When was the first time you saw a Black woman fronting a rock, punk, or any type of alternative band? For the vast majority of people, that concept in itself is an anomaly - but for the true punk-heads, names like Skin, Poly Styrene, Stephanie Phillips, Tamar-kali, or...
Angel Du$t came through Cobra Cabana a few weeks back, and as with most well-intentioned plans, ours crumbled at the last minute—life’s like that sometimes. Fortunately, photographer Cristian Espinoza, always a step ahead, had a set of photos stashed away from their gig in the city last year. Call it a bit of luck or a gift for those who made the...
The latest addition to Richmond's food and bar scene, Brave Captain, will officially open next week on the edge of Oregon Hill and the VCU campus. Co-owners Herbie Abernethy (read our interview HERE) and Josh Novicki — already known for popular Richmond spots Cobra Cabana and Hot For Pizza — have transformed the former Mojo’s side space into a...
Richmond has always been a city where music does more than just play in the background. For decades, heavy music has found its footing here, rising from packed clubs, DIY spaces, and warehouses. A part of that culture today is Another Round Bar & Grill, a modest spot on Brook Road in Lakeside that’s become a part of the city’s music ecosystem...
Post Thanksgiving haze, rent has unfortunately paid, Christmas looms closer and closer, and I still haven’t bought those presents. One thing stays consistent, Richmond’s music makes me happy. This week we got a whole bunch of funk and some charitable punk. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at...
It is simply a great time to be a Richmond music fan. This week we have great touring bands, revivals of older groups, and an abundance of new music coming from the blank generation. As everyone prepares for the holidays, travel, and the expected rotation of Christmas music, treat yourself to something out of the ordinary. Got a show coming up?...
This past weekend, Denver death metal heavyweights Blood Incantation brought their cosmic brutality to The Canal Club. Known for their "psychedelic take on classic death metal," Blood Incantation has been pushing boundaries since their debut album, Starspawn (2016). With themes of space and death woven into their crushing riffs and eerie...
I feel a gravitational pull towards heavier music now that the days are darker. It feels right to match the heavy sky. In the same breath I feel like no matter what season it is, you have to listen to a little bit of Spring music, stuff to remind you what the sun feels like. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I...
The week and the music all seem heavy right now. Sometimes you eat the bar, sometimes the bar eats you. Sometimes you sway gently to a crooner at The Camel, sometimes you lose a tooth in the pit at the Canal Club. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. The Camel Saturday,...
BEHOLD! GWAR at The National, where the mere presence of Richmond’s intergalactic overlords feels like a gruesome embrace. Four decades of chaos and carnage—GWAR has become more than just a band; they’re the dark-hearted, unofficial mascot for the misfit masses of our city. Richmond’s landscape might be evolving, but knowing GWAR still slays in...
