Lotta bands on these bills so I hope you see one you like. Got some really good and impactful benefit shows this weekend so if you got some time and a few bucks it goes a long way to a lot of people.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit us up at griffin@rvamag.com.
Which Side Are You On Fest
Sunday August 16th at The Camel
If you have Sunday wide open, The Camel has got you covered. Which Side Are You On Fest is a benefit show running all day, put on by Artists Against Deportation. The proceeds are going to The Sacred Heart Center and Richmond Liberation Center. If that goodwill does not get you to go, wait until you see the lineup.
Twenty-four bands and artists will be performing all day in an absurdly wide variety of genres. I won’t list them all here, but some acts that really have my attention are Trapcry, Velvet Ruin, and Circle Breaker. This is for sure the place to be this weekend. Good cause, good music, good people, what more could you want?
Drug Country, Charm Offensive, Graphic Violets
Saturday August 15th at Get Tight Lounge
Drug Country is an act that really caught my attention with their first few releases. I have kept an eye and ear on them ever since and am quite happy to be listening to Apple Grove, their newest EP. They self-describe as “simple songs from the south,” but I think there are a lot more good things to be said for this group. This EP is really showing off their wide variety of strengths, with some tracks showcasing their heavier side as they play into a grungier sort of sound, and others playing some soundtrack-esque, mesmerizing jams. It still has that loose and worry-free Southern charm, but overall, this EP has pushed them into new and richer territory.
Joining the Country is the ever-great Charm Offensive. They dropped two singles this year that are a really good expansion of their sound. I generally thought of them as a mix of shoegaze and grunge, but these newer singles showcase their talents in writing something really catchy and poppy, and something slow and drenched in melancholy.
Last up, we have Graphic Violets, which is one of the better band names I have come across recently. This is my first time hearing them, but I am extremely taken by their sound. The three bands that really come to mind when listening to them are The Replacements, The Doors, and The Smiths, which is an eclectic but incredible lineup. These tunes are undeniably punk, but they are just so damn catchy that it propels them a little closer to power-pop territory. Whatever you want to call it, it rips.
ShotClock, American Television, Payphones, Gaffer
Friday August 14th at Gallery 5
We got another sick benefit show lined up with the Punk Rock Food Drive. Let’s first look at ShotClock. This is a pop-punk trio that is straight to the point. The guitars are ripping, the drums are kicking, and everything is fast enough to dance to. The group has those early 2000s riffs that make you feel like a kid again and get you skanking and stomping around.
Coming down from DC is American Television, who have been making a name for themselves in the capital. They have a classic Epitaph Records sound full of angst and energy that pumps forward into every beat.
Payphones is the heaviest band on the bill, falling onto the hardcore end of the punk spectrum. They are a healthy combo of classic ’80s hardcore and its modern evolution. This group plays fast, so there’ll be plenty of dancing for their set.
Last up, we have Gaffer, who are fresh off their new EP, Count to Ten. In my eyes, they are one of the most exciting acts in town and help fill an important void between punk and screamo, providing some of the most electric shows in town. I am trying to see them as much as possible because these guys are going places, and they are getting there fast.
NEW RVA TUNES
‘If I Were The Sky’ by Celler Dwellers
Thank God we have the second Celler Dwellers record. If I Were The Sky could not have come at a better time.
Celler Dwellers is a band that is best enjoyed at the tail end of the summer. You put them on in the car with the windows down, savoring every last drop of sunlight and warm air. This sophomore record continues their legacy as an absolute earworm band. Every track has memorable riffs, a sense of freedom, and a chorus you have to sing along to.
I like that they expanded their beachy indie rock sound with some heavier moments in songs like “Sweet Emotion,” but still have those classic C.D. jangly riffs in songs like “Know Your Name.” I think, pound for pound, this is some of their best work. It is no surprise this band is as beloved as they are. They earn every tear, smile, and skipped heartbeat.
Main photo of Drug Country
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