It’s an exciting time to be in Richmond; Spring is on the horizon, although it feels like it’s been here for weeks already, and the days grow longer as we itch to get back outside. Yet, we must wait just a little while longer. I’ve got some music here to hold you over until then, with a weird and wonderful yet creative band drifting through town in the form of the enigmatic and bizarre Twin Temple who will be rocking The Canal Club. Beyond that, a local group release their sophomore album, Stomping Grounds continues to showcase local talent at Richmond Music Hall, and Kendall Street Company have partnered with RVA Mag to offer an exclusive look at their upcoming song “I Am The Wheel (It Could Happen to You) releasing everywhere this Friday.
Are you a band with new tunes, a listener with suggestions or just want to say hi? Send an email to Bones@rvamag.com
out of town acts to see
TWIN TEMPLE
Friday, February 23rd @ The Canal Club
Doors: 7:00 pm
Satanic Doo Wop. That’s not the punchline to a joke, but rather the best way to describe the music of the unique musical group that is Twin Temple. If you don’t believe me, they have two albums ready for you to listen to. While not treading any new ground musically, opting for an old school doo-wop/60’s pop styles, their juxtaposition between the sound scape and their lyrical content makes for a unique concert going experience, as well as serving as a study in how much lyrics truly matter. What begins as a fun schtick turns into a charming and creative musical group that somehow doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Follow Twin temple on Instagram.
local & regional acts to see
PAINT ON IT
Saturday, February 24th @ Gallery 5
Doors: 7:00 pm
Prepare for the release of the second album by Richmond favorites Paint On It. The first record by the ensemble is dripping in catchy riffs, charismatic and charming vocals and a band completely dialed into their sound and style. One can only hope that their second release lives up to the hype and the power of their first, but it’s hard to imagine a world where it doesn’t. Billy Bacci stands out as an excellent songwriter in the city, and surrounded by some excellent musicians who clearly love the indie/alt sound and serve to perpetuate it.
TY SORRELL
Sunday, February 26th @ Richmond Music Hall
Doors: 7:00 pm
If you’re not familiar with Stomping Grounds, then allow me to learn you something. This monthly series taking place at Richmond Music Hall serves as a showcase of local talent by providing a platform for Richmond artists to display their talents loud and proud. Featuring prominently this time around is the laid back rapper Ty Sorrell pair up with one of my local favorite Lunch $pecial. Sorrell’s calm and steady flow make for an easy listening experience that can be enjoyed anytime from a quiet morning to a wild night out. Lunch $pecial’s one of a kind vocals make for a more niche experience, however that doesn’t mean that he can’t be enjoyed just as much as the next hip hop artist. Both of these musicians have a decent back catalogue with lots of collaborations with other artists, so I encourage concert goers to get familiar with their tunes before heading out Sunday night for an evening of eclectic hip hop tunes.
kendall street company exclusive premiere
You know them, you love them, and we’ve got an exclusive premiere of their newest track, it’s Kendall Street Company. The second release of their year long project of putting out a single on the last Friday of every month, this newest track “I Am The Wheel (It Could Happen to You)” is heavy, catchy, and full of personality.
Featuring their strandard line up of Louis Smith on Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, and Vox; Brian Roy on Bass and Vox; Ryan Wood on Drums; Jake Vanaman on Organ, Saxophones, and Vox; Ben Laderberg on Lead Electric Guitar; this track throws a curve ball by showcasing the trombone talents of prominent Richmond musician Johnathan Watson.
A unique entry into the catalogue of songs by this group, while it features the heavier and more spacey tones of their improvised records like The Day The Earth Stood Still: Inertia/Ninurta, it also leans into the more lighthearted side of the band tonally like in their release from 2020 The Nautical Aquatical.
With vocal reminiscent of Jack Black from Tenacious Day, Smith reflects on his beginning the process of the song by saying, “my brother, Max, and I started writing this tune on a family road trip, driving south on 95. We saw the giant wheels on a semi truck flying by and imagined that we were the wheel. We imagined what it would feel like to be the wheel. I thought about physics class in college. And then the wheel morphed into the ox, and the rest was history!”
Keeping the production close to home, the track was engineered by Vanaman, with mixing done by Zach Staas and Justin Perkins behind the mastering. Kendall Street Company will be playing The Camel this Friday, February 23rd in a continuation of their Kendall Street is for Lovers tour which has become something of an annual tradition.
What I’m listening to
RIVER WHYLESS
Monoflora (album) 2022
Due to a recent jaunt into the mountains of Vermont, I was immersed in the world of acoustic music. I stumbled up on this record by River Whyless, a folk ensemble out of North Carolina, by pure chance while flying through playlists on the long drive. Completely enthralled by the rich harmonies and progressive sound of this moving album. This acoustic led sound screams American mountain-scape and served as the perfect soundtrack to a wild ride through the boonies of New England.
Top photo of Kendall Street Company by Ashely Travis
