It’s hard to overstate the importance of the Stiff Little Fingers (SLF) to the development of punk rock. The Clash, Sex Pistols, and SLF can all be mentioned comfortably in the same sentence. Not only did they help define what punk would become, and the culture that...
Richmond based punk artist Yonder opens up about his art and music career, and the role that mental health plays in it. He discusses how his "outsider" attitude and vulnerability in his work is rooted in his experiences growing up as the "black sheep" of his family and how creating music helps him deal with his own mental health challenges. He...
I was decidedly nervous to interview Ben Reed, the lead singer and guitar player of the Australian band Skegss. Not only had I become over the last few weeks an enormous fan of their music, but I had never spoken one on one with a member of a band that had achieved such monumental success. Although popular in their native Australia, Skeggs have...
We were on assignment to interview Oderus Urungus backstage at Warped Tour 2005. In the chaos that was the festival, he met us by the tour bus and the first thing he demanded is we respect 'the cuttlefish' which was protruding from his pelvis and filled with fake blood to shoot all over the GWAR fans in the front row. That whole interaction and...
Jason Tyler and Alex Moore of the band Halfcast showed up at the front door to my townhome in the fan at 11:01 for our 11:00 AM meeting; about as punctual as can be expected from musicians. Both were casually dressed in jeans and t-shirts, a “MOM” tattoo poking out from beneath Tyler’s right sleeve. We exchanged pleasantries as I gave them the...
Richmond’s legendary intergalactic overlords, GWAR, are set to honor their late founder and frontman, Dave Brockie, with a permanent monument in Hollywood Cemetery, one of the city’s most historic resting places. The unveiling will take place on Friday, August 30, at 2 PM, and fans, friends, and fellow scumdogs are invited to attend and pay their...
Last year, Richmond got a taste of the power-thrash metal band, Buzzard Dust, when they released their debut self-titled EP. And now, they’re back to celebrate the release of their first full-length album at Strange Matter this weekend. The members of Buzzard Dust are no newcomers to the scene, including Harrison Christy (vocals), Miguel Falcon...
If you’re into heavy music and you live in Richmond, chances are you’re already familiar with Dave Witte’s drumming. Witte joined RVA institution Municipal Waste in 2004, and has remained in the band since then. While his history with that band is impressive, he has an extensive and diverse CV outside of it. He was a part of the now-legendary...
As a hardcore kid that grew up going to shows in the mid-‘80s, having a fest like United Blood in my hometown makes this city very special to me and by the looks of it, it appears a good amount of people, both young and old, feel the same way. Now in its eleventh year, United Blood has become one of the most anticipated events of the year for...
Deep in the woods down a long, long gravel driveway off a long winding road in Varina, sits “The Shed”, the studio and hangout spot for Black Naked Wings. Now it may look a little rough around the edges, but once you step inside its filled to the brim with eclectic gadgets like a replica of the Star Trek captain’s chair replica, vintage guitars...
