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Blues is on the menu today, sprinkled in with some hardcore and a bit of noise. We’re mainly looking at local artists this week, but we’ve got a couple of out-of-towners coming in as well.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at griffin@rvamag.com.
Justin Golden, Lakota John (Matinee)
Saturday, January 17th
The Camel
If you’re not hip to Justin Golden, man oh man, you’re missing out. All is not lost, though. You’ve got the chance to catch his matinee show at The Camel this weekend.
Golden is an absolute powerhouse in local, and beyond, blues and guitar playing. He’s got one of the most honest voices on stage and puts it to work in beautifully crafted, bouncing songs. These are real working-class tunes. Earnest, thoughtful, and grounded. Everything you need and everything you could want.
As many of you know, Golden went through a tough battle with cancer last year, news that had the whole city rallying behind him. He really is a generational talent, and seeing him back on stage, singing his heart out, brings a certain sense of peace. If you can’t make this one, it looks like these matinees are becoming a regular thing, so you’ll get your time with the legend.
Joining the daytime party is Lakota John. The North Carolina singer-songwriter pulls from classic blues, old country, and Indigenous music, blending it all into something that feels alive and full of energy. He’s a versatile player. Songs like “Kidman Blues” get you moving, while tracks like “The Winds of Time” lean into his Native roots.
He keeps you on your toes, which is something I always respect in an artist. Lakota John is the product of multiple musical traditions coming together, and the result is something unique, lively, and hard-hitting.
Cassidy Snider & the Wranglers, Sweet Touch, Danger Birds, Trap Cry (RVA Cancer Benefit)
Thursday, January 16th
The Camel
What the hell, more blues. Let’s go.
Cassidy Snider & the Wranglers are headlining this stacked bill to raise money for the American Cancer Society. As noted in a Facebook post, members of every group involved have been affected by cancer, either personally or through a loved one, which makes this a cause that’s genuinely close to the heart.
There may be no better act to get you emotionally charged than Cassidy Snider & the Wranglers. They carry a deep Southern blues feel with a strong New Orleans undercurrent. Snider’s vocal performance is always fantastic live. Few people command a stage the way she does. The moment you hear the jumping bass and that tornado of piano, you’re locked in.
Shifting gears away from the blues, we get Sweet Touch. This local electronic pop duo has put out some genuinely great tracks, especially on their debut album, Good Girl, released last year. Their sound feels otherworldly and futuristic, like something pulled straight from a film soundtrack. Strong lyricism pairs with centipede-like drum fills to create a fairytale atmosphere throughout their songs.
Next up is Danger Birds, RVA indie with a healthy dash of glam. I’m currently listening to their live EP, released at the end of November, and it sounds fantastic. These guys know how to work a guitar. “Danger Birds Is Your Favorite Band” features some especially sharp, shredding leads that are worth a few dozen listens.
Closing things out is Trapcry, and this MFer knows how to work a crowd. Their dance-forward sound is built for big sing-alongs, especially on tracks like “What Do Boys Like.” Even listening at home makes you want to jump around and shout along. I’ve been wanting to catch Trapcry live for a while now, because every video I’ve seen shows the crowd whipped into a full frenzy the moment they hit the stage.
Pissed Jeans, Morgan Garrett
Sunday, January 18th
Richmond Music Hall
Getting a bit rowdy for the last show in this week’s column.
Pissed Jeans is a noise machine out of Pennsylvania. This politically charged band has more than enough fuel right now to put on an unhinged show. They bring the harshness of classic American hardcore alongside the grime and weight of the heavier U.K. bands coming up right now. Hardcore shows at Richmond Music Hall always hit, and a band like this feels tailor-made for the space. Expect a solid crowd, a proper pit, and a very good time.
Closing things out is experimental noise musician Morgan Garrett. Garrett whispers and hisses over avant-garde, slowed-down, almost-metal guitars and hesitant, hushed drums. The result is mysterious and unsettling, full of twists and vines. Not what I expected from an opener, but it’s definitely intriguing.
New Tunes
“Crooked” by White Beast
I’ve been a White Beast fan for a long time, and days like this are reason to rejoice. “Crooked” is their new single, and as usual, the bass and drum duo hits like a damn truck. The project is equal parts noisy punk and activism, so it’s no surprise they’ve got plenty to say in these gray times.
Rettberg’s vocals are shockingly intense, screaming and howling over Gordon’s machine-gun drums. In scary and uncertain moments, it’s tempting to avoid the flood of negative feeling, but White Beast does the opposite. They channel it. They grab the chaos of fate and wrestle it head-on, like Hercules with the Nemean lion.
A song like “Crooked,” and a band like White Beast, reminds me that we’re still the deciders of our own destiny.
Main image: Pissed Jeans
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