Sat beneath a shifting sun and a canopy teeming with chittering cicadas, Madison Turner and I ran the gamut. I first heard of her while I was covering the local music scene for a VCU student publication, and her angsty, self-critical, maniacally upbeat tunes spoke to...
When Dispatch takes the stage in Richmond on Tuesday, June 10, it won’t just be another stop on tour—it’ll mark one of the very first concerts at the new Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront. Nestled between the skyline and the James River, the venue offers a view and vibe fit for a band that’s spent over two decades walking the line between...
Richmond gets it. More than any other city in Virginia. So here’s your Weekend Frequency, your weekly reader-curated playlist, built for the city, by the city. This week’s playlist comes from Deau Eyes. "Here are some songs I’m vibing to now and songs that have pushed me forward into who I am as an artist. Most of these are on recent...
Let’s be honest: most local summer music guides read like they were written by someone who’s never been to a show. A few safe headliners. Maybe a festival or two. So we made our own and put it all in one place for easy reference. This is RVA Magazine’s unofficial, unfiltered field guide to the music we actually care about this...
A few weeks ago, we talked to Maynard James Keenan about the Sessanta tour — this strange, layered fever dream of a show stitched together with parts of A Perfect Circle, Tool, and Primus. When asked what it all meant, he didn’t blink. “You just do,” he said. No big philosophy. No TED Talk. The Sessanta tour isn’t your typical lap around the...
As any modern miracle story starts, the pandemic had hit and a project was birthed in a Richmond apartment. Bassist and vocalist Harrison was held up crafting something he did not yet know, False Nectar. As the world turned, and the songs became tangible, he reached out to a drummer he had shared a number of previous bills with, his friend...
After more than a decade away from the spotlight, Richmond’s beloved indie pop band Hot Lava is flowing back to the Richmond Music scene with a refreshed lineup and a new album titled Queen of Fools on the way. Front woman Allison Apperson leads the charge with the emotionally layered single “What Not to Wear,” a track that marks...
I believe a bunch of bands from Richmond have it in ‘em to drive off into the future, and I see a few of that lot on these shows right here. I can’t wait to say, “I saw so-and-so at Bandito’s, and now they’re headlining Coachella!” Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. FRIDAY...
The first time I saw Shera Shi was after stepping back into Richmond’s music scene, following a few years away during the quarantine-era shutdown. One of the best things about catching live music in RVA is stumbling onto “new to you” bands while showing up for the ones you already know. That’s exactly what happened at a spring 2023 show at Get...
I love finding a wild card for this column. This week we have one of my favorite sings of my youth, a lovely collection of locals, and a little harp because I have free will and so do you. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. FRIDAY CHEERS! Chaparelle, The Jack Wharff...
