John Martin, the lead singer of Mick’s Jaguar, may be one of the most influential individuals in 21st century lifestyle media. I’ve been lucky to know him for most of that time and even had a chance to work with him directly a while back. Today, for our purposes, he’s...
“When you say something is Haram it is 100 percent forbidden. You will burn in hellfire.” – Nader Haram NYC’s Haram might be the most exciting thing in punk rock right now. Or art in general. Blistering, fast, and dangerous, they’re an antidote for the pervasive mediocrity that can pass for music these days. Started in...
This week is insane. We’ve got the insane cello goblin, some insane performers like Shagg Carpet, and bands like Drook that are just insanely good. If I’m going to a show, I need it to be insane. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. Richmond Music Hall Thursday, October 23rd...
It’s 1996, and young Richmond native Joseph Cannella is playing Pokémon Red on his grimy, well-loved Game Boy. Enchanted by the world-building, he wishes he could explore Richmond the same way he explores Pallet Town, the first area of the game. The simple overworld design and the chunky black-and-white pixels leave a lot to the imagination...
It’s 1983 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and I didn’t go to class much. I took Theater 101 as an elective because I thought it would be easy (it wasn’t). One Tuesday in October, the professor ditched the day’s syllabus and spent the next 75 minutes dissecting the Talking Heads concert held in the campus basketball arena the...
Last Thursday in the Henrico County Courthouse, Zachary Alam was found guilty of grand larceny and burglary. Alam was one of about 1,600 people pardoned on President Donald Trump’s first day of his second term. He had previously been convicted for his role on January 6, including assaulting law enforcement officers. Nicknamed “Helmet...
This Saturday, culture will spill across the steps of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture as Richmond celebrates its first Diwali Music & Arts Festival, a full-day gathering of color, rhythm, and connection hosted by The Rith Initiative, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by local artists Prabir Mehta and Ruchi Gupta. For both, the...
Shows, shows, shows. Got some big out of towners, some big locals, some good causes, and plenty of good folks. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day anyway. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. The CamelFriday, October 17th Dead Billionaires, Rikki...
Michael Eugene Archer, better known to the world as D’Angelo, has passed away. The Richmond-born singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist didn’t just help create neo-soul, he refined it. His music, “thick as molasses,” as Rolling Stone once wrote, carried a voice “instantly classic, almost out of time.” It was D’Angelo who inspired Motown...
“James Munoz, man, talk about a jack of all trades, this guy really does it all, and he’s one of the kindest people you’ll meet. A fun-inducing staple in the Richmond scene. Vocalist and guitarist for Xed Out. Vocalist for The Bled and Glock/Coma. Bartender at Cobra Cabana for over six years. Host of karaoke nights: Sunday at DLB,...
