Introduction
Audio Dancers is a name that emerged from a misheard lyric. On a bizarrely warm December afternoon, I had the great opportunity to preview Nelly Kate’s new record, Ish Ish. On the second side of her LP, Kate sings “all you dancers.” I heard "audio dancers," and it all started from there. The name resonates to me as a description of what comprises the music scene in Richmond. This city is full of musical moments. Bars, basements, practice spaces, coffee shops, giant theaters, recording studios, street corners, and backyards are all small parts of a greater whole. My hope is to use this column as a means of showcasing as many of these moments as possible. This could include a conversation with a local artist highlighting upcoming projects they have in store. This could be an introduction to a new band in the scene that is on the cusp of great things. Audio Dancers is meant to be a celebration as well as an archive of all things happening in Richmond music.
Sometimes hearing about what someone has been up to is all it takes to get excited. This is the case with my friend Allison Apperson. Since the end of Hot Lava's stellar run, many have wondered what she would be up to next. The Catnip Dreams demonstrated a strong knack for catchy songwriting, as well as creating one of the greatest all-girl super groups that Richmond has seen in years. Apperson on drums was joined by Lindsay Phillips and Brandi Price of The Diamond Center, Laurie Lay of The Color Kittens and Fire Bison, and Zoe Golden of The Blue Rajas. Over the course of several gigs, their reputation grew and grew until they went on a hiatus (which, if all recent signs prove to be true, may come to an end in the near future). Although The Catnip Dreams were wonderful and I found it difficult to get “Lion Lamb” out of my head, Hot Lava resonated more strongly with me by showcasing Apperson’s penchant for pop magic.
This is where The Garbers come in. With the help of former Hot Lava bandmate Matt Deans, as well as Giustino Riccio of Fuzzy Baby and Bio Ritmo, Apperson is back at the helm once more. With tunes like “Thursday Shirt,” “Haiku” and “Wake Up Allison,” The Garbers feel like the perfect extension from where Hot Lava left off. The trio plays off of coy harmonies while displaying a constant illuminating joy in playing music with one another. The songs engage the listener to fall for them instantaneously.
Having received an invite to see them practice at the Garber practice building, I found the band ready for the long weekend ahead of them. It would include a debut performance on WRIR, as well as their first official show at a private party. The initial responses were overly positive, with rave reviews from local favorites Michael Harl of Canary Oh Canary and Paul Ivey of just about everything you can imagine. Now that the hard part is over with, The Garbers are on their way to paving a grand reputation for themselves, with more shows and more songs, which are coming to the group easier and easier after every practice session. If you were worried about the state of Richmond pop music in the New Year, look no further than The Garbers.