There’s a lot happening this weekend as the cold weather has permanently driven the citizens of Richmond inside for good until the spring. With the final First Friday in just a few days there will be so many interesting activities around the city to occupy your time, and then the weekend itself is full of so much art and music that it can be overwhelming to figure where to go and what to do. Well, fear not, for I’ve found some of the best acts from within and without the city that will be gracing the stage with their beautiful noise. Susto is coming to rock The Broadberry in support of their new record, Andrés is gonna be grooving down in Shockoe for those who want a weekday distraction, Ten Pound Snail finish their residency at The Camel on Friday, and Opin braves the outdoors to electrify the air at Get Tight Lounge. We’ve got it all for you on this week’s Sound Check.
Are you a band with new music, a listener with suggestions, or just want to reach out? Send an email to Bones@rvamag.com
Out of town acts to see
SUSTO
Saturday, December 2nd @ The Broadberry
Doors: 7:00 pm
It’s time to get you hip to this group of out South Carolina if you’re not already. Susto is a dynamic ensemble that have been putting out music for almost a decade, and they have blown up in recent years having garnered over half a million monthly listeners on Spotify. The vehicle of frontman Justin Osborne, this groups changing cast of characters has afforded it a certain amount of unpredictability, however they have developed the unique ability to always sound like themselves. Susto is currently on tour in support of their most recent endeavor, the album My Entire Life, which came out in July of this year. A sprawling record that starts off strong with a rock anthem and coasts through a myriad of memorable soft rock tunes, My Entire Life is a wonderful addition to the catalog of this talented and every changing group. Check out their website here.
ANDRÉS
Tuesday, December 15th @ The Canal Club
Doors: 6:00 pm
Seemingly constantly on tour, Andrés has energy to spare. With a music that is constantly pushing the edges of pop, punk and rock with a touch of r&b all with a distinct latin flare veiling his whole persona, the music of this artist is nothing less than the soundtrack to a good time. While his backing music is always changing, Andrés vocals also might surprise with anything from catchy hooks to some full on rap verses seemingly coming out of nowhere, but are welcome nonetheless. Having just dropped a track, a remix of an older track called “Cardigans and Split Ends” with a feature by a singer named Casey Bates, listeners can only hope that Andrés brings that classic energy in his music onto the stage to rock this noisy venue down in Shockoe Bottom. Check out his website here.
Local & Regional acts to see
TEN POUND SNAIL
Friday, December 1st @ The Camel
Doors: 9:00 pm
Richmonders should know this group. Ten Pound Snail have been working their First Fridays residency at The Camel to great success, having collected a loyal group of fans that have propelled the group to the top of the underground scene. Since the release of their epic psychedelic record in January of this year, Ten Pound Snail have not put out any new music, but perhaps that is due to their prolific appearances on the stages of Richmond, Virginia. However, that is all about to change as with this last show they are putting out a single, and who knows what to expect. Full of incredibly talented musicians, and with a towering sound for a three piece ensemble, Ten Pound Snail stand poised to continue their dominance of Richmond music. Check out their Instagram here.
OPIN
Saturday, December 2nd @ Get Tight Lounge
Doors: 7:30 pm
A mystery to me, this electronic group are no strangers to the Richmond scene. This three piece ensemble has consistently dropping tunes since 2017, including three albums, and their sound has remained similar and entirely unique. Creating an almost mechanical air in their rhythms and drum patterns while the bed of their sound is undeniably electronic, they originally possessed a more pop centric attitude with catchy hooks and typical song structures, their record from earlier this year Hospital Street is a complete departure from that. Featuring just two tracks, “Hospital Street A” at 16:00 and “Hospital Street B” at 19:49, they completely double down on this electronic sound creating an almost hypnotic soundscape that challenges listeners equally as much as it delights with its originality. A unique group, check them out if you don’t mind braving Get Tight’s outdoor stage on a December evening. Check out their Instagram here.
Top photo courtesy of Susto.
