ARTICLES
Advertisement
RVA INTERVIEWS :: The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
"One of the best kept secrets in the art world."
- Alexander L. Nyerges
VMFA Board Of Directors
Our continuing RVA INTERVIEWS series takes us behind the scenes at the VMFA to talk about the new renovations, the history, and the importance of Richmond's current crown jewel within the Virginia art community and beyond. The VMFA currently holds 22,000 pieces of art with outstanding American, Southeast Asian, and Indian collections. There is something for everyone and something new everything you visit.
Thank you to Alexander Nyerges, Aiesha Halstead, and Jonatahn Kittrell for their time and insights.
Ozzy’s DNA May Provide Blueprint for Excess and Longevity
(the science of getting f*cked up all the time and living through it)
Science is looking for answers in Ozzy’s DNA, and they’re not trying to determine why he can sing clearly even when his speech is all but incoherent. Osbourne, 61, is one of the music industry’s most celebrated troublemakers, a man whose legacy of deplorable behavior is second only to his accomplishments. After all, Black Sabbath introduced every riff known to metal, and Ozzy went on to greater things (No More Tears being his finest hour) after leaving that legendary outfit, though their reunions have been frequent and Ozzy remains the figurehead for Sabbath despite the other vocalists who filled in at various points. Many of the befuddled rocker’s peers have fallen along the way, but Ozzy is still going strong despite his flamboyance and his love for the forbidden fruits. Perhaps his DNA will help to explain why.
Jon Armstrong, a key official with Cofactor Genomics said Wednesday that Ozzy has authorized a human genomics company located in Massachusetts to map his DNA. Cofactor is a partner in the effort, and while Armstrong doesn’t know if concrete answers will come as a result, it may offer insight into how the superstar frontman’s genetic code has allowed him to survive and even thrive in spite of his extravagant lifestyle.
Could Ozzy Osbourne’s DNA be the key to a life where drug use and abuse doesn’t impact physical well-being? It’s ludicrous to suggest, yet this singer’s profile would make such a breakthrough rather appropriate. Throw your horns up for Ozzy and maybe he’ll give us the answer to a decadent lifestyle without consequence.
That would be a very heavy metal thing to do, and this is the Prince of Darkness we’re talking about here.
An Interview With Cofactor Genomics from Grant Essig on Vimeo.
FILM REVIEW :: Knight and Day
By now you’ve probably heard that Knight and Day (a film studio execs cleverly scheduled between Toy Story 3 and the new Twilight) is threatening to become the summer’s first bomb. I recently had a chance to watch Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz work their magic in this unique hybrid of action and comedy, and I am somewhat surprised that a movie this exciting is fairing so poorly in what has been a disappointing summer to date so far as new and original content is concerned. It seems like audiences would be eager to soak up such an adventure in the midst of all the sequels and lame comedies clogging up theaters of late, but that hasn’t been the case.
Billy Wallace, My Friend The Troubadour
I first met Billy Wallace when The Wading Girl played at Empire. The show was Barn Burning, Josh Small and Brandon Peck. There was a tremendous honesty to Wallace’s craft as a songwriter. I would soon there after send him an email asking to play a show with him. This would become his first solo show ever and the beginning of something grand.
Chocolate Milk Kult's Freedom Fight at The Camel
From the Chocolate Milk Kult :: We've been working together over a year to help cultivate a richer sonic texture in Richmond, Virginia and elsewhere. We believe that change is possible and we are never afraid to push boundaries. Our ambition knows no limit and our passion for good music, good friends, and a good time is held together by our love for the city and all its inspirations. You can catch us around town rocking art shows, warehouse nights, your local block party, or behind the scenes with some of your favorite artists.
Chocolate Milk Kult presents Freedom Flight
This Saturday July 3rd 10pm-2am FREE COVER at The Camel 1621 W Broad Street
OhBliv (http://soundcloud.com/ohbliv)
Like Big Daddy Kane slappin ya mama with Louis Vutton gloves on.
Annu (http://myspace.com/planetannu)
Soul synth grooves with claps that can bring down the moon.
Messi (http://soundcloud.com/messi)
Old pieces of boomboxes and effect pedals deep fried and served with hot sauce by a marching band.
Mir (http://soundcloud.com/djmir)
Like Aphex Twin making out with Aaliyah in the bathroom at a house party.
You can stay updated on Chocolate Milk Kult as well as our friends and family through our blog at cmlksounds.com. For more info & booking contact: cmlksounds@gmail.com.
CHPN :: On Murder On Richmond (1971-2010)
No one was killed in Richmond in June 2010. Going back to at least 1980, Richmond has only had three months without any homicides. Each of these quiet months has come in the last 8 months, and 2 of them have come in 2010.
Murder in Richmond, VA 1971-2009
Until 2008, 1981 had seen the fewest killings in Richmond since 1971 (with a count of 51). The number started rising in the mid-1980s and jumped to 100 in 1988. The yearly toll stayed over 100 for 10 straight years, hitting 161 in 1994 and 140 in 1997. The count dipped back into the 70s, jumped towards 100 in 2004, and has fallen dramatically the past 3 years. The historic low of 36 was achieved in 2008, with 2009 close behind with 41. This drop has given Richmond something previously unseen: the month without any homicides.
In the first 28 years for which there is monthly data available, there was not a month in Richmond without someone being killed. Last year (2009), with 41 killings, saw no homicides in November – the first month since at least 1980 with no killings. Since then, Richmond has also had the quiet months of February 2010 and June 2010. After going 28+ years without a break, the city has seen no murders in 3 of the last 8 months. In the past 366 months, only 3 have passed without a killing, and all 3 have come in the last 8 months.
On the way to a devastating body count of 161, 1994 saw 2 months with over 20 killings, and only one month in the single digits. The violence peaked in August 1994 when 25 killings left someone dead almost every day of that month. There were more people killed in July and August of 1994 than in all of 2008. There were more murders that April than in the first 6 months of 2010. There were more murders that year than in 2007, 2008, 2009, and the 1st half of 2010 combined. It was rough, to say the least.
So far in 2010, Richmond has seen 19 murders (6 of which have come in the East End). This is the best start to a year for the 30 years that monthly records are available — ahead even each of the last 2 record-low years at this date, and a whopping 59 better than 1994′s count of 79 at the end of June.
READ THE REST AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION AT CHURCH HILL'S PEOPLE NEWS
ARTWHINO :: The Wide Eyed Girls of Tatiana Suarez (NSFW)
Tatiana Suarez will be showing at DC's street art gallery Art Whino. She was nice enough to answer a few questions for RVA on the upcoming show and approach to her work. If you are in the harbor area swing through and check the place out, its definitely worth it.
Megan Laurine: Tell us a bit about yourself; what are you into, what do you like to do outside of painting, any other jobs on the side?
Tatiana Suarez: I've been lucky enough to focus full time on my painting for the last couple of years. When I'm not painting, my side jobs include freelance design and illustration work. As for what I do for fun, currently I enjoy watching movies. Spending time hanging out with loved ones. Chatting over some drinks. On rooftops. While playing dominoes. Yep.
Megan Laurine: Why painting as opposed to any other fine art medium?
Tatiana Suarez: It's just the medium I was introduced to really early on, and I just stuck with it. Painting and drawing also runs in the family. Plus it's fun and messy.
DAILY RECORDS : Wavves, Musical Charis, & Starkweather
Wavves - King Of The Beach (Fat Possum Records)
Yet another bassless two-piece band, but these guys are a far cry from the blues-punk of The White Stripes and The Black Keys. Wavves create lo-fi jangle-pop tunes that sound like Guided By Voices on a Beach Boys kick. Possibly a touch overhyped, but great fun nonetheless.
Musical Charis - People People (JMB Records)
This kind of mellow folk music is not normally my bag. It's got a polished production, and reminds me of Jack Johnson at times. I thought I'd hate it. And yet, the melodies here are undeniable. I doubt I'll play it frequently, but regardless, this is a very good record.
Starkweather - This Sheltering Night (Deathwish Inc.)
Starkweather average one new album every five years, but they're always worth the wait. This Sheltering Night is yet another epic prog-metal masterpiece. Extremely complex songs bursting with incomparably skilled musicianship, wild originality, and the purest horror this side of a Cronenberg movie. Get this now.
The Gods of the Bobble Heads Show 009
The God of the Bobble Heads is a new radio show coming out of Ashland. Its pretty damn funny and RVA is a proud sponsor. We will be posting a new episode every week on RVAMAG.com. Be sure to check it out live every Saturday on WHAN1430AM and download all the past broadcasts at www.bobblegods.com. - RVA
CLICK HERE FOR THE GODS OF THE BOBBLE HEADS
At a time when Virginia radio stations are cutting local programing to make room for syndicated shows from major markets, WHAN1430AM is going against the grain. The Gods of the Bobble Heads is a relatively new show that's first broadcast was Saturday, May 1st. "The show is more of a variety format where we produce funny skits, fake commercials, and offer a forum for local people to promote themselves to a diverse audience they can't find elsewhere." say Dan Anderson, one of the shows creators, better known as Pasta Fagioli (fazool). When asked, co-creator John "Johny Cab" Massey said: "From hip-hop to indie-rock, film-makers and authors, there truly is something here for everyone...As a struggling artist myself, I wish I had a resource like this show when I was trying to promote my own music."
The Gods of the Bobble Heads is overflowing with edgy content, so it's not for sensitive people, or those with a weak stomache. It was created with the tastes of the ever-evolving tastes of the 18-35 yo consumer in mind. "We don't discriminate against anyone, for any reason, because of that, nothing is off limits short of FCC restrictions." says Brandon "Baby Huey" Fox, the most recent addition to the motley crew known as The Bobblegods.The shows diverse group of guests include indie rock band Make Phantoms, author JJ McMoon, and and stand-up comedian Patrick McCarthy just to name a few. "We've been blessed to have great guests so early on, but we'd like to diversify further by adding professional fighters, skateboarders, and street preformers to the list." says Pasta.
Smart, funny, edgy, and humble, The Gods of the Bobble Heads is exactly the kind of radio that Richmond needs. A soap-box for locals, the Bobblegods invite everyone to submit their music for regular rotation. Anyone who feels they have something for the bobble heads can apply to be on the show at www.bobblegods.com in the contact section. The show can be heard every Saturday from 8-10 pm on WHAN 1430am in Ashland, or live at www.bobblegods.com anywhere in the world. "It's all about accessibility...every Sunday we turn the Sat. show into a podcast on our site so people who missed it live can download and listen to it anytime." says Baby Huey. Low-brow humor with intelectual undertones, the show is enjoyable now, but continues to get better with every broadcast.
Either way, it's sure to make your head bobble.
PSY/OPSogist - Fiend Of Mine (Drunk Mix)
Local sound spelunker PSY/OPSogist has passed his next soundtrack onto to RVA to post. If you ever need someone to help you on the horror or weirdo spaced sci-fi tip, this is your man. Check out the rest of his work on his blogspot psyopsogist.blogspot.com.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
