Brutal Tuesday. I personally want to inject so much music into my brain to cancel out the jargon that has been floating around my head in little flashing thought bubbles. This week we have a perfect combo of heavy rippers to thrash out the tension, and then the slow and solo to cry out all the excess.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at Griffin@rvamag.com.
The National
Saturday 9th, 2024
GWAR, Cancer Bats, Squid Pisser
It’s that time. Richmond’s own grotesque villains are back to ooze all over you. Crawling out of some puss filled corner of hell, GWAR is one of Richmond’s most legendary groups. If you want an unforgettable night of mayhem, carnage, and unidentifiable liquids, this is the time. This rotating cast of rockers has been menacing our streets for 40 years and are still pumping, churning, and spewing.
Joining the pack is Cancer Bats, a toronto metal group with some sinister hardcore vocals. They are intense and brutal in their attack, driven by a tight, heavy, rhythmic instrumental lineup. I have to imagine the pit for this one is going to be rough seas. Squid Pisser is darting out of their enclosure in the most dramatic and erratic way possible. Like horsemen of the apocalypse sounded by blast beats and lightning fast guitars.
The Broadberry
Saturday 9th, 2024
Landon Elliot, The Wilson Springs Hotel, Deau Eyes
I love to see a local rocking the Broadberry. Landon Elliott is fresh off an album release with “aftermath” debuting on 11/1. Elliott is an inspiring force, who has fought his way into freedom from the tight grips of bigotry and cruel authority, into a brighter tomorrow. There is an undeniable hope in his sound, despite everything, the only direction is forward. “neon jesus” is a case and point and my standout track on this album.
The Wilson Spring Hotel has been grinding out songs this year and is fresh off of a release of their own. Their new cowboy single “Two Step Man” is everything I have felt since I was first introduced to the likes of Ernest Tubbs and Hank Williams Sr. So much Texas in a Virginia band, I think I am going to be playing this one until my speakers are broken. Deau Eyes is an artist that has recently entered my sphere of shows to look out for. Her lyrics and songwriting is incredibly compelling and inspiring. My prediction for the next local artist to blow up.
Cobra Cabana
Wednesday 6th, 2024
Mean Jeans, Sex Mex, Loud Night
I first got to see Mean Jeans in all their blast off rock and roll glory opening up for The Chats a few years ago. They are a continuation of the Ramones ethos and sound, 3 catchy chords over a minute and a half can last a lifetime. They are part of an incredibly proud lineage of party rock bands, where you can lose yourself to an upbeat melody as you dance the world away. I’d like to think they will evoke all the opposite emotions of the previous day’s election.
Sex Mex has been in heavy rotation on my spotify over the last few months. An important brick in the egg punk arch, these guys are speeding forward with a crowd singing along to each relatable and telling lyric. “Goodwill” is an absolute anthem that I cannot wait to see live. Loud Night is the only local on the bill, and definitely the heaviest, focusing on machine gun drums rather than catchy leads. They seem to put on a fantastic and up close show, a sound perfect for anyone in RVA with a studded vest.
The Camel
Sunday 10th, 2024
Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards, Caroline Vain
After writing about GWAR and the likes, I needed to cleanse my brain, and here we have Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards. They are a group that sits on a river, being gently guided by a trickle of strings, in a subtly theatrical sonic wave. It is a hand holding stroll in the woods, a skip through southern light woods.
Caroline Vain is an expert songwriter with the resume to back it up. Currently sitting on two singles, she is a sonic healing, not quite carefree but confident in the optimistic maybe. She is a master at blending the complex into the subtle, showing far more than telling with a variety of instruments in her recordings.
New Tunes
“Mosquitoes” by Trash Rocket
I have been lucky enough to share a bill with new wavers, Trash Rocket, a handful of times and am always blown away by their sound. Mosquitoes is one of the tracks off of their new album and it is a spacey but grounded journey. It is a perfect variety of refreshing yet inspired, vintage yet modern. The whole album is terrific and worth a listen.
Main image: Landon Elliott
