Experience a delightful brunch accompanied by live jazz at The Savory Grain, our sponsor. This cozy venue offers not just brunch, but also dinner, enticing happy hour specials, and vibrant live music on Thursday and Saturday nights. More info here.
This week on SOUND CHECK we’ve covering a lot of ground, so hopefully in the hustle and bustle of this energetic and chaotic time of year you can find some time to enjoy some good tunes. The Massachusetts based Bella’s Bartok makes another of their regular visits to Richmond with some beloved local’s backing them up. That same night, on the other side of town, No BS! Brass Band plays their horns for charity. The Savory Grain is breaking into the jazz scene by hosting a jazz brunch every Sunday morning, so make your way down to Broad St if you’ve got the need for scrambled eggs and saxohpones. On top of all of that we got another video where we talk with Holy Roller about their packed show at The Broadberry, and what their next year is going to look like — including a promised record that might be on the horizon.
Are you a band with new music, a reader/listener with suggestions, or just want to say hi? Reach out to Bones@rvamag.com
Out of town acts to see
BELLA’S BARTOK
Saturday, December 16th @ Richmond Music Hall
Doors: 7:00 pm
This outfit from Northampton, Massachusetts frequent our fair city so much that if one were to look hard enough you could find their stickers in the bathroom of any venue in town. A play on the name of the famous Hungarian composer of The Mikrokosmos, the self described “freak-folk” group pulls from all sorts of genres to create an utterly unique sound that remains to this day one of my favorites of those who decide to make Richmond a necessary stop on their tours. They recently released an album called Apocalypse Wow on Halloween of this year, and it continues their tradition of fun creative music that pulls no punches and delivers highly addictive tunes. Combine this with the fact that their opening act is the Mighty Good Times fronted by Richmond legend Tim Beavers II, and it’s shaping up to be a truly great evening of strange and wonderful music. Check out Bella’s Bartok on Instagram.
locals & Regional Acts to see
NO BS! BRASS
Saturday, December 16th @ The Broadberry
Doors: 7:00 pm
You know them, you love them, and now they’re playing for a good cause. What I do appreciate about this time of year more than anything is when I see something of a genuinely charitable nature and the spirit of giving alive and well. This Saturday night at The Broadberry No BS! Brass will be holding their annual canned food drive, and what better way could one think of to spend a Saturday night: good music for a good cause. Opening up for them are the illustrious Prabrir Trio whose rock tunes with an Indian flare make for a wild listening experience, and their charismatic frontman is a hell of a guitar player to boot. Check out No BS! Brass on their website.
DEAU EYES
Sunday December 17th @ The Hofheimer Building
Doors: 6:30 pm
What are the holidays for if not traditions, and Deau Eyes has started one of the more wonderful ones in the city. Going into it’s third year, the Deau Eyes holiday party is the place to be Sunday night, with a two hours set by Thidbodeau herself and numerous special guests it’s going to be a great evening. The Hofheimer is a huge place with numerous levels and a gorgeous rooftop looking out over the Scott’s Addition neighborhood that one could escape to in order to provide some rest for the ears, grab a drink and relax with friends. It’s going to be a wonderful time filled with familiar faces, so make your way down to The Hofheimer Building this Sunday night.
ROGER CARROLL
Sunday, December 17th @ The Savory Grain
The Savory Grain has been breaking into the world of jazz, and who wouldn’t love to listen to some wonderful saxophone playing on a Sunday morning while attending brunch? Fronted by the amazing Roger Carroll, these Sunday shows run from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm every Sunday with a full band. With the death of places like Emilio’s, it can be hard to find spots in Richmond that are friendly to some old school jazz music, which there is a surprising demand for. So, if you have been craving some standards played by a good old fashion jazz band, then you need look no further than The Savory Grain every Sunday. Get more info here.
Local & Regional Releases
“SPIRO BEACH” (Single)
NO MONIKER
This high energy track by Richmond alt-pop duo No Moniker possesses a manic energy that slides right into the soundtrack of the hectic time of year we find ourselves in. “Spiro Beach” soars with perfectly dialed in guitar tones that persist with hammered 8th notes throughout the whole track while tight harmonies coalesce around a dihcotomic sound characterized by minimalist percussive verses that build into towering choruses as the songs progresses. With two album to their name No Moniker show that they know how to keep things fresh as they continue to develop their sound and release new tunes for the waiting public, and one can only hope that there is more to come.
What I’m listening to
GARDEN SNAKE (EP)
JOHN-ROBERT
I tend to avoid the Christmas tunes except at a gathering, and it appears that I am lost in the summer folk vibes almost as much as the songwriter of this wonderful EP Garden Snake by John-Robert. A suggestion from the almighty algorithm, the first song from the record “Come Pick Me Up” made it’s way into my ears, and I went and found the whole EP right away as I fell in love with not only the sound, but the wistful way in which John-Robert delivers their forlorn lyrics. The record is defined by a fusion of acoustic picking patterns married with affected vocals and an electronic backing band that helps give the music an updated folk feeling that never alienates and always delights. They have been making music since 2020, so if you like the new tracks then go listen to John-Robert’s backlog of beautiful and wholesome songs.
My favorite tracks:
- “Come Pick Me Up”
- “Good Days’ll Come”
Top image courtesy of Bella’s Bartok.
