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VA Shows You Must See This Week: August 21 – August 27

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FEATURED SHOW
Sunday, August 25, 7 PM
Red Death, Enforced, Dead & Dreaming, Loud Night, Mutually Assured Destruction @ The Camel – $10
We here at RVA Mag have had quite a bit of discussion, both in this very column and in other places, about Enforced’s brand new LP, At The Walls, so to call it a hotly anticipated local release would certainly be more than fair. Now the official release celebration for the album has finally arrived, and rocking out at this jam-packed hardcore/punk/metal show is sure to be the perfect capper to your weekend.

DC residents and recent Century Media signees Red Death, who share members with Enforced and are preparing to release a new LP of their own, are at the top of the heap here, and while it’s Enforced’s party, these guys stand out as guests of honor on their own behalf. 2017’s Formidable Darkness LP was the first with their current four-piece lineup and finds them leaning hard into the thrashier aspects of their crossover metallic hardcore sound, bringing to mind both 80s legends like Exodus and Dark Angel as well as current rulers like Power Trip and Richmond’s own Iron Reagan. These guys are going to lay waste to the Camel, so get ready.

And you also need to be ready for Enforced, whose dark thrash-core sound is both terrifying and galvanizing, and is sure to get you hella excited for thousands of At The Walls needle-drops to come. But we hope you’re parked close by, because you’re gonna want to get that LP to the safety of your car before the set starts and the pit starts moving. With three other incredible bands on the bill, including the first local show for RVA HC all-stars Mutually Assured Destruction (it’s Ace’s new new band, and his vocals are at a whole new level), you’ll really just want to get there the second they open the doors.

Wednesday, August 21, 8 PM
God Module, Finite Automata, Absynthe Of Faith @ Fallout – $8 in advance/$12 at the door (order tickets HERE)
If you’ve paid attention in the goth-industrial music world of the past 20 or so years, you’re sure to recognize that Metropolis Records has brought us a lot of the best work that’s come out of that genre — from Front Line Assembly to VNV Nation, and beyond. God Module may not be one of the first names that comes to mind when you think of that label’s rich history, but they have been one of the more consistent groups on Metropolis over the past 15 years or so, moving from early dancefloor classics like “Spooky” to their recently-released 11th LP, The Unsound.

On The Unsound, Jasyn Bangert and co. continue to work magic with the combination of dark synth moods, pounding electronic beats, and sinister yet somehow inviting vocals, which has situated them right on the borderline between industrial pound and gothic atmosphere throughout their lengthy career. At Fallout tonight, they’ll be bringing the pounding beats to get your shiny black Docs stomping on the floor, even as their downbeat melodies fill your heart with passion. It may be the heart of August, but black attire is definitely recommended for this one no matter how hot and humid it is outside.

Thursday, August 22, 7 PM
Death Valley Girls, Craig Brown Band, Piranha Rama @ Gallery 5 – $12 (order tickets HERE)
I’m not sure the cliched stereotype of the “valley girl” has any cultural currency in the year 2019, but back in the early 80s when Frank Zappa (and his daughter Moon Unit) had a novelty hit called “Valley Girl” while Nic Cage starred in a movie of the same name, it definitely meant something. That stereotype of a rambunctious teenage girl who hangs out at the mall (do people even go to malls anymore?) and is always on the phone (OK, this part still rings true) is what Death Valley Girls are subverting, both in their name and in their dark yet catchy psychedelic sound.

Considering they come from LA, they’re sure to have plenty of inspiration for such a subversion. They let it loose on albums like 2018’s Darkness Rains, which channels everything from The Stooges and Jane’s Addiction to Romeo Void in its foreboding tales of West Coast excess. When Death Valley Girls hit the stage at Gallery 5, they’ll bring plenty of lysergic noise, but you’ll still have a ton of catchy pop hooks to dance to underneath it all. With accompaniment from Third Man recording artist Craig Brown, formerly of the Terrible Twos, and his band, plus Piranha Rama acting as an excellent local opener, this one’s sure to knock your socks off. That’s OK — dance barefoot.

Friday, August 23, 8 PM
Gary Clark Jr, Blackillac, Peterson Brothers @ The National – $44 in advance/$47.50 day of show (order tickets HERE)
We’ve known for a while that Gary Clark Jr. is an incredibly talented guitarist who brings a 21st century feel to the classic-rock-radio staple genre of electric blues. However, if you thought (as I did for a while) that genre was too played out for even a talented player to truly breathe new life into it, you really need to give Clark a second look this year. His third album, This Land, is fueled by the juxtaposition of his fiery chops and some real anger about the state of the world today, specifically in Trump’s racist America.

The album’s opening title track is startling in its harsh, confrontational lyrics, and hits all the harder for it. On that track and others, like “When I’m Gone” and “Don’t Wait Til Tomorrow,” Clark fuses modern R&B and hip hop sounds with his always-killer riffing and powerful, soulful vocals. It’s a sound sure to delight a wide spectrum of music lovers, and while there’s no shame in having overlooked him up to now (I did too), the time has come to give Gary Clark Jr. your attention. Do so at the National this Friday night — you won’t regret it.

Saturday, August 24, 7 PM
Psychic Graveyard, Hex Machine, Bermuda Triangles @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $12 in advance/$15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Things are gonna get downright weird over at Capital Ale House’s Richmond Music Hall on Saturday when Psychic Graveyard arrive, and if I tell you that this band features former members of Arab On Radar and Chinese Stars, that might just clue you in on how weird it’s gonna get. Psychic Graveyard maintain the same sort of tenuous connection to postpunk’s experimental fringe that was present in their previous bands, but interjects a greater emphasis on programmed beats and synth-driven sounds — though it’d feel more than a little disingenuous to call their music “danceable” in any conventional sense.

What it is is noisy and bizarre, the same sort of unconventional strangeness that fans of the members’ previous bands loved so much. Therefore it’s no surprise to find them sharing this bill with fellow noise veterans Hex Machine and Bermuda Triangles, both of whom have unique sounds of their own to offer. Hex Machine’s heavy, metallic postpunk sound shines on recently-released LP Cave Painting, their first in nearly six years and a much-desired return to action from this stomping RVA trio. Meanwhile, Bermuda Triangles are carrying on with the same percussion-driven mutant space funk they’ve been dishing out for years now; their presence on this bill certainly warrants bringing your dancing shoes, even if Psychic Graveyard kinda doesn’t.

Sunday, August 25, 7 PM
Big Business, A Deer A Horse, Tel @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $12 in advance/$15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Big Business is back once again, and this power duo is now going on 15 years of proving that you don’t need a guitar to be heavy as hell. Bassist Jared Warren and drummer Coady Willis spent several years making up one-half of the Melvins, so their pedigree is certainly not in question, but their sixth LP, The Beast You Are, released earlier this year, shows that they can bowl you over just fine on their own. They’ll do so with aplomb when they hit Capital Ale House this Sunday for their first appearance in Richmond in over a decade (raise your hand if you also saw them last time they were here, when they opened for the Blood Brothers).

Big Business excels at ferocious riffs that continually batter your brain and compel you to furious headbangs, so it’s only appropriate that they share this bill with Brooklyn’s A Deer A Horse, who do much the same on recently-released EP Everything Rots That Is Rotten. From bombastic sludge to foreboding doom, the many moods of A Deer A Horse are all powerful, and all dark. Local sludge-doom powerhouse Tel will kick this one off with a slow-motion rumble that’ll set the whole night off onto a powerful course. Make sure you’re on board this train.

Monday, August 26, 9 PM
Bask, Manzara, Crimson Heat @ Cary Street Cafe – $10
Let’s keep the heaviness rolling straight on into the working week, shall we? With Bask coming to town from their NC mountain home, we certainly will! This metal powerhouse brings epic song structures, killer riffs, and soaring vocal prowess together to create masterful metallic beauty on their 2017 LP, Ramble Beyond, and whether you dig Led Zeppelin, Spirit Caravan, Neurosis, or Queens Of The Stone Age, you’re sure to find something to love from these talented North Carolinians when they take the Cary Street Cafe stage.

They’ll be joined there by a couple of shining examples of Richmond musical excellence. The first is Manzara, whose energetic yet spaced-out postpunk has been making a mark on the local scene for a while. If you’re not up on it, this is your perfect opportunity to get familiar. Plus, you’ll get a performance from a brand new Richmond supergroup, Crimson Heat, which features veterans from past RVA stoner warriors like Sinister Haze, Stone Woman, and Heathens. Get into this one — it’s gonna start your week off right!

Tuesday, August 27, 8 PM
Super Low, Manatree, Gnawing @ The Camel – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
It’s a heavy week here in RVA, but not every show has to crush your head, right? If you’re ready to trade in the headbangs for some charming pop melodies that’ll make you smile, The Camel’s got you covered this Tuesday night, as Memphis pop artisans Super Low roll into town with some downright delightful indie pop sounds. They showed off their talents earlier this summer with the release of their self-titled debut LP, and you’ll definitely want to hear all of those excellent tunes in person when they roll through town this Tuesday night.

This show will also feature the latest incarnation of Manatree, now a trio with a stronger focus than ever on electronic textures in addition to their complex, talented indie song structures. They showed off this Radiohead-meets-Four Tet approach on the Rough Designs EP, released last spring, and it will certainly be fascinating to see them recreate these multi-layered, synth-rich tunes in a live environment. We’ll also get a performance from Gnawing, a killer local grunge-rock combo who certainly know how to bring the Dinosaur Jr and Superchunk vibes, if last year’s self-titled debut EP is any indication. And I’d say it probably is.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Friday, August 23, 8 PM
Corrosion Of Conformity, Crowbar, Quaker City Night Hawks, Lo-Pan @ Elevation27 – $25 (order tickets HERE)
I’m sure there are a lot of old heads out there like me, for whom the name Corrosion Of Conformity summons up memories of the North Carolina band’s early days as progenitors of the crossover hardcore sound of the mid-80s. However, we’d by lying if we pretended that this band weren’t better known in 2019 for the sludgy Southern-fried metal boogie sounds they cranked out throughout the 90s and early 00s. Fans of that COC sound may have been a little bummed when the band spent several years at the beginning of this decade in their original trio lineup, focusing on their early crossover work.

However, they’re bound to be stoked that COC has reunited with vocalist Pepper Keenan to crank out another heaping helping of that powerful metal roar on 2018’s No Cross No Crown. COC will be firing on all cylinders when they bring the classic Deliverance/America’s Volume Dealer lineup to Norfolk this Friday night. They’ll be accompanied by their longtime compatriots in New Orleans’ own swamp-sludge metal heroes Crowbar, who remain at peak form after nearly 30 years as a band, as shown on 2016 LP The Serpent Only Lies. This hellacious bill is rounded out by Texas rock n’ roll groovers Quaker City Night Hawks and Norfolk’s own Lo-Pan, this is gonna be a night to remember — one full of headbangs.

Saturday, August 24, 8 PM
BRAINxTOILET, Needle, Neck Breather, Ixias, Ancient Torture Techniques, Redundant Protoplasm, Kept In Line, Cybernetic Warkrab @ RiffHouse Pub – $8
Hey speed demon — are you feeling unfulfilled by the excess of sludgy heaviness on this week’s docket? Well then you better break all speed records heading down 64 East this Saturday night, because you’ve got a show full of absolute grindcore madness waiting for you at RiffHouse Pub. I’m talking about this show, which features several different maniacal grind ensembles from around the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as quite a few homegrown VA talents to keep your head spinning with hyperspeed blastbeat mayhem.

North Carolina’s BRAINxTOILET are at the top of the bill, and their ferocious power has the same sort of grotty rage built into it that we saw from past NC grind maniacs Dead In The Dirt. DC’s Needle have a cleaner b but no less maniacal approach to their grind blitzkrieg, recalling DC-area grind legends of the past like Daybreak and early Pig Destroyer. Where locals are concerned, Tidewater grind legends Ancient Torture Techniques appear to have gone from broken up to doing occasional reunions back to full-time action, so that’s always a cause for celebration. Meanwhile, Chesapeake’s Kept In Line has brought us my favorite demo of 2019 so far, in any genre, so you definitely don’t want to miss them. Pissed-off straight edge grindcore, I love it! There are four more bands I haven’t even talked about on this bill, but I’m sure I’m pushing the limits of the attention span for all you grind freaks, so I’ll just wrap it up by saying: get thee to RiffHouse Saturday night, where all your blastbeat cravings will be satisfied.

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Email me if you’ve got any tips for me about upcoming shows (that take place after the week this column covers -– this week’s column has obviously already been written): [email protected]

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

VA Shows You Must See This Week: March 20 – March 26

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Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FEATURED SHOW
Wednesday, March 20, 8 PM
Noisem (Photo by Andrew Hartl), No/Mas, Murdersome, MSD @ McCormack’s – $10
It’s apparently the month for mid-week metal — this is two weeks in a row that the most unmissable show of the week is happening only a few short hours after this column gets posted. Hey, I’m not complaining, especially if Wednesday will keep bringing us the absolute (head)bangers we’ve seen for the past couple of weeks. This time around, it’s the return of youthful Baltimore headbangers Noisem, who are rolling into Shockoe Bottom to devastate Richmond’s most flood-prone streets.

It’s been a while since Noisem had a massive amount of hype as teen thrash sensations, and you might have thought (as I had) that they broke up a few years ago. As it turns out, the truth is a bit more complicated. After 2015’s Blossoming Decay, an internal schism fractured the band’s lineup, and three of the five members left. Guitarist Sebastian Phillips and his drumming brother Harley were undaunted, quickly recruiting new singer-bassist Ben Anft and carrying on as a trio. But their label was decidedly daunted, and quickly dropped them.

Four years later, Noisem have returned with a new label and a brand new album, Cease To Exist. Ben Anft’s vocals replace the hardcore bark of original vocalist Tyler Carnes with a harsh, Carcass-style roar (which I honestly might like better), but otherwise, this is the same headbang-inspiring death-thrash awesomeness you’ve always gotten from Noisem, and it is a welcome return indeed from a band whose members are all now old enough to order a beer before the set at McCormack’s tonight. Expect serious brutality, just like you got from them in years past, as well as some ripping thrash rage from DC’s own No/Mas and local stalwarts Murdersome and MSD. This one is gonna rule.

Wednesday, March 20, 6 PM
The Goddamn Gallows, Scott H. Biram, Urban Pioneers, Channel 43 @ The Camel – $20 (order tickets HERE)
The borders between genres are always intriguing, and one that seems to have excited a lot of people’s imaginations over the past couple of decades is the thin line between punk rock and old-time bluegrass. That might not seem such an easily permeated dividing line, but considering that both genres have a tradition of working-class musicians building their sound from outsider traditions and roots within isolated, tight-knit communities, I suppose it makes sense that there’s quite a bit of crossover.

The Goddamn Gallows are one of the bands exploring that musical borderland; they’ve been doing so for over a decade now, and on their latest LP, The Trial, they manage to move between old-time waltzes that foreground folk instruments like banjo and accordion, and darker moments that use distortion and harsh vocals to accentuate the heaviness. And crazily enough, it all works incredibly well — something you can get an up-close-and-personal view of tonight at The Camel, when The Goddamn Gallows pull into town at the head of a touring caravan that also features one-man outlaw-country band Scott H. Biram and energetic Western swing combo Urban Pioneers. Multi-decade Richmond melodic punk vets Channel 43 kick things off to let us know they’re still going strong.

Thursday, March 21, 8 PM
The Listening Sessions, feat. Space Koi, Sanji The Hedgehog, Awkward Shaman, Dogfuck, Distant Dee, MC Correct @ Addis Ethiopian Lounge – $7
As I’ve said in this column many times, Richmond hip hop is a many-splendored thing, and it can be all but impossible to keep up with it all. Therefore I’m not all that surprised that I wasn’t aware until recently of everything Secret Bonus Level has been up to. This crew of local rappers and producers makes it their mission to include the LGBTQ community in everything they do, with the hopes of eventually helping to normalize the idea of queer and trans participants in the world of hip hop. As a rap-loving trans woman, I can definitely get behind that.

Their show this Thursday finds the Secret Bonus Level crew sharing the stage with Space Koi, a Richmond group whose reggae-rooted sound incorporates surf, punk, and psychedelic sounds. The result is several cuts above the typical reggae-rock hybrids we all hear way too much of on modern rock radio — and thank god for that, am I right? They’ll join the Secret Bonus Level crew in its entirety: the trippy rhymes of Sanji The Hedgehog, the wavy melodies of Awkward Shaman, the stoned mumblings of memorably named rapper Dogfuck, and more. The sounds at this show might very well be weird, but the environment is always welcoming, so come down to Addis Ethiopian and check it out — you might just find your new favorite Richmond MC.

Friday, March 22, 9 PM
Appalling, Mo’ynoq, Hoboknife @ Wonderland – $5
Richmond’s extreme metal scene is as alive and well as ever, and more than ever, Shockoe Bottom is the place to learn all about it. Especially with Strange Matter gone, it seems these days the serious thrashers are gonna have to ride their bikes down a really long hill to get the raging riffs they crave. Take heart, carless metalheads — this Friday night, Wonderland has the kind of heaping helping of headbanging that makes the long ride back up the hills of East Main Street totally worth it. Local black metal crew Appalling will be releasing their second full-length at Wonderland on the Friday night in question, and the celebration is sure to be off the chain. They’ve recently been out on the road with Richmond death metal vets Deathcrown, and now Inverted Realm is here to take us all to the next level of epic destruction.

If you love the claustrophobic terror sound of classic Scandinavian black metal masters — think Emperor or Marduk — and you still haven’t checked Appalling out, you need to fix that with the quickness and get to Wonderland on Friday night. They’re sure to tickle your fancy, right before they punch it in the throat. Appalling are joined on this powerhouse bill by fellow black metallers Mo’ynoq. If you saw the name and thought of a certain comedian for a second, well, you’re not alone, but rest assured these guys bring the heavy in a decidedly Immortal-ish fashion. Perennially reliable local stalwarts Hoboknife kick this one off with some dark fury. Get there — even if you’ve gotta walk home.

Saturday, March 23, 9 PM
Microwaves, Multicult, Bermuda Triangles @ Wonderland – $10
Those who are paying attention are sure to know that there’s already a Mikrowaves from Richmond — but as you can see, they spell their name with a K. The Microwaves (with a C) coming to Wonderland Saturday night are a decidedly different proposition. This trio from Pittsburgh, who just released their sixth album, Via Weightlessness, on San Diego noise-core label Three One G, are every bit as hectic as their label affiliation might lead you to expect.

Where their distorted guitar sound and usage of effects that might even make you think there’s a keyboard involved (there isn’t) is likely to remind you of way-out freaks like Orthrelm and Lightning Bolt, there’s a decidedly more song-based structure to Microwaves’ music, which results in the sort of sound that should appeal to fans of decidedly rockin’ noise like that of Arab On Radar or the Melvins, even as its speed and chaos should certainly connect with those who love the early works of the legendary Hella. Microwaves are hitting town with Baltimore noise-rockers Multicult, who conjure some obvious Jesus Lizard comparisons on 2016 LP Position Remote — a slab of pure freakout fun, if you ask me. Local percussion-obsessed weirdos Bermuda Triangles will kick this night off in proper fashion, so roll on down to Wonderland Saturday night prepared to flip out. Rest assured, it’s gonna happen.

Sunday, March 24, 10 PM
Grouser, Grass Panther @ Bandito’s – Free!
Sometimes I put shows into my show column because I’m already intimately familiar with the bands playing. But other times, I am more curious than anything else. This is one of those latter times, and I must say, my curiosity feels likely enough to be rewarded that I think all of you should join me in my quest for satisfaction. Hey, it’s a free show at Bandito’s — if nothing else, you’ll be able to say you got some delicious nachos while you were there. But so anyway — about Grouser. I don’t know this trio’s true identities, but I find it fascinating that they apparently contain members not only of long-running local stoner-metal heavyweights RPG but also of “only true fortysomething Richmonders will know” 90s alt-rockers Jettison Charlie.

I find it even more fascinating that, out of nowhere, they have an outstanding 2018 LP, Harmonic Freight Train, up on Bandcamp. The 13 songs contained on this record have the same sort of noisy post-hardcore energy and subtle melodic grasp that distinguished 90s Richmond legends Kepone, as well as classic 90s Dischord alums like Bluetip. I’m a sucker for records like this; I’m only sorry I didn’t discover it last summer when it came out. Based on these tunes, no matter who is actually in this band, the live show is bound to be essential. The fact that they’re joined on this bill by Manzara affiliates Grass Panther only makes this even more unmissable. And it’s free? What more do you want?

Monday, March 25, 7 PM
Calling All Captains, Diet Blood, Dead Format @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $10 (Order tickets HERE)
Damn, speaking of sounds I’m a sucker for… Calling All Captains roll into Richmond this Monday night, and I for one can’t wait. These Canadians just joined up with Equal Vision Records, which released their EP Nothing Grows Here last month, and now they’re on tour bringing their sound to the world. Rest assured, if you, like me, are way into recent melodic, emotional pop-punk superstars like State Champs, Knuckle Puck, and The Story So Far, you’ll find a lot to enjoy in Calling All Captains.

Don’t get me wrong, though, they aren’t just a retread of other bands you’ve liked in the past — Canada’s a big country, and this quintet is from Edmonton, Alberta, a city located solidly in Canada’s midwest. Therefore it’s no surprise to find a decided heartland tinge to Calling All Captains’ melodic punk sound, as if they’ve spent a fair amount of time with the Braid and Get Up Kids discographies. That’s certainly never a bad thing. They’ll be joined on this bill by a Richmond band who also feature a melodic punk sound as well as a decidedly unusual name: Diet Blood. What is that about? Is this a band of vampires? Bring some garlic with you to Capital Ale House for this one. Local pop-punk newcomers Dead Format will get this one started off in fine fashion. Get stoked, y’all.

Tuesday, March 26, 10 PM
New Lions, Serqet, Continuation @ Don’t Look Back/Triple – Free!
Not every show has to be a huge event, you know? Sometimes it’s just nice to hang with some friends and enjoy some great tunes. You’ll definitely have the opportunity to do that at Don’t Look Back on Tuesday night, for a free show at the mythical former location of The Triple (where those of us who’ve been around a while saw some pretty cool shows back in the day).

This night will not only give us a chance to rejoice once again at the return of Don’t Look Back and its amazing tacos (show up early and get your fill before the rock starts). It’ll also bring us another opportunity to enjoy the reincarnated and rejuvenated New Lions before their new EP comes out later this year. Plus we’ll get a set from cerebral goth-punks Serqet to enliven all of our minds. Newborn duo Continuation, which features members of Dommengang and The Catalyst, will grace us all with some delightful psychedelic sounds to start the evening off. Let’s all partake and enjoy, shall we?

Bonus Hampton Roads Picks:

Thursday, March 21, 6 PM
Sick Of It All, Iron Reagan, Flatline @ Peabody’s – $20 in advance/$22 at the door (Order tickets HERE)
There’s punk. There’s hardcore. And then there’s New York hardcore. NYHC, as the kids say. Even as it is clearly a big part of hardcore as a whole, NYHC is kind of its own thing, a heavier, tougher form of hardcore that takes obvious influence from the street-level struggles of its early progenitors, who had to fight to survive on the mean streets of New York City in the 80s — long before Manhattan became a glass-skyscraper landscape that mostly acts as a playground for the rich. And Sick Of It All is one of a very few NYHC bands who both helped craft the sound at the very start and is still going strong today.

They just released their 12th album, Wake The Sleeping Dragon!, last year, and if you heard it, you know Sick Of It All are every bit as angry, tough, and talented as they always have been. This show is sure to bring us the best of their new shit along with a heaping helping of classics that we all know and love — “It’s Clobbering Time,” “Step Down,” “Injustice System,” you know the ones. The fact that SOIA are sharing this bill –one that sees them returning to VA Beach’s Peabody’s for the first time in nearly two decades — with Richmond crossover maniacs Iron Reagan only further emphasizes the fact that this is gonna be a show for the ages. Get the Doc Martens shined up and get ready to break out the GI Joe Headstomp for this one.

Monday, March 25, 8 PM
Failure, Swervedriver, Criminal Hygiene @ Elevation27 – $25 in advance/$30 day of show (Order tickets HERE)
This show would be big news even if only one of the two headliners were coming through. The fact that both of them are here to blow our minds just makes this a tour beyond all wildest dreams. California space-rockers Failure fell apart in the late 90s, but they left behind multiple classic albums, which garnered them an ever-growing cult following that rejoiced when the trio returned to action in 2015. Since then, they’ve made two more albums, releasing the excellently titled In The Future Your Body Will Be The Furthest Thing From Your Mind late last fall.

UK quartet Swervedriver had a similar career path to that of Failure, and though soundwise they are less Nirvana-meets-Pink Floyd and more Neil Young-meets-My Bloody Valentine, the two groups have a lot in common musically as well as historically. Swervedriver, who broke up in 1999, reformed in 2008, and have themselves released two albums since reuniting. The most recent, Future Ruins, was released earlier this year; like the latest Failure album, it shows that this group is still as much at the top of their game as they ever have been. Getting to see both of these bands on the same night will be a true treat. Make sure you’re there to experience it.

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Email me if you’ve got any tips for me about upcoming shows (that take place after the week this column covers -– this week’s column has obviously already been written): [email protected] [and yeah, there’s plenty more of my writing to read over at GayRVA — come say hey.]

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

VA Shows You Must See This Week: January 2 – January 8

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FEATURED SHOW
Thursday, January 3, 7 PM
Humungus, 3:33, Buzzard Dust, Nuclear Tomb, Et Mors @ Champion RVA – Free!
It’s 2019, and if there’s one thing we can all agree on as local live music fans, it’s that Strange Matter’s departure has definitely hurt us. This week’s show column shows the damage done — fully two days of this week ended up being left out for lack of anything worthwhile to send you to. Hopefully this is a one-time post-holiday-doldrum thing, but even if it’s not, one thing it makes clear is that someone, some venue or other, is going to need to step up and fill the void Strange Matter left, or we’re gonna have quite a bit less rocking out to do.

Champion Brewing did its fair share of free Thursday shows in the past, but in recent months, they’ve largely kept a low profile. The fact that they’re giving us a free show on the first Thursday of the new year is a hopeful sign, though. Let’s hope it keeps coming from these fine purveyors of suds I don’t actually drink. And let’s hope it continues to be as raging as this show is. Humungus is at the top of the bill, and these local headbangers have had some lineup shake-ups since their Warband LP in 2015, but they continue to deal in the sort of wicked metal power that made 80s thrash records so great, complete with a vocalist who hits triumphant high notes like it’s his job (which, to be fair, it is).

This show also brings a duo of touring Baltimore metal bands to us to rock this town and make us scream and shout — or at least bang our heads. Nuclear Tomb just released a brand new EP, Succumbing, and its focus on death-metal brutality and technical complexity makes it an intriguing listen. Live, this band is likely to roll right over you like a metal steamroller, but if you listen close, the riffs will keep you fascinated. Tourmates Et Mors deal out the sort of dragging, sludgy doom that will make you feel like the world is caving in on you. If you weren’t already planning to bring earplugs, this group offers a strong inducement. Local heroes 3:33 and Buzzard Dust round out a bill full of champion metal. Yeah, you see what I did there.

Thursday, January 3, 6:30 PM
Haybaby, President Sam, Doll Baby, Two Cars, W I S H @ Garden Grove Brewing – Free! (Donations accepted)
Dogs are cool. Cats are cool. Chances are you agree with at least one of these statements, if not the other. And that is a good reason for you to go to this SPCA benefit at Garden Grove Brewing. Another is that it’s free — but of course, you should still bring some cash, because they’ll be taking donations for the Richmond SPCA, and unless your heart is a cold black rock, you want to make sure that they keep doing all that they do to help out local dogs and/or cats.

But the best reason to go to a show is always and forever the music, and this selection of rad Richmond bands is gonna rock you right! Haybaby have been splitting their time between Brooklyn and Richmond for years now, which might be why it’s been three years since their last EP, but word is they’ll be bringing us another LP full of their power-pop goodness sometime this year — so that’s something to look forward to! President Sam is starting a tour with this show, and this emo-pop/pop-punk band certainly tickles my fancy (y’all know what a sucker I am for this sound), so make sure you catch them. And don’t miss Two Cars either. This emo-shoegaze trio has a brand new EP out, and they’ll be celebrating its release at this show, so chances are they’ll be fired up! All this and Doll Baby too? Plus an opening set from W I S H? This show would be cheap even at ten times the price! (Because ten times free is still free.) Bring donations for the puppies and kittens, and get your year started right!

Friday, January 4, 5 PM
Silver Age, Unturned, Thirst For The Sea, Having Keepsake, Apricity @ The Canal Club – $8 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
There was a bit of punctuation mark abuse in that last blurb, so I’m gonna try to keep it chill here, as I write about the first of two 2019 Kickoff shows The Canal Club is throwing this weekend. This one’s the “rock” show, and Saturday brings us a “metal” show. Of the two, I’m most excited about this one. Silver Age are an intriguing band who got a lot of attention in 2017 due to their winning a shot onto the Warped Tour that year. They’re a bunch of teenagers with a heavy sound that splits the difference between more recent emo bands and heavily melodic post-hardcore bands of the 90s (think Hum, or maybe Quicksand). Now that they’re out of high school, these kids should be getting more done in 2019. Get in on the ground floor right here.

Fellow northern-midwesterners Unturned are also on this bill, and these guys have a somewhat similar sound to that of Silver Age, though they’re a bit less heavy and more straight up emo. That’s never a bad thing if you ask me. There are a bunch of VA bands in a similar vein opening up this show and bringing us some more excellent sounds in that vein. Thirst From The Sea live in rural western VA, up near where I went to high school, and have a heavy, driving, and properly emo sound. Meanwhile, RVA’s own Having Keepsake are a bit more post-rock infused, but still angst-ridden, while Mechanicsville newcomers Apricity (apparently it means “the warmth of the sun in winter”) kick things off with some “melodic grunge.” I’m into it. You should be too. Exclamation point.

Saturday, January 5, 8 PM
Lady Moon & the Eclipse (Photo by Luke Awtry Photography), Kenneka Cook, Calvin Presents, Mekong Xpress & the Get Fresh Horns @ The Camel – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
We’re getting in a funky mood this Saturday night at The Camel. Lady Moon & the Eclipse are headed down from their Brooklyn home to bring us all some thick and heavy grooves. This group’s fat bass sound and nimble synth lines hark back to the 70s in a serious way, resembling some of the lush soul productions that were happening at the same time as disco, but just had so much more depth to them. And of course, Lady Moon’s voice is the focus of it all, singing directly to your soul with soothing messages of love and positivity.

So get ready to groove with the Eclipse, but don’t think that this show is all about the Brooklynites, because we’ve got a passel of homegrown talent waiting for you as well. We talk about Kenneka Cook a lot around here, and for good reason — from her amazing voice to her brilliant and unpredictable compositions, this woman is the first name in 21st century soul here in central VA. Calvin Presents is an up-and-coming talent with a jazz-based approach to R&B balladry that results in music that both resists easy categorization and rewards listeners with musical beauty. And of course, Mekong Xpress are a funk-rock combo that grew out of everyone’s favorite Vietnamese-food destination in RVA to become a groove powerhouse. Get down with all of it this Saturday night, and dance into the new year in proper fashion.

Sunday, January 6, 8 PM
Hot Pink Satan, Solemn Shapes @ Fallout – $6 in advance/$10 at the door (order tickets HERE)
They’re getting weird with it over at Fallout this Sunday night, and before you tell me that that’s just a normal night at Shockoe Bottom’s foremost private fetish club, let me provide some details. What you must know is that a band with the memorable name of Hot Pink Satan is performing. This Pittsburgh-based duo is every bit as shocking as their name would lead you to believe.

Singer Clea Cutthroat’s tendency to lose her clothing and end up covered in blood might make you think of Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics, while the pounding, heavy industrial beats and sexual preoccupations of the music are more likely to inspire recollections of Lords Of Acid’s mid-90s heyday. My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult fans should probably appreciate what this bizarre group is doing too, and metal fans may get a kick out of knowing that instrument-wielder allinaline was once in Chimaira. So if you like a bit of metal noise and punk confrontation in your sexy industrial dancefloor bangers, this is the perfect group for you. Just don’t stand too close if you don’t want to end up slippery.

Tuesday, January 8, 7 PM
Mdou Moctar, Night Idea @ Gallery 5 – $10 in advance/$15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Over the last decade or so, the music of the Tuareg people has received quite a bit of recognition outside their native Saharan desert. This nomadic ethnic confederation of livestock ranchers have an interesting place in the culture of the African continent, but what really has caught the world’s ear in recent years is their tradition of psychedelic guitar music. That all started with the legendary band Tinariwen, who mixed traditional Tuareg musics with electric guitars and acid-rock influences.

Mdou Moctar is a similar sort of Tuareg guitarist, one who has put his own personal stamp on the sound of this region, keeping a more traditional approach than some more recent Tuareg combos, while still retaining a speedy, nimble-fingered approach to the fretboard that is sure to please the ears of all you metal-shredding guitar heroes out there. His 2017 album, Sousoume Tamachek, revolves around acoustic instruments and traditional percussion, but Moctar still wails on guitar throughout. He’s sure to do a similar thing from the stage of Gallery 5 — you’ll be able to hear the desert winds blowing through your hair as you listen. Don’t miss this one.

Bonus Hampton Roads Picks:

Friday, January 4, 8 PM
Lake Street Dive, Mikaela Davis @ The NorVA – $25 in advance/$29.50 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Lake Street Dive are an intriguing group. Even wikipedia, which calls them “a multigenre band,” has no idea how to explain their sound. They’ve got an old-school approach to instrumentation that lays the groundwork for everything that comes after. Acoustic stand-up bass, soulful horns, and Rachel Price’s humdinger of a voice, which is mid-range in tone but as deep as the ocean in vibe, are all key elements to understanding what this group is up to. And of course, they’ve grabbed some attention online with covers of immortal classics by artists like Michael Jackson and Hall and Oates.

So at this point, you’re thinking “Postmodern Jukebox,” right? Not so fast. Because Lake Street Dive are skilled songwriters with a deep quiver full of excellent original compositions. Blues, soul, old-school R&B, old-time folk, and rock n’ roll all factor in, always with a strong foundation in live instruments played at the same time in a room. This band is powerful, and they’ll keep you smiling and your feet moving throughout their performance at The NorVA. So hey, whether you’re a curious Hampton Roads resident, a fan who’s bummed they didn’t make it up to Richmond this time around, or just someone who loves great music played well by talented people, this show needs to be on your calendar.

Saturday, January 5, 8 PM
The Candy Snatchers, Big Bobby & The Nightcaps, The Nerve Scheme @ Elevation27 – $10 in advance/$14 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Back in the 90s, if you were a fan of raging, unbridled punk rock from any part of the world, you were looking to Virginia. Why? Because the Candy Snatchers were from here. This legendary punk n’ roll band were up there with the Dwarves, the Supersuckers, and the New Bomb Turks as the best of the wild-ass bands out there. And they had the stage show to prove it, too — they were known to spew blood, spit, and beer all over the place as they dealt out their pedal-to-the-metal brand of manic punk thrills.

All that sadly came to an end with the 2008 passing of the band’s guitarist, Matthew Odietus, who was largely responsible along with vocalist Larry May for the sound that made the Candy Snatchers so unforgettable. However, coinciding with the 2017 release of Moronic Pleasures, a “lost album” recorded in the late 90s, May and longtime drummer Sergio Ponce resurrected the group for some celebratory live dates around the mid-Atlantic area. Since then, they’ve been firing it up and going wild on at least an occasional basis, and this Saturday night provides the latest opportunity to catch the wild fire from this band once again. Chances are shit’s gonna get pretty crazy at this show — if you’re a true-blue fan of rock n’ roll at it’s most out-of-control, you’re not gonna want to miss it. No matter how far you have to drive.

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Email me if you’ve got any tips for me about upcoming shows (that take place after the week this column covers -– this week’s column has obviously already been written): [email protected] [and yeah, there’s plenty more of my writing to read over at GayRVA — come say hey.]

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