FEATURE SHOW
Saturday, June 1, 10 p.m.
The Resignators, Bucket, Hotel X @ Strange Matter - $10/18+
Holy City of Monuments! Look who is back in town! Tonight will be a big time homecoming for ex-Richmonder Steve Douglas. For the past 8 years, Steve have been living in Koala bear country, aka Australia. Steve has been a part, at one time or another, of many seminal Richmond bands, such as GWAR, Death Piggy, Log, The Shiners, Dirtball, Snakehandlers, and Mudd Helmut. Get this, it really is a homecoming, Steve also worked booking the old Twisters, now Strange Matter, for many years. You can thank Steve for bringing in - when they were nobody, mind you - Rancid, Green Day, Butthole Surfers, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Dropkick Murphy’s, Morphine, and many more! All of them played this room as a result of Steve’s efforts. In addition Steve, one of the greatest Richmonders of all time (no shit, I mean that), worked at Plan 9 as well as Planetary Records, The Factory/Rockitz (where Empire is now), and The Flood Zone. If that wasn’t enough, this guy also cofounded Tornado Design, which was the one-stop for most RVA club posters and dozens of local band CD covers back in the day.
Tonight, Steve returns to a Grace St. stage he helped make famous with his Aussie band, The Resignators, a Ska punk band out of Melbourne. Joining Steve on the bill will be the old school and absolutely divine Avant-garde world beat jazz ensemble Hotel X, and those melodic alt-rockers Bucket, who are celebrating their 20th year. Be at this show, Richmond. Steve deserves it. He’s the guy that got us here.
Wednesday, May 29, 10 p.m.
The Shack Band @ Cary St. Café– Free/21+
The Shack Band are about to take over the world. What actually started in a shack in Blacksburg three years back has now morphed into a funky jazz rock band with improvisational jam roots, now based in Richmond. This band continues to grow as musicians and has developed a fan base that is as loyal as a baby cub to its mother. This band will get you moving, toe tapping, and flat-out dancing until you just have to get another beer. This band is serious when it comes to performing, but the fun and jocularity coexist quite well with Andrew Gillespie’s keyboard and vocals, Mason Owen’s bass and vocals, Hunter Pease’s guitar and vocals, Josh Crowley’s saxophone, and of course Bobby Hudson’s precision drums. It’s the middle of the week, so what do you do? You head over to SOFA (South of the Fan) and walk into that big yellow house that looks like Jerry Garcia’s colon. There, you’ll witness--for free, by the way--the Shack Band. The way they play, they are sure to be the Mansion Band in no time.
Thursday, May 30, 9 p.m.
Charged Up Ent & Fam Thick present Big Show mixtape release party featuring Noah O, Big Show, Slim Da Lt., GP, Yankee, Von Did Dat, Its, Nitti, Mr. Bobby Fresh, Big Fred, Tae G, V Marley, Stream Tizzle @ The Camel - $5/18+
Local rapper Big Show has a marvelous mixtape out, and if Noah O is behind it, then get ready, because you know it will be bumpin’. The Richmond streets are abuzz tonight, as some of the best underground emcees are ready to take the crown. But, watch out, microphone--Big Show and Noah will have you on lock. Word to everything that is pure Richmond hip hop. As usual the Camel will blast off as Noah O is in the house redefining Richmond’s sound and fashions. Hip hop is Richmond, Virginia, so get to it, yo!
Thursday, May 30, 6 p.m.
Carbon Leaf @ Groovin in the Garden (Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens) - $20/All Ages
Carbon Leaf has been a staple in Richmond’s perfect music scene. These guys have been there and done that. Their special blend of Irish Celtic and American rock music is on top of the tops. Crowds worship these local heroes and so do I. I could not think of a better spot to hear and take in Carbon Leaf than those lovely gardens that go by the name of Lewis Ginter. Ginter was that productive Richmonder that amassed a great fortune in the tobacco industry by providing technology for rolling cigarettes. Carbon Leaf has amassed great musical fortunes by providing stellar tunes for everyone to enjoy. Sure, there are other great things to do tonight, but Carbon Leaf lights the fires that have you and your significant other holding hands and skipping to this pleasure cruise on land.
Friday, May 31, 9 p.m.
Andy Vaughan & the Driveline, Sarah Shook & the Devil (pictured above) @ Poe’s Pub - $5/21+
It’s a perfect time for true genuine honky-tonk, and it is delivered to you tonight by some of the best around. First up is Richmond’s Andy Vaughn & the Driveline. This is a band that must be heard. Between Vaughn’s straight-out-of-the-saloon vocals and the truly authentic country music along with western swing and Americana, Andy Vaughan and the Driveline never disappoint. Let me say that again--Andy Vaughan and the Driveline never disappoint.
Joining Andy and the boys will be a spectacular cowgirl... and Beelzebub. Well, really it's North Carolina’s Sarah Shook and the Devil. This true-to-form country and western band is science. They get down and they stay down, all while belting out scorching country originals, and of course, some Hank Williams numbers. By the way, the Devil? Well that’s really Jon Baughman slapping that 1964 Kay bass. Yes, he gets all the girls. Straight bourbon for everyone!
Saturday, June 1, 9 p.m.
Rob Williams, The Atkinsons, The Trailer Court Marshalls @ The Camel $5/18+
Local veteran of the Richmond music scene, singer songwriter, and elite guitarist Rob Williams has a new CD, A Place in the Sun, and he’s celebrating that fact tonight. Williams’ musical career bridges the gap between the 80s high school kid that reinvented style and a mature songwriter whose cookbook full of prevalent song recipes is a number one bestseller. Whether it be leading the charge with the ex-Richmond alt-rock outfit of destiny, Contoocook Line (featuring future members of Pavement), or the Americana rock outfit Joe Buck Jr., Rob Williams has proven he can stand the test of time. Hearing of his solo effort had me saying, "It’s about time!" Williams is, without a doubt, thanks to four decades of quality songwriting, worthy of going it alone. His music is more beautiful than a royal flush, so Google 1621 W. Broad St. right now. For Williams’ live appearance tonight, ex band mates bassist Hamby Carter and drummer Joe Wharf join in to give Rob Williams new CD that extra special live launch that will have people screaming for more.
Opening this evening will be two of Richmond’s best saloon and alt-country rock bands, The Atkinsons and Trailer Court Marshalls. I know, I know, you don’t need to tell me. This night will be a night of miracles.
Saturday, June 1, 6 p.m.
The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Faceless, Seraph @ Kingdom - $16/All Ages
The hardcore punk band Dillinger Escape Plan comes to Richmond with an amazing catalog of experimental metal music. Since 1997 this band has performed diligently to packed houses and scores of listeners on alternative radio stations. Now a five piece, Dillinger Escape Plan leans more towards a progressive sound that embodies math rock, yet with an explosive vocalist in Greg Puciato. You never know what you’ll get from Puciato, but he, along with the rest of the band are truly worth the price of admission. This is one of the bigger shows to come around Kingdom, so I think you should be there.
The LA death metal band the Faceless actually does have a face, and it’s the future of powerful death metal. If you want technical with your metal, then Faceless is for you.
The Richmond thrash metal gurus Seraph lend local support, possibly along with some other soon-to-be-announced local metal bands. What a show this is going to be. I will speed violently down to the Bottom for this baby with a big dick.
Sunday, June 2, 10 p.m.
Live at Ipanema featuring Jonathan Vassar (Photo by Rob Jefferson) @ Ipanema– Free/21+
Jonathan Vassar makes a triumphant return to that beauty of an underground bar/restaurant, Ipanema. I think it’s safe to say that the girl and guy are from Ipanema tonight. Vassar will be performing solo tonight, but this singer songwriter’s voice is so enchanting that it will sound like two hundred humming birds. Vassar is Richmond music, not only because of his immense talent, but also because this guy is behind the Listening Room series, runs the glorious label Triple Stamp Press, and is the absolute definition of a renaissance man. Vassar will have your spirits soaring as he performs both old stuff we all know and love and new songs soon to be on an album. See you on Grace St. tonight. You know where, right next to or across from those--what is it up to now? 998 dorms and 335 restaurants featuring cuisine from the Pacific Rim? Funny thing here, not to get off track, but as I’m writing this, VCU just built a dorm on my head. Where’s the Advil? Anyway, bookmark this event!
Monday, June 3, 8 p.m.
Best Coast, Guards @ The National - $18/All Ages
Look who is back in Richmond--it's Best Coast. This lo-fi dream pop duo, led by the sensational vocals of Bethany Cosentino, is ecstasy on the ears. While on tour they pick up the best drummers your mind can conjure up, so run downtown tonight. Monday is the new Friday. Usually your Monday nights suck, let’s be honest; but catching this show tonight will send your ability to lust among the stars. It's a no brainer.
There is a ton of talk on the street regarding Guards. No, not back court players in basketball, but Guards the band. Guards are a three-piece new wave power pop band that’s sounds better and better as the MP3’s flow. Catch these high risers now because we all know these Guards can play, and it’s only a matter of time before they enter the NBA Draft. Oops sorry, I meant the rock and roll world of praise. Yeah, that’s right, the RRWP.
Tuesday, June 4, 10:30 p.m.
Wyatt Blair (Photo from Surfing Magazine), The Ar-Kaics @ The Well (formerly Cous Cous) – Donations please/21+
Californian Wyatt Blair comes to town tonight, and he’s bringing his highly praised glam garage rock outfit, straight out of a 60s beach movie starring T-Rex with guest appearances from the Vivian Girls. This no bones about it, scaled down, dirty Pez-dispensing fuzzy garage band consists of members of the highly touted Peach Kelli Pop and Marz & the Mess. Touring in support of the Banana Cream Dream cassette on the Burger Records label (I know, I’m suddenly hungry too), Wyatt Blair is a can’t-miss maestro. The Well--the old Cous Cous--is back, and I feel better than ever. There is plenty of space now for bands, and with the enlarging of the bar, oh my Shafer Courts, the Well is a legit venue for the severely talented. Hence the appearance of Wyatt Blair and all his banana splits, bread, and pudding. Richmond 60s garage trash kings The Ar-Kaics open this dandelion.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)