The close of the year. Maybe this week your old buddies from high school will be back in town, maybe your coolest cousin is visiting for the holidays, whatever it is, go make some memories together. To quote the Specials, “Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.”
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com.
The Canal Club
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20th
J. Roddy Walston ‘Christmas to the Bone’ SHOW
J. Roddy Walston is back with his legendary Christmas show, a holiday tradition that needs no introduction for longtime fans. For the uninitiated, Richmond’s own rockstar—of J. Roddy Walston and the Business fame—hosts an epic, high-energy Christmas bash every year that feels like one big, wild party. If you’re reflecting on the year and realizing you didn’t let loose at enough shows, this is your chance to make up for it in style.
THE CAMEL
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22nd
Loose Roots, Niiasii, Handsome Grandson
Loose Roots are a sensational local dream, floating through the steady streets of RVA. On the previous subject, they actually remind me a little bit of J. Roddy’s former band, Palm Palm, leaning into their chiller songs. Loose Roots has some serious guitar chops. They can shred without totally changing the vibes of one of their dreamy numbers, which is no easy skill. Their vocals are the thing that really stand out for me. They sort of hover and take you by the hand, but not too close, there is still some fog between you and them, enough to keep the mystery alive.
Niiasii is a powerful performer from Suffolk who knows how to get a catchy groove going. She definitely has pop sensibilities but there is a real honest indie rock and r&b aspect to it all. The songs are really living and breathing with fantastic storytelling.
Handsome Grandson is a psychedelic band that I have caught a few times making the rounds in the local house show circuit. They are some seriously intelligent musicians with a fantastic rhythm section holding it down funky style, while keys, guitars, and vocals maintain a dreamy scene overtop.
Gallery 5
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22nd
Shane Kelley, Cat Bone, Ray Phelps, Yell at God
Shane Kelley’s storytelling in music is absolutely inspiring. He comes from a breed of country and western that is few and far between these days. He is definitely in the legacy line of the real outlaws. I got to see a Camel performance of his a few months ago and was blown away by the passion and real belief in everything he did. He is a rare breed and I think deserves some serious respect.
Cat Bone has a similar old country/western/folk style but leans a bit closer to the likes of Hank Williams and Marty Robbins. He brings a lot of energy to the table which I always like in a solo performer.
Ray Phelps has one single out and it gives me the feeling of a tune you would stumble on in the deep and remote nooks of Appalachia. The song has a haunting loop to it, something between the trees.
yell at god is a Philly jugband duo. They lean a little bit closer to folk punk, with some yelling choruses rather than subtle singing. The swinging banjo is my standout for this group.
New Tunes
Therapy by King Kaiju, Johnny Cigs
“Therapy” is my standout track off of King Kaiju’s new album Feature Film. It is one of the smoothest numbers I have heard in a minute. The vocals are clean and fit exactly in place giving the whole song a super hypnotic and polished feel. The song has contributions from local Johnny Ciggs (The whole album features some serious heavy hitters in the scene). King Kaiju has a powerful voice that has so much weight to it, even on slower songs like this one.
Happiness is Just a Thread Away by Towards Space
“Happiness is Just a Thread Away” is slipping in a single before the year is out. I really love the telephone vocals from guitarist David Pahtoon, it gives the whole song a longing feel, you can see something, maybe it is in the future, but it’s still pretty far away. The instrumentation has hints of early rockers like Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis, as well as the bar cowboys like Waylon Jennings, all while having real modern production. I am very glad to see some new Toward Space.
Import
Dementia by Whiphouse
I found these Atlantians (Atlanta) on the gram with the release of their record on vinyl. Whiphouse immediately caught my attention, with a distinct and captivating look I was hooked. Dementia is one of the titular songs of their record Sleep/Dementia, 21 minutes of weird and reverbed punk originality. The song is ever so slightly avant-garde while keeping a razor sharp edge. The drums are extremely hypnotic and enticing, and the rest of the instruments create an amazing effect of blurring and clearing your vision. I could see their sound fitting in extremely well in Richmond and I am hoping they make it up here sometime soon.
RICHMOND SHOW LIST!
DECEMBER 2024
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ALLIANZ AMPHITHEATER
Saturday, 6/21 Dwight Yoakam BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 7/19 Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit BUY TICKETS
Wednesday, 8/6 Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder BUY TICKETS
Friday, 8/29 Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas BUY TICKETS
Monday, 9/22 “Weird Al” Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour BUY TICKETS
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RICHMOND FUNNY BONE COMEDY CLUB
Wednesday, 12/18 Sammy KO Comedy – 7:00 PM BUY TICKETS
Thursday, 12/19 Delta Work – 7:00 PM BUY TICKETS
Friday, 12/20 Ian Bagg – Multiple Shows BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 12/21 Stone Cold & The Jackal – 2:30 PM SOLD OUT
Saturday, 12/21 Dale Jones – Multiple Shows BUY TICKETS
Sunday, 12/22 Clash of the Comics – 7:00 PM BUY TICKETS
Friday, 12/27 – Saturday, 12/28 Lewis Belt – Multiple Shows BUY TICKETS
Tuesday, 12/31 NYE with Andrew Rudick & Bodacious! – 7:30 PM BUY TICKETS
Friday, 1/3 – Saturday, 1/4 Mark Curry BUY TICKETS
Sunday, 1/5 Graduation Night with Tim Loulies BUY TICKETS
Friday, 1/10 – Sunday, 1/12 Sommore BUY TICKETS
Friday, 1/17 – Saturday, 1/18 T.J. Miller BUY TICKETS
Thursday, 1/30 La Chupitos (En Español) BUY TICKETS
Friday, 1/31 – Saturday, 2/1 Greg Warren BUY TICKETS
Sunday, 2/2 Karen Morgan BUY TICKETS
Thursday, 2/6 Rock Comedy Tour ft. Mike Young & Friends BUY TICKETS
Friday, 2/7 – Saturday, 2/8 Bill Bellamy BUY TICKETS
Friday, 2/14 – Saturday, 2/15 Anthony Rodia BUY TICKETS
Friday, 2/21 – Saturday, 2/22 Steven Ho BUY TICKETS
Sunday, 2/23 Geoffrey Asmus BUY TICKETS
Tuesday, 2/25 Steve Hofstetter BUY TICKETS
Thursday, 2/27 Brad Upton BUY TICKETS
Friday, 2/28 – Saturday, 3/1 Funny Marco BUY TICKETS
Wednesday, 3/5 Calimar White aka Agent Ratliff BUY TICKETS
Thursday, 3/6 Jermaine “Funnymane” Johnson BUY TICKETS
Friday, 3/7 – Saturday, 3/8 Nick Swardson BUY TICKETS
Friday, 3/14 – Sunday, 3/16 Godfrey BUY TICKETS
Wednesday, 3/26 Peter Antoniou BUY TICKETS
Friday, 3/28 – Saturday, 3/29 Dave Attell BUY TICKETS
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EMBER MUSIC HALL
Thursday, 12/19 R4nd4zzo Bigb4nd Holiday Special BUY TICKETS
Friday, 12/20 Last Fair Deal: Grateful Dead Tribute BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 12/28 Space Wizard BUY TICKETS
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THE BROADBERRY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SHOWS
All shows are at The Broadberry unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, 12/19 Santa Rave BUY TICKETS
Friday, 12/20 Runaway Gin: A Tribute to Phish (Richmond Music Hall) BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 12/21 Suggesting Rhythm’s 9 Innings BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 12/21 Divas on Stage! Drag Brunch (Richmond Music Hall) BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 12/21 Improvement Movement (Richmond Music Hall) BUY TICKETS
Friday, 12/27 Larry Keel Duo feat. Jared Pool with special guest Dalton Dash BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 12/28 Skalidays feat. Murphy’s Kids w/ Mighty Joshua, Shagwuf, BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 12/28 Emo Night Brooklyn (Richmond Music Hall) BUY TICKETS
Tuesday, 12/31 New Year’s Eve Bash w/ The Soul Rebels BUY TICKETS
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DOMINION ENERGY CENTER
Wednesday, 12/18 The Nutcracker – Richmond Ballet BUY TICKETS
Thursday, 12/19 The Nutcracker – Richmond Ballet BUY TICKETS
Friday, 12/20 The Nutcracker – Richmond Ballet BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 12/21 The Nutcracker – Richmond Ballet BUY TICKETS
Sunday, 12/22 The Nutcracker – Richmond Ballet BUY TICKETS
Monday, 12/23 The Nutcracker – Richmond Ballet BUY TICKETS
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ALTRIA THEATRE
Sunday, 12/29 The Hip Hop Nutcracker BUY TICKETS
