Nothing but crazy bangers this week. These are all pretty big shows but it’s some of the best of the best in their respective genres, all in Richmond this week. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com.
Turnstile, Blood Orange, Speed, Jane Remover
Wednesday, September 24th
Brown’s Island
Turnstile has had a generational run over the last few years. For a time, they were the preeminent hardcore band out of Baltimore, but the last few years have seen them transcend into a new force. The release of Glow On and, more recently, Never Enough transported them into new and uncharted territory, exploring more indie, new wave, and poppy sounds.
Some die-hard fans were certainly disappointed by this change, but the growth exposed undeniable songwriting and production that might not have come across if they had stayed in an isolated corner of hardcore. Turnstile now holds the mantle of one of the best live acts in America, so go check ‘em out at Brown’s Island.
I was super excited to see Blood Orange supporting much of this tour. This UK project is an electronic and R&B dreamscape. The songs are dark, with flashes of light from the vocals over steady, pulsing beats. They are fresh off Essex Honey, a 14-song LP with some great features, but the overall production of Blood Orange is untouchable.
Speed is much more in line with early Turnstile. They beat the brakes off every song with tenacity and violence. The guitars rumble like chainsaws, and the vocals are horrifyingly powerful. Wear a mouthguard when these guys come on because elbows will be flying.
Jane Remover is maybe the most unexpected artist on the bill. They bring a healthy dose of hyperpop with strong danceability. The more I listen, the more I find hyperpop and hardcore to be connected the brash, unapologetic bursts of energy actually work quite well together.
Lucy Dacus, Slow Pulp
Friday, September 19th
The Altria
Lucy Dacus is one of the most beloved artists to come from our humble city. That makes her newest story-song, “Bus Back to Richmond,” feel especially fitting, a beautiful tale of returning to the reality of RVA after a long New Year’s Eve in NYC. The song is sweet but tinged with pain and sorrow, maybe even longing for something that never truly was.
I wonder what feelings Dacus carries as she comes back to her home city. It must be surreal to return to the scene that birthed you but has long since slipped into the rearview mirror. Having found immense success over the past few years, it’s probably something like returning to a parent’s house after you’ve long established a home of your own.
Joining Dacus is Slow Pulp, a dreamy indie band out of Chicago. Their sound is calming and comforting, with vocals that stretch out from the instrumentation like a hand reaching from the void. I’m especially taken by “At Home,” their second release, which captures that same quiet intimacy they’ve built their name on.
The Barons, Celler Dwellers, Followship
Saturday, September 20th
The Broadberry
Huge Richmond-based bill at The Broadberry! The Barons became locals not too long ago and quickly found themselves right at home. They’re a moving alternative group that has built their audience through songs like “American High” and “Would You Want It (If You Had It).” While they’ve stayed rooted in alternative, their sound leans into pop sensibilities and Americana indulgences. It’s the kind of music that appeals widely, with hooks and leads guaranteed to get stuck in your head. The band just dropped a new single in preparation for this show—go give it a listen.
Celler Dwellers are always good for a great time. These indie rockers sing about love with the same innocence you’d find in the Beatles—pure, tender, and disarmingly sincere. They can create dreamy atmospheres just as easily as they can deliver upbeat, danceable tracks. Their guitar work stands out: simple, clean, dynamic, and unforgettable.
Last up, we’ve got local post-hardcore outfit Followship. They scratch a very specific itch we lost after the early 2010s, carrying it forward in full force with anthemic choruses. Their guitar work is sharp and catchy, always finding something interesting to toss in, and their energy makes them a must-see live.
New Tunes
“Shoes Today” by REVERSE YR CURSE
Absolute heater from locals REVERSE YR CURSE. It is stripped back and hypnotic, with progressions and rhythms pouring over themselves and evolving into new licks without you even realizing it. Truly the best word I got is hypnotic. It is mesmerizing and spins all sorts of fog and neon in your head like some sort of low fi party. The lyrics are intimate and close, and the closing scene of the song really stands out and hits like a truck; “I walked in your shoes today, now I love you more I’d say.” So simple, so beautiful.
Main photo by David Muessig of McKinley Dixon
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RICHMOND SHOW LIST!
THE BROADBERRY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SHOWS
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
- 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
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- Wednesday, 9/17 – Peelander Z, Squish, Sweet Touch · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Thursday, 9/18 – Deau Eyes, Barney Cortez, Babe Lewis · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Friday, 9/19 – Happy Hour: Beers & Banjos feat. Garden String Variety Band
- Friday, 9/19 – WAND, Corey Hanson · Doors: 9:00 PM
- Saturday, 9/20 – Hip Hop Orchestra presented by La Primavera Strings, Ant The Symbol, Sam Reed, Niiasii · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Sunday, 9/21 – Blues & Brews Brunch: Lucky Losers · 11:00 AM
- Sunday, 9/21 – Sunday Staff Picks: Charm Offensive, Gull, Crush · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Monday, 9/22 – VCU Jazz · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Tuesday, 9/23 – BEEFCAKE, Squeeze The Squid, Rubber Dagger · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Wednesday, 9/24 – Open Mic · Sign-ups: 7:00 PM
- Thursday, 9/25 – Nerd Alert, The Norms, Nucleus Trio, The 419 · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Friday, 9/26 – Blues & Brews: Joe The Spy
- Friday, 9/26 – The Auricular 7th Anniversary Party w/ Bucko, Flora & The Fauna, Art School, The Potted Plants · Doors: 9:00 PM
- Saturday, 9/27 – Camel Sessions · Doors: 2:30 PM
- Saturday, 9/27 – John Prine Memorial · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Sunday, 9/28 – Drag Brunch: King Collective · 11:00 AM
- Sunday, 9/28 – Sunday Staff Picks: Charm Offensive, Strawberry Moon, The Smirks · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Monday, 9/29 – Camel Karaoke · Doors: 7:00 PM
- Tuesday, 9/30 – Mary Moore, Jane O’Neil, Alex Saddic, Vinnie Paolizzi · Doors: 7:00 PM
Upcoming in October:
- Monday, 10/6 – Equipment
- Wednesday, 10/8 – Trash Panda
- Tuesday, 10/14 – BRNDA
- Saturday, 10/18 – Kind Hearted Strangers
- Monday, 10/20 – RIGOMETRICS
THE NATIONAL
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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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- 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
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- 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
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- Saturday, October 4 AQUTIE w/ J. Kirven
ANOTHER ROUND BAR & GRILL
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- Friday, 10/31 Halloween Metal Party: Pissing Razors and Single Bullet Theory
