• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

RVA Mag

Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005

Menu RVA Mag Logo
  • community
  • MUSIC
  • ART
  • EAT DRINK
  • GAYRVA
  • POLITICS
  • PHOTO
  • EVENTS
  • MAGAZINE
RVA Mag Logo
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contributors
  • Sponsors

Game Is My Middle Name: Weekend Playlist by Chrissie Lozano

RVA Staff | October 25, 2019

Topics: chrissie lozano, indie, local artist, local music, music, Piranha Rama, Playlist, rock, rva magazine weekend playlist

Every Friday night, RVA Mag brings you a playlist curated by Virginia’s most influential artists, musicians, and institutions.

This week’s comes to us from local bass queen Chrissie Lozano, who is currently holding down the low-end in Piranha Rama, as well as acting as one of the group’s many vocalists. She has been in all sorts of other Richmond-based combos over the years — Gouda Mayhem, Ladygod, Fear Of Music, Are You Fucking Serious!?… and probably more; it’s a longer list than even I know, and I pay close attention to this kind of stuff.

Speaking with us about the playlist she put together for this week, she said, “It’s reflective of my love of lady vocals and harmony in general, and how this bunch of tunes is influential to me.” In Piranha Rama, where Lozano often harmonizes with bandmates Angelica Garcia and Kenneka Cook (both of whom appear in solo form on this playlist), the influence of these tunes can clearly be heard. You can see Piranha Rama live at The Camel on Saturday, November 9 with Dharma Bombs, but until then, liven up your weekend with this solid-as-a-rock eclectic collection of postpunk, soul, folk, electronica, and more.

Sing it loud, Virginia.

Open this playlist from mobile in your Spotify app HERE.

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

Get Bit by the Beat with Piranha Rama

Alicen Hackney | August 29, 2019

Topics: 60s music, brass, chrissie lozano, john sizemore, local music, panorama, Piranha Rama, psychedelic, rock, RVA shows, ryan jones, shows, theremin, Tim Falen, youve earned it

This extensive ensemble explores a variety of genres and blends them into a sound that has captured the hearts of music fans near and far.

There’s no such thing as too much, too many, or too different for Piranha Rama. The local 12-piece ensemble of individually talented musicians — otherwise known as the Panorama — has been playing shows all over in odd numbers, with the goals of sharing the stage and sharing new musical ideas. 

“It works pretty great having so many members. They want to be there, and we love them for that,” said guitarist John Sizemore on the sheer size of Piranha Rama’s lineup. “When they can’t, we miss them. But we are all mutual fans of each others’ work, so we love to support them.” 

While it might not be possible to have every member play every show, there is no shortage of creative musical performances the band can come up with. In any number, and in any city, whichever parts of the Panorama are able to show up will put on a show: one that’ll take you on a sound journey through genres you couldn’t imagine would go so well together. 

Photo by Lauren Serpa Photography

“It’s a group of people with similar interests in music, but we also all have our wild cards,” said Sizemore. “We just get really excited by people’s various out-there ideas.” 

In their music, you can pluck out a psychedelic mix of rock ‘n roll, 60s style melody, a stellar brass section, and a theremin… that’s right, a theremin. It’s unique to the bone; as their Facebook puts it: “It’s like a party with a bite.” To back up this claim, earlier this month they released their newest album, You’ve Earned It, with as much flair and moody vibes as could be promised. 

To begin the writing process for these releases, a smaller set of musicians — typically, drummer Tim Falen, singer-bassist Chrissie Lozano, keyboardist Ryan Jones, and Sizemore — get together to work up ideas in their practice space before handing it over to the rest of the Panorama. From there, the songs truly become their own beings, fleshed out and fully formed to peak quality. 

“When it comes time to record or play any of the songs is when we’ll bring in the Panorama, as we call it, and they’ll usually work out the horn parts and percussion,” said Sizemore. “We are truly lucky to have people so talented that can work fast and with such vibrant creativity.” 

The Panorama features quite a few well-known players in the Richmond music scene; those involved include Angelica Garcia on theremin, Reggie Pace on trombone, Bio Ritmo’s Bob Miller on trumpet, and Kenneka Cook contributing vocals and percussion. In fact, pretty much everyone involved contributes vocals and percussion at one point or another. You’ll find all these players and more offering their talents on You’ve Earned It.

For Piranha Rama, working in such large numbers has been the most natural path for their growth, both physically and artistically. In order to find each other and end up in this current configuration, the members came together after seeing each other play in other bands all over the city. As projects ended, they came together, and explored their creative interests together. 

Photo by Garritos Photography

“I remember seeing Tim’s previous band, The Diamond Center, when they had just moved here from Texas roughly 10 years ago. At the time he was sporting a cape and a wild psychedelic painted face, and was on a mission to drum,” said Sizemore. “We have a lot of love and respect for each other, so it’s made working together a really great journey.” 

Following the release of You’ve Earned It, the Piranha Rama Panorama has lined up some shows to cover Virginia and reach as many listeners as they can. They’ll be playing shows throughout this upcoming holiday weekend: at Harrisonburg’s The Golden Pony on Thursday, August 29 (that’s tonight!), at Slash Run in Washington D.C. on Friday the 30th, the LAVA Mini-Fest at Toast in Norfolk on Saturday the 31st, and rounding out the weekend on Sunday night with a free show at Richmond’s own Bandito’s Burrito Lounge. More info can be found on the band’s Facebook page. 

So clear all the plans you had to spend this holiday weekend with your families at lousy BBQs, and come get bit by the beat with Piranha Rama.

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

sidebar

sidebar-alt

Copyright © 2021 · RVA Magazine on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Close

    Event Details

    Please fill out the form below to suggest an event to us. We will get back to you with further information.


    OR Free Event

    CONTACT: [email protected]