FEATURE SHOW
Monday, August 26, 10 p.m.
Vinyl Conflict presents Zero Boys, Night Birds, Cloak/Dagger, Cretins @ Strange Matter – $10 Advance / http://zeroboys.eventbrite.com / $12 Day of Show /18+
Vinyl Conflict has been presenting Richmond with some barnburners of late, and this show just might take the cake–and smash your face with it.
FEATURE SHOW
Monday, August 26, 10 p.m.
Vinyl Conflict presents Zero Boys, Night Birds, Cloak/Dagger, Cretins @ Strange Matter – $10 Advance / http://zeroboys.eventbrite.com / $12 Day of Show /18+
Vinyl Conflict has been presenting Richmond with some barnburners of late, and this show just might take the cake–and smash your face with it. Are you serious? Zero Boys? Hello, miracles – like a naked Raquel Welch. Zero Boys are a quartet of Hoosiers that have been spewing out hardcore punk like your life depends on it since the eighties. These cats can flat out lay it down. No one leaves unhappy, just disturbed and with a heavy ringing in your ears. The sinful nature of Zero Boys is addictive. To hell with needles–there’s more. The Brooklyn hardcore band Night Birds are double dipping into Richmond this summer to shower us with real music.
Okay stop, holy Jesus snorting cocaine! Really? Cloak/Dagger is back with their Richmond punk sound. It’s official: this is a Show of the Year candidate. And if you disagree with me, we can argue about it at the show. Shit in the James River and call me a snake; I’ll be at this sock hop. If you don’t show up, you suck. “John!?” What? “You forgot to mention that new Richmond punk band Cretins is opening.” Oh yeah, sorry–that too. Suddenly, I can’t feel my face.
Wednesday, August 21, 9 p.m.
Occultist (photo by George Lawhorn), Gritter @ Wonderland – $5/21+
Occultist are about to embark on a tour, and what better way to kick it off than at Wonderland? Occultist is touring in support of an LP I’ve been listening to (via Bandcamp) as I write this. It’s called Death Sigils, and holy 17th Street Farmer’s Market! Hold on to your hats! It’s an Album of the Year candidate. Whew, let me catch my breath. This wretchedly beautiful quintet of force will literally blow you across Shockoe Bottom with their hybrid of punk and metal. Everyone will be a casualty at this course of black doom, hellacious firestorms, and, well, love. Occultist singer Kerry Zylstra might just be the best vocalist in Richmond’s metal scene. Yeah, I said it. The down and dirty metal of Gritter opens this night of bourbon swilling. Bon voyage Occultist.
Thursday, August 22, 9 p.m.
Love Canon @ The Camel – Free/18+
You like bluegrass bands doing 80s covers? Well gag me with a spoon, Love Canon is in town. Fun and exhilaration take over when these Charlottesville gentlemen get you on the dance floor. If Cyndi Lauper and Michael Jackson played banjo, this is what you would get. Perhaps some hair metal music might pop out as well. Oh my Ronald Reagans!
Friday, August 23, 5 p.m.
Back 2 Skool Jam Day One, featuring RZL DZL, Tough Luck, Stick Together, Build & Destroy, New Solution @ Strange Matter – $12/All Ages
This is yet another classic Back 2 Skool Jam just for you. Yes, school sucks, but get into the swing of running down high school hallways or skipping that 8 a.m. English class at whatever local university. Tonight’s day one lineup is ransacking time to waiting to happen. Detroit’s hardcore heroes RZL DZL headline this sweatshop. Tough Luck, from right here are a high rising hardcore band sure to have kids bouncing off punches. Stick Together is straight edge hardcore from the Quaker State, so you know they mean business. Build & Destroy will do just that with their hardcore, and New Solution will pound your face with their hardcore, so show up early. By the way, if school doesn’t work out for you, the world needs plenty of bartenders.
Saturday, August 24, 5 p.m.
Back 2 Skool Jam Day Two, featuring Cruel Hand (photo by Ken Penn), Born Annoying, Blind Justice, Angel Dust, In Between @ Strange Matter – $12/All Ages.
For day two’s offering of the Back 2 Skool Jam, this is a dynamite lineup lead by Maine’s hardcore and thrash band Cruel Hand. This band with a 7 year history never disappoints, and the crowd will go crazy. Born Annoying will annoy you to pleasure with their out-of-control punk for hooligans and weirdos. It is sure to be a sloppy mess for the kids. They wouldn’t have it any other way. Blind Justice can actually be seen, and man, are these guys from Jersey brutal. I mean their hardcore is straight up hardcore. Those punks from Angel Dust and In Between open this bloody massacre.
Sunday, August 25, 9 p.m.
Agent Orange, The Milkstains @ Bandito’s – Free/21+
Well, talk about a extraordinary last minute show announcement. Agent Orange, yet another old school Southern California punk group, comes to the Devil’s Triangle. Agent Orange has been bludgeoning its fans with a surf-like punk sound since 1979. The powerful trio of Mike Palm on vocals/guitar, Perry Gx on bass/vocals, and Dave Klein on drums/vocals will no doubt pack the house this Sunday. For every old school punk fan, this is a mandatory night. Besides, it’s free! The perfect Richmond band to lend opening support, the Milkstains, open what is sure to be a miracle evening. Don’t miss out.
Sunday, August 25, 8 p.m.
Steady Sounds presents Mary Lattimore, Daniel Bachman, Anduin @ Gallery 5 – $6/All Ages
That wonderful record store in the Ward delivers up a magical night full of experimentation, noise, and a harp. Yes, a harp. Relaxation for the 21st century is at the 5 tonight, and it doesn’t get any better. Mary Lattimore will push away the transcendental medicine and capture your ear’s consciousness all on her own. This woman has redefined beautiful music, and it goes well beyond Lite 98. This is a subtle electronic dream, meshed with a harp, spearheaded by a nitrous oxide ride for the ages. You’re in heaven – you just don’t know it yet.
Daniel Bachman is the antithesis of the same ol’ folk and singer-songwriters you are used to. Bachman is not in overdrive, but he is a unique steel string finger-style guitarist living up Fredericksburg way. Let me tell you this, music is given credence thanks to Bachman. Richmond’s Jonathan Lee opens this dandelion with his seminal noise and experimentation alter ego, Anduin.
Tuesday, August 27, 9 p.m.
Stolas, Strawberry Girls, Audio Insight, Strongbow @ The Canal Club – $12/18+
What happens in Vegas is apparently a pretty darn good experimental post-hardcore band called Stolas. Stolas is touring in support of their new LP, Living Creatures, a high-octane venture into craftsmanship. This album, which you can sample on Bandcamp, is a fierce thrust of scream, pop, and a post-hardcore nightmare with no need of aspirin.
Ex-Dance Gavin Dance member Zac Garren has a new outfit called Strawberry Girls, which features aggressive groove instrumentals from the sunshine state. Jersey’s post-hardcore Audio Insight rages, along with Petersburg’s funk rock assault Strongbow.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)
