What's the coolest thing about going to shows in the springtime? Not only do we have a band called that, but we have some pretty righteous amounts of pollen. More people are making the scene as it's getting warmer, and allergy sufferers are popping a few Zyrtec and persevering. We have so many awesome things coming up this month, including this weekend's Record Store Day, which is also Earth Day,
We have a full plate this month, so let's get to it:
If you frequent Sounds of RVA then you may know that we hold Mean Jeans (Portland) in the highest esteem. Well, the trio of punks is making another stop in Richmond on Thursday (4/18), so we decided to ask them a few questions before their arrival. Billy Jeans (guitar, vocals) and Jeans Wilder (drums, vocals) took some time to answer some questions right as they are leaving for an east coast tour (starting in Baltimore 4/17).
What is your favorite part about touring?
Jeans Wilder: Sleeping on stranger's doggie beds and eating shit tons of fast food.
Billy Jeans: Surviving on alcohol, no sleep, and the occasional cheeto.
What's your favorite way to get weird?
JW: I like to stand on very busy street corners and do absolutely nothing.
BJ: I'll assume this question got cut off and you were asking about my favorite way to get Weird Al memorabilia. There's a place called Wolfgang's Vault where you can get vintage ticket stubs, and what not. I'm kind of a regular.
What is cool about the Portland music scene?
JW: I suppose it's cool that on any given night there is probably a show or two going on involving one of your friend's bands, or a band you like. So you never have to sit alone in the corner of your apartment weeping out of loneliness. Unless you want to.
BJ: Lots of people playing in bands for the fun of it, without taking themselves too seriously.
When you've come through Richmond before, did we act like assholes or did we bring it right?
JW: Dude, no way! Y'all were very nice! All six of you that came to the show!
BJ: I talked to two of those six and they seemed pretty OK. We were going to play Strange Matter again this time around, but they were having a Juggalo Family event--for real!
Since you're OG from DC, did you guys ever come down to Richmond to see shows?
JW: I personally never did but I betcha these other two chukklebusterz in the band prolly did fersher.
BJ: Yeah, I used to spend a fair amount of time in Richmond. Enough to have been to Strange Matter under 4 or 5 different names. I wish it was still called Twisters, considering how twisted I typically get in Richmond.
What have you been listening to lately?
JW: I have been listening to a lot of the Memories, Rush and OMD.
BJ: The Congos, Waka Flocka, KISS.
Will you describe one of your favorite shows you've played?
JW: We played an ultra-hectic double-header at the FEST in Gainesville, FL last year. We were Kepi Ghoulie's backing band at one bar (the very first set of that year's FEST) and then we were rushed in a limo to the Thunderdome down the street and played a Mean Jeans show to an enormous captive audience. It was awesome and we wanna go back! Those guys rule.
BJ: We played 4 nights in a row in Stockholm on a boat during the week where the sun never sets. The fest was called Whole Lotta Midsommar. That was prolly the best, prolly.
Don't miss Mean Jeans on Thursday, 4/18 @ The Nile with touring buddies Hollywood (Baltimore), The Shirks (DC), and Big No (RVA). 10:30 pm, $donation$. The ol' Facebook event invite says it'll be 91 degrees and thunderstorming, so it'll be perfect. Here is their track from the Mean Jeans/Hollywood split 7" that came out in 2011:
Jae "Dilly" Dallas, from the label ThaLSD (Tha Living Sickness Design), has released one of the iller tracks of 2013. With a dissonant intro that flows into a heady, discordant beat, "Bare With Me" grooves high and low. Cypress Hill would be impressed.
ThaLSD also has releases from Trance da Chancellor, including a video called "Michael Jackson," which is the first cut from a mixtape called Foreal O'Neal and features the aforementioned Jae Dallas. Look for a review of Foreal O'Neal on Sounds of RVA this week. "Michael Jackson" is just below:
Basmati, formerly known as Elders, just released an EP of lo-fi and acoustic tracks from the band's previous incarnation called Calico/Kachina. Now a part of The Subterranea Collective, Basmati just released an EP of their own in March, so check them both out. Listen to "No More Kings" for soft, trancey psychedelia. The track has several movements or sections and each has an Afro-beat quality.
Silversmiths just released a new EP recorded by Allen Bergendahl at both Sound of Music Studios and Allen's new spot, Scott's Addition Sound. Silversmiths' brand of post-rock is both new wave and rootsy (especially in the first track, "Give It Nothing"). There's a slight resemblance to REM.
photo by Stephen Eldred
Aux Send is a music show that focuses on one band per episode. Run by Doug Stanford, Aux Send showcases local, regional and national bands and is broadcast to parts of central Virginia through PBS. Unfortunately, Richmond is not one of the lucky jurisdictions. Here is the band Night Idea from the Subterranea Collective. Get to know the dudes behind the music and watch a performance or two. The math rock tracks involve unique vocal harmonies and progressive guitar licks.
Anthony Curtis is a singer/songwriter in RVA who has recorded with Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) and Mike Keneally (Zappa). He also seems to have a lot of current solo material. He has released Cadmium Goddess as the Anthony Curtis Band. He sounds a little like The Band, especially in the first and title track. At first we thought the title could refer to cadmium's toxicity or, perhaps, the woman he's speaking about is 48 years old (atomic number 48). But the song is sweet and he goes on to say, "universal queen." Perhaps she is malleable? Rare? Other parts of the album are more subdued and progressive. This is a delightful listen.
By Sarah Moore Lindsey (soundsofrva.org)