At age 13, singer Eli was already cutting his teeth in songwriting, lyrics, and guitar. “For a while I did solo stuff, and then one day [Henry] messaged me to play drums. I didn’t know who he was at all, and we just started Gaffer together.” The duo chose the name...
Today’s the day, Richmond. The city is already sizzling, and 804 Day is back to turn it up a notch. Now in its second year, this free-for-all celebration is the biggest independent Richmond music block party of the year, bringing together a stellar lineup of local music heroes. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just dipping your toes into the...
The Ashes of Leviathan tour erupted like a thermonuclear explosion last night at Virginia Credit Union Live, marking Lamb of God's triumphant return to Richmond for the first time since GwarBBQ in 2016. Joined by Mastodon, Kerry King (from Slayer), and Malevolence, the show was a raw and visceral, an unhinged testament to the power of Ashes of...
Lamb of God is a ferocious band, on record and on stage, largely due to the presence of frontman Randy Blythe. Equally as ferocious is Blythe’s worldview. Holding multiple truths simultaneously, he navigates the crossroads of past, present, and future with immeasurable ease. What began as an interview about the Ashes of Leviathan tour soon...
Twenty years ago next month, Mastodon released one of this century’s great works of art, Leviathan—a metal masterpiece inspired by the great American novel Moby Dick. Just as Herman Melville opened his novel with the eternally prescient line, “Call me Ishmael,” so too did Mastodon open their album with the similarly oracular lyric from Blood and...
Fighting Gravity back at Browns Island
Photographer Benjamin Lahoussine captured a killer set by powerhouse shredder punks Strawberry Moon the other weekend at The Camel. Known for their high-energy performances and raw, unapologetic sound, Strawberry Moon delivered. Here are the photos for those that missed it. PHOTOS BY Benjamin Lahoussine
The night is started off by one of Richmond's newest and proudest quadruplets, Ratfight. I ask the tattooed and mustachioed singer Colter Smalley for a word on their performance. "Fuck," he gives me simply. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWR6-Tgj-YI The group rings the commencement bell with the removal of their shirts and immediately kicks into...
Over the weekend, The Broadberry in Richmond was electrified by powerful performances from Baroness along with Ruby The Hatchet and Final Gasp. The bands delivered a night of heavy rock, leaving the crowd energized and buzzing. Here are the photos for those that missed it. Photos by Landon Shroder @radio_tokyo Baroness, hailing from Savannah,...
Stopping in before a pre-tour practice, I talked with Richmond hotshots Shagg Carpet. The group formed in the sunny college days of 2022 when high school friends Laurel (guitar), Austyn (keys), and Brett (drums) saw Rook (vocals and mysterious masked figure) lounging in the park and staring into the sun. “I don’t really know how it happened,”...
