I love Christmas time shows, everyone’s cold so they all pack in together, maybe you’re at Punks for Presents, maybe you’re seeing your friends play their last show of the year. We got a lot of great stuff this week as we close out the year.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at griffin@rvamag.com.
Erin and the Wildfire, Box Factory, Mo & the Truth
Friday, December 5th
The Camel
As we come to the end of the year, we also come to the end of The Camel’s First Friday residency with Erin and the Wildfire. The indie-pop band has had a strong run with some genuinely memorable nights, and now they’re ready to pass the torch. For this final show, you’ll want to catch those powerhouse vocals soaring above a packed, bouncing crowd. They’re bringing in a whole lineup of local favorites as special guests, so this one is going to feel different — in a good way.
And with any ending, there’s a new beginning. Box Factory will be taking the torch and stepping into the First Friday residency, starting by supporting Erin & The Wildfire for this last handoff show. Box Factory has been all the rage since they debuted a few years ago. Their psychedelic sound always builds the right atmosphere colorful, trippy, and celebratory. I’ve never been let down by good old Box Factory.
Opening the night is Mo and the Truth, bringing a fusion of soul, pop, and hip-hop, with fantastic vocals running through the whole project.
Punks For PResents
December 5th & 6th, 12th – 14th
NIGHT 1: Hardywood, Friday December 5
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Punks for Presents is back with an insane run of shows across the city. If you are not familiar with PFP, it started about 20 years ago when a group of local punks put together a covers night to raise money for charity. The proceeds went toward toys for the children’s hospital, and it went so well they did it again the next year. Two decades later it has grown into seven different shows over two weeks, each with its own cover bands and a level of energy nothing else really matches.
This year begins on the heavier side. Headlining the night is Blizzard of Ozz, a tribute to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne. Supporting the Prince of Darkness are Snow Thrower (Bolt Thrower), Bastards (Motorhead), and Sharp Dressed Santas (ZZ Top). Hardywood PFP shows are always a grand time with great bands, great music, great beer, and most importantly great people.
NIGHT 2: The Camel, Saturday December 6
Night two keeps the stacked lineups coming. Returning from last year is Snoasis, the Oasis tribute. I was not able to make it out to their set last year, but by all accounts they were absurdly good. Filling out the nineties themed night are Smells Like Xmas Spirit (Nirvana), Pixmasies (The Pixies), and Snowed Out (No Doubt).
If you have never been to a Punks for Presents show, please do yourself the favor. They are some of the most fun shows of the entire year and it is hard to find a better cause to support.
The Koffin Kats, Playboy Manbaby, The Rumours
Sunday, December 7th
Richmond Music Hall
Now this is a fun group to have in town. The Koffin Kats are one of the big names in rockabilly, and their last Richmond show was absolutely packed with greased-up hair. They are nothing short of an acrobatics team live. They jump over one another, stand on top of the upright bass, and toss instruments back and forth like it is nothing. You cannot take your eyes off this trio once they start playing. They are keeping rockabilly alive and thriving.
Joining the Kats is the Arizona-based band Playboy Manbaby. What a name. From the videos I found online, these guys seem completely unhinged in the best possible way. Ten players running around the stage, blaring horns and guitars into a sort of symphonic garage sound. They seem like an extraordinarily fun group, especially live.
Rounding out the night is Iowa’s own The Rumours. You do not hear a lot of bands coming out of Iowa, but I think you will hear a lot from this lot. They have a classic rock sound with shredding guitars and sharp, cutting vocals. This is pure rock and roll, no punches pulled, just raw electric energy.
New Tunes
(red wind) by Hotspit
Hotspit’s first full-length album is out and it absolutely bangs. The whole record is moody and atmospheric, a thick silver fog you wade into. They balance the lighter, more vocal-driven tracks with the heavier, noisier ones in a way that gives the album a real equilibrium. My standout track is Kudzu. Something about that slow, steady march of drums at the beginning just fires me up. The record is paced incredibly well, and listening straight through feels like its own story unfolding.
Main image of Punks for Presents
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