FEATURE SHOW
Thursday, March 21, 10 p.m.
Zs, Guardian Alien, Suppression, Caves Caverns, Flesh Control @ Strange Matter - $8/18+
Led by the great saxophonist Sam Hillmer, Zs is a New York City based experimental band that can quite easily be construed as Avant-garde. This trio, featuring three classically trained musicians, is that band you really need to see if you care anything about live music. Comprised of a tenor sax, drums, and an electric guitar, along with other musical delights, this band turns their shows into movements. Zs is a thinking person’s band--yes, the kind of music that consists of stretching the bounds on what live instruments can do. If you are looking for the true meaning of experimentation, then Zs is for you. Zs definitely is for those in the know, as they have garnered big time favorable reviews in the New York Times, Brooklyn Vegan and in Pitchfork. Their most recent LP is Score: The Complete Sextet Works: 2002-2007, which consists of work from the band’s early days as a sextet. Don’t be surprised if Zs pull from a whole spectrum of material from their thirteen years of making sensational music. I say this sometimes about bands, and it certainly applies here: this is a musician’s band. Seeing that everyone in Richmond is a musician, I expect you all to come out to this show.
Joining Zs on tour are fellow New Yorkers Guardian Alien. If you missed Guardian Alien the past couple of times they've been through the City of Monuments, then here’s your chance to see a band everybody is talking about. Guardian Alien is a five piece led by percussionist Greg Fox, who will be doing double duty by the way, as he is Zs’ current drummer as well. You might know him also as the ex-drummer for the black metal band Liturgy. Guardian Alien is beyond incredible. They drive home a sound that explodes inside your heart, and after one listen to the beautifully altered vocals of Alex Drewchin, you are sold. Damn, this girl can sing, and then throw in Fox’s percussion; Guardian Alien is one of the greats.
Richmond’s Suppression, that violent duo of indefinable grind-core; the outer space surf charge of Caves Caverns; and noise God Leo Heinzel’s Flesh Control open this show of shows. See you there!
Wednesday, March 20, 9 p.m.
Right On Productions 3rd Anniversary featuring Long Arms, Horsehead, Carl Anderson @ The Camel - $5/ 18+
Breton Pezzelle and Right On Productions have quietly become a force in bringing Richmond quality live music. Whether it’s just about any outdoor festival or concert series you can think of in metro Richmond, Right On Productions is behind it in some way. The quietness is fading as Right On is right on target to take over the city. A celebration of three years of endless hard work will transpire tonight with a stellar lineup featuring Long Arms (which by the way, sure would be nice to have), Horsehead, and the mighty Carl Anderson.
Long Arms is a glorious stew made up of indie punk folk with a dash of twang-pop that will have you moving like a kangaroo. The rock and country sound of Horsehead continues to move full steam ahead towards these bearded lads having a national following. Horsehead’s music is poignant beyond the light fantastic. Opening this marvelous celebration will be the all entertaining music of Carl Anderson. Out of Charlottesville, Anderson makes all the right moves as an up and coming Americana artist whose music definitely must be seen, heard, and admired.
Congratulation on three years and counting, Right On Productions. Here’s to a forthcoming future of amazing live music for Richmond.
Thursday, March 21, 8 p.m.
The Littlest Viking, Little Tybee, Color Feels, Night Idea, Dumb Waiter @ Gallery 5– $6/All Ages
Whittier, California’s The Littlest Viking come to Jackson Ward with their incredible take on instrumental prog-rock. This duo can sound like a symphony if given the chance. They may be prog-rock, but there are many jazz influences spewing from a far-reaching sound that is only an echo of the comprehensive sound that is California. The Littlest Viking may be as chaotic as a Shockoe Bottom brawl between a redneck and a cop, but the layers of progression only keeps you demanding more while settling in onto the night. If you enjoy maestros such as Richmond/Philadelphia’s GULL, or Navi, then this band is up your alley.
Little Tybee, out of Atlanta, is a high rising indie band that meshes nicely with The Littlest Viking. Touring in support of their forthcoming LP For Distant Viewing on Paper Garden Records, Little Tybee is a five piece full of immeasurable sounds your ear cannot wait to curl up to.
Nashville’s Color Feels is a divine dream pop band reminiscent of a spaghetti western. Think of the band Spindrift when thinking of Color Feels. I love what I’ve heard so far, as I climbed inside a dream and I can’t get out. Neither will you; all the more reason to check out this bonafied night of musical bliss.
Local indie band Night Idea and the progressive Avant-garde math rock band Dumb Waiter add local support to this “show, you just have to attend.”
Friday, March 22, 8 p.m.
The Mantras @ The Camel - $10/18+
Greensboro, North Carolina’s The Mantras have gone from worst to first in only four years in the jam band world. No longer a regional band, these guys are the next best thing nationwide with their funk, electronic and progressive rock all blended with a jazz improvisation that gets the kids up on the hops. Looking for emotional, heartfelt music to go along with your backwards baseball cap and Patagonia Vest? Well here you go. Touring in support of their current EP Jam Bands Ruined My Life, The Mantras are setting the standards in live music.
Having The Mantras at a venue the size of the Camel is a solid, so grab all your bros and hacky-sack your way down to 1621 W. Broad St. for what can only be described as the jam band event of the season.
Saturday, March 23, 10:30 p.m.
White Laces, The Young Sinclairs @ Balliceaux - $5/21+
Currently on tour together, White Laces and the Young Sinclairs are a special blend of independent rock and roll that is driven to reject your musical doldrums. White Laces continue to be that A-List Richmond band with their unique sound that crosses our dreams at conscious and subconscious. Easily one of the best bands in Richmond, they continue to grow with a psychedelic dream sound that captures everyone’s imagination. As spirited as it is to hear a set from White Laces, it’s even more spirited for you to take in White Laces’ latest LP Moves. Moves moves (so to speak), and it’s obvious why this album was in everyone’s top 5 of 2012 from Richmond’s music scene. I personally had it in the top one. Hold on a second, I’m going to put it on now. Yep, still sounds amazing. Anyway, White Laces is just getting started, and whenever they play live, it’s an event. Having Roanoke’s Young Sinclairs as part of the dance card from heaven just puts an exclamation mark on the matter.
Sunday, March 24, 7 p.m.
Ora Cogan, Haints in the Holler, Ben Shirley, In Sheep's Clothing @ Gallery 5 - $5/All Ages
Ora Cogan, the marvelous lo-fi soul musician out of British Columbia, comes to Jackson Ward with a hardcore dose of guitar and vocals in every direction. Ora Cogan delivers a potpourri of sounds that will transfix your mind. One listen to this talented lady and you’ve won the lottery. If it isn’t Ora’s talents as a maestro of guitar strumming, her voice will keep you satisfied from beginning to end. There are no lulls with Ora Cogan. Her voice is as sweet as molasses. Anyone that has shared a stage with Hope Sandoval is a friend of mine, so of course I can’t wait to see Ora up close and live in person.
Richmond up and comers Haints in the Holler are a perfect fit to this bill with their wonderfully beautiful folk rock with an incorporation of bluegrass. People are talking, and they are talking about Haints in the Holler. The banjo supremacy of Ben Shirley and the razor sharp Americana/country-folk sounds of Richmond’s In Sheep’s Clothing open this epic night of roots rock and roll coupled with peachy vocals. If you want to get to the core of music, then I suggest you make it a Jackson Ward evening at Gallery 5 tonight.
Monday, March 25, 10 p.m.
Peach Kelli Pop (photo by Hayden Shiebler), Warm Soda, Wolf//Goat, The Ar-Kaics, Tom Blacklung And The Smokestacks @ Strange Matter - $8/18+
Continuing on the talented female guitarist from Canada trend this week in Richmond, Ottawa’s Peach Kelli Pop comes to Richmond with her incredible force of magic. Peach Kelli Pop is the lo-fi pop punk project of Allie Hanlon and whatever musician friends she can muster up to record and tour with. Hanlon’s Peach Kelli Pop is catchy beyond words. Also, you've got to love the fact Peach Kelli Pop is named after a Redd Kross song. And, yes there are similarities in Hanlon and Redd Kross’ music. This is the kind of music you’ll be singing in your car on your way home after the show.
Touring in support of their LP Someone for You on the Castle Face label, Warm Soda showers all listeners with exquisite pop rock and roll. This is real pop, so get in line accordingly. Tom Blacklung and the Smokestacks will have you coughing up joy while listening to their dirty rock and roll.
Richmond’s answer to the wild bunch, Wolf//Goat with their ravishing take on alt-country, and the garage rock sounds from The Ar-Kaics, open this Olympic sized event at Strange Matter.
Tuesday, March 26, 10 p.m.
HIT PLAY & The Midnight Suggestion presents comedians Duncan Trussell, David Marie-Garland, Michal Ketner @ Strange Matter - $15/18+
Not music, but funny as all hell comedy. You know you need that in your pathetic lives from time to time. I know I do. The good folks at Hit Play and the Midnight Suggestion continue to bring Richmonders real comedians. This show is no exception, and has the makings of being one of the funniest nights in Richmond since they burnt it down back in 1865.
Multifaceted writer, actor, and stand-up comedian Duncan Trussell is not to be missed. This funny man is hellaciously hilarious, and he will fork you in the gut with out of control laughter. Trussell’s TV credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Funny or Die, Mad TV, and Stupidface. It’s a safe bet you have seen this guy in some way shape or form - perhaps you just didn’t notice. This show is well worth it, and I can’t think of a better place for comedy than on Grace St. across from VCU’s police station--which by the way, used to be a head shop. Go figure?
The two funniest people in Richmond, David Marie-Garland and Michal Ketner open this laugh basket full of jokes and weird oddities.
Tuesday, March 26, 8 p.m.
Vinyl Conflict PresentsIron Lung, Neo Cons, Dream Decay, Unholy Thoughts, Organ Donor @ Gallery 5. All ages/$8 in advance/$10 at the door. Advance tickets available here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5693603722/eorg
Not a day goes by that I don’t thank Satan for that big ole little record store in Oregon Hill we all know and love, Vinyl Conflict. Well, Brandon Ferrell, the owner of Vinyl Conflict, also delivers to Richmond amazing punk rock shows from time to time. Tonight at Gallery 5 is one of them.
Iron Lung is a self described two-piece of punk power violence devastation. Neo Cons are hardcore punk that will pierce any solace you had in life, while Dream Decay is just madness. Music is in decay and with no doubt, Dream Decay proves that point rich, wide, and true. Its punk rawk! Local punk freaks Organ Donor and Unholy Thoughts, Pope Francis’ favorite band, open this wicked sick fantasy of vivid punk rock glory.
Tuesday, March 26, 9 p.m.
Sports Bar, The Leeves, Dumpster, Loose Teeth @ Bellytimber– Free/21+
Sports Bar is currently on tour and Richmond, their hometown, is one of the cities on said tour. Wait, is that possible? Can you really have your hometown be in the middle of the tour? I mean, are they allowed to spend the night in their own beds? Or will they just get a room at the Red Carpet Inn on Sherwood Ave? I guess we’ll find out Tuesday night. Sports Bar is touring in support of their new cassette tape/internet download EP, Tyler Perry’s Sports Bar. Now a quartet, this group is straight-out killing it of late. Kemper Blair’s vocals are on par with Jesus's, and every song has a meaning that can only have us bouncing off mountains. Then there is Stuart “Bernie” Holt's drums; man that boy can slam. New guys Brent Delventhal, the miracle guitarist in town, and Mark Miller, fill the lineup perfectly if you ask me.
North Carolina’s the Leeves state that they play songs for their friends. Well let me just add that their full-on rock songs are so good, strangers will want to hear them too. Also from North Carolina is Dumpster. They are a three piece of powerful rock and rock goose bumps. Loose Teeth are new to the game, but if they are on this bill, then they have to be Bootsy Collins good, you know? See you at the show, as Tuesday night is the new Friday night!
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)