FEATURE SHOW
Saturday, December 6, 7 PM
Ghost Of Pop 10, feat. Full Moon Fever, Andrew Leahey & The Homestead, Long Arms, The Animal Beat, Adam Eubank @ Gallery 5 – $5
Yes, it’s true–Ghost Of Pop, Prabir Mehta’s annual celebration of the Richmond music scene, has reached it’s 10th anniversary. Perhaps pop’s not so dead after all!
FEATURE SHOW
Saturday, December 6, 7 PM
Ghost Of Pop 10, feat. Full Moon Fever, Andrew Leahey & The Homestead, Long Arms, The Animal Beat, Adam Eubank @ Gallery 5 – $5
Yes, it’s true–Ghost Of Pop, Prabir Mehta’s annual celebration of the Richmond music scene, has reached it’s 10th anniversary. Perhaps pop’s not so dead after all! Regardless of whether you’d consider pop, rock, country, or any hybrid/melange of the three to be alive or dead, what you can be sure of is the fact that RVA’s music scene is alive and kicking. Some would say it’s better than ever, in fact, and with Saturday night’s celebration of the past, present, and future of RVA music, you’ll discover plenty of reasons why they might say exactly that.
Prabir’s Tom Petty cover band, Full Moon Fever, is just one of quite a few local cover bands featuring musicians who’ve already proven themselves adept at the much more challenging task of creating memorable original music. I’m not sure why that is, exactly, but I guess maybe in these troubling economic times, fun is more important than ever when seeking out an evening’s entertainment? That’s as good a theory as any, and Full Moon Fever, which also features members of Horsehead, David Shultz and the Skyline, Anousheh, and more, will certainly ensure you have a lot of fun at this year’s Ghost Of Pop celebration. But the plentiful original music on hand will do just as much to ensure a great evening. For starters, Andrew Leahey and the Homestead are back in RVA–in more ways than one! Leahey makes his home in Nashville these days, and plays with some new people down that way, but he’s reuniting the original lineup of his backing band, which recorded his self-titled debut, for this appearance at Ghost Of Pop. Get ready to see members of The Trillions, Horsehead, David Shultz and the Skyline, and more taking the stage to recreate their bravura performance on Leahey’s lovelorn alt-country tunes.
You’ll also get to see a reunion show from The Animal Beat, whose melodic rock tunes were much easier to track down around town a few years ago, but still sound totally great. And of course, there’ll be an appearance by the still-kicking and always enjoyable Long Arms, bringing you some tunes from their second album, Constant Comment, released earlier this year. James Menefee and co. do a great job of fusing Replacements-ish post-punk rock heartache with alt-country’s faded glory, and will get your toes tapping this fine evening. And of course, Adam Eubank starts the whole thing off with a solo set. Take it easy baby–make it last all night.
Wednesday, December 3, 7 PM
Banks, Cosby @ The National – $23
The whole “hipster R&B” thing’s been gaining a lot of currency in the music world over the past few years, and while this can get kinda weird at times (the fact that the term “PBR&B” ever gets used non-ironically makes my skin crawl a little bit), it’s been a positive development on the whole. The wider music world has tuned into some of the best stuff that was previously only getting heard by frequent MTV Jams viewers (Miguel, The-Dream), and a whole bunch of new talents (The Weeknd, fka Twigs) have found an audience that might not have been there for them before. One of the best of the latter group is Banks, an LA-by-way-of-the-UK singer whose debut album, Goddess, has blown away fans of all genres and persuasions in the past few months since it came out. For evidence of that fact, look no further than the sponsor of Banks’ show in RVA tonight–XL102, Richmond’s pre-eminent dinosaur rock station since any of us can remember.
It’s no wonder XL102 is bringing Banks to town tonight, though–really, any rock n’ roller who ignores Banks’ music is making a huge mistake. Sure, she mainly uses synthesizers and programmed drums to create her darkly enchanting soundscapes, but the moody atmospherics that back her sublimely funky vocals are the kind of thing you can sink miles deep into. Her sounds will no doubt fill the cavernous expanses of the National, making the entire place feel like it’s been submerged in warm water (no pun intended). With local semi-retro synth-poppers Cosby opening things up, the stage will be perfectly set for an evening of total immersion. Don’t miss it.
Thursday, December 4, 5 PM
ART – SHOW Day 1: Thing2, Rebby Sharp, Titfield Thunderbolt
Friday, December 5, 5 PM
ART – SHOW Day 2: Beex, Bruce Olsen, Bucket @ Gallery 5 – Free
Here’s a history lesson straight out of the early days of RVA punk and pre-punk rock, come back to life and taking over the Gallery 5 stage for two days in a row. The main event, of course, is a retrospective of work by RVA artist/sign painter William Pickett, and that’s certainly notable–but what’s getting me most excited about this two day opening event is the lineup of music that’s in store for us all. Thursday night will feature the debut appearance of Thing2, a duo bringing together Single Bullet Theory’s Barry Fitzgerald and House Of Freaks’s Johnny Hott. While I’ve been unable to hear any current music from these two, their 80s era bands were two of the Richmond bands that came the closest to breaking out of the underground and bringing their power-pop (Single Bullet Theory) and stripped-down rock n’ roll (House Of Freaks) sounds to the masses–so it’ll certainly be interesting to find out what they’re doing now! The evening will also feature a solo set from singer/guitarist Rebby Sharp, former frontwoman for 80s RVA postpunks the Orthotonics. Considering the excellent jazz/funk-damaged sounds her old band cranked out, her solo stuff is bound to be worth hearing. And of course, the evening will begin with a set from Titfield Thunderbolt, an outsider folk-noise project dating back to the late 60s–or so I gather.
Friday night carries on the revival of excellent sounds, spanning four decades of RVA greatness. Beex is your headliner this night. Their 1980 single “Beat Beat”/”He Obliterates Me” is considered a prime example of early American punk rock, and while founding vocalist Christine Gibson sadly passed away in 2008, the surviving members of the band are still carrying on the band’s legacy, and will be bringing those early singles and quite a few other great tunes to the Gallery 5 stage Friday night. Meanwhile, Bruce Olsen led early 80s Richmond rockers The Offenders, who had a real raging bar-rock sound, and one assumes his solo set on Friday will be somewhere in the same area. Finally, early 90s alt-rockers Bucket, who are still kicking 20 years later, will start things off with their post-grunge power-pop sound. Bonus for all you punk/rock history buffs–there’ll be a supplementary exhibition of 70s and 80s vintage rock show posters in the downstairs gallery for you to gawk at. Making the scene at one or both of these shows is definitely the right call.
Friday, December 5, 5 PM
Gates, Trust Fall, From Fragile Seeds @ Strange Matter – $10 (order tickets here: https://gateskeep.eventbrite.com/)
New Jersey’s Gates are coming to town this Friday night, headlining a Strange Matter matinee, and I expect all the young kids with stars in their eyes whose love for the world has not yet been destroyed by an uncaring universe to come out in force and sing/sway along. Gates released an excellent album, Bloom & Breathe, earlier this year on Pure Noise, and its mix of emo, post-rock, and huge atmospheric progginess is just what the doctor ordered. Plenty of people (including me) have spilled plenty of ink about the “emo revival” over the past couple of years, but the sound that not only Gates but bands as varied as Move Mountains and Junius have been exploring over that time is something that didn’t exist in the world before. So really, this isn’t a revival so much as a new wave of creativity–a very auspicious one, if you ask me.
Virginia Beach’s Trust Fall have a bit harsher of a sound than that of Gates, though they’ll still fit like hand in glove on this particular bill. Their just-released LP, Secret Keeper, has a hard-driving and slightly off-kilter energy that’s fueled by dissonant chords, dramatic screams, and choppy start-stop rhythms. Trust Fall push the chaotic, frenetic aspects of their music to the highest level, and it totally rules. And of course, locals From Fragile Seeds sit somewhere between the contrasting energies of the other two bands on this bill, and will be giving everyone a deeper look into the new material they’re currently transforming into their next LP. Drive straight over when you get off work Friday–you won’t want to miss a minute of this.
Saturday, December 6, 6 PM
Sundials (Kick EP Release Party), Pedals On Our Pirate Ships, Cross Eyed @ Strange Matter – $5
I often feel like Sundials don’t have that high a profile in Richmond, but subtly, perhaps out of the notice of the wider scene, these guys are doing a lot of big things lately. They did a month-long US tour this summer with The Sidekicks and Dowsing, then came home this fall and followed up their two LPs on Asian Man Records (2012’s When I Couldn’t Breathe and 2013 singles collection Always Whatever) with a new EP on none other than Topshelf Records. Sure, Asian Man’s a pretty big label in its own right, but these days it seems like Topshelf is one of the pre-eminent pop-punk/emo labels in the country, so Sundials scoring a release on that label seems particularly momentous. That EP, Kick, was officially released last month, and now this Saturday, Sundials will be celebrating its release with a big punk rock party at Strange Matter–and you should absolutely be there!
Sundials make music that bassist Carl Athey has described as “pop, or punk, but not really pop-punk,” and listening to the six songs on Kick will show you exactly where he’s coming from with that description. Depending on the song, you might find yourself thinking of Superchunk, Gameface, or Canadian Rifle, as Sundials mix their jangly and melodic tunes with an obviously punk-based grit and down-to-earth energy. They’ve played a bunch of great sets around RVA lately, and they’re bound to do so again at this show–plus you’ll be able to grab a copy of their new EP, which will definitely make it worth your while. Folk-punks Pedals On Our Pirate Ships and pizza-fueled punks Cross Eyed will open up this all-local bill, the proceeds of which will help publish the next issue of Draft Dodger fanzine. Everything about this show will be awesome–you should totally be there.
Sunday, December 7, 9 PM
Sea Of Storms, Reps, Clever Girl @ Bandito’s – Free!
Sunday nights at Bandito’s are always great. From the great sound and inviting atmosphere to the delicious pre-show food you can and should always order, not to mention the perennially excellent lineups that hit the stage at this place, it’s a consistent source for a fun, low-stress Sunday night. This week, you’ll be able to close out your weekend in fine fashion with some old and new sounds made by veterans of the local post-hardcore scene. Alone amongst the bands on this bill, Sea Of Storms have been doing their thing for a while now, and while they still only have one EP out, word has it a full-length is coming soon. Which is good news, if true, because these guys have a lot of really great emotive post-hardcore tunes you can currently only hear if you go see them play live. Hint hint.
Reps is second on this bill and will be playing their second show, so that’s a nice coincidence. Bringing together Jeff Byers (Wow Owls!), Mike Morris (Pink Razors), Billy Mutter (Missives) and Zach Nelson (Missives), this quartet still doesn’t have any music on the internet (this is a weird era in history, isn’t it? I’m applying the word “still” to a band that hasn’t put up a demo online yet after having played exactly one show), but based on who’s invloved I can’t imagine they won’t be awesome. I’ll go ahead and say the same for Clever Girl, even though this is their debut show, because This Is Your Life totally rule(d? Are they still together?) and are way underrated. Clever Girl brings us some new music from members of This Is Your Life, and that’s enough to convince me. I’m totally on board for this show. Come share a plate of nachos with me!
Tuesday, December 9, 9 PM
Old Testament, The Shine Brothers, The Diamond Center, Dorthia Cottrell @ Strange Matter – $8 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets here: https://oldtest.eventbrite.com/)
I imagine most if not all of my readers are familiar with Dead Meadow; originally hailing from DC and playing a mind-melting hybrid of doom metal and psychedelic drone, they’ve been staking out a unique musical territory for the past 15 years. They’ve come through RVA quite a few times during that span, so we’ve all had plentiful opportunities to get into the same room with them and find out what they’re all about. However, Old Testament opens up a whole new perspective on the mind of Dead Meadow singer/guitarist Jason Simon. In this band, he turns down the volume a bit, bringing in harmonium, organ, and harmonica and constructing a much mellower and more expansive backing band for his still-psychedelic-as-hell songcraft. Reaching way back beyond the earliest metal eras that doom bands so often pull from, Old Testament dig into the pre-war blues and folk sounds that are the deep, deep roots of rock n’ roll, creating a spooky and unusual sound for this genre-melding group. They show off their talents on the self-titled album they released a few months ago, and they’ll do the same when they take the Strange Matter stage on Tuesday.
They’ll be joined on their trip through town by The Shrine Brothers, a band mostly consisting of Simon’s Old Testament backing band. Led by Nate Ryan, formerly of Black Angels, The Shrine Brothers are doing a much more straightforward channeling of the late 60s psychedelic era, walking the line between free-love hippie sounds and menacing biker rock n’ roll–a line that appears from all indications to be made mostly of LSD. The Diamond Center will represent RVA on this wild psychedelic ride, demonstrating just how far out they can get with a divine new set of slow-motion psychedelia, now featuring a stool for drummer Tim Falen to sit on, as well as the welcome return of bassist Will Godwin. The evening kicks off with a doom-folk solo set by Dorthia Cottrell, she whose pipes gloriously grace the sounds of Windhand. Winter’s here, kiddies, and it’s time to take a trip. Walk into Strange Matter next Tuesday night, and you just might float out.
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Should I be posting about your show? Make sure I know it’s happening–email me: andrew@rvamag.com.