A supremely groovy night it was at The Republic last Wednesday, as Radio Rubber Room gave us The Dream Machine and Knuckle, hailing from Virginia Beach. TDM has been on top its game the last few weeks, due in part to Gabe’s bass presence. They’ve always been a bit funky, but the needle on the funktitude scale redlined last week. My ears perked up when I heard some synchronization between harmonica and lead guitar – nice work, Luke Wilson. Even if TDM plays the same songs each week, they do varying renditions of those songs – a useful tendency for a weekly act. Aside from the funky fresh noise they make, J. Shear and Gabe look cool as shit with their giant gaudy wayfarer shades, stage left and right, perched like rock and roll gargoyles alongside Jason Hunnicutt.
A supremely groovy night it was at The Republic last Wednesday, as Radio Rubber Room gave us The Dream Machine and Knuckle, hailing from Virginia Beach. TDM has been on top its game the last few weeks, due in part to Gabe’s bass presence. They’ve always been a bit funky, but the needle on the funktitude scale redlined last week. My ears perked up when I heard some synchronization between harmonica and lead guitar – nice work, Luke Wilson. Even if TDM plays the same songs each week, they do varying renditions of those songs – a useful tendency for a weekly act. Aside from the funky fresh noise they make, J. Shear and Gabe look cool as shit with their giant gaudy wayfarer shades, stage left and right, perched like rock and roll gargoyles alongside Jason Hunnicutt.
Knuckle offered an impressive set, it being their first show in Richmond. They didn’t screw around – they came out blaring with “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,” and frontman Carl’s voice was spot-on. Knuckle’s orginal material was energetic, pulsy and distorted. They did a few bluesier numbers, which highlighted Carl’s soulful voice. They’ve got a really well-polished set, and have clearly been playing together a long while. Mid-set they busted out “Fell on Black Days.” Badass. After the show, the entire band came back to our apartment… but nobody had any beer. So everyone just went to sleep and I felt bad. Check out some of Knuckle‘s live recordings on Youtube; they rock.
This Wednesday Radio Rubber Room presents psychedelic rockers The Mystery Ship. They’ve got an eminently 60s sound, with chimey, reverby guitars and Ray Davies-esque vocals. I dig their hallucinogenic, droning, slow-tempo style. The Dream Machine and The Mystery Ship – sounds like a psychedelic evening to me. So don’t forget to take your drugs before you come out to The Republic! Just kidding, don’t take drugs. (Take them.) Be there, 10pm.
Hit up the EVENT PAGE for more info!