By mid-September, the market is inundated with pumpkin everything, and the sweaty summer house shows have given way to hoodied backyard fire pit hangs and galaxy tights underneath everything. RVA does autumn up right, from September Oktoberfest celebrations (that's when "they" do it) and the inaugural Fall Line Fest to the upcoming hugely popular Folk Festival. As usual, this month is loaded with new tunes for your discerning ears. Let's get to it.
photo by Echo Photog
This Saturday marks our fifth monthly showcase over at Bogart's. Lotus Grid will be opening the night with his brain-bending experimental ambigaze (ambient + shoegaze). The project of Joshua Franklin, Lotus Grid explores some electronic soundscapes sometimes with spoken word samples on top. Check out his latest, While You're Away, which will only be up for one more week.
The lovely and talented Nelly Kate will perform her ethereal soundscapes and shoegaze loops. Nelly is a master of minimalism, which also shows up in her graphic arts work including her website. Using nuances of electronics, especially keyboards, and paired with her organic vocals, Nelly takes things to Radiohead experimentation levels. Check out her recently-recorded track, "Still You Are," which uses keys on computer settings to tweak out some pretty cool melodies. Do make sure you check out her last album, Ish Ish, if you haven't already.
photo by Sam Allen Photo
Glows in the Dark not only think outside the box with their free jazz hip hop, but the grooves also take you to some heady locations. Comprising some literal living-legend RVA musicians such as Reginald Pace (trombone/shakers, Bon Iver, No BS! Brass Band, etc.), Scott Burton (guitar/composition, SCUO), Scott Clark (drums, Matthew E. White, Scott Clark 4tet), Cameron Ralston (double bass, Matthew E. White, Fight the Big Bull), and John Lilley (saxophones), Glows is more than just a group of virtuosos hanging out. It's a group of like-minded musicians under the direction of Burton's compositions that has an extra spark when the members are in the same room.
If you want to go somewhere else for the next four minutes, witness this video and let the visuals (by Scott Burton) from Bali, Indonesia excite your soul as the sounds soothe your cerebral cortex. Check out "Up and Down" (feat. Count Bass D) below, from the band's latest release, Research and Development.
TO RECAP: Sounds of RVA Showcase @ Bogart's (1903 W. Cary St), This Saturday, 9/21, 9 pm doors, 10 pm music, $5. Featuring Glows in the Dark, Nelly Kate, and Lotus Grid! This is one of those "Man, you shoulda been there" type of shows. Hope to see you there!
Most of these guys have a bunch of other projects going, and here are a few:
Scott Burton/Reginald Pace: JJ Burton is the collaboration between Scott Burton, Reginald Pace, and Jneiro Jarel on MF Doom's sublabel Label Who of Ropeadope Records. Ropeadope are the dudes who brought you The Benevento/Russo Duo, Antibalas, ?uestlove's the Philadelphia Project, Sex Mob, and so many more. Here is chillwave "Ohh Bay!!! (Oh Baby)":
Scott Clark: egahi is a project with Chicago/NY bassist Jason Ajemien (pictured just above). The outfit will be opening for duo Ken Vandermark (tenor saxophone) and Nate Wooley (trumpet) at Forinstance Gallery (107 E. Cary Street) on 10/5 at 7:30 ($10 sugg. donation).
Richmond bands have been making national headlines in such outlets as Pitchfork, Spin, Paste, and more. Positive No just had a song from their upcoming Via Florum album appear as download of the day on Rolling Stone:
"The Georgia Purchase Agreement"
The track shows off the dreamy, fuzzy 90s rock quality reminiscent of Veruca Salt, The Breeders, Belly, and more. Vocalist Tracy Keats Wilson knows her way around a microphone, and her cooing vocals bring a sense of nostaglia along with the Pavement-esque guitars. The album will come out digitally October 1 and on 12" vinyl November 12. Check out a second single, "Pocket Park:"
Short Skirts is the crunk synth project of Ken Hicks, and he's just released a track called "a' demain." Check it out just below. Dancey and techno waves hit you like Peaches in the summer. Vocals by Lindsey French (Negative Gemini) smack you with Brit-pop attitude. Check out Short Skirts on 10/5 @ The National along with The Milkstains, Absent Center, Machine Gun Mustache, Those Manic Seas, and Vince Kane & The Incurables. $10 presale. Rumor is that this will also be a demo release show, so stay tuned.
image by Janak Das
Cosmic Sounds conjures ideas of intergalactic space noise, but the entity is actually an acoustic guitar solo project by John Kramer. He just released four tracks of folk-friendly songs under the title Involution, meaning a "turning in" of one's self. Kramer cites yoga, meditation and the like as major influences in his music. He has a unique element to his vocals or enunciation, though, that make one wonder if Kramer is not perhaps tongue in cheek in his attitude [or he just really loves Devendra Banhart -ed].
photo by Tom Martinez
Fans of Red Light Rodeo appreciate the band's old-time standbys and rowdy bluegrass traditionals. The trio took the stage at the late Republic thanks to Radio Rubber Room back before the venue went under, and they invited Jake Sellers (The Hot Seats) to join them onstage playing washboard. Check out the band's brisk rendition of "Whiskey in the Jar." It's hard for the ears to keep up with the peppy mandolin but Zack Miller keeps the notes clear and not running together. Catch Red Light Rodeo 10/17 @ Weezie's Kitchen, 10/20 @ The Camel.
Matter Facts is a 21-year old producer who just dropped 15 tracks of chillwave and hip hop beats called Fortune. The electronic instrumental album is more than just background music. Check out "Black Label," which has some rickety low end and a trippy melody.
The Dirty Picture Show recently added a new guitarist, Arman Khalatbari, as Taylor Laub is pretty busy with The Northerners right now. The guys played a show earlier this month at the Camel (9/2), and this new track made its way to the surface. Note: both Laub and Khalatbari are featured on this track. "What You Are" is a grungey blues "Spanish dream" with Danzig-esque vocals (Luke Wilson) that lasts and lasts. Make sure you make it through the half-time breakdown bridge of Spanish lyrics. See The Dirty Picture Show on 9/22 @ Emilio's for Radio Rubber Room Presents along with The Vendors. Free!
This past summer, Profound79 met up with ActualFacts team members StayReal! and JP Balboa in Rome. The three wanted to document their experience with fresh sounds and made this beat tape. The samples were all taken outside the Coliseum. Check out "shemissesme." for an ill melody that has the Roman countryside infused with the guitar samples. Here is Profound 79's Real Talk:
By Sarah Moore Lindsey (soundsofrva.org)