Coming to the end of an exciting era for Richmond music. The Mitras have been delivering hits for the past half-decade in Richmond. Paired with wild shows and an incredible sense of personability, they’ve become a cornerstone of the scene. On Saturday, September 27, they played their final show at The Broadberry before disbanding.
The band first took shape in 2018 when singer Sean Moran moved to Richmond and began imagining a new project. A long commute gave him plenty of time to belt along to The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and Nirvana on the way home from work. Those 45 minutes a day built his confidence as a vocalist and convinced him that what had once been a dream could actually become reality.
As a newcomer in town, Moran drifted through the city’s open mic nights, testing out his self-written songs and searching for the right group to take his sound to bigger, louder spaces. That search led him to Austin Miller (bass) and Russell Redmond (former drummer). The trio clicked immediately, adapting Moran’s solo tracks into full-band productions.
They quickly began playing locally, and by the end of 2019 had released Meet the Mitras, their debut EP. The first two tracks are hard-hitting rockers, showcasing some of the Cobain influence Moran often cited. The third track, “Dirt,” leans more toward the singer-songwriter side, with stripped-down instrumentals leaving space for crunchy, commanding vocals to take center stage.
Reflecting on that time, Moran said, “Richmond is a small city, but I don’t think there is a better place to start something great. I’ve learned an incredible amount from living here and starting The Mitras. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.”
As shows returned post-Covid, 2022 saw four more Mitras releases: Ugh, You Got It, The Leap, and More Mitras!. The band expanded on their grungy garage rock roots with more rowdiness and a sharper, more explosive sound. The Leapshowcased a poppier, melodic side, while “Heavy E” leaned heavier, with a dangerous edge that flirted with metal.
In early 2023, the group released Caroline, a song packed with emotion that slowly unraveled into a full, powerful sound. It carried the sincerity and power-pop touch of The Lemonheads. They quickly followed with No One Else, a single wrapped in a post-punk coat of paint. Midway through the year came the RIPE EP, a snapshot of the band’s journey up to that point. The early influences were still present, but the songs had begun to take on distinct personalities, the writing becoming unmistakably Mitras. The closing track, House Empty, stood out as a milestone for Moran’s songwriting, pulsing with life and character.
2024 was when The Mitras first came onto my radar. The year opened with Red Rover, a moodier turn for the trio that marked a leap in confidence and sound. This period also saw them begin to frequent The Broadberry for releases, fitting, since it’s where they’ll play their final performance. They followed with Little Bits, No One Gets Back to Me, and Bite My Lip, each brimming with angst and edge, leaning slightly into emo territory while still rooted in their rock foundation.
And now, in 2025, we’ve received four final Mitras singles. Each stands out as some of their best work, a run that made me fall head over heels for the trio and makes it all the harder to see them close up shop. Their final show promises to be insane, emotional, and a fitting end to such a driven band.
They were joined by some of the best of the best: Cassidy Snider and the Wranglers, who wear the crown of Richmond blues and soul; Tentative Decisions, who have become iconic since their debut album dropped last year; and Shagg Carpet, fresh off their sophomore record and known for delivering some of the best live shows in town.
Looking back on it all, Moran had this to say:
“It’s certainly not doom and gloom. We’ve had an incredible run. It’s highly unusual for a group to be together this long and end on the terms that you set for yourself. I take a lot of pride in the fact that we are able to all gleefully play this last show with full hearts and fond memories of everything we’ve accomplished. We are going out as a group of friends that wanted to make music we love and share it with the people that enjoy it. If I keep thinking about it like that, it’s a joy that no one can take away from me, this band, or anyone who has been a part of it along the way.”
Seeing a great band end is like a hard breakup or an unexpected loss. You can look back at the memories and photos, remember the good times, but in the end you have to cherish it while it’s in front of you.
Photos by Ben Lahoussine / Alamy Live News
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