I’m so excited by what’s happening in the city these days it’s hard for me to pay attention to anything else. I’ve got more all local for you on this week’s edition of SOUND CHECK. Friday Booby Bash 3 comes to Gallery 5 to raise money to benefit the queer community, then come Monday Tennishu hops into The Camel bringing along two very unlikely partners in crime. After you check out those shows, then keep reading for a whole host of new releases by Richmond artists from across the sonic spectrum. We’ve got it all and more on this week’s SOUND CHECK.
Are you a band with new tunes, a listener with suggestions, or just want to say hi? Send an email to Bones@rvamag.com
local & Regional Acts to see
TENNISHU, MARSHALL FAMILY VALUES & MAD ABBEY
Monday, March 11th @ The Camel
Doors: 7:00 pm
If you don’t know who Tennishu is, what rock have you been living under? The rapper, trumpeter and saxophone player — while performing as MC and horn player for Butcher Brown (who we will be discussing later) — also has a vibrant solo career which you can bear witness to Monday night. With a laser focused flow and incredible tone, Tennishu embodies the spirit of old school rap evolved to meet a modern audience.
Joining him on the stage are two local favorite bands in the form of Marshall Family Values and Mad Abbey. While the idea of two self described psychedelic rock ensembles backing up a hip hop and jazz artist might seem on the surface an odd combo… alright, it is an odd combo, but that just means there’s something for everybody! If you’re a lover of hip hop, drag your psychonaut friends down to The Camel on Monday night and listen as they wax poetic about guitar tones, and when they start coming down they’ll be openminded and ready for some of your favorite tunes!
BOOBY BASH 3: TIGHT ROPE, SUNFLOWER’D & OTHERS
Saturday, March 9th @ Gallery 5
Doors: 6:00 pm
Who doesn’t love good music for a good cause? This Saturday night at Gallery 5 join a slew of local bands as they raise money to the queer community. Tight Rope has been hitting home runs with their strings of successful singles, while Sunflower’d has been playing with everyone all over the city whenever they can. Shifting gears completely Niiasii brings their pop-y r&b tunes up from the borders of The Great Dismal Swamp to grace the stage, while Deathcat does what you might expect; dress up as cats and play some rock and roll (oh, were you not expecting that?). And we can’t forget Tia Dalia bringing in their lo-fi brand of urban punk music to round out what is sure to be a brilliant night filled to the brim with all the gay culture and open minds one could ask for.
local & regional releases
PRABIR TRIO – “GOD’S SONG” (single)
Strange from top to bottom, but what else can we expect from Richmond’s very own Prabir. From his unique vocal tone, to the electric sitar popping in and out of the background, Prabir and his trio proves that they’ve still got it. Telling the story of “God” as he walks down the street and remembers well the things he made, and languishes at the sight of things he did not (i.e. corporate America, polyethylene, rogue preachers, etc.). Top it off with a catchy hook and sitar solo and you’ve got some classic Prabir Mehta. If you want to see him perform this song live, then go give him a follow on Instagram to find his next show and get yourself a genuine Prabir brand prayer candle!
RINE – “IT GIRL” (single)
Though rine’s age certainly shines through in her lyricism and subject matter, perhaps that serves to lend more of an authenticity to her brand. The 19 year old songwriter from Richmond in her new track “it girl” speaks of some other girl who in some way thinks she that she is better than others. The dichotomy of youth shows its face in many places, such as early on in the track as rine declares to this girl that she “doesn’t care how you feel,” however later laments that this other girl has caused harm and that, “the people you’ve hurt have feelings.” One can choose to see this in many ways, but the most forgiving, and possibly truthful, is to see it as a flaw in the character in the track, rather than the a flaw of the track itself. Having said that, the song is well produced with an intelligent structure and a catchy hook that is easily relatable. With this only being her fourth single, there’s so much time and room for rine to grow, and I am very excited to see where this young and fresh artist goes from here.
JRDNSPDY, SMYTH, BLOOJEANBABY – “BULLSHIT” (single)
This collaborative effort by JrdnSpdy, SMYTH (a member of the recently signed Kidz At Play), and bloojeanbaby can not be contained. Over a dark and hypnotic trac, bloojeanbaby, pointedly and with reckless abandon, describes erratic behavior in verses that are at the same time tragic and humorous. Joined in the second verse by SMYTH who follows a similar path, the two unite for a hook announcing that they are “back on (their) bullshit!” Indeed, and to the delight of many.
OH DEVIL – “IN METAMORPHOSIS” (single)
The debut single by this fresh faced Richmond Trio doesn’t blow the mind, but it does tug at my heart. Utterly nostalgic of the emotional punk/pop-punk music of my teenage years, “In Metamorphosis” exists as a scream of angst and existential dread from those starting down a path, all the while not knowing what exactly it is that they are seeking as they proceed. Thus, begging the question, “who am I anyway?” Well Oh Devil does not answer that question, in fact they only seek to ask it, and declare that they are “starting to feel better about not feeling all that much like myself. // I’m a mutant spawned from the chrysalis where I was held.” What better ways are there to respond to these deep questions than with power chords and bouncy bass riffs. I can’t think of any. Well done Oh Devil, now who are you, and what will you do next?
BUTCHER BROWN – NPR TINY DESK (live concert)
I would be remiss if I did not mention the enormous accomplishment of Butcher Brown making it onto NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. The group did an at home session during the pandemic, but it’s incredible to see this star group from Richmond join the likes of No BS! Brass in the lexicon of artists immortalized by this legendary series. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s exclusively on NPR’s website, so give it a watch and support one of Richmond’s hottest bands on their way to the top.
Top photo of Tennishu by Dani Barbieri
