Lotta indie and a lot of dreamy shoegaze with a healthy dose of funk and hip hop this week.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit us up at griffin@rvamag.com.
Thundercat, TiaCorine
Saturday October 17th 2026 at The National
A man that has done it all. Thundercat has been a member of Suicidal Tendencies, played on Kendrick Lamar’s records, but more than all of that, he is a modern-day mythic on the bass, pushing the boundaries of contemporary funk and R&B.
I think that finding new sounds in such historical and storied genres can be extremely difficult, but Thundercat has definitely cut his own path and opened a new avenue of music that mixes the aforementioned genres with acid jazz, jazz fusion, and a relaxed and easygoing attitude.
His bass playing specifically is unmatched in the modern cultural zeitgeist; it has such a strong personality and a clear voice. You can listen to any of his many features (on tracks with artists such as Erykah Badu, Gorillaz, and Mac Miller) and instantly point out his own unique funk additive and quickly get lost in a great rhythm.
North Carolina’s TiaCorine is supporting, and I am confident she will get the energy up to start this show. She self-describes her music as “anime trap,” and it definitely does have that quick-cut and high-action pacing of many an anime.
I would toss the phrase “aggressive dream” in to describe it further. A lot of her beats are dreamy and light, but there is a certain level of directness and aggression that drives it into its own unique and intense territory.
Deathcat, Nysa, Artschool, Heavy Friends
Friday, October 16th, 2026 at The Camel
Fun, fun, fun bill right here. Let’s look at Deathcat first.
Deathcat has become a well-loved and well-attended band over the last few years. Overall, they are a blend of softer indie rock and harder grunge/riot grrrl, with some great songwriting and excellent lyricism. They have a way of making every song so relatable and endearing; they are an easy band to root for because they are an easy band to feel connected to. They have a new tune coming out at the end of the month, but you can catch it live at this show.
Next up is a band I am ALWAYS happy to talk about. Nysa is one of Philly’s best exports right now. I first saw them at the Camel some three years ago and have been an adamant fan and supporter ever since. Their sound is somewhere between Fun House-era Stooges and some heavy psychedelic gem you’d find in a loose bin at the record store.
My fondest memory of the band is the singer going from on the stage, to the crowd, to being on the crowd, running to the bar, going outside, and then returning to the stage, all while singing. If you want an intense show, go see Nysa.
I usually try not to include my band’s shows here, but I just love every other band on this bill. We are called Artschool, and we straddle the line between punk and post-punk. We wear a lot of dusters, jump around, lots of incoherent rambling set to some good bass and drum parts (I do the incoherent rambling).
Last up, we have Heavy Friends, who I first saw this summer. From the first note of their set, they were on it. The group is certainly a rock band first and foremost, but they know how to write a catchy lead that gets stuck in your head on the drive home.
They were also some dynamic performers who throw 100% of themselves into every song, so you will certainly get your money’s worth with Heavy Friends.
Glimmer, Babe Lewis, Bellweather
Sunday, October 18th, 2026 at Banditos
We got some New Yorkers in town this week. Glimmer is a shoegazey group from Brooklyn, full of heavy guitars, soft vocals, and soaring leads.
This summer, they brought us “Someday Sunshine,” their first single since their debut album that was released this time last year. That album opens up some more grungy doors, that ’90s gritting-teeth sound where you feel like you have to fight back against the world, push against the walls that close in around you.
I think there is also an aspect of the Jesus and Mary Chain in their sound; those at-ease vocals backed by the distorted guitars capture the turbulence and peace that constantly ebbs and flows in the modern mind.
On to the locals. First up, Babe Lewis. Babe Lewis also has some grunge edge to them, but they fall a little bit more into that bedroom pop sound. This is the type of music you put on when your life starts to feel like a montage.
It has great momentum. It goes and goes and goes. Babe Lewis is a car with no brakes, and you just want to be in the passenger seat.
Last up, we have Bellweather from Vienna, Virginia. They have elements of the genres listed previously but are a bit more new wave, if that makes sense. This is another cinematic band.
You listen to a song like “Space Age Love Song,” and you can see passing visions and streaking colors and lights. This band is oozing with image and striking visuals. Give them a listen and see if you see the same movie I see.
NEW TUNES
“Halloween Parade” by Rikki Rakki
Let’s keep the dreamy indie rock going with “Halloween Parade”, the new tune and music video from Rikki Rakki. I’ve always found this band synonymous with Richmond, and that hasn’t changed with this song, titled after what I assume is the Oregon Hill Halloween Parade. This is one of my favorite tunes from the band. It is full of life and vividly alive, with those sleepy vocals that I adore. As soon as that first chord hits, you feel like leaning back, maybe kicking out your feet, maybe lying down on your front porch and feeling the breeze. Another classic in the strong catalog of local act Rikki Rakki.
Main photo of Deathcat by Aspen DeRosa
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