We are coming up on the infamous Halloweekend, and I know my personal plans: Dress up, drink a million beers, and try to see as many of these super sick and unique shows. Get up, get in costume, and get to the gig! Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com.
Canal Club | Wednesday, October 30th, 2024
Show me the Body, High Vis, Zelooperz, BIB, Black Noi$e
Show Me the Body is consistently dynamic and interesting, taking side roads into all sorts of genres like hip-hop, noise, and sludgey metal, which all find a place in their alternative rock sound. They are perfect music for anyone not quite content with the commonplace and predictable that aimlessly drifts through stadiums and bigger clubs.
They are being joined by High Vis, a high energy UK group capable of throwing together some real anthemic tunes. Zelooperz is a Detroit rapper with some seriously tough beats and intense vocals, it’s what you put on right before you pull up to something serious. BIB are in the vein of modern hardcore punk with barking lyrics and slightly more metal minded guitars chugging away. Black Noi$e is another Detroit rapper with incredible songwriting capability, he is a bit more rhythmic and mellow, but extremely focused.
The Camel | Friday, October 25th, 2024
Strawberry Moon, Daphne Eckman, Rikki Rakki, Diet Lemon
Strawberry Moon has been quite the rage this year, with their upbeat bounce. They are a super fun group that seems to be taking RVA by storm.
Daphne Eckman is a beautiful blend of modern singer songwriter and a more complex blend of folk and math rock. The standout in her tracks for me is her voice which rises and falls like a turn of the century novel. This is easy music to fall into.
It is hard to have a Richmond music conversation without mentioning Rikki Rakki lately. They seem to be everywhere at once with relatable lyrics and an extremely local sound, that ever slightly southern indie rock seems definitive.
Diet Lemon has a real California sound that reminds me of that middle era from Wallows. You can tell that there was some serious time put into making a rich and deep sound, stretching far past the usual indie rock guitar, drum, bass trio.
The Broadberry | Friday, October 25th, 2024
Mighty Joshua w/ The Afro-Zen All Stars
Richmond’s own reggae legend Mighty Joshua will be taking the stage at The Broadberry alongside the Afro-Zen Allstars. His newest album, Dreaducation, is a total sum of the last 50 years of reggae, taking clear influence from the greats like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, but with undertones of the ballads of Alton Ellis as well as the harder elements of artists like Mikey Dread. It is everything you would hope for in this genre, and I am very excited to see it. It seems like music like this passes over RVA, you might find it in DC or Virginia Beach, let’s show out and tell the world that Richmond likes reggae.
The Afro-Zen Allstars are a little bit more jazzy, a bit more funky, and experts on the horns. I feel like Richmond loves a good horn section with our variety of funk, latin, and jazz groups frequently packing the house. These are the type of guys I would call cats. Smooth and groovy, I am ready to get lost in it.
Révéler Experiences | Saturday, October 26th, 2024
Loboko
This is another incredibly unique musical and cultural experience brought to us by Secret Planet / Global A Go-Go. Last time I was queued in to a show organized by these individuals was Los Gaiteros De San Jacinto, which was nothing but fun and excitement.
This time we have Loboko, a young fronted Congolese band. With two songs out so far, I am really digging this sound. It is full of rich rhythms and handsome guitars, an exciting sound that has a certain retro feel but is still incredibly young and lively. There is a bit of jam in each tune, a bit of exploration, and if I were a betting man, they’ll be a bit of dancing at the show.
New Tunes
Muse by Valentin Prince
This is one of the standout tracks off of Valentin Prince’s new self titled record. It is a personal and lofi surfey song that catches little waves and guides into the coast before swimming back out. It is reminiscent of early Mac Demarco, encompassing a certain floating feeling, a feeling you find while looking out on a remote night time sky.
Main photo: Vicious Photography
