FEATURE SHOW
Saturday, September 7, 10 p.m.
Joe Threat Memorial Show featuring Gritty City, Divine Profitz, Checkbook, Dank D, Sleaze, The New Juice Crew, along with many other hip hop guests @ The Nile– Donations Please/21+
Joe Threat was a warrior. Since his untimely passing, I have witnessed more well deserved love given to a local musician via social media, or even just in general all over Richmond, than I've ever seen before. Joe had that kind of charisma; he drew you in. Aside from this hip hop emcee’s amazing wordsmith ways and the way he could completely devastate a microphone, Joe was equally as talented a human being and friend. Everyone else was first with Joe - it was never about just him. Joe left with so many lasting positive impressions on his friends and family. I personally knew Joe, and true to form, his last words to me out of the blue via Facebook were a compliment about an interview I did awhile back. That was Joe.
Joe had just released his latest LP Sinister Circus before his passing. This LP is an extraordinary tale of the life of Joe Threat, and proved without a shadow of a doubt Joe’s rhymes were ready for the next level. Sinister Circus tells the story of many trials, tribulations and triumphs many of us may endure, but could never express artistically. Joe Threat expresses it for us. He was the voice for not only the Richmond underground, but the underdog.
Many local emcees, including the rap collective Joe Threat was a part of, Gritty City Records, will continue to carry the torch for Joe, because that’s what he would have wanted. According to Johnny Ciggs of Gritty City, more Joe Threat music is on the way. Joe was also part of Attic Boy Records and Recording out of Lakeside. I would not be surprised if unreleased material from Joe is released down the road from them as well. At least I hope so.
Please come to the Nile tonight and celebrate a dynamic and wonderful soul, Joe Threat. Many of Richmond’s underground hip hop elite will be in attendance and or performing. Even if you can only come for five minutes – come by. All proceeds from donations go to Joe’s mother, so dig deep into those pockets.
We love you Joe Threat. Thank you for being a part of our Richmond, Virginia lives.
Wednesday, September 4, 10 p.m.
Soft Metals, Flossed in Paradise, Negative Gemini, Short Skirts @ Strange Matter - $8/18+
I’ve heard of Soft Metals, but only last week did I listen to this dynamite duo. Holy Virginia State Library! These guys out of Portland, OR are good--damn good. Vocalist Patricia Hall leads the charge for this electronic synth duo. Now, I admit I’m kind of wary of the millions and millions of guy/girl duos out there, because that’s been the thing so far this decade, but Soft Metals are on top, and they come to play. Hall’s voice alone is worth the price of admission. It is spiritual, haunting, and transfixes you. I’d even say it’s in line with Hope Sandoval’s of Mazzy Star. Plus, the strong vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, and drum tracks come easy for Hall and band mate Ian Hicks. Soft Metals keeps your heart rate purring like a tiger, and by the very favorable reviews on some of the most notable music websites out there, they are a mandatory attendance kind of band.
Keeping with the experimentation and shoegaze theme, local support comes from Negative Gemini (Lindsey French), who I consider one of the five most underrated musicians in Richmond. Negative Gemini is going places no other musician in Richmond is going. Negative Gemini takes the chances no one else will, and the last person to be afraid to go to the other side of consciousness is Lindsey French. See Negative Gemini, Richmond--see her ASAP.
Alex French’s Flossed in Paradise, an electronic chill-wave project, and the lo-fi noise disco punk of Short Skirts open this far off galaxy of a show. See you there; I’ll be the guy wearing the ‘Don’t Vote’ shirt.
Thursday, September 5, 10 p.m.
Pontiak, The Diamond Center, Bermuda Triangles @ Strange Matter– $8/18+
From the Blue Ridge Mountains near Afton Mountain comes Pontiak. If you missed them the last time they were here, you missed everything. This trio full of psychedelic marvels can turn your ear diagonal and make it beg for more. This is the kind of band that comes from a barn rather than a garage, so the range of this inspiring band is infinite. Still touring in support of their widely acclaimed LP Echo Ono, their seventh on Thrill Jockey, Pontiak continues to raise the stakes.
The perfect match for Pontiak is fellow Virginians the Diamond Center. The Diamond Center, coming off their memorable performance last July at Balliceaux for Commonwealth of Notions Presents, will perform some new material of a forthcoming album. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for that album. It's sure to be a dream.
Rounding out the bill will be Bermuda Triangles. These guys too have some new material, and it’s full of weird experimentation times ten backed by a percussion so progressive and tropical, even a parakeet would be impressed. Again, I have to say this: if you still haven’t witnessed the bombastic live cavalcade of a Bermuda Triangles show, you do not know dick about local music, nor do you deserve to talk about it.
Thursday, September 5, 7:30 p.m.
Remembering Little Walter by Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout featuring Little Charlie Batty, Lil’ Ronnie Owens, Wes Star, RW Grigsby @ LuLu’s - $20/18+
Let’s be perfectly clear here--who doesn’t love real down home and dirty blues lead by a viciously wicked blues harmonica? The best blues harmonica player ever was Chicago bluesman Little Walter. Walter was on the famed Chess Records label out of Chicago, if you didn’t know. Now tonight, Little Walter and his extraordinary talents are being resurrected thanks to Mark Hummel. Hummel is touring with the ultimate Blues Harmonica Blowout featuring three of the best current bluesmen with harps. Little Charlie Batty, Ronnie Owens, and of course Hummel will electrify. LuLu’s has been killing it of late with sure-fire blues. Whether it's Chicago blues or Richmond blues, it has a real home now at LuLu’s in the Bottom. Tonight’s show arguably could be the best one of ’13. Get ready to sweat, Richmond; this evening will raise cane and give the devil that black cat bone he has always wanted.
Friday, September 6, 5 p.m.
The Big Guys (photo by Heather Weimer) @ Hardywood Brewery– Free/All Ages.
Richmond music history is front and center at that brewery behind the Diamond and over a block or two. The Big Guys feature members of the seminal Richmond soul, funk, and ska rock band, the Good Guys, as well as the psych, garage, soul and blues rock of the Deprogrammers, Club Zomby, and the Bop Cats. The Big Guys are a pivotal ska/rock/reggae band with musicians who have been doing it over forty years. Yes, the experience is exceptional in every sense of the word. Hear how it’s really done by true professionals, and some of the best guys you’ll ever meet. The Big Guys are Harry Gore (guitar/vocals), Mark Brown (guitar/vocals), James Talley (keyboards/vocals), Vernon Knight (bass/vocals) and Rob Lytle (drums/vocals).
Saturday, September 7, 6 p.m.
Pedestrian Deposit, SCANT, Broadcastatic @ Globehopper– Suggested donation/All Ages
Having the experimental duo Pedestrian Deposit back in Richmond again is a big noisy deal. Pedestrian Deposit is comprised of Jonathan Borges and Shannon Kennedy. Their sound is self-described as highly composed, often abstract sound textures combined to create dynamic experimental music that draws on the duo’s widely contrasting auditory obsessions. The use of crude electronics, tape loops, field recordings, and controlled feedback goes against the norms, as it erratically meshes with Shannon’s use of stringed instruments, bowing techniques, and amplified metal and wood, resulting in music that is both raw and refined. Good luck trying to find a genre these two fit in. Actually, that’s what makes Pedestrian Deposit so amazing and unique.
Local support will come from Broadcastatic, which is Tommy Birchett's raw audio/visual manipulation, and Matt Boeke’s SCANT, which is minimal-synth and tape noises. I could not think of a better place in Shockoe Bottom for an experimental/noise event than at Globehopper. See you there!
Sunday, September 8, 7 p.m.
Trigger System presents U. S. Royalty, Glass Twin, The Weather @ The Camel - $10/All Ages.
DC indie pop rock band U.S. Royalty slides on down I-95 to the Camel tonight for what is sure to be a memorable show to close out a weekend curated by bitchy white people. Anyway, US Royalty is a wonderful band just smoking with momentum like a mayor smoking crack. This band has turned a lot of heads on the music festival circuit, and I think it’s time you see why.
Those rocking-the-boat lads of Glass Twin open with their psychedelic krautrock and subtle ambience we all must abide. You can hear, taste, and feel Glass Twin. Oh yes, you can taste Glass Twin--this five piece is an abundance of high-rising. The Weather are a three piece rock band from here; not fronted by Jim ‘Slam’ Duncan, but I think it’s safe to say they probably have a song or two about Doppler Radar.
Monday, September 9, 7:30 p.m.
XL102 Presents the Airborne Toxic Event, American Authors @ The National - $10.21/All Ages
A band full of emotion and talented indie rock with a side of experimental dogma comes to Richmond from my old neighborhood of Los Feliz, Los Angeles. Of course I’m talking about Airborne Toxic Event. This quintet is nice on the ears and gives guitars the credit they deserve. Coupled with the divine guitar work is an orchestral feel that covers your ears. If you are a fan of the band the National - and based on their last show here selling out, you are - then Airborne Toxic Event is for you, and then some. For ten dollars and twenty one-cents (get it, tonight is presented by XL102), it is an absolute steal to have a band this good play in our adorable downtown.
Tuesday, September 10, 10 p.m.
Cusses, Heyrocco (photo by Emily B. Hall), Canary oh Canary, The Milkstains @ Strange Matter - $7/18+
Georgia’s Cusses returns with their high energy kind of pop punk. Pigeonholing this band isn’t an option. Thanks to vocalist Angel Bond, this band is a party all unto itself. You are sure to be enamored by this spirited force wilder than a Georgia peach tree. Heyrocco, the alt. rock band out of South Carolina, is touring with Cusses, and they too are a must encounter.
Richmond’s garage-gaze trio Canary oh Canary is a perfect local supporting band for Cusses – everybody moves in unison. Canary oh Canary’s new album, Sleep, is one of the best LPs I’ve heard from a Richmond band in quite some time. Even better is listening to Josie, Michael, and Mark live. This trio is on a motherfucking roll folks--enjoy.
Jesus! Are you serious? The Milkstains are playing as well? Who needs Molly at an NYC concert? This show, officially an event now, is going to be way more special. See y’all on Grace St. in between the dorms.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)