FEATURE SHOW
Thursday, August 1, 6 p.m.
Mark Hosler - Art show opening - featuring Hosler’s paintings & performance @ Ghostprint Gallery– Free/All Ages
And
Sunday, August 4, 9 p.m.
Mark Hosler, Mutwawa, Those Manic Seas @ Balliceaux - $5/21+
Mark Hosler of Negativland is doing a whirlwind tour of Richmond. From Jackson Ward to the Fan District, this guy will turn heads with all kinds of media. If you didn’t know, Negativland is the epic, experimental, avant-garde soundscape group that returns our minds to the beginning. Just don’t bring up that band from Ireland named after a bomber plane around Mark. Anyway, Mark is doing a solo thing in conjunction with his paintings. His first stop will be Thursday at Ghostprint Gallery, where he’ll have his art opening reception, and then will do a light performance towards the 9 p.m. hour.
Sunday at Balliceaux, it will be a more full-on performance from Mark. He’ll be doing some stuff from Negativland and from his solo efforts. Everything this man and his zany mind are about will be thrust towards your ears, centered on experimental, sound collage, industrial, and Avant-garde noise music. This is definitely one of those shows you do not miss. Mark Hosler is a creative genius that really is worth all the humbling underground hype. Yes, this man has sparked movements.
Richmond support will come from those African rhythm bastards and poetic beat lords, Mutwawa, along with the outstanding indie/experimental rock of Those Manic Sees.
Wednesday, July 31, 10 p.m.
Beyond Pink, Olde Shame, Prisoner, Ratmeat, Omega Boys @ Strange Matter - $7/18+
Getting away as far as you can from pink can only lead you to some of the best punk rock you’ve ever heard. The ladies of Sweden’s Beyond Pink have come a great distance to our fair city full of marvelous murals. If you want to get blown away by some real-time punk rockers with all their angst, righteous political views and pro-choice lyrics, then get involved in Beyond Pink’s revolution. I know I am. Beyond Pink’s influences derive from the obtuse entities such as the WTO and G8, along with a bunch of corporations raping the earth. Beyond Pink’s music means something, it goes well beyond powerful and violent if you really pay attention. So, instead of being an American sheep, you should slide on down to 929 W. Grace St. tonight and fight the power, or at least those fat lazy shits bitching about the parking at the Redskins camp.
Local support in the realm of I-don’t-give-a-shit Richmond street punk will be brought to you by Olde Shame, Prisoner, Ratmeat, and Omega Boys. Be sure to stand clear of Olde Shame front-man, Michael Raftery, he’s a workhorse in love with destruction. Prisoner feature members of Inter Arma and Balaclava playing faster and harsher than those bands. Ratmeat is back! This band is trouble, and I like it, as should you. Their style of punk is the underbelly of Richmond. Omega Boys are not frat boys. In fact, quite the contrary, they’d eat frat boys for lunch – ouch! See you at the show pig vomits.
Wednesday, July 31, 9 p.m.
Cory Branan, Joe McMahon @ Empire– TBA/21+
When someone was playing a Cory Branan song on their phone for me to hear at 2 a.m. the other night, I then knew something was up. This Branan guy is a bona-fide American singer/songwriter who is on top of the mountain when it comes to writing a perfect song. Branan is a bridge between folk-punk, alt. country, and true blue Americana. Many friends of mine who truly know music and seriously care about the craft of music had high praise for this young and talent-driven guitarist.
Branan has risen from the Mississippi mud to become a vocal star as he croons to our waiting souls. Uplifting is a word silly religious people use, but let’s toss religion, the fairy tale that it is, under the bus for a minute, because Cory Branan performs the uplifting songs we’ll sing to ourselves for the next couple of weeks. Branan leaves you captivated like that scene at the end of Electric Cowboy when Redford sets that horse free.
Joe McMahon of Smoke or Fire opens with his tantalizing voice and guitar.
Saturday, August 3, 10 p.m.
Humungus, Earthling, Hoboknife, Vorator @ Strange Matter– $5/18+
What an extraordinary night of metal. Strange Matter knows the pure Richmond sound, and it’s certainly worth heeding tonight. Humungus will splatter brains with their up tempo thrash metal. Earthling, out of Harrisonburg, is more of a doom metal outfit, so cover your bleeding ears. North Glen Allen’s Hoboknife is a super-group of sorts featuring ex and current members of Le Mere Vipere and Battlemaster such as the Tomlin brothers comprising the rhythm section, and Mike Layne on guitar. This is a concoction of various types of metal in which the drummer sings. Oh my, look out!
Sunday, August 4, 9 p.m.
Mad Conductor, The Greek Favourites, The Nerdlucks, Double Rainbow, Dumb Waiter @ The Camel - $8/all ages
Stay Sweet presents another stalwart of a show. There’s a little bit of everything here tonight, so end your weekend on a high note.
New Orleans’ the Mad Conductor headline this evening with brilliant space rock. To see this band live will shake you out of your cocoon. This is certainly a unique band is there ever was one. See this fuming conductor, Richmond.
The Greek Favourites will supply the emo and punk glory in the middle of the lineup. They have performed before in Richmond to rave reviews. It’s a bonus catching this band.
How about some nerd rap? Well you’re in nerd luck with the Nerdlucks. Richmond’s Double Rainbow also will give your ears some awe-inspiring indie Rap. That band full of experimental/avant-garde/math instrumental jams everybody is talking about, Dumb Waiter, opens this marathon of talent.
Monday, August 5, 9 p.m.
U-Foria & Sugarcube present Hubble Bash with Rico from Silo Effect, Ethan Glass, AGENT, Peruvian Pineapple, DJ Eli Cash @ The Camel - $5/18+
Well, since Panic! at the Disco is sold out, let’s preview this show at the last second. Honestly, it more than likely will be a better show. This will be a night of funk, reggae, trip-hop, glitch-hop, and bass. In other words, you’re dancing like you’ve never danced before. This event will be of such grand scale, going out on this Monday to the Camel is mandatory. Hey, since RGIII is a big glitch-hop fan, I bet he’ll come through. Holy All for One Tattoo! I’m for certain you will be thirsty for some fine beverages and tasty beats along with some desirable jams on this fine early August evening. See you at the Camel tonight.
Tuesday, August 6, 5 p.m.
Le Yikes Surf Club, Tijuana Panthers (pictured above) @ Steady Sounds– Free/All Ages.
I love in-stores! And I know you do too – especially at Steady Sounds. This one is going to be a great one, by the way. Philadelphia’s Le Yikes Surf Club is a new giant amongst the surf punk realms. These guys prove, first and foremost, there’s a beach anywhere you want one to be. Flying off the handle is Le Yikes Surf Club, and riding mad swells is no problem. Shit, these guys are so good, Kelly Slater himself could be a member.
Speaking of the beach, guess who’s joining Le Yikes Surf Club at Steady Sounds this evening? Why it’s Tijuana Panthers from Long Beach - Long Beach, California, that is. When I lived in LA I used to call it Bong Beach, but hey, let’s get back to our program, shall we?
Tijuana Panthers is a three piece full of abundance, as they thrust their pirate ship full of punkish surf rock at us. There is sure to be a bit of Dick Dale at this show, as these surfing sounds penetrate on through from the Woodie to in between the vinyl at Steady Sounds.
Tuesday, August 6, 7 p.m.
Riff Raff @ Kingdom - $18/All Ages
I actually saw some Riff Raff videos a couple of weeks back for the first time. Then I started to really listen to him. Riff Raff--real name Jody Christian--is actually really talented. Haters are going to hate, but since his first trip to Richmond, which blew up, I’ve been a witness. There are now of course are a ton of people out there trying to immolate [? -ed.] him. Well I guess imitation is the best form of flattery. Houston’s Riff Raff is bigger than big now. He is pop culture. I have no problem with it, and neither should you. He’s more interesting, by a mile, than any of these flowery ass goons we got hoarding mainstream culture at the moment. This is another big get in the world of hip hop for Richmond. First Action Bronson, who is finally getting the recognition he deserves, and for the second time in--what, a year?--Riff Raff is coming back to a city I refuse to call River City. You know how many damn cities on rivers call themselves River City? Let’s be original and unique, like a white guy with braids and a swag about him that even attracts me, let alone all the ladies in the house. There’s a ton of crap "white rappers" out there, but Riff Raff is the real deal. He’ll get to a point where we will all be sick of him, but that won’t be for another couple of years. His fifteen minutes has been extended. Go see Riff Raff and take in his rise to capture the world. Man got some straight out flow, yo.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)