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Lots of touring bands in this week’s bracket. Keep Richmond on the radar for all these out of towners, and show them a good time.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at griffin@rvamag.com.
Snow Tha Product
Friday, April 3rd
The National
I did not know what to expect with this one, but after a few solid minutes of listening, I can safely say that Snow Tha Product rips.
STP is a Mexican American rapper who has been in the game for a good chunk of time, with her first release coming back in 2011. She has a wide range, with backing tracks that move from house-style beats to classic ’90s sounds to mariachi influence. It is a really diverse lineup, and these tunes get stuck in your head.
She has a superbly confident flow, a mind for hooks, and a great balance in her lyrics. She writes heartbreak just as easily as politically fueled protest verses.
If you are new to her, I would start with “SABADO,” a great and telling tune that explores some complicated family relationships in the modern world.
Remember Sports, Youbet, Deathcat
thursday, April 3rd
The Camel
Philly indie rockers, all you have to tell me and I am there.
Remember Sports is an indie pop/rock group that has been putting out records and inspiring bedroom guitar players since 2014. Their sound is warm and inviting, something both far off and familiar. The vocals are Cranberries-esque and sweet, the rhythms are bouncing and free, and the guitars are flying. I think this lot should put on a dreamy show.
Joining the Pennsylvanians are some Brooklynites under the name youbet. They have a good range, with some moody tunes, some that lean more toward ballads, and some that are just plain fun. These guys certainly know how to set the mood, with every song feeling like a vivid tapestry of notes laid across a broad canvas.
Last up we have Deathcat. If you do not know them, you are doing yourself a disservice. Deathcat is one of the most beloved groups in the Richmond underground and is quickly moving into a much bigger place in the world. Their first couple of releases were relished by indie rockers across the country, and it seems like they are already teasing their next big release.
Drunk Mother, Doreen, Theadoore, Or Best Offer
Saturday, April 4th
The Camel
Drunk Mother has quickly raced its way into my heart and become one of my favorite country/western acts. They brandish witty and vulgar lyrics alongside a lineup of incredibly talented players. Every time I see them, it feels like they are on a steeper and steeper upward trajectory. Hopefully that leads to some new music real soon.
Doreen is another local that has been getting some attention lately but has yet to release anything concrete. From what I have found, it is sincere and intimate songwriting, with no hesitation to expand the sound with other stringed instruments.
A whole lot of New Yorkers in RVA this week. Theadoore is coming in from Queens with a mix of singer-songwriter, jazz, folk, and indie. They are not afraid to veer into the experimental, with some stronger moments of horns that shake things up.
Last up, we take a look at or best offer, another NYC group making its way down south. They are experimental and ambient, setting scenes over anything else, focused more on the mist than the concrete. There is a lot to unpack here, a lot of foggy layers of noise and feeling. This group is equal parts synthetic robot and tangible, fallible human, and it is incredibly interesting to watch.
NEW TUNES
‘Shame’ by White Beast
White Beast are gearing up for their second album, it seems, with the release of their new single “Shame.”
The band has turned up the energy for this one, with drums and bass both flying like racehorses before slamming headfirst into a crunchy breakdown. The chorus of “SHAME” repeated over and over feels both fiery and medieval, yet coldly contemporary, a blender of emotion and spit.
Another fantastic single from this noisy duo. I am eagerly awaiting what comes next.
Photo of Snow Tha Product
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