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Whole lot of personal favorites on the bracket today. Some far off world travelers, some local killers, whole lot of good stuff. Always good to catch these bands. Next time they come through, they might be too big to see.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at griffin@rvamag.com.
Gogol Bordello, Boris and the Joy, Puzzled Panther
Saturday, March 21st
The National
Everyone’s favorite rowdy rabble of Romani punk, Gogol Bordello, will be lighting up The National this week. The group has been around since the dawn of the century and has become a must-see group all across the world. They are loud and fun and, most of all, unapologetic. Their incorporation of violin and accordion sets them apart and all but guarantees that you will not see another group like this.
A wide array of characters dot the stage, but the antics and unpredictability of frontman Eugene Hütz really sell the showmanship of this group. They have been a long-standing favorite of mine, and I am so happy to see them come to RVA.
Boris and the Joy is the solo project of Gogol Bordello guitarist Boris Pelekh. This project leans into an indie pop sound that is much softer and more intimate than Pelekh’s other group. There is still influence from his Ukrainian and Russian heritage. This wide range of influences results in a really dynamic and rich sound.
Last up we have Puzzled Panther, an NYC supergroup with veteran musicians, including Gogol’s Hütz. The group is dynamic, bright, and hard to pin down. They are definitely part of the long legacy of fuzzy NYC punk rock, but have elements of psychedelia and garage mixed heavily in. This group is pure party. They are capturing the precious rave rock sound that made waves in Manchester and NYC in the past.
Slaat, Cumshot Wound, Hanahaki, Bowl of Meat, Pfft
Sunday, March 22nd
Banditos
Insane heavy bill at Banditos this week.
First up, let’s look at Slaat. This group is insane. They are insane on record, insane live, probably insane in day-to-day life if I had to guess. They are violence boiled into guitar strings, heavier than all get out, and have a weirdly good sense of humor (hearing “meat is back on the menu” before going into a huge breakdown really gets me going).
Next up we are talking Cumshot Wound. I don’t think I can print most of their song titles, but know these guys are not afraid of the obscene. They are blitzing fast and gnarly, no room to catch your breath, just keep thrashing and swinging around. I don’t know how else to describe them apart from saying they sound like a band called Cumshot Wound.
Hanahaki is sitting on one single out so far, and it sounds like an industrial park. There is some really great and eclectic guitar playing on the tune and drums that just don’t quit. This band really captures how hardcore a metal band can be.
Bowl of Meat will be blasting through songs in less than a minute, with as many snare hits and blast beats as humanly possible. Their vocals are sharp and cutting, and cut through that thick haze of distortion like a knife through jello.
Pfft is the last group we are looking at today, and this two-piece is all mania and bounce. Their sound is both aggressive and fun, a lotta chaos in this duo.
Hagstone, Bed Maker, Shop Talk
Saturday, March 21st
Fuzzy Cactus
Got a rockin’ bill at the always rockin’ Fuzzy Cactus.
For locals we are looking at Hagstone. This local four-piece is sitting on an eight-song demo album that released in 2024. The whole thing is gritty and raw, with a classic rock sound harking to adventurers like Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest. Every song is painted with thick and heavy guitars that move like they got something to prove and someone to kick. I dig it heavy.
Coming up DC way is Dischord Records’ own, Bed Maker. This group is firm in the experimental post-punk sound that you find in the dimmer lit sections of all the major cities right now. They are presenting some really interesting guitar work and distinct, biting vocals. This is a real star-studded cast, with every member being a veteran in the DC scene, and years of experience are more than evident in every instrument. My favorite track is “Candy Striper’s Confession,” which has an infectious rhythm and a vocal line that you can’t help but sing along to.
Last up we have Shop Talk out of NYC. They are fresh off of their self-titled album, and it is hot, hot, hot. The group has a lot of diversity. You can hear notes of The Undertones, flavors of Sonic Youth, hints of X. They got the pedal slammed through the floor and should be a whole lotta fun to dance to.
TV Buddha, PARKiNG, Computer Date, Tentative Decisions
tuesday, March 24th
Banditos
I could not help but cover this one when I saw two incredible up-and-comers out of the Midwest.
TV Buddha is one of the most exciting groups to come out of the current Chicago scene, and I have been itching to see them. They have a really distinct art-rock sound. It is noisy and raucous and charming all in a breath. It definitely harks to groups like Gang of Four and Talking Heads, but remains distinctly modern and young. You can feel the ambition in a group like this.
On tour with them is Louisville’s PARKiNG. Another group in the broad spectrum that is art-rock, these guys have been heavy on my radar as of late. They have some rare essence that makes them mods. Maybe it’s just the haircuts. Either way, you respect this lot. This is a group that knows what they are about. They can go heavy and hard and just as quickly bring it into a tight-knit groove. They are equal parts unexpected mayhem and well-articulated machine. I would recommend “Siren” and “Mike Johnson is a Mechanic” as a start to their sound and range.
Now for the locals. Computer Date are here for their third show and have already made a wave. From videos that I have found, they have a jangly sound and are ready for a good time. It seems they are already developing a great post-punk sound akin to the mix of Oh-Okay and Television.
Last up we have local post-punkers Tentative Decisions. If you are not hip already, get hip. Their debut album got a great reaction last year, and they have continued to hone in on that sound. They are angular and sharp, with a mix of surreal and commercial lyrics that get you moving like you got bugs in your clothes.
New Tunes
‘The Needle’ by Bucko
Back on my Bucko grind. This alt-country group has taken Richmond by storm over the last couple years, and they just released “The Needle,” which is their last single off of their sophomore record.
It opens up with the classic Bucko slight taste of melancholy, intimate and close vocals and lyricism. They open up into a huge, guitar-driven sound with an excellent lower register provided by their cellist. As per usual, Bucko delivers an anthemic and relatable tune that you have to blare.
This is a great one to put on for that first drive of the season when you finally roll the windows down. I’m telling you, this band is just getting better and better, and they will only get bigger and bigger.
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