There are a lot of phenomenal bands coming in from out of town this week, and they’re all staggered if you wanna try to catch them all. With a enormous spread from Umphrey’s McGee coming to jam at The National for hours on end Sunday Night, to Moon Hooch playing their raucous EDM inspired horn music on Thursday to a pop punk night at the Broadberry with a veteran of the genre. We have it all for you on this week’s edition of 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
out of town acts to see
UMPTHREY’S MCGEE
Sunday, January 14th @ The National
Doors: 6:30 pm
If you’re into the jam circuit, then you’re already well aware of Umphrey’s McGee (pictured above). If you’re not, let me learn you something. I caught Umphrey’s McGee in the summer of 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The electric energy that filled the room as they played their psychedelic tunes for hours into the night radiated everything a jam fan could could want; a devoted fan base, endless music and a metric ton of pot smoke to boot. This veteran ensemble has been around for more than 20 years and have managed to release in that time no less than 18 albums of original music. For fans of the scene, few groups stand quite as large as Umphrey’s McGee. Follow the group on Instagram.
MOON HOOCH
Thursday, January 11th @ The Broadberry
Doors: 7:00 pm
Do you want to like electronc dance music, but wish that you could watch two weirdos strap traffic cones to saxophones and dance around on stage while listening to it. Well have I got the act for you! Moon Hooch is a three piece ensemble of two saxophone players and a percussionist who produce EDM style tracks and various other dance styles by distorting the sound of the horns in a punchy and gloriously obnoxious manner. There is little nuance, but they know who they are, and they create some of the most unique dance music in the game these days — all while putting on a killer show as well. Follow Moon Hooch on Instagram.
WE THE KINGS
Monday, January 15th @ The Broadberry
Doors: 7:00 pm
Ah it takes me back to high school. In my teenage years I was hopelessly in love with anything and everything pop punk, and of course that included We The Kings. I had almost forgotten about this group until they showed up on my radar for shows this week, and when I turned on their Billboard Hot 100 hit “Check Yes Juliet” it all came back to me; the catchy hooks, the angsty lyrics, and the uncontrollable urge to scream them both at the top of my lungs.
Opening up for the group is Richmond’s own emerging pop punk ensemble in Flight Club. Hot off their collaboration with Schockoe Records and their Christmas concert that produced the track “Santa Needs a D.U.I.” the group is killing it. If you like the high energy and catchy hooks of this punk sub-genre, then this is a night to please those with even the slightest bit of teenage angst left in them. Follow We The Kings on Instagram.
local & regional releases
BUTCHER BROWN
“Down With The King” (Single)
You know them, you love them and they’re at it again. Just three months after the release of their last record Solar Music, Butcher Brown just dropped a single “Down With the King.” Leaning intensely into their hip hop influences (with multiple references to greats of the art form such as Run DMC) this newest track embraces all the great parts of every member in turn. Corey Fonville’s drums provide a groovy backdrop that refuses to relent as the track barrels forward, R4ND4ZZ0’s broken bass line punches throughout the track as he reserves his energy for what I can only assume as his big band arrangement later in the track. Of course MC Tennishu spits rhymes with impeccable flow while Morgan Burrs lays down a minimalist guitar part that funks its way in an out of the forefront, and this of course is all over a bed of synths tones provided by none other than DJ Harrison. A well oiled machine working at peak efficiency, check out Butcher Brown’s newest track, and make sure to follow them on Instagram.
DON DUBIOUS
Meditative State (Album)
The album’s name speaks to its character. I put on this record to write this whole column to, and it sent me into a state of focus and relaxation all at once. If lo-fi beats were written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one might have something similar to the music of Don Dubious on this truly wonderful and virtuosic record that defines and reinvents the genre all at once. Embracing aspects of minimalism with slowly changing hypnotic repetitions, but also delves into the realm of grandiosity with expertly composed strings that come and go throughout the entirety of the record providing an air of cohesion indicating extreme competence by Don Dubious in his producing.
Main photo by Tara Gracer
