Shows, shows, shows. Got some big out of towners, some big locals, some good causes, and plenty of good folks. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day anyway. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com.
The Camel
Friday, October 17th
Dead Billionaires, Rikki Rakki, Flora and the Fauna
By the time you’re reading this, Dead Billionaires’ newest EP will be out on the airwaves encircling the globe. These guys have been a personal favorite of mine since seeing them last year. They’re broadly rock ’n’ roll, no strangers to power pop, and certainly have a punk outlook on life. They remind me of an American version of The Jam, bouncing bass lines and a sensibility for a strong vocal melody. I’m really excited to see what this EP has in store; I’ve yet to be let down by this trio.
Rikki Rakki has never once disappointed. This group always brings it to the fullest extent. They have a lot of versatility, delivering hard-hitting songs just as well as their slower, more intimate ones. I think they’ve come to represent a lot about Richmond, a sort of underdog, honest approach to music that means the world.
I recently shared a stage with Flora and the Fauna and was, as always, blown away. The quartet is locked in like no other. The songwriting is expertly crafted, and the four just work so well together, you can feel the love and trust between the members in every song.
Brown’s Island
Saturday, october 18th
Dylan Gossett, Drayton Farley, Buffalo Traffic Jam
Texas singer-songwriter Dylan Gossett is coming to the barren autumn landscape of Brown’s Island. He takes a very traditional approach, a lone figure with an acoustic guitar, writing about life and experience. The band joins him live, but he remains the focus, set to bear out his sorrow. I think Brown’s Island in the fall is the perfect place for this voice to explore the hardships of life.
Drayton Farley comes from Alabama and follows a legacy started by Kris Kristofferson and John Prine. I find his lyrics deeply compelling. They don’t try to be anything else, they’re open and honest, looking at life as squarely as possible.
Lastly, we have Buffalo Traffic Jam, self-described as “sad tunes for degens.” This is travel music: train-hopping tracks and hitchhiking melodies. The vocals are sung through a pack of cigarettes, low, real, and worn. Their slower, more melancholy songs are heavy and beautiful; you can feel how much life it took to write them. This might be my favorite group on the bill, and I think I’ll be playing them heavily.
The Camel
Thursday October 16th
Fundraiser for the Richmond SPCA featuring Portico, Brian K & the Parkway, Night Boat, Bri Major
Headlining is Portico, these guys are rocking all the best covers, packed with classics and bangers that will be instantly familiar.
Next up, we’ve got Brian K & the Parkway. This outfit is broadly rock but finds some really fun corners of funk and blues to explore. Their sound is universal and easy to enjoy, so you’re bound to have a good time with these guys.
Night Boat only has one track out so far, and it’s quite fitting for the band’s name. It feels like floating over cold, dark water. The production creates a lonely atmosphere, with minimal guitars doing a lot of work to capture that nighttime journey.
Bri Major closes out the bill with a unique blend of ambient indie. Her sound feels both astral and organic like wandering through an old European forest. It’s music from another time. Check out her most recent EP, Professional Zombie, for a taste of that haunting, dreamlike style.
New Tunes
“Reckless Love” by Jack Stepanian
The first thing that caught my ear with this new tune from Jack Stepanian is the hypnotic repeating twangy guitar. That simple melody that hangs in the back of the mix provides the foundation for everything else in the song. Stepanian made a bold choice for very modern and up-front drums, but I think it paid off. It takes the song from a regular singer songwriter track into something more complex and complicated, it forces the listener into undivided attention. This song has a lot of movement and a lot to explore, love to hear it.
Main photo of Dead Billionaires
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