Sound Check | Men I Trust, Acute Inflections, Prayer Group & More!

by | Aug 28, 2025 | DOWNTOWN RVA, MUSIC, NIGHTLIFE, QUEER RVA

Feeling warmer today, not the weather, just the shows. Got a lot of calming stuff on the doc, but even the harsher stuff can be calming if you’re into all that. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com.

Men I Trust, Strongboi
tuesday, September 2nd
Brown’s Island

Ohhhh Men I Trust, you indie rockers know the inner workings of my heart. This Canadian trio is the epitome of dreamy. Their slow, atmospheric sound alternates rich, lush, and full scenes where you push your way through the flora of keys and guitar, and stripped-back, intimate scenes where you are part of the dialogue.

Their style is what narrates all the nighttime moments that shape adolescence and young adulthood. I especially love the song “Tree Among Shrubs“, with its more whimsical attitude, a Wes Anderson-adjacent sound.

Strongboi connects to some internal world that exists in my head. Maybe it is a beach, maybe it is a forest; regardless, it is a beautiful place of escape and peace. They have an otherworldly presence around them. It seems like some soft indie radio wave floating along the stars and planets.

Acute Inflections
Sunday, August 31st
the Hofheimer

NYC’s jazzy duo Acute Inflections are taking over the Hofheimer for a Harlem Renaissance revival–themed night. What else do you need besides a beautiful voice and a bouncing upright bass? The two are full of personality, and both get plenty of say in each song.

It takes the simplicity of the past and pairs it with the sensibilities of today, combining into a moving and divine force. I think this is going to be a really special and intimate event, with guests encouraged to attend in 1920’s attire!

On top of incredible talent, the group supports The Renaissance Youth Center, a charity based in the South Bronx that empowers youth through music education. Come on and show your support for them and for Acute Inflections.

Prayer Group, GLOOP, White Beast
Saturday, August 31st
Banditos

Just turned on Prayer Group’s 2022 album Michael Dose and I am not disappointed. These guys come in swinging fast and hard. This noisy punk group is pure intensity. They remind me a bit of Black Flag, a bit of the Vandals, and a bit of Militarie Gun, which is all very high praise in my eyes.

I like when punk bands balance on the edge of other things, in this case, they reach into metal, noise, and hardcore territory, keeping everyone on their toes through a torment wall of sound.

Gloop is committing to the previously mentioned noise sound. They have mastered sound being sheer. That is the best word I have for it—the guitars are sheer, the vocals are sheer, the drumming is sheer. I have really fallen in love with the primal feeling of crafting as much sound as you can muster, and still turning it into something moving and powerful, something that exists deep and primal in your soul.

The final band is one that I have been lucky enough to see multiple times: White Beast. This local duo balances out intensity, directness, and aggression in some of the most concise sets I have ever seen. They are purely passionate people that believe in every word, every note, every beat and that is why they are such an easy band to stand behind and back.

Seeing White Beast is not just a concert, it’s a force that moves through you even after you step out of the doors.

New Tunes

Cauldron Bubbles by Nickelus F
“Scoping in on you like the eye of Sauron,” NO ONE IS DOING IT LIKE NICKELUS F. “Cauldron Bubbles, his newest single, is a heavy and ominous track that is coming just in time for the change of season. The reverberating instrumentation is brooding and threatening, and F’s vocals are pure intensity.

The imagery he is working with does an amazing job of painting a divine antihero that knows no limitations, going to whatever end to make it happen. Absolutely stellar.

Soft Songs by Back Up Kid
Apt name for the newest Back Up Kid EP. This group has always put out great tunes, but this stripped-back set of songs really shows off their skill in songwriting. Light percussion lets really compelling guitar work shine forward, giving each note much more emphasis than an electric track might provide.

I think my favorite number is “Take the Hits,” where the only vocals come from telephoned samples, distant and haunting.

Main photo of Chandler


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RICHMOND SHOW LIST!

THE BROADBERRY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SHOWS

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Friday, 9/5 Pony Bradshaw w/ Zach Russell
  • Saturday, 9/6 Southern Culture on the Skids
  • Sunday, 9/7 Nilüfer Yanya w/ Starcleaner Reunion
  • Friday, 9/12 Welcome to Night Vale: Murder Night in Blood Forest w/ Adult Mom
  • Monday, 9/15 Cartel: Chroma 20 Year Anniversary Tour w/ HUNNY and Landon Conrath
  • Friday, 9/19 White Ford Bronco
  • Saturday, 9/20 The Barons w/ Celler Dwellers and Followship
  • Friday, 9/26 The Baseball Project feat. members of R.E.M. and The Dream Syndicate w/ The Minus 5
  • Sunday, 9/28 Hello from the Magic Tavern: The Ten Year Tour
  • Saturday, 10/4 Slow Crush w/ Faetooth and NVM
  • Tuesday, 10/7 John Maus: Later Than You Think Tour
  • Saturday, 10/11 Dogpark w/ Rehash
  • Tuesday, 10/14 Pokey LaFarge w/ DJ Faby Baby
  • Thursday, 10/16 Clay Street Unit w/ Valley Flower
  • Monday, 10/27 Nation of Language w/ Deeper
  • Tuesday, 11/4 IAMX: Fault Lines 2 Tour w/ CLUB DRUGS and IONNA
  • Wednesday, 11/5 Kitchen Dwellers w/ Pressing Strings
  • Thursday, 11/6 The Motet w/ Michael Wilbur
  • Friday, 11/7 The Last Waltz presented by The Southern Belles
  • Wednesday, 11/12 The New Mastersounds: “Ta‑Ta For Now” Farewell USA Tour
  • Friday, 11/14 Tophouse
  • Sunday, 11/16 The Lemonheads: Love Chant World Tour w/ Erin Rae
  • Friday, 11/21 Liam St. John w/ Joshua Quimby
  • Tuesday, 12/2 Belmont w/ Avoid and Super Sometimes
  • Friday, 12/5 The Southern Belles “Debutante Ball”
  • Thursday, 12/11 Too Many Zooz: Caravan Tour


THE CAMEL

BUY YOUR TICKETS HEREr

  • Thursday, 8/28 End of Summer DAYance Party!!!; Comedy at The Camel hosted by Will Minor
  • Friday, 8/29 Beers & Banjos: Hot Seats; MISC, Solera, Siren Wells
  • Saturday, 8/30 Box Factory, Twin Films, Good Mother Lizard Jenny

  • Thursday, 9/4 John R Miller w/ Miss Tess
  • Friday, 9/5 Beers & Banjos: Hot Seats (happy hour)
  • Friday, 9/5 Erin & The Wildfire’s First Fridays
  • Sunday, 9/14 Brunch w/ Craigslist Jerry
  • Monday, 9/15 Starcrawler
  • Thursday, 9/18 Deau Eyes, Barney Cortez w/ Babe Lewis
  • Friday, 9/19 WAND w/ Cory Hanson
  • Friday, 9/19 Beers & Banjos: Garden Variety String Band (happy hour)
  • Tuesday, 9/23 Beefcake, Squeeze The Squid, Rood Noodle
  • Saturday, 9/27 5th Annual John Prine Memorial Show
  • Tuesday, 9/30 Mary Moore, Jane O’Neil, Alex Saddic, Vinnie Paolizzi


THE NATIONAL

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Friday, 9/5 Poppy w/ MSPAINT
  • Saturday, 9/6 The Darkness
  • Sunday, 9/7 Maddox Batson
  • Monday, 9/8 Big Wild
  • Wednesday, 9/10 Apocalyptica
  • Thursday, 9/11 The Brook & The Bluff
  • Friday, 9/12 Soccer Mommy w/ Dummy
  • Saturday, 9/13 Noel Miller
  • Monday, 9/15 Phantogram
  • Tuesday, 9/16 Inhaler
  • Wednesday, 9/17 Stop Making Sense
  • Friday, 9/19 Whitney Cummings – Big Baby
  • Sunday, 9/21 Malcolm Todd
  • Tuesday, 9/23 The Front Bottoms
  • Thursday, 9/25 Young the Giant w/ Cassandra Coleman
  • Friday, 9/26 Franz Ferdinand
  • Saturday, 9/27 Jeremy Zucker
  • Sunday, 9/28 Panchiko
  • Sunday, 10/5 Bladee
  • Tuesday, 10/7 Neko Case w/ Des Demonas
  • Thursday, 10/9 Peach Pit
  • Saturday, 10/11 JP Saxe
  • Sunday, 10/12 2hollis
  • Tuesday, 10/14 Sir Chloe
  • Friday, 10/17 JOHNNYSWIM
  • Tuesday, 10/21 A.J. Croce
  • Wednesday, 10/22 Saint Motel
  • Friday, 10/24 Chris DiStefano (Comedy)
  • Sunday, 10/26 Lawrence
  • Tuesday, 10/28 King Princess
  • Friday, 10/31 Ty Myers
  • Sunday, 11/2 Sunami & Scowl w/ Nuovo Testamento, Whispers
  • Friday, 11/21 Jonathan Van Ness
  • Saturday, 11/29 Zakk Sabbath w/ Bonfire and Dark Chapel
  • Monday, 12/8 Whitechapel w/ Bodysnatcher, AngelMaker, Disembodied Tyrant
  • Friday, 12/19 49 Winchester w/ The Vegabonds, Sela Campbell
  • Saturday, 12/20 49 Winchester w/ Maggie Antone


ALLIANZ AMPHITHEATER

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Friday, 8/29 Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas (with Willie Watson)
  • Monday, 9/1 James Taylor and His All-Star Band
  • Saturday, 9/6 Leon Bridges & Charley Crockett – The Crooner & The Cowboy Tour
  • Friday & Saturday, 9/12 & 9/13 Widespread Panic (two-night run)
  • Saturday, 9/20 Steve Martin & Martin Short – The Dukes of Funnytown!
  • Monday, 9/22 “Weird Al” Yankovic – Bigger & Weirder Tour with Puddles Pity Party
  • Thursday, 9/25 Alex Warren – Cheaper Than Therapy Tour
  • Thursday & Friday, 10/2 & 10/3 An Evening With Goose (two nights)
  • Tuesday, 10/21 Tedeschi Trucks Band with special guest Little Feat


FUNNY BONE RICHMOND

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Friday, 8/29 Kountry Wayne (two shows)
  • Saturday, 8/30 Kountry Wayne (two shows)
  • Sunday, 8/31 Kountry Wayne

  • Friday–Saturday, 9/5–9/7 Arnez J (multiple shows)
  • Friday–Saturday, 9/12–9/13 Corey Holcomb (multiple shows)
  • Saturday, 9/13 Gaspare Randazzo, Philip Lindsay & Andrea Forcum – The Teachers Lounge
  • Sunday, 9/14 Nico Carney
  • Wednesday, 9/17 Zach Zimmerman
  • Thursday, 9/18 Rachel Scanlon
  • Friday–Saturday, 9/19–9/20 Corey B (multiple shows)
  • Sunday, 9/21 Tim Shropshire

  • Wednesday, 10/1 Cindy Kaza
  • Thursday, 10/2 Trae Crowder
  • Friday–Saturday, 10/3–10/4 Adam Ray (multiple shows)
  • Friday, 10/10 Lil Mo Mozzarella (multiple shows)
  • Sunday, 10/12 Lucas Zelnick
  • Wednesday, 10/15 Trish Suhr
  • Thursday, 10/16 Nacho Redondo (en Español)
  • Friday–Saturday, 10/17–10/18 Jared Freid (multiple shows)
  • Sunday, 10/19 Shuler King (multiple shows)
  • Thursday, 10/23 Jeff Allen
  • Friday, 10/24 Chente Ydrach (multiple shows)
  • Saturday–Sunday, 10/25–10/26 DC Young Fly (multiple shows)
  • Thursday, 10/30 The Magic of Eric Eaton
  • Friday–Saturday, 10/31–11/1 Damon Williams (multiple shows)

  • Wednesday, 11/5 Kristin Key
  • Friday–Saturday, 11/7–11/8 Gianmarco Soresi: Drama King (multiple shows)
  • Sunday, 11/9 Remo Millz: Comedy Collective
  • Wednesday, 11/12 Kevin James Thornton
  • Thursday, 11/13 Tom Shillue
  • Friday–Saturday, 11/14–11/15 Dylan Carlino (multiple shows)
  • Sunday, 11/16 Amber Autry
  • Thursday, 11/20 Heather Shaw
  • Friday–Saturday, 11/21–11/22 Derrick Stroup (multiple shows)
  • Tuesday, 11/25 The Rich Guzzi Comedy Hypnosis Show
  • Friday–Saturday, 11/28–11/29 David Koechner & “The Office Trivia” with Todd Packer

  • Wednesday, 12/3 Jimmy Dore
  • Thursday, 12/4 Are You Garbage: Back on the Block Tour
  • Friday–Sunday, 12/5–12/7 DeRay Davis (multiple shows)
  • Wednesday, 12/10 Jackie Fabulous
  • Thursday, 12/11 Sammy Obeid
  • Friday–Saturday, 12/12–12/13 Marcus D. Wiley (multiple shows)
  • Thursday–Saturday, 12/18–12/20 Rocky Dale Davis (multiple shows)


THe CanAL CLUB

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  • Tuesday, 9/2 Thousand Below w/ Aviana, True North, Dreamwake
  • Tuesday, 9/9 Autoheart w/ Wildparty
  • Thursday, 9/11 John Mark McMillan w/ Citizens
  • Friday, 9/19 Dark Angel w/ Sacred Reich, Hirax, Void
  • Sunday, 9/21 Invent Animate & Silent Planet w/ Reflections, fromjoy
  • Wednesday, 10/15 10 Years
  • Saturday, 11/8 Baby Bugs w/ Abigail Osborn
  • Sunday, 11/9 GBH w/ Slaughterhouse, The Mainliners
  • Tuesday, 11/18 Koyo w/ Ben Quad, Restraining Order
  • Saturday, 11/29 Cattle Decapitation w/ ABORTED, Frozen Soul, Tribal Gaze


EMBER MUSIC HALL

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Wednesday, 9/3 Liliac
  • Saturday, 9/6 Ternion Sound: Farewell Tour 2025
  • Sunday, 9/7 Demun Jones
  • Tuesday, 9/9 Kamiyda+ & Lit Lords: From The Shadows Tour
  • Saturday, 9/13 Andy Thomas (two nights, 9/12 & 9/13)
  • Sunday, 9/14 Kash’d Out: Mushroom Tea Tour Summer 2025
  • Friday, 9/19 Sander Van Doorn
  • Saturday, 9/27 Layz: The Blackout No Signal Tour
  • Friday, 10/10 Anime Rave
  • Saturday, 10/11 Cash Cash
  • Thursday, 12/4 TroyBoi Presents: Hear2Move Tour (360° set performance)


LOSO NIGHTCLUB

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Saturday, August 30 Dennis Free w/ support TBA
  • Saturday, September 13 Maiya & Effie Jets (Head Empty Radio) [open‑to‑close]
  • Saturday, October 4 AQUTIE w/ J. Kirven


ANOTHER ROUND BAR & GRILL

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Saturday, 8/30 MELK, Abrevitty, Symphony of Destiny
  • Friday, 9/12 Wyndrider Live on Tour
  • Saturday, 9/13 SonarFest 2025 VA (starts at 3 PM)
  • Friday, 10/31 Halloween Metal Party: Pissing Razors and Single Bullet Theory
Griffin Smalley

Griffin Smalley

My name is Griffin Strummer Smalley and naturally with that name I am a massive music fan. Primarily you can find me fronting local punk band Artschool! As a fresh 21 year old I am currently cutting my teeth in music, writing, and painting. Keep on living!




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