As we slowly leave the heat wave, we enter a time of storms and rain. Both can be brutal to go out in, but try to enjoy the summer while you have it. Summer is one of those things that can sometimes be loved more in theory than in practice. Don’t fall into that trap. Go out and get after it.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at griffin@rvamag.com.
American Football, Ian Sweet
Wednesday July 14th at The National
The seminal and definitive Midwestern emo band American Football is coming to town this week. You’ve heard their tunes, and if you haven’t, you’ve at least seen the album cover. With their iconic 1999 self-titled album, they ushered in a new era of the American underground. It is one of those records that started at least a thousand new bands. Their mix of math rock and emo was truly revolutionary. I’m not even the biggest Midwestern emo fan, but I can absolutely acknowledge how groundbreaking it was and how its reverberations are still felt throughout the American indie rock scene. I think there’s something so magical about a group of college friends who made a record over 20 years ago standing side by side, playing to countless huge crowds.
Coming from across the country is L.A.’s Ian Sweet. This project definitely leans into the poppier side of indie rock. It has that West Coast warmth and brightness that serves as a foil to the more low-key and reserved Midwestern sound of American Football. This show is going to be a roller coaster. Ian Sweet will get you feeling all warm inside before the Midwesterners bring on the waterworks.
Feeble Little Horse, Computerwife
Saturday July 11th at The Broadberry
Feeble Little Horse is one of the freshest acts to come out of Pittsburgh in recent years. The group formed in 2021 and has since put out releases on Julia’s War and Saddle Creek Records. The band maintains a laid-back and self-assured ethos as the music dips between bedroom indie and heavier shoegaze. While that combination has been in flux throughout the underground as of late, I would say this group is doing it in a more fluid sense than anyone else. There is an element of surrealism in their music that is really appealing. It adds an almost childlike and ethereal quality that further sets them apart. They balance a sense of nostalgia and freshness that is hard to pinpoint, but it hits you somewhere in the collarbone.
Feeble Little Horse is teaming up with NYC’s Computerwife for this tour. This solo act came out with a self-titled record in 2023 that made some big waves and has just followed it up with a single released on July 6 titled “Nobody.” The project is both dancey and lo-fi, indie and rock ‘n’ roll. The new tune is packed with energy and really showcases their ability to write a great, catchy pop riff. This project has generated a whole lot of buzz, and with this single being only their third release, I think we’re going to see more and more of them in the papers as time goes on.
Miramar
SUnday July 12th at Reveler
If you do not know Miramar, then you are missing out on one of the greatest musical projects to ever come out of Richmond, Virginia. The group is an offshoot of Bio Ritmo, a more salsa-based band. Miramar is primarily a bolero group, focused on crooning and poetic vocals that whisk you off your feet. The two words that come to mind when listening to them are “captivating” and “mesmerizing.” Their music really does transport you somewhere far away from the daily, mundane routine that can plague life. It adds romance, it adds suspense, it makes the colors richer and the flowers sweeter. The vocalists do more than blend. They bounce and flow off one another. If you are looking to dance close with that special someone, Reveler is the place to be, and Miramar is the act to make it happen.
NEW RVA TUNES
Fear / Loathing by This Man May Die!
Always a good time when This Man May Die! has something to say. This punk quartet has been moving toward a noisier sound with each release, and I think they are on to something with this new single. One thing that has remained consistent throughout all of their releases is their ability to deliver great anthemic tunes that would fit over any chaotic movie party scene. VCU filmmakers, clip that. Dynamically, I think this is some of their best work. It gets you up and moving, perfectly catchy while still being perfectly violent and unpredictable.
Main photo of Miramar
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