
This week a former aquaintance of mine passed away. He was a very talented guitarist and had so much potential to do something pretty great. He had a shed in his parents' backyard where he grew up "shedding" for real. At 28, he was taken too soon, but his passing can truly remind us to take that chance. Take a moment and create a lasting product, something that the world needs to hear.

What a splendid show with Splendid Suns. This group has a unique sound that needs no label. They gave a live preview of the album they are about to get hard to work on. These kids are a blast.

If you enjoy heavy drinks, and even heavier bass,don't miss Bobby La Beat as he blows the doors off NY Deli this Friday with plenty of rap, trap, house, bmore and old school to start your weekend off right!!

In this episode, Jenna Be of Downbeat Switch was guest hosting, and The Rift was in the building. The guys busted out some tunes and it was shenaniginsanity.

Recently, theatlanticcities.com named Richmond as one of the top music trendsetters in the country AND the world. Not only are there bands of great caliber popping up left and right, but we have so many long term bands that have and will continue to shape the scene. Way to go, RVA! Here's what's happening around town this week:

Monday, 5/14 Cardinal (pictured above), Kuschty Rye Ergot, Palindrone @ Strange Matter 8pm.

What is it about a rainy Spring afternoon or evening that makes composition and writing flow so naturally? Sure, rain can kill attendance at what would otherwise be a rager of a show. But rain is ultimately some pretty righteous inspiration. It looks like the mood has hit Richmond musicians in all kinds of genres, because so much music is being pumped out right now.

Thursday, 5/10 Radio Rubber Room presents Beef Lizard, Sam Robinson and the Groove-Elators (pictured above), The Dream Machine @ The Republic 9pm.

Cold Cuts continues every month with party rockers Long Jawns and DJ Doddie of the Audio Ammo Crew. Giant subs, heavy bass and tunes to shake your ass to always make for a good night! Come through!

It’s been an exciting month for the city of Charlottesville. In celebrating this year’s Tom Tom Founders Festival, several artists have taken to the streets to show off their love and support of the creative community. Between workshops, initiating dialogues with many local artists and developing conversations regarding how social media has changed the way we approach art, the month has been successful, to say the least. The coolest part has yet to arrive, and will offer a two-day showcase of live music this coming weekend.

In this episode, The Shack Band stopped by the little Ashland shack under the radio tower. They played some live tunes from their recently released EP, Born & Raised, and the good times ensued. But don't worry--you will not hear "Sweet Home Alabama" in this episode. Enjoy.

Monday, 5/7 Spindrift, Peace Beast, Strangers Family Band @ Strange Matter 6pm. All Ages. (early)

Like many fans in their 30’s, I spent the weekend reflecting on the life and career of Adam “MCA” Yauch. It’s hard to describe the impact he had on me growing up.

Record Reviews by Damaged Andy (DA) and Andrew Necci (AN)
Brother Bill - Brother Bill (self-released)
This melodic rock album has a familiar gravitas I find comforting. With bluegrass-like vocal harmonies and traveling guitar rhythms, this Warrenton, VA four-piece creates cozy background music great for car trips long and short. Their sound is uptempo, so if that’s your thing, you will like Brother Bill’s first album. (DA)
READ THE FULL VERSION OF RVA #8 HERE!
And check out the rest of the record reviews (all 23 of them!) from the new issue after the jump...

So much is happening every weekend in Richmond, and this week is no exception. Whether you attend RVA Mag's BeerFest, Arts in the Park, or some of the countless shows going on this weekend, you're going to have a good time.
There's plenty of music to discuss this week, so let's get right to it.

Thursday, 5/3 Beats Antique (pictured above), Laura Low @ The National 8pm.

4/30 Murder Death Kill, Boris Wheatley, Stand Your Ground (pictured above), Papertrail @ Kingdom 6pm. All Ages.

Richmond is in full Spring mode, with Earth Day behind us and cooler temperatures mocking our cutoff jorts. This week is jam-packed with goodness so let's just start:

Thursday, 4/26 Koffin Kats, Rev. D Ray and the Shockers, Creep-A-Zoids @ The Camel 9pm.