FEATURE SHOW
Friday, February 1, 7 p.m.
WRIR Anniversary – Party for the Rest of Us 8 featuring - Main Stage: Dead Fame, Samson Trinh and the Upper East Side Big Band, Canary Oh Canary, Wolf//Goat, Opening drum ceremony by YoughTaNund. Other performances from: Colloquial Orchestra, The Cheats Movement presents: local hip hop showcase featuring Artik Phreeze, Ms. Proper, Doe the Paperboy, Chris Haskins, Flight Crew, The New Juice Crew, Black Liq, BC Music 1st, Lord Slugg, Bandolero, Swerve 36, RT, Azrael; Richmond Comedy Coalition Presents: Richmond Famous featuring WRIR DJs; Secretly Y'all Storytelling, The Listening Room; music sets from WRIR DJs @ The Renaissance (107 West Broad Street # 300) - $10 Donation/All Ages
Eight years ago an independent community radio station was born. WRIR eight years later has become one of the finest independent radio stations in America. The staff, volunteers, and DJs at WRIR are supermen and women. Their consistent hard work and dedication should be the absolute when describing how to run a radio station. The folks over there know their music--oh my, do they ever. This "little station that could" did, and figured out exactly what real Richmonders want to hear. WRIR DJs play everything you absolutely need to hear 24/7--well, almost 24/7, there’s the left-wing talk radio during the day on weekdays.
I think it’s safe to say that WRIR the best thing to happen in Richmond in the past eight years. Help celebrate eight, and attend this beautiful evening at the beautiful Renaissance Center, right in the heart of the First Fridays Art Walk. If this year’s anniversary party’s music lineup, which represents the best of most music genres, doesn’t get you excited to attend, then go eat a ton of cyanide. Happy anniversary WRIR, Richmond, Virginia truly loves you, and here is to another eight--no wait, make that eighty--years!
Wednesday, January 30, 10 p.m.
Taddy Porter (photo by David Bergman), Filligar, Exit the Beast @ Strange Matter $8/18+
In search of that perfect classic rock throwback with a new technique? Well, look no further than Oklahoma’s Taddy Porter. These Sooners on the fabulous rock and roll label, Primary Wave, are masterful musicians down to the core, who bring back the wide sound that is true rock and roll. Taddy Porter may sound like one person, but Taddy Porter is a quartet of some of the best soulful rock musicians this side of the dust bowl. Gaining momentum from lights out performances on the rock festival circuit, Taddy Porter cannot be missed, as this music explosion conquers all ears.
Joining Taddy Porter on the Strange Matter stage tonight will be Chicago’s Filligar. Filligar has already been mentioned as one of the best bands in America by adequate music rags. Filligar gives you that feel of 1970s arena rock while performing only feet away from you in a tiny club. Filligar is a high riser; this is one of those bands all Richmond music lovers will enjoy, and those who don't make it out tonight will one day claim they were there when Filligar once graced the hallowed grounds of Strange Matter.
Exit the Beast, from right here, features members of Suzukiton, Carbuncle, and Eyeshine. This super group of sorts will open the night’s rock and roll fantasy.
Thursday, January 31, 7 p.m.
Broadway Calls (photo by Lisa Johsnon), Red City Radio, Silver Snakes, Hold Tight! @ Strange Matter - $12/All Ages.
Oh my tattoo-parlors-on-every-corner-in-Richmond! This early evening juggernaut delivers the absolute finest in quality pop-punk. The headliners are a band full of debauchery and rambunctious good times. This trio out of Portland, Oregon will not only amplify your night with their force of music, but will steal your ears. Drink, fight and kiss because Broadway Calls has answered Broad Street’s calls and Josh Baird, Ty Vaughn, and Adam Willis are ready to steal your ears.
Coming along for the ride is Red City Radio, off the wonderful Paper And Plastick label. This punk band is making their triumphant return to Richmond with substance, and they’ll have you slamming with joy. Post-hardcore in the form of LA’s Silver Snakes, and Richmond pop-punk lords Hold Tight, who always get the angst grooving, open this Partridge in a pear tree.
Friday, February 1, 8 p.m.
Rapdragons, The Honorable Sleaze, Ohbliv, Swordplay, James Dangle @ Canal Club - $10/18+
Hip hop and soul go together like a fine vintage from a Virginia vineyard. Tonight provides a case in point. Charm City’s Rapdragons head an evening of magical lyricists meshed with deep beats we could only dream of. Rapdragons are Nick Often and Greg Ward, and hear me now--this duo is serious business. Their use of loops, samples, and hooks are as original-minded and unique as it gets. It’s not that easy to set yourself apart as a rap act, but Rapdragons do just that. They are slayers of any wack emcees out there. And--let’s get this straight--unfortunately America has no shortage of wack emcees.
Defining Richmond street-cred in regards to underground amazement, Just Plain Sounds’ Ohbliv and rapper the Honorable Sleaze, will hold court on the microphone. If you haven’t seen these guys individually or together, it’s a perfect bliss for your listening experience.
Opening this driving-down-the-lane-for-two will be the marvelous poetry in motion of James Dangle, and the gifted man with tongue [that sounds dirty-ed.], Swordplay.
Saturday, February 2, 1 p. m.
Pam Rickman Memorial Concert featuring Barstool Heroes, Cashmere Jungle Lords, Magbats, Cha Cha’s Cadillac @ Cary St. Café - $5/All Ages
Pam Rickman was a delightful person who gave everyone around her spirit. As much as Pam lived for her family and friends and beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, she lived for the music of Richmond. Pam was a true supporter of local live music. She didn’t just talk about it, she lived it. Tonight, a few of Pam’s favorite bands perform to raise money for her family to cover her medical bills. The show is happening during the day, so do yourself a big favor and slide on by Cary Street Café, whether for a few songs or the entire afternoon, and celebrate a wonderful life. The music ranges from honky-tonk to folk to rockabilly, so there'll be something for everyone.
Saturday, February 2, 9 p.m.
Splendid Suns, Toxic Moxie, The Dirty Picture Show @ The Camel– Free/18+
Wow, what a courageous bedfellow this night at the Camel will be. First of all, it’s a CD release for those wild kids of Splendid Suns. I’m going to say this once--from what I’ve heard from the new Splendid Suns CD, it is righteous with a thick juicy rib-eye on the grill. This folk punk band has had my eyebrow turned to their direction for a bit of time now. If you get the chance to dance with the suns that are splendid, oh my, do it. Entertainment is no longer two hookers, an eight ball and a motel room--it's Splendid Suns. Splendid! I tell ya!
Holy orangutan using an iPad! Looks who’s opening for Splendid Suns tonight! The four piece band of funky grooves, the Dirty Picture Show, have found some cleanser, and are ready to rock. Think disco punk is dead? Think again, as Toxic Moxie climbs from underneath Studio 54 to bring Richmonders a spoon-in-nose type of feeling that is as loose as a goose, and dandy like a lion.
Sunday, February 3, 6 p.m.
Malcolm Tent, Julie Karr @ Vinyl Conflict (in-store / 324 S. Pine St. – Oregon Hill) – Donations/All Ages
So you’re not into the Super Bowl, brought to you by capitalism? Neither am I this year, and I like football. However, I like Vinyl Conflict more. Having the chance to see and hear the trashy punk singer-songwriter styles of Malcolm Tent, as well as Julie Karr’s penetrating vocals joined with a cat-like guitar, is way more appealing than celebrating guys jacked up on ‘roids and low brow redneck culture. These song masters will never disappoint, and how candid this show full of grace will be. Oregon Hill is alive and well and still producing the songs of our half generation. Trust me when I say, the other half is lost.
Monday, February 4, 8 p.m.
Right On Productions presents Scott H. Biram, Black Eyed Vermillion, Whiskey Dick @ The Camel - $12/18+
Right On Productions continues to bring Richmond glorious shows. This show is more of an event actually. What a pleasure to have the one man band of blues, punk, country, metal, and Americana. Texas’ Scott H. Biram leaves it all out on the stage with his mesmerizingly violent good old time music. Biram has played everywhere, so this wear and tear musician knows how to captivate an audience. If you were ever to go out on a Monday night, I would certainly make it a night when Scott H. Biram is performing. He’s that good.
Fellow Texans, Black Eyed Vermillion, brings out a self proclaimed hymn-punk-rock. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, these guys might steal the show. Their high intensity is a double down on a shot of whiskey.
Whiskey Dick, and what guy hasn’t had that from time to time, is also from the Lone Star state. This duo of ex metal musicians, Fritz and Reverend Johnson, is a two piece acoustic metal-neck country machine. Now, I’d love to take credit for their music being described as acoustic metal-neck country machine, but I can’t. This comes from Whiskey Dick, as it is the kind of description that makes me want to be first in line to get into this wing-dinger, as it should you.
Tuesday, February 5, 8 p.m.
EQ presents Emancipator, Random Rab, TOR @ Canal Club - $15 Adv - http://thecanalclub.com/online_ticket_center.htm/ $20 Door / 18+
Emancipator is quality trip hop and down tempo music from the gregarious mind of ex-Virginian Douglas Appling, who now calls Portland, Oregon home. Hey, so do Fred Armisen and the girl from Sleater-Kinney... never mind, sorry, where was I? Oh yeah, Emancipator intertwines the production, mixes and live instrumentation of Appling. It truly is a journey through a spiral tunnel dug by a man far more intelligent than the few years he has been on this planet. There’s a ton of DJs out there, but this homecoming for Emancipator is a set you cannot miss. Yes, I’m going to say it, it’s a mandatory show.
Opening for Emancipator will be San Francisco multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Random Rab. Random Rab’s organic take on electronic music has been gaining him better deserved acclaim of late. Touring with Emancipator will just amplify his abilities to make the audience all his. There isn’t a style this man can’t master and make it his own.
Canadian DJ and producer TOR gets the sweat dripping before the aforementioned, with his down tempo melodic beats.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)