We may never know why, but freaks, geeks, and everything in between are drawn to Richmond like moths to a flame.
We may never know why, but freaks, geeks, and everything in between are drawn to Richmond like moths to a flame.
Maybe it’s something in the water, maybe it’s the myriad of undead sorts that haunt the city, or maybe it’s all the years of being GWAR’s headquarters, but Richmond attracts as many visiting objectionable artists, auteurs, and funky troubadours as it breeds.
Whatever is is behind this vortex of strangeness, it is now responsible for drawing geek scion mc chris and local rapper MC Chicken, as well as comedian Nathan Anderson, to Strange Matter this Friday night, March 4th at 7PM.
mc chris has made a name for himself not only as an actor and writer on Adult Swim classics Sealab 2021 and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, but also as a rapper of all things nerdy beyond compare.
Joining him Friday will be local viral legend MC Chicken and his band, the Chicken Bones:
Friday’s show will be a homecoming of sorts for mc chris, for it was at today’s Strange Matter, and yesteryear’s Nancy Raygun, that mc chris discovered Richmond was his kind of town.
“First year I went out, Richmond was one of our very first shows and it blew my mind because we did not think we had any fans, we did not know anyone knew about us,” mc chris said in an interview with RVAMag. Though he hasn’t been back to 929 W. Grace St in over ten years, he looks forward to getting reacquainted with the joint. “I’m totally stoked to go back there, and it’s really nice to go back to buildings that I’ve been going to for over 10 yrs and some of these places I haven’t seen in a long time,” mc chris said.
Though mc chris will be returning to his old venue, he’ll be bringing a new show, complete with stand-up comedy. “I think the fans are going to love [Nathan Anderson], I’ve never brought a stand up with me, so that’s kind of cool,” mc chris said.
Speaking of “kind of cool,” did you know there’s a petition circulating to get mc chris a cameo in Star Wars VIII?
“I don’t really expect anything from it, but it was a really nice thing that a fan did,” mc chris said, “everyone got a cameo in Force Awakens, so I want a piece of that action.”
Though he has a lot on his plate with an ongoing tour, new music, and renewed interest in acting, right now mc chris just wants to reconnect with his fans. “I miss everybody, it’s going to be like seeing old friends,” he said.
Of course, mc chris isn’t the only MC on the bill Friday night. Virginia’s own MC Chicken and the Chicken Bones will be at Strange Matter Friday night.
“This show on Friday is going to be like nothing anybody has ever seen, because I’m a rapper, but I’m also a very skilled arranger and the music is going to be very, very and cool and you’re going to want to come out and see it,” MC Chicken said.
MC Chicken achieved YouTube notoriety last year when his debut single “Richmond River Rat” went viral.
“I was at the James River, and I was turnt up, and I was walking around saying, ‘I’m a Richmond river rat,’ and I started singing it, and I just felt the spirit of the James River, and that was the song,” MC Chicken said, “I had the hook ready, so I thought I might as well take advantage of this awesome Richmond river rat hook I had and as soon as I got back, I turned on my computer and recorded it.”
Living with the fame has been somewhat of an adjustment for MC Chicken. “It’s not huge, I don’t have people taking my picture when I’m leaving my house or anything, but I’ll be at the gym and then a cute girl will stare at me and I’ll be like, ‘oh yeah, she’s staring at me because I look good,’ and then she’ll come over and be like, ‘oh my God, are you the Richmond river rat?’ and I’m like, ‘um, yeah,’” MC Chicken said.
Contrary to what one might think, MC Chicken has no intention of coasting on internet fame, and is already working on that next big Chicken sound. “I’m trying to combine elements of trap music and also jazz and funk,” MC Chicken said, “I guess my mission is to bring together people who listen to different genres of music.”
Assisting him in this endeavor is none other than Reggie Chapman of No BS! Brass. “We’ve been making some music together that we’re going to be releasing pretty soon,” MC Chicken said.
MC Chicken believes that Friday’s lineup is an ideal pairing, and that mc chris and himself have a matching sense of humor.
“The songs don’t necessarily have to be serious,” MC Chicken said. “We’re both geeks, you know?”
All things considered, it sounds like there’s quite a freaky Friday on the horizon, one we may never see the likes of in a long time.
MC Chicken and his Band, Nathan Anderson, and mc chris will be performing at Strange Matter on Friday, March 4th, 7PM. Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 day of, and can be purchased online or at the door.
