FEATURE SHOW
Friday, July 26, 8 p.m.
Black Liquid& The New Juice Crew present Face Melt Friday XVI featuring the very best emcees in Richmond underground Hip Hop @ Strange Matter - $5/18+
Put it this way: like before, Face Melt Friday features every local emcee of merit in Richmond--literally. If you are friends with a local emcee and they are not at this miracle of an event, they are either out of town, doin’ work, or they just aren’t really that good. This night continues to flourish thanks to the masterful curating by Black Liquid. The highlight of the night is certainly when Black Liquid and the New Juice Crew take the mic. Careful, the stage might catch fire! Nah, seriously folks.
Thanks to the miracle beats supplied to you by Swerve 36 and Bandolero, some other emcees I expect to rage tonight will be from true to form wordsmiths Artik Phreeze, Drama J, Fundamental, Goad Gatsby, and Sleaze. But, in all seriousness, all the emcees tonight will have something in the lines of quality lyrics for your street loving ears. Do not miss this event. Unless you’re an invalid, there is no excuse!
For lineup details and further info, click here.
Wednesday, July 24, 10 p.m.
Plastic Visions, The Sediment Club, Tinder Fungus, Roseanne, Short Skirts @ Strange Matter - $7/18+
The lords of foregone conclusions know we will be at this show. Everybody, from the aardvark lady to the penny saving carpenter from Union Hill, will be in attendance. Why? The answer is simple - the sight lines come from Plastic Visions, that noise rock outfit that straddles the meat of sub-consciousness. Hold on to your hats--and if you are headless, I’ll be sure to converse with you from behind.
The Sediment Club comes back to Richmond to break though the cobwebs and updates the cauliflower with a spiritual awakening of no wave post punk. The Sediment Club is one of the best underground bands in America with their nocturnal vocals, bombastic guitar, and ululating percussion.
Tinder Fungus is an archery project gone wrong--but you’re still transfixed by the darkness, or at least by a decent vegetarian diet. I can’t wait for this fireworks show. Short Skirts, which takes influence from every lo-fi disco punk outfit out there, is a local outfit not to miss. Nipsy Russell would be proud. I’m guessing Roseanne is a fat woman married to Dan.
Thursday, July 25, 8 p.m.
Anamanaguchi (photo by Signe Pierce), Kitty, Chipocrite @ Strange Matter - $10 in advance - http://anamanaguchi.eventbrite.com / $12 day of / All Ages.
Oh thank God (who doesn’t exist), more chiptunes. I was getting concerned there for a minute. The kings of the chiptune movement have to be Anamanaguchi. These guys are probably the most listened to band by all the virgins at Comic-Con right now. While rocking a modded Gameboy and NES systems, these cats are settling us in for Armageddon.
Chipocrite is a chiptune enthusiast’s favorite. Chipocrite uses original Nintendo Game Boys. These Game Boys are accompanied by bass, guitar and/or lo-fi sequencers, to create complex audio masterpieces. In other words, I can’t hear myself think, but it’s more than likely I’ll be front and center for this sock hop. You should be too.
Kitty [Pryde], a YouTube sensation--and who isn’t these days--also joins in the fray with the unusual, yet addictive chiptune-mania. [I wouldn't call her music chiptune at all, but you guys have heard way too much about Kitty from me already-ed.]
P.S. This show is very close to selling out, so we advise getting your ticket in advance.
Thursday, July 25, 8 p.m.
Die Sektor, Frontal Boundary, Little Black Rain Clouds (pictured above) @ Fallout– $7/18+
Death and darkness gets wicked industrial tonight. What a show at Fallout. Die Sektor headlines this sanctuary of blood and blackness. That cross is turned upside down for a reason. Die Sektor’s music is a cross of terrifyingly dark electro and EBM, surrounded by emotionally charged industrial. Their music will set you free, and raise the dead.
NYC’s Frontal Boundary is self described as apocalyptic harsh electro, industrial, and EBM. And, I tell you this--this duo doesn’t mess around. They get down to the core. The closet is full of skeletons when Brendin Ross and Elijah Arms take the stage.
Richmond’s high rising Little Black Rain Clouds are a fabulous electronic, industrial, and ambient trip hop trio I’m getting more and more into. I think it’s time you catch this rumble into the darkness if you haven’t already. LBRC is well worth showing up early for.
Friday, July 26, 8 p.m.
Kepone, Joesphine, Kid is Qual @ Gallery 5 - $5/All Ages.
Kepone roars back to Jackson Ward with a vengeance. Everybody’s favorite 90s alternative post hardcore indie three-piece from here is back here for you tonight. If you missed Kepone the couple of times they played around Richmond in the past year, do not miss this show. This is a historical event, especially because those dual bassists from heaven, along with Kevin on percussion, are opening this seminal evening of joy. Yes I’m talking about the kid: Kid is Qual. It is impossible not to have a good time when these grasshoppers perform.
Saturday, July 27,
Memphis Murder Men, Reclamation Red, Never Wrong @ McCormack’s Irish Pub - $5/21+
It’s a night of true down and dirty punk rock in the Bottom tonight. Headlined by Oakland’s The Memphis Murder Men, this night of sweat and debauchery will be a classical decision by you to attend. The Memphis Murder Men never ever disappoint, and perform every show like it’s their last. They are the epitome of psychobilly punk. Richmond’s hardcore punk band Reclamation Red will be perfect for this lineup, and will have your mind exploding with their politically charged “anti” music for the masses. Richmond ‘Oi’ punk juggernauts Never Wrong round out this night of bloodshed and beautiful violence.
Sunday, July 28, 9 p.m.
Clash Party 33 featuring ChiChi the Kid, Von Milli, Ro Thugga, BDE, Ill Lyric, and many more @ Kingdom - $10/18+
32 Clash Parties ago, ChiChi Amobi started what has become one of the major success stories in the Richmond music scene this current decade. I guess we call this decade the teens. Anyway, the Clash Parties are the most fun you will ever have and features the best street rappers in Richmond. Without a doubt, "street rappers" is a term of endearment here. There’ll be some nice r&b as well, so get ready to dance. With the likes of ChiChi and Vonmilli on the microphone, this night of pure hip hop will get you out in your Sunday best. There will several other area emcees that you might not have heard of, but you've got to figure they’ll be stars in no time, so let your ears witness the future of Richmond hip hop.
Monday, July 29, 8 p.m.
The Trigger System presents Front Bottoms, Tiny Moving Parts, Hold Tight!, Lightjars @ The Camel - $12/All Ages.
Oh it’s just another "happening" show from the Trigger System. Everybody will be there, that is for certain. This night of everything such as acoustic indie, emo rock, and of course pop punk will take you great distances. New Jersey’s The Front Bottoms will headline with their masterful acoustic indie rock on the danceable side. The emo band Tiny Moving Parts will keep the crowd going as they are the bridge between the Front Bottoms and the two local supporters, the pop punk of Hold Tight! and the indie rock of Lightjars. Go crazy kids, go crazy!
Tuesday, July 30, 10 p.m.
The Dharma Initiative @ Cary St. Café– Free/21+
Holding down the Tuesday residency these days over at Cary St. Café in SOFA (South of Fan) is a fantastic band from Hampton Roads, the Dharma Initiative. This electronic and experimental jam band does it the right way. They do not use loops, pre-recorded tracks, or samples. Their music is done the old fashioned way--they earn it. The music truly is the heart and soul of what you music lovers need, especially from this kind of genre. The Dharma Initiative provides you with a high energy live set and a high-as-a-kite good time. This band does wonders for a trio, as the quality musicianship in them calls for it. Reach down into your inner spirit and come out to Cary St. Café tonight. And if you can’t, there’s always next Tuesday night.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)