FEATURE SHOW
Thursday, March 7, 10 p.m.
Lost Tribe (photo by Sarja Hasan), SGNLS, Hot Guts, Buck Gooter @ Strange Matter - $7/18+ (late)
Right off the bat, this is a Show of the Year candidate. I don’t care if there are 10 inches of snow on the ground - ski, snowboard, walk, slide, or crawl to this show. Wow, I’m dreaming of it right now. Lost Tribe returns triumphantly from their tour, which encompassed the west coast, southeast, and northern parts of our confused United States of America. What wasn’t confusing was the fact Lost Tribe was carrying the torch for Richmond’s music scene.
Sure, go meet up with old fraternity and sorority friends at South-By-Who-Gives-A-Shit-Anymore this weekend, and think that is ‘music.' As for me, tonight, I’m going to see the real thing on Grace St. in Richmond, and not at some elitist city event sponsored by Wal-Mart and overrun by 35,000 Zach Galifianakis clones. Lost Tribe is high quality peace-punk with a layer of divine keyboards on top of gothic templates. This band is the best thing since sliced bread, and if you disagree, you are a fart that can’t get out.
Holy shooting outside a Manchester Military Retirees Club! Philadelphia’s SGNLS is heavily based in drums, tapes, samples, synthesizers and guitars, so you know it will be a uniquely weird poem to this night of full of the bizarre. Touring with SGNLS is another Philly band, Hot Guts, who describe their sound as post industrial. Whether it’s before or after something, I know I love what I just heard from these dark sorcerers.
Can this night get anymore bombastic? It sure can; that devilish duo from Harrisonburg, Buck Gooter, graces us with their presence before they venture off to Europe. If you want orgasmic confusion meshed with a Theremin and guitar, well, this is science.
Wednesday, March 6, 10 p.m.
Isle of Rhodes, The Letting Go& Loose Cannon @ The Nile– price at door/21+
It’s not every day I actually listen to bands that send me stuff via e-mail or Facecrook, but I actually listened to some of Brooklyn’s Isle of Rhodes. This duo is fantastic. Coupled with well written songs and carried out keys and drums, Isle of Rhodes’ sound will have you at inspired. This indie rock and roll steam engine consisting of Robert Farren on keyboards and vocals, along with Colin Behram on percussion, bring back the importance of unique song layers that hold up solid vocals with rosy instrumentals.
Richmond’s The Letting Go--think Avett Brothers--have folk rock roots, but this duo that sometimes invite other musicians to join in insinuate the driving Americana rock and roll sound. Singer songwriters can rock, and The Letting Go provides proof for that notion. Richmond garage rockers Loose Cannon join in this three-for-Wednesday bonus with sheer raw elegance when it comes to banging out the good times.
Yes, there could be a lot of snow on the ground, but as always, Richmond, it’s time to drink. This is the perfect show at which to do just that while you take in some damn good music.
Wednesday, March 6, 10 p.m.
Chloe Sunshine @ Balliceaux – Free/21+
Chloe Sunshine is an all girl surf rock band from NYC by way of California. Take surf and turf and you get a delightful array of musical spectrums driven by Chloe Sunshine. This group is a positive smile in a world of dour bands and musicians. It comes out in their music too. Balliceaux will be a lovely venue for this trio of young ladies to spread their lo-fi music to your waiting ears. If you are a fan of the Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, or Cults, this is a band for you. Lombardy Street here we come.
Thursday, March 7, 6 p.m.
Inter Arma (LP Release), Devil's Hand, Men’s Room @ Strange Matter - $5/All Ages (early)
I’ll admit it - this is a co-show of the week. Why wouldn’t it be? Inter Arma, already the next big thing, is the best thing this very second. Their brand of psychedelic doom metal has everyone talking. This matinee is the perfect chance to give these local favorites a bon voyage; they are about to set sail on a worldwide tour in support of their release Sky Burial, their debut LP on the Relapse label.
Inter Arma continues to climb based on sheer talent, of course, as well as a defining album, and the fact they are from Richmond, Virginia – home of metal. Don’t miss these guys, Earth, don’t miss them at all! Com out, celebrate Randy being free, celebrate metal, and most of all celebrate a perfect LP from the Inter Arma kids. What’s next? These guys on the cover of Time Magazine? Wouldn’t surprise me.
A band more people, including you, need to be more aware of is the fabulous hardcore punk metal sounds of Richmond’s Devil’s Hand. Damn, these guys flat out soar with superb vocals, guitar, and a backend to die for. If this band doesn’t get you moving, well, it’s a foregone conclusion that you are an invalid.
Richmond punkers Men’s Room open this all ages show that is sure to pack the palace with weirdos, drunks, druggies, users, losers, winners, psychopaths, freaks, geeks, gamers, metal heads, hair, blackness, and tax write offs.
Friday, March 8, 10 p.m.
Jackie Scott and the Housewreckers @ Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall - $10/18+
The real tragedy in Richmond hasn’t been the numerous unpaved roads, but the lack of quality blues bands, let alone blues singers, from here or nearby. Hampton Roads residents Jackie Scott & the Homewreckers are here tonight to change that.
Jackie Scott & the Housewreckers are heavily influenced by Chicago style blues. Jackie Scott even lived in Chicago for a bit honing her craft as a vocalist. In Chicago, Jackie Scott became the blues. Now back in Virginia she is ready to spread her calling with her electrifying backup band, the Homewreckers. She has opened for Taj Mahal, BB King, and many other blues giants. Also, Jackie Scott is a regular on the blues festival circuit. So I’m telling you, this show is mandatory and is not to be missed.
Saturday, March 9, 7 p.m.
Proverbial, Three Legged Fox, Lazy Man Dub Band, b. Funk @ Canal Club - $15/18+
Proverbial is celebrating four years as a band, and as they continue to flourish, I demand you go see these lads up close and personal. Slam dunk and beat a coyote in a foot race! This show is going to be insane. Proverbial’s brand of reggae, hip hop, and funk rock is a resourceful combination. This band continues a steady climb towards regional appreciation. Pretty soon, the national scope will be focused on Proverbial. High energy is an understatement when describing Proverbial and their tribal ballistic endeavors. I’m moving and shaking just writing about this band of opportunity. Climb outside of the morning and jump into the night with Proverbial.
Philadelphia funk jam band Three Legged Fox outfoxes all of us as they set the night right with their own take on high energy. Lazy Man Dub Band is that authentic roots reggae band we all need in our lives. So, with these two bands, along with b. Funk, opening this miracle by the canal, I will see you there.
Sunday, March 10, 10 p.m.
Kepone, Office of Future Plans, Daria (pictured above by Simon Jourdan) @ Strange Matter - $10/18+
Kepone must really be enjoying their comeback, because they are playing all over the place. Michael Bishop and the boys are finally making a triumphant return to 929 Grace St. and will be breaking a bottle of champagne alongside the brick and mortar of Strange Matter tonight. If you haven’t seen this seminal Richmond indie/post punk band from back in the day, aka the nineties, well once again, here is your chance. These guys are hall of famers, and even better, they rock like a bat-out-of-hell eagle.
France’s Daria is a melodic, yet loud rock band that has been doing it as long as Kepone. These guys are as delightful as an Éclair--come to the show, and you’ll see what I mean.
Office of Future Plans not only has an awesome band name, but these post punk cats from Baltimore will have you in awe with their raucous rock and roll tango. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday – Richmond Drag Way! – I mean, Strange Matter.
Monday, March 11, 8 p.m.
My Darling Fury, Wayfarer (pictured above), Sleepy Brother, Dalliance @ The Camel– Free/18+
Monday’s indie rock with a touch of folk renaissance at the Camel is becoming the night of nights. Whip out those old Carol Channing albums, turn up the volume, get in the shower, get nice, and then slide on down Broad St. to catch quality music that is folk, indie, and alternative. You know, the three wise men. I haven’t got a clue when it comes to writing about bands that normally get the exclusive Monday night slot at The Camel, but I do know this: if I was a girl, I’d be really into My Darling Fury. They are a fury of machismo, and downright good musicians. I can’t decide what I like better, their music or their t-shirts.
Also, do watch out for the high rising singer/songwriter duo of Sleepy Brother. They usually have me entranced. Local singer/songwriter and creative guy extraordinaire Wayfarer, aka Nik Piscitello, must be given a serious listen as well.
Look, I say this a lot, and I mean it--do something different in your life, and go out on a Monday night. Check out The Camel, which never turns its back--or hump, I should say--on live music. It’s a win-win every Monday night at the Camel.
Tuesday, March 12, 10 p.m.
VAZ, Multicult, Bermuda Triangles, New Turks @ Strange Matter - $8/18+
The city of Minneapolis gave us the influential noise band Hammerhead back in the nineties. Now, out of those ear splitters, we have VAZ, featuring two-thirds of Hammerhead. They are as influential as they are noisy/loud, and your brain will fry like a resident of death row used to back in said nineties. Joining VAZ on tour is Multicult, which consists of some ex-Triac and Fight Amp dudes from up Baltimore way. They are all excited and shit to bludgeon us with some of that scuzz rock that is messy and beautiful, just like Body-more, Murda-land…Holla!
Well if there were two perfect locals to participate in this donnybrook, they without a doubt would have to be Bermuda Triangles, and my new favorite band, New Turks. As you know, Bermuda Triangles are four orangutans that muster the opposite of crowd control as they spearhead a juice mixed with tropical electronics and ten-day-forever drums. Your equilibrium just folded like a map. That’s the best thing to happen to you since your parents forced you to go to that parade where Alan Thicke was the grand marshal. Anyway, back to our program... oh yes, New Turks. Grunge and a tip of noisy garage punk, meshed with a posture full of dance headaches, is what I’d say New Turks delivers. It sure as hell ain’t the mail, but it’s a given Lu, Ethan, and Brandon will go postal.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)