Dreaming Is Free: Weekend Playlist by Washers

by | Apr 2, 2021 | MUSIC

It doesn’t happen every Friday night any more, but occasionally RVA Mag still brings you a super-fun playlist from Virginia’s most influential artists, musicians, and institutions.

Our first playlist of the Biden administration era comes to us from Washers, a Richmond melodic indie-punk trio featuring members of quite a few bands you’ve probably heard and enjoyed (Sports Bar, The Measure [SA], Worn In Red, etc). They’ve been around for a few years, but the ass end of the COVID quarantine era has spurred a period of productivity in them, and they’ve recently made their 2017 LP, The Things We Do, available on streaming sites. (It’s also available on Bandcamp if you want to pick up a permanent copy — after all, it is Bandcamp Friday…)

Of course, as drummer Brad Perry admits, “That’s not a newsworthy accomplishment in and of itself.” However, what is noteworthy is the fact that this rerelease of sorts is accompanied by an as-yet-unreleased bonus track, “Nowhere,” which actually premieres as the opening track on Washers’ RVA Mag Weekend Playlist. Which we’ll get to momentarily, but first, I need to let you know that there’s still more to come: Washers finished an album just before the pandemic descended upon us all, and they’ve spent the past year mixing and mastering on a remote basis to get it ready for release. No release date yet, but it’s coming soon, so keep an eye out for that one.

In the meantime, enjoy this massive playlist from Washers, which is set to soundtrack your entire weekend with plenty of catchy tunes, from the punk and indie hits you’d expect these guys to love to some freakier moments and even a few surprising left turns into country and hip hop. I forgot to give them my usual “25 songs, give or take a few” guidance on making this playlist, so they’ve given us an unbelievable 87 songs, for the longest RVA Mag playlist yet! You certainly won’t lack for tuneage this weekend.

Turn it up, Virginia.

Open this playlist from mobile in your Spotify app HERE.

Marilyn Drew Necci

Marilyn Drew Necci

Former GayRVA editor-in-chief, RVA Magazine editor for print and web. Anxiety expert, proud trans woman, happily married.




more in music

Thundercat Has Entered the Chat

Next Saturday, October 17th, the weird, funky spaceship that carts Thundercat around will land in Richmond for his show at The National. As a massive fan, I will absolutely be there. His is the kind of unique sound that makes a concert a “happening.” A funk so deep...

My First Phish Show in 1994 to Photographing Them in Richmond

In 1994, while in NOVA for high school, a friend who had grown up in Vermont introduced me to a band named Phish around the release of their fifth album, Hoist, and I became obsessed. As a classical-metal-progressive rock music fan, I loved it. My first show was...

Old Grace Street is Richmond History. Let’s Recognize It.

Editor's note: We were sent this petition after publishing: VCU Demolition Blitz: More Richmond Erased HERE. As reported by The Richmonder last week, “The Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan, which sailed through City Council with a unanimous vote Sept. 28, is intended...

Richmond Has The Talent. Tilt Studio Puts It in the Same Room.

“Richmond has always had this DIY, collaborative spirit, and I think projects like this are a great expression of that. There's a lot of talent here, and when those different creative communities start crossing paths, I think the city gets more interesting.”  —...

It’s Still Our City Ep. 25 | Yavé Rust

RVA Mag and NODDERLY presents It’s Still Our City, a podcast hosted by Harrison Christy and with Clair Morgan as co-host and producer through NODDERLY. "Yavé Rust is a Richmond, VA-based music producer and audio engineer specializing in metal and punk. Originating...

GWAR Co-Founder Chuck Varga, aka Sexecutioner, Dies at 68

Chuck Varga, a founding member of GWAR and the artist and performer behind the band’s Sexecutioner passed away over the weekend following a battle with cancer. He was 68. Varga was part of GWAR from its earliest days, co-founding Slave Pit Studios in Richmond and...

This is Endling

The creative soul of Richmond has been flourishing for years. Within the past two, it’s made itself known through Endling, a creative collective of underground hip-hop artists who have one goal: to prevent the underground from dying. From originating in house shows to...