FEATURE SHOW
Friday, December 13 & Saturday, December 14, 9 p.m.
Hamaganza '13 featuring Dirtwoman, Herschel Stratego, Jonathan Austin, Magnolia Jackson Pickett Burnside, Dean Owen, The Vapor Rhinos, The Hamaganza Dancers, The Richmond School of Rock, Oh Neil (Neil Diamond tribute band), and many more Richmond dignitaries.
Friday night @ Poe’s Pub - $10 (or ham donation)
Saturday night @ LuLu’s - $10 (or ham donation)
Wow, 19 years and counting. The ultimate holiday tradition in Richmond continues to flourish. Again this year Hamaganza is a two night event, and it will commence at Poe’s Pub and LuLu’s in beautiful Shockoe Bottom. I’m not kidding here – the list of Richmond dignitaries that will be in attendance is endless: everyone from local media, arts, music, restaurants, and charitable organizations. The guest of honor once again is the mighty Dirtwoman. If you never have heard of Dirtwoman, you have never heard of Richmond, Virginia. This cross-dressing historical figure wants your help. If you can’t provide the $10 entrance fee for charity, then bring a ham. Or bring both, as they will go to a great cause.
The live music will be everything from Christmas carols to a Neil Diamond tribute! Along with all the live music and hi-jinks, expect plenty of fire juggling, dancing girls, ukuleles, drag queens, tap dancers, unlikely entertainment, bad music, arm wrestling and lots of Ham. It’s all about the Ham!
Wednesday, December 11, 7 p.m.
Lotus Grid, Spandrel, Antiphons @ Gallery 5– TBA/All Ages
This looks to be a very special evening, featuring a plethora of everything cultural. It’s a fabulous concept if you ask me. TechnoLogica is a performance that combines a video and dance performance by Brian Dove and Chloe Bowman. The music will be provided by the experimental analog sounds of Lotus Grid, and the ambient soundtrack-like indie sounds of Spandrel. Keep an eye out for Spandrel, this band just released a three song EP produced by the great John Morand and I can’t stop listening to it. Kylie Gellatly’s vocals will lift any spirits. Rounding out the music side of this potpourri of culture will be the sensational experimental folk exploits of Antiphons. Nothing beats a hump day evening in Jackson Ward, see you there.
Thursday, December 12, 7:30 p.m.
Guerilla Toss, Blanche Blanche Blanche, Buck Gooter, Brown Piss @ Gallery 5– TBA/All Ages.
Guerilla Toss, out of Boston, is back in the city of Monuments to penetrate our ears with stoical no-wave and noise rock sounds. Joining Guerilla Toss will be the Vermont experimental pop duo Blanche Blanche Blanche. Say that three times over. Coming eastward down 64 will be those Harrisonburg heads of hot mess, Buck Gooter. Thank you Dwight D. Eisenhower for championing the national system of interstate highways! Finally, need more Jason Hodges in your life? Well here you go--his new noise side project, Brown Piss, opens this wonderful night of indelible sounds.
Friday, December 13, 10 p.m.
The Catalyst, Brainworms, Count Von Count, Gnarwhal, Ancient Sky, Navi @ Strange Matter– $7/18+
This is a bittersweet show, as it is the Catalyst’s last show. This extremely loud and noisy band has decided to put down the drum sticks, guitar, and bass. The Catalyst were a true noise-core band that had been around for many years, released three LPs, and went through a few lineup changes. While you may remember their distinctive dual-drummer lineup, for the past two years, they have been a three-piece--not that it's quieted them down any. Come say goodbye to the hardest fucking band in Richmond. Joining in the sendoff will be another reunion of Richmond’s heaviest underground creatures, Brainworms. This hardcore punk with a dash of metal will explode your mind. I hope these lads stick together permanently. Brainworms never disappoint. The Delaware experimental spazz lords, Count Von Count--not the Sesame Street dude of darkness but the heavy rock for your Richmond ears--opens, as will Brooklyn progressives Ancient Sky. Then starting off the evening's festivities will be the band that plays furiously everywhere all the time: Richmond’s Navi.
Friday, December 13, 9 p.m
Nightmare Before Christmas Costume Party with Creep-A-Zoids, Tex Railers Doomtown, The Blackout Shift @ Wonderland– $5/21+
Wonderland always throws the best costume parties. The Nightmare Before Christmas is no exception. Performing for the freaks tonight will be the terrific horror punk from Creep-A-Zoids. Oh my, are these guys ever so creepy. The yee-haw country and whiskey-swilling rock of Tex Railers Doomtown, out of Albany, and Richmond’s heavy rock gurus (who enjoy a shift beer or two), The Blackout Shift, open up this dance for the worst and best of Christmas.
Saturday, December 14, 6 p.m.
Ghost of Pop 9 featuring My Old Ways, The Awesome Few, Long Arms, The Northerners, Hypercolor, Goldrush, Black Girls @ Gallery 5 - $5/All Ages.
Ghost of Pop is back for its ninth go around. What is Ghost of Pop? Well it’s an electrifying gathering of a bunch of musicians and bands that really enjoy reading Style Weekly. All proceeds from this exemplary cavalcade of Richmond bands goes to HomeAgain, a local organization that helps and supports the homeless. The bands performing are amongst the best in indie, folk, pop, jam and experimental music. My Old Ways will steal your heart with their folk country. Hypercolor, the Awesome Few, and Long Arms with supply awesome indie rock, and Goldrush and Black Girls will take you away with solid pop rock songs. There will also be ticket raffle giveaways for the Richmond Symphony and Science Museum of Virginia, along with two season's passes to Friday Cheers. What an event this will be. Look for me by the bar.
Sunday, December 15, 9 p.m.
Spacebomb Collective featuring Matthew E. White (photo by Kim Matthäi Leland), Howard Ivans, DJ Mixie/Sister Goldenhaze @ Strange Matter– $14/18+
This is a Christmas present if there ever was one. Matthew E. White will perform up close and personal at Strange Matter tonight. Along with White will be the entire Spacebomb Records band. In case you have been living under a rock in the past couple of years, Spacebomb is a label run by Matthew E. White, featuring an old-school house band that backs up all of their artists on record. It doesn’t get any better than that. White is the talk of the nation with his wonderfully crafted jazzy rock music meshed with a soulful gospel that keeps everyone’s ears wide open. The newest Spacebomb signing, and best singer-songwriter you don’t know about (but will), Howard Ivans, opens. The great ladies DJs Mixie and Sister Goldenhaze provide the evening’s soundtrack between sets. This show will more than likely sell out--get tickets now!
Monday, December 16, 9:30 p.m.
RVA Big Band @ Balliceaux– Free/21+
A true tradition in Richmond, not only on every Monday night but at Christmas time especially, should be catching RVA Big Band. Easily the best weekly event in Richmond, this is a collection of Richmond’s best jazz musicians and musicians in general. I have a feeling all the pushing and shoving in getting down to Lombardy St. will be worth it because I bet tonight will be full of Christmas songs. We all love Christmas songs, right? Let’s do this.
Tuesday, December 17, 6 p.m.
Dax Riggs, Michael Rudolph Cummings, Matt Conner @ Strange Matter - $10/All Ages.
Good times, bad times--you know you need Dax Riggs. Riggs of Acid Bath and Deadboy and the Elephantmen fame comes back to Richmond with more of his much talked about experimental music. His style meshes blues, indie, and stoner rock that get you off your rocking chair and placed right in front of his magic voice. For a new take on outlaw country, be sure to arrive early to see the wildcat of vocals and guitar, Michael Rudolph Cummings. The great singer-songwriter of Richmond, Matt Conner, opens this perfect night for purity in music.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)