely put on a rocking show for the ages. Antietam 1862 is of course: Robert E. Legion, Bonewall Jackson, A.P. Kill, and D.E.A.D. Stuart, so it’s safe to say, these lads will mesh nicely with Mr. Brockie.
Opening this night of everything that has gone wrong, or right, in Dave Brockie’s life will be the death-freakoid punk metal of Carbuncle.
Friday, December 14, 9 p.m.
J Roddy Walston & the Business, Black Girls, Goldrush @ Strange Matter - $12/18+
The band everybody is talking about these days is J. Roddy Walston & the Business, recent RVA transplants who formerly called Baltimore home. This band, through endless touring in a church van--but don’t worry, they aren’t religious--has turned into a big time must-hear live. This pure, down to the bone rock & roll band, with an actual piano, is a band that criss-crosses many rock genres, all while leaving folks in attendance quite happy they showed up. Fun is J. Roddy and the Business, as the only thing that matters to them is the music, and you having a great time. J. Roddy and the Business put in 110 percent at every show they perform. This evening will not, I repeat, will not be a letdown.
The perfect local openers for J. Roddy and the Business would have to be Black Girls and Goldrush. Oh, would you looka' here: they are opening! The Black Girls are the quintessential Richmond party band and will sure get the crowd rolling in the aisles with their triumphant booty shaking rock. Goldrush are exactly the same. What a night this is shaping up to be.
Friday, December 14, 8 p.m.
EQ Producktions& Quiva present 4th Annual Xmas Party featuring Kick Rocks, Mekong Express, DJs Milly Badison, Mammals, Groove Status @ Canal Club - $15 Advance - www.thecanalclub.com - $18 Door / 18+
It will definitely be a banner Christmas at the EQ & Quiva households this year, as Kick Rocks headlines another stellar Xmas party for EQ and Quiva. Kick Rocks is Jon "The Barber" Gutwillig of the Disco Biscuits – Guitar, Mike Greenfield of Lotus – Drums, Clay Parnell of Brothers Past – Bass, and Eli Winderman of Dopapod – Keys. This super group will ensure funky grooves to get all the collegiate people dancing. With this event being sponsored by Mekong Restaurant--hey, I was just there--it is only fitting that a super group made up of local performers who regularly play at Mekong join in the festivities. Mekong Express features members of DJ Williams Projekt, Former Champions, Modern Groove Syndicate, the New Belgians, and the Big Payback. This band will also be a boisterous cavalcade of the funky.
Opening, and spinning between sets at this explosive evening of delightful electronic jam music will be DJs Milly Badison, Mammals, and Groove Status.
Saturday, December 15,
Band of Horses, Jason Lytle (of Grandaddy) @ The National - $25 Adv – www.Ticketmaster.com / $30 Door
I think this show is very close to selling out, but if you get the chance, Band of Horses is a wonderful band to take a date to. I think it’s also safe to say that she might have sex with you after the show. So, here you go--let’s review: take said date to, say, Edo’s, Black Sheep, Tio Pablo, or Cous Cous. Then drive to the show, park in the deck, not on street--because by paying for a deck space, you’ll look even more impressive, and cutie doesn’t have to walk as far in those new pumps. Then enter the National and bolt left, not right, because that bar is quicker in my opinion. Then drink, and drink some more.
Catch at least the end of Jason Lytle. Mention Grandaddy, so it looks like your mister music aficionado. Grasp your beard as you talk about music with cutie. This will make you appear astute. Then as Kings of Leon--oops, I’m sorry--Band of Horses start to perform, get up close, and once Coldplay--oops, sorry--Band of Horses plays her favorite song, put your arm around her. As she leans over to you and whispers in your ear how much she loves seeing Fleet Foxes, just play it off, and continue to sway your hips like only white people can do. After the show, hopefully you’re both a bit tipsy. Take a couple more hits off the bowl en route to Ipanema. While at Ipanema, have a few more drinks. Then take her back to your Monument Avenue apartment, and bam! It’s on. Hold hands, you two love birds!
Sunday, December 16, 10 p.m.
Ninjasonik, Jah C & Jason Spain (the Blackness), Lloyd Vines @ Strange Matter - $10/18+
Wow, Ninjasonik is in town. Brooklyn’s Ninjasonik is reinventing New York hip hop, and you must endure. Punk and hip hop do mix, and it’s all here tonight. These guys are going to get bigger and bigger, so this is a superb chance to witness the talent of Reverend McFly and Telli Gramz, at the matter that is so strange. Any group listing GG Allin, ODB, and James Brown as influences are instantly friends of mine.
As if this show wasn’t already perfect, Jah C & Jason Spain of the Blackness, will be tormenting the microphone right after that third beer kicks in. That dandy of an emcee from Virginia Beach, Lloyd Vines, takes a break from Mount Trashmore and opens this soirée.
Monday, December 17, 8 p.m.
Fight Cloud, The Northerners @ The Camel– Free/All Ages
Fighting a visible mass of liquid droplets, or frozen crystals made of water, or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body, is an extraordinary feat. Hear it for real as Sterling, Virginia’s alternative post punk math rock band, Fight Cloud, takes the stage at the Camel. This band may be young, but is already turning heads. Born from the basements of house shows, Fight Cloud is ready to take on venues. A perfect band for a Monday, Fight Cloud will deliver you the very best on their current take on a nineties sound.
For even more straight ahead rock and roll, arrive early, so you can also catch Richmond’s the Northerners. The Northerners are another young Richmond band climbing the ranks. This again is one of those "do something different on a Monday night" type shows I recommend.
Tuesday, December 18, 7:30 p.m.
Freaky J & the Bears, Quiet Clouds, Send Away Stranger, Springtime @ Gallery 5– Price at door/All Ages
If it’s Tuesday night, then it must be another stalwart emo, pop, and melodic punk party show at Jackson Ward’s God on a corner, Gallery 5. Richmond’s Springtime will make you forget winter as they infest you with power chords and a journey to the slam dance. Quiet Clouds - what’s up with all these bands with the word “Cloud” in them? Weren’t we just getting over bands with “owls” in the names? Anyway, Quiet Clouds are actually loud with their lovely math rock from Tallahasse. Then Send Away Stranger, oh my, Send Away Stranger will punch you right in the knickers with emotional poignancy. Last but not least don’t forget to saddle up to the stage for the emotion conduits of Freaky J & the Bears. Hey kids, get of my lawn! There’s no lawn at Gallery 5. So go crazy, kids, go crazy.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)