We all know Richmond has a vibrant music scene, one that’s constantly transforming and getting better every day, but what of the rest of Virginia? It’s important to remember that as good as we have it here in town, Old Dominion still has plenty of fresh and exciting bands worth your attention.
We all know Richmond has a vibrant music scene, one that’s constantly transforming and getting better every day, but what of the rest of Virginia? It’s important to remember that as good as we have it here in town, Old Dominion still has plenty of fresh and exciting bands worth your attention.
Rap, country, punk, metal, experimental; whatever your scene is, you can find dozens of fascinating artists mere hours from Richmond that are talented, moving, and all worthy of the same praise we so gladly bestow on our hometown favorites.
This article was featured in RVAMag #26: Fall 2016. You can read all of issue #26 here or pick it up at local shops around RVA right now.
Here are 10 Virginia artists we think you should all be checking out right now, but trust us when we say there are hundreds more equally worth your time:
This Virginia Beach quartet describes themselves as being “a punk band that probably should have existed in 1998,” but with rancorous melodies, peevish lyrics, and pummeling rhythms, there’s absolutely nothing outdated about their sound. Perhaps most notable is the polish the band applies to their raw energy, leaving many of their contemporaries in the dust with recordings that shy away from control board wizardry, while still maintaining a live feel to each song.
Travel down the Crooked Road of Virginia and you’ll find plenty of talented musicians steeped in genuine Americana, but none bring it into this young century as vibrantly as this resourceful Galax singer. While her serenading voice and rich stories are to be commended, it’s her protean ability to float across styles that will catch your ear, as she moves from backdrops of Nashville production to sparse guitar lines, before bottoming out with the simple snap of her fingers in a sound that’s still effortlessly enthralling.
A Richmond native now residing in Sterling, Gibson embodies the spirit of Virginia songwriting and on his latest album, 2015’s 1532, he has firmly established himself as one of the state’s best active songwriters. Over the top his dexterous fingerpicking, the veteran musician has a moving ability to offer clarity through sorrow as he leads listeners through a filtered view of his own personal distress, allowing them to find their own serenity with moving and gorgeous melodies that become engraved on your soul.
Richmond’s EggHunt Records is full of shining stars, but no artist on the current roster shines brighter than this relentlessly charming Virginia Beach band, armed with a marvelous sound that finds the happy medium between punk and indie pop. Lead vocalist and mandolinist Rashie Rosenfarb’s imposing sonic presence instantly makes this band notable, but it’s their propensity for intelligent songwriting that makes this band spectacular. Unassuming songs overflow with expert tricks and techniques, allowing for dozens of thrilling sonic moments that will have you coming back time and time again.
Eight exceedingly gifted MCs make up this Norfolk collective that has been making waves since 2008 as they’ve racked up numerous hip-hop credentials. Several quality records, collaborations with Wu-Tang affiliate Killah Priest and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, and an opening slot for Souls Of Mischief all came quick to this band as rap icons flocked to their chaotic performances with the group’s innumerable personas jumping from bar to bar in a hailstorm of rap fury, something that only gets better with each passing year.
Commanding death metal from a Roanoke quartet making modern aural destruction with a pure old-school template. With terse and effective bursts of musical intensity, the band lives up to its name with epidemic riffs that lay waste as Andrew Brown barks enough order and direction that would make any metal fan turn their ear. Even non-fans should take notice too with a rhythm section remarkable in its regimented fury and a guitar sound exciting and intriguing enough for any axe fan.
A poet since the age of eight, this hip-hop artist from Stuarts Draft clearly knows her way around a rhyme, and by drawing inspiration from icons like Mary J Blige and Lauryn Hill, she knows just how to back it up with precise production and graceful delivery. After years of honing her skill, Lady Taij has emerged as one of Virginia’s best MCs, with a style that effortlessly conforms to any style, as she now eyes the ambitious and admirable task of bridging the LGBQT and hip-hop communities.
If you find yourself revisiting the Creation Records catalogue on a regular basis, or desperately searching for the right amount of reverb and noise, then this Fredericksburg duo is required listening. Anthemic shoegaze that relishes in distorted romanticism, each voluminous song from this group is bound to leave you aurally stunned, both because such a talented band exists so close to home, and because of the sheer weight of these magnificent compositions.
This art-rock trio, known also as The Late Virginia Summers, has become a favorite of Lynchburg’s thriving musical scene thanks to their ambient instrumentals that leave their performances feeling more like flowing art than traditional rock music. The ever-changing textural beauty of the band’s music lends itself to some rewarding and cathartic listening experiences, and while you may not be singing along to the songs, it won’t take long for your mind and spirit to fall in line with the rhythm and energy of each composition.
With his experimental hodgepodge of electronica, trip-hop, and chillwave, Zooanzoo out of Harrisonburg has established himself as one of the state’s most imaginative musicians. Don’t let the genre tags deter you though — this music is as accessible and focused as it is ingenious and cavalier, showcasing a focused vision that allows each song to come into the world fully realized. Neo-traditional rarely sounds this inviting, making the music of Zooanzoo worth any experiment you wish to perform.
