It was 72 and breezy. Unseasonably pleasant, almost chilly. VCU students were splayed out on picnic blankets in Monroe Park enjoying soft serve and the sunshine. Citronella and the smell of hot dogs wafted through the air from some folks having a cookout. “High...
In this city of the dead, I felt the weight of history bearing down upon me, the accumulated whispers of the past echoing through the hollows of my ears like a mournful sigh. No one needs teachings to realize that this ancient place wields some mystery. The James River, a lifeblood of sorts, flowed quietly in the distance, but my immediate...
I am glad to say Richmond shows out when need be. Even at the most empty shows there's two buddies in the corner that came to support. Keep RVA supportive. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol-j9mnLgWY Friday Cheers The War and Treaty,...
When Mark Szafranski bought the building at 117 West Broad Street in 1991, the property was in disrepair. Water seeped from the upper floors, the windows were falling in, and downtown Richmond was, at the time, more forgotten than revitalized. But Szafranski, a musician—not a developer—saw possibility in the neglect. He was playing accordion...
This week we have artists that were born here, artists clawing their way up in the scene, and artists making their last stands. No matter what stage you’re at—give ‘em hell. No relent. Push, drive, make yourself better, and keep Richmond the haven it is. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy...
In 2013, a two-day event transformed a neglected stretch of Norfolk, Virginia, into a pop-up arts district. It wasn’t a city plan—it was a vision. Volunteers opened temporary galleries in boarded-up storefronts. Food trucks rolled in. Sidewalks were painted with makeshift crosswalks. Musicians played under murals that hadn’t been there the day...
Off of Broad Street, deep in Scott’s Addition between warehouses and alleyways, is a black hole in the wall filled with music, vintage VHS, and (perhaps most importantly) Richmond’s preeminent collection of horror-themed pinball machines. I came to Wax Moon on a cool evening, unsure of exactly what I was looking for, until an all-black, barn-like...
Country, hip-hop, indie, fuck you. I feel like Richmond could be known for any number of genres at this point. Everything seems to be having a beautiful moment right now. Remember kids, rising tide raises all boats. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com....
I like to think this list of shows and songs captures Richmond right now—blossoming folk, iconic RVA rock, scrappy hardcore, college post-punk on the rise, and country with a middle finger to the charts. That’s my Richmond, anyway. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. Friday...
Once again, a trip to the Firehouse Theatre has found a way to send me home with a boiling pit of emotions churning in my gut and fiery rants on the tips of my fingers. Art is made to provoke, not to placate, and this is what I signed up for. SMOKE, the current exhibition taunting audiences at the corner of Lombardy and Broad, was produced by...
