Kept In Line

VA Shows You Must See This Week: July 3 – July 9

Marilyn Drew Necci | July 3, 2019

Topics: .gif From God, Alexander Mack, BATO, Cary Street Cafe, deviant, Eliza Battle, Elucid, Enforced, Gazm, Genosha, Ghost Ship Octavius, He Is Legend, Heavens Die, Illist, Itch, Kept In Line, MTFR, Museum District, Nature Freak, Nickelus F, Party Nails, Pelicanesis, PRXZM, Raw Breed, RIsing Revolution, Rodes Rollins, Ruin By Design, Ryan Com, Sadistik, Secret Ninja Death Squad, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, shows you must see, Sound Of Music Studios, Studio 239B, The Camel, The Canal Club, The Dark Room, The Donalds, The Golden Pony, The Huntrs, The Native Howl, Vegan Llamas, Vulcanite, Walkie Talkie, Wonderland, Worn

FEATURED SHOW
Friday, July 5, 9 PM
SeeYouSpaceCowboy (Photo by Marte Rowsam), Heavens Die, .gif From God, Nature Freak @ Wonderland – $10
Oh boy, I am super-stoked for this one! And not just because SeeYouSpaceCowboy, one of my favorite metallic hardcore bands of the past few years, is coming to town, but because for once, they’re playing a legally-sanctioned venue rather than a house party. That means I can tell you all about it, and in doing so, point out the underground hotbed that is Richmond’s metallic hardcore/noise/screamo/etc scene — something I rarely get to talk to you guys about, since it mostly takes place in basements and living rooms around the less gentrified parts of town. So don’t just go to this show to rock out — go to this show to learn. If you talk to the right people, you’ve got a good chance of hearing about all the underground spots that host shows like this on a weekly basis — spots I can’t tell you about, because there are hella narcs on the internet.

But none of this would have any purpose if it weren’t for how great of a show this is truly gonna be, and how great all the local shows like this are, no matter the venue. This one is particularly exciting to me because of the arrival of SeeYouSpaceCowboy, a Cowboy Bebop-referencing metallic hardcore band hailing from California and bringing serious pedal-to-the-metal spastic energy on their recent Pure Noise Records debut, Songs For The Firing Squad. This release collects all their early EPs and splits, along with a couple of new songs, to hit you with all the frenetic blast beats, stop-on-a-dime tempo changes, and brutal breakdowns that make this band such a standout.

The fact that SeeYouSpaceCowboy have hit the (relative) bigtime by signing to Pure Noise Records means that, like other screamo-associated bands of the past few years, they’re now in prime position to disassociate themselves from the scene that birthed them. But while Vein publicly insulted Richmond’s own .gif From God on their way up, SeeYouSpaceCowboy are playing with them at this show, so that’s certainly a positive sign. It’s also a benefit for you, the showgoer, since .gif From God is probably the best spastic noisy metalcore band in America other than SeeYouSpaceCowboy right now. The bill is rounded out by Heaven’s Die, who will travel down from VA’s Shenandoah Mountains to bring us some serious low-end mosh brutality, and local newcomers Nature Freak, who have some strong death-thrash DNA and are sure to get your head bangin’.

Wednesday, July 3, 8 PM
Alexander Mack (Photo by Cory Hammons), Ryan Com @ The Dark Room – $8 in advance/$12 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Sometimes midweek brings us big bands stopping through RVA on their way from one huge city to another. But when it doesn’t, you can always count on local venues like The Hofheimer and Vagabond to spotlight some deserving locals and give us some good music to spend our hump day evenings with. This show is actually part of a weekly series called Underexposed, presented each Wednesday at The Hof’s Dark Room, and while the combination of Underexposed with a rapper named Alexander Mack makes “secret world” jokes nigh-irresistible, I have to wonder if the young rapper, who named his most recent album ’91 Two Forty after a Volvo that probably seems ancient to him, is even old enough to get those jokes.

It doesn’t matter to you, the listener, though — what’s important to you is whether this young rapper and producer has a good enough sound to make it worth your while to go see him tonight. The answer from me is a resounding “Yes!”, especially if you like jazzy hip hop with breezy, upbeat flows from a talented lyricist who isn’t above dropping a perfectly-sung hook on ya every now and then. Based on what I’m hearing, it doesn’t seem as if Alexander Mack will remain a secret for long. Meanwhile, Northern Virginia rhymer/singer Ryan Cam has more of an R&B energy on his recent Star Power EP, which will add some contrasting flavor to this evening of fine music you probably haven’t encountered before. It’s the perfect time to get familiar.

Thursday, July 4, 7 PM
He Is Legend, The Native Howl, Vegan Llamas, The Huntrs @ The Canal Club – $15 (order tickets HERE)
I know, I know, it’s America’s birthday, and there’s a ton of Independence Day-themed stuff going on around town on Thursday night. But, can I be honest with you? As a socialist trans woman in the age of Trump, I am about as sick as could be of all the rah-rah flag-waving bullshit I encounter each day. And don’t even get me started on the “Blue Lives Matter” flags I see stuck to car bumpers and flying from trucks every time I leave the house. Fireworks are cool, but where the Fourth of July is concerned this year, I mostly just want to stay inside and get it over with.

Fortunately, there is one show happening in town tomorrow night that’s themed around kickass music. He Is Legend are coming back to town, and only a couple months after I last wrote about them, I’m sending you to see them again so that all of us can escape the jingoism and bang our heads to killer tunes from the band’s sixth and latest album, White Bat. He Is Legend are definitely Southern boys, hailing from Florida and letting some of that swampy blues-sludge energy shine through on their latest material, but this veteran metalcore group has always been obsessed with occult matters, so I’m hoping they don’t stop the show mid-set to demand that we pledge allegiance to the flag or anything. God knows I get enough of that bullshit at car shows these days. Shut up and mosh.

Friday, July 5, 7 PM
Genosha, Ruin By Design, Vulcanite, The Donalds, Illist, Eliza Battle @ Sound Of Music Studios – $5
As Virginia bands go, neither Genosha nor Ruin By Design get enough attention. Genosha definitely proved their worth on last year’s LP, Our Conspiracy, which showed that these Orange County boys have a strong command of blackened thrash, metallic hardcore, and brutal mosh riffage. Meanwhile, veteran quartet Ruin By Design showed off their melodic hardcore chops on last year’s From Ashes To Empowerment, bringing us a tough yet catchy and politically informed sound totally befitting a band featuring former members of none other than Avail.

Now, on Merger, a new split EP on Settle For It Records, these two bands have combined forces in an attempt to take their sounds twice as far as either have gotten on their own. And they’ll be celebrating the musical excellence they’ve created together with this release show at Sound Of Music Studios, right here in good ol’ RVA. You’re going to want to be there, and not just to be blown away by the amazing musical power and performance fury of these two bands, either — they’ve brought together a murderer’s row of fellow Virginia bands to act as support, from punk rockers the Donalds to metallic hardcore maniacs Eliza Battle. This one’s gonna be outstanding; those of you who haven’t caught on to the brilliance of Genosha and Ruin By Design need to get your asses to this show.

Saturday, July 6, 9 PM
Sadistik, Nickelus F, Elucid, MTFR @ Wonderland – $10
I’ve been doing this column for too long. You know how I know? Because sometimes I’m looking at a facebook event page and feel like I’m being personally called out. It’s probably all in my head (seriously, writing about ten shows a week for over five years starts to get to you), but regardless, I will admit it — OK, OK, Wonderland isn’t just for punk and metal shows (anymore). Sadistik is coming through town to prove this to me and anyone else who hasn’t gotten the memo yet with a unique sound that I’d have to describe as gothic hip hop.

On his latest album, Haunted Gardens, Seattle’s own Sadistik raps about dark, heavy subjects overtop of ambient goth beats and funereal melodies, which is kind of what he’s been doing throughout his career. If you liked the downcast melodies of that Soundcloud emo-rap movement that sprung up a few years ago, but really wished for more lyrical skills to go with them, Sadistik is here to grant you that wish. And he’ll be joined on this bill not only by Richmond’s foremost practitioner of rhyme skills, the almighty Nickelus F, but hard-hitting, intelligent New York rapper Elucid and MTFR of South Florida’s Nobodies. They’ll prove you can enjoy an outstanding show at Wonderland without ever feeling the urge to headbang.

Sunday, July 7, 7 PM
Party Nails, PRXZM, Rodes Rollins, Museum District @ The Camel – $10 in advance/$12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Are you ready to dance? You better be this Sunday night, because Party Nails is coming to town, and this LA singer/songwriter/producer has some incredibly catchy electro-pop for you. When she starts dishing out tunes from her latest LP, Past Lives And Paychecks, you’re going to find yourself moving whether you’d planned to or not — so you’ll need to be prepared.

The synth-pop sound she cultivates in her music will definitely appeal to those among you who appreciate an 80s-retro good time, but if your aesthetic is firmly based in the 21st century, no worries — Party Nails has a modern appeal that comes through not only in her multilayered grooves but in the way-too-real subjects she deals with in the lyrics of songs like “So Broke” and “The Luxury Of Love” — seems like all of us are spending are last dollars to have a good time these days, and Party Nails knows that feel. Drop your last couple bucks on a ticket to this show, and dance your cares away.

Monday, July 8, 8 PM
Enforced, Gazm, Deviant, Itch @ Cary Street Cafe – $10
It’s time once again to bring some serious rage to the unlikely confines of Cary Street Cafe, as your Monday night gets exploded with some extremely heavy metallic thrashcore courtesy of Enforced. This RVA quintet has brought major heaviness to the mainstream-hardcore scene, and is about to demonstrate the fullness of their powerful talent on debut full-length At The Walls, coming later this month. Get an in-person preview at Cary Street Cafe this Monday night, and be prepared for some decidedly non-hippiefied mosh.

This show will also mark the final date of a weeklong tour that pairs Montreal’s Gazm with Richmond’s own Deviant. Gazm just released an LP entitled Heavy Vibe Music, but if you think that means they’re gonna hit you with some laid-back psychedelic haze, think again — this Canadian crew manages to mix heavy hardcore riffs with a snotty punk attitude and even, yes, a little bit of psychedelic weirdness to create something rather unique in today’s hardcore scene. Meanwhile, Deviant plays fast, angry hardcore that is primarily focused on a dark, nihilistic, and self-abnegating approach to the idea of sexuality. It’s fascinating, and a bit disturbing, but ultimately riveting, especially when they get that maniacal speed going. Local demo-core heroes Itch will get this whole thing started, apparently for the last time ever — so don’t miss a moment of this one.

Tuesday, July 9, 7:30 PM
Ghost Ship Octavius (Photo by MetalTitans), Rising Revolution @ The Camel – $13 in advance/$15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
This is a great one for all you fans of progressive metal. Whether you prefer the erudite approach taken by Opeth and Porcupine Tree or the operatic occult stylings of Borknagar and Arcturus, you’re sure to find an appeal in Ghost Ship Octavius’s music. Formed by members of Nevermore and God Forbid, this group brings quite a pedigree to their symphonic heaviness.

But it’s vocalist Adon Fanion that really takes them to the next level; his soaring vocal melodies are the most overtly beautiful element of their sound. Meanwhile, the group’s lyrical approach brings majestic, haunted thematic elements to complex songs made up of multiple movements and intriguing dynamic textures — exactly the sort of thing that lends itself to such dramatic lyrics. This group is going to take you on a musical journey when you enter into the Camel on Tuesday night — have the courage to set sail with them. The trip will bring tremendous rewards.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Thursday, July 4, 8 PM
Pelicanesis, Walkie Talkie, Secret Ninja Death Squad @ The Golden Pony – $7 ($5 with space suit)
This truly unique July 4th show all but defies description. However, as one who is never at a loss for words, I will sure give it the old college try. Pelicanesis is a band from Harrisonburg who were active in the earlier part of this decade, releasing an album entitled A New Sun back in 2011. That album detailed the story behind Pelicanesis’s origin, one every bit as complicated as the plot to the Star Wars series, and which I will not even attempt to recapitulate here. The important thing you need to know is that Pelicanesis’s music is intended to act as a recruiting tool for an intergalactic mission to the Pelican Nebula to save the civilization of Sarmantia from future apocalypse.

That’s why you’ll get two bucks off the admission price if you show up to this Pelicanesis reunion show in a spacesuit: the band needs you to join with them and fight off an alien apocalypse. Or something like that — all I can tell you for sure is that you’ll be graced with an evening of digitally-infused progressive metal that somehow manages to be equally reminiscent of Thrice, Squarepusher, Grandaddy, and Iron Maiden. And how often does the opportunity to enjoy such a unique sound come around? Clearly not that often, so instead of worrying about the petty concerns of a self-congratulatory nation on a tiny blue planet, you really might want to consider spending your Independence Day with these heroes from another galaxy. The mission is critical.

Saturday, July 6, 9 PM
Bato, Worn, Raw Breed, Kept In Line @ Studio 239B – $5
Saturday night brings raw hardcore rage to a random studio in Norfolk, courtesy of Brain Hemorrhage Records. Bato, who stand among the fastest and angriest bands Hampton Roads has to offer, are joined on this bill by Pennsylvania’s Worn, who mark themselves as devastating practitioners of His Hero Is Gone-style D-beat hardcore madness on their recent EP, Not Your Game. Expect these guys to unleash a whirlwind of circle-pit fury when they take the stage.

They’ll be joined on this excursion to the 757 by Raw Breed, a Colorado-based collection of ragers who go for more of a straight-up tough-guy HC power on their most recent EP, Collected — which combines two different two-to-three-minute demo releases onto one vinyl 7 inch that still clocks in under five minutes. These guys get straight to the point, and do so with a vengeance. The evening is kicked off by a performance from Chesapeake’s Kept In Line. This band is not only straight edge but named after a Left For Dead song, so I am on board for their furious, noisy attack. Get on board for this show by showing up at 25th and Llewellyn in Norfolk Saturday night. All will become clear once you arrive.

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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: January 9 – January 15

Marilyn Drew Necci | January 9, 2019

Topics: Bad Magic, Bandito's, Basilica, BATO, Beggars Row, Brain Drain, Calebfolks, Calvin Presents, Capital Ale House Music Hall, Charlie's American Cafe, Compulse, Dave Watkins, Don't Look Back, Doubtfire, Hardywood, Haybaby, Home Astronomy, Jon Spencer & the HITmakers, Keilan Creech, Kenneka Cook, Kept In Line, Matty Wavez, McCormack's Irish Pub, Nervous System, Nightcreature, One Less Life, Patrick Bates, Petrichor, Pourhouse of Norfolk, Pummel, Referendum, Riley, Sammi Lanzetta, School Drugs, shows you must see, Sound Of Music Studios, Street Weapon, Tallies, Tancred, The Ar-Kaics, The Camel, The Canal Club, Thin Pigeon, triple, Tulla Vera, Tyler Carter

FEATURED SHOW
Thursday, January 10, 9:30 PM
Petrichor, Bad Magic, Doubtfire @ Don’t Look Back/Triple (3306 W. Broad St.) – Free!
The Richmond music scene has been showing its resilience for decades now, and the reaction it’s had to the latest trying time we’ve found ourselves in — prompted by the loss of Strange Matter, the steadiest venue for local shows anytime in the past decade — is just the latest example. You can see it in this show column; after last week’s unfortunately light post-holiday listing, the scene has rebounded with brilliance and ingenuity, finding new venues to fill the gaps and replace what we’ve lost.

One of these is the newly reincarnated Triple, a long-running Scott’s Addition pool hall that had been sitting empty for years, at least until Don’t Look Back brought it back last year. A decade or so ago, when it was still a pool hall, it hosted the occasional show, and now with the loss of Strange Matter, it has been pressed into service once again. This Thursday night, Petrichor will be holding the release celebration for their three-years-in-the-making new album, Petrichor II, and rock n’ roll will live in the Triple space once more. Viva RVA!

Petrichor has been an intriguing if somewhat low-profile institution on the Richmond scene for years now. Pairing the powerful voice of singer-songwriter Tess Fisher with a dark, heavy backing band that tends towards witchy early-70s-style doom, this group is a unique phenomenon both within and outside the borders of Richmond. That can be seen from their new album, which features acoustic moments as well as a sludged-up Misfits cover you probably won’t even recognize at first. The presentation of this incredible music is sure to be heightened to an impressive extent in the live environment, and what’s more, the show is free, so you’ll get to spend all the cash you bring on tacos and Petrichor albums. Which is as it should be.

Wednesday, January 9, 7 PM
Patrick Bates, Kenneka Cook, Keilan Creech @ Sound Of Music Studios – Free!
Traditionally, we don’t get too much out of Richmond singer-songwriter Patrick Bates. Though he does play solo shows occasionally, it’s been about four years since he last released a new record. That’s all set to change in the new year, though, as he’s currently ramping things up for a brand new collection of tunes. And it’s about time! On previous releases, such as 2015’s Feathers and Pearls, his delicate melodies had a fragile, aching beauty suffused with emotion. And while he’s certainly been known to recruit excellent local players to back him up, it’s his excellent voice and strong guitar playing that made his music so memorable.

What’s he got coming for us in 2019? This show will be our first opportunity to find out, and it’s taking place at Sound Of Music, a recording studio and occasional venue that also appears to be taking on an increased amount of live gigs in the wake of Strange Matter’s departure. Every little bit helps! And the fact that they’re hosting this impressive lineup of local singer-songwriters — not just Bates by RVA electro-soul phenomenon Kenneka Cook and folk-rocker Keilan Creech — makes this the perfect time to check this place out. You know what to do.

Thursday, January 10, 10 PM
Calvin Presents, Brain Drain, Dave Watkins @ Bandito’s – Free!
Damn… even Bandito’s is getting in on the act. This local home for outstanding nachos and what is secretly one of the best-sounding rooms for live music this city has to offer traditionally only hosts shows on Sundays. However, this trio of local performers are taking the stage at Bandito’s on a Thursday, and as far as we can tell, it isn’t even a particularly special occasion — they just needed somewhere to play. You need to go to Bandito’s to see them, too — and I’m not just saying that because it’s got incredible food.

If you keep your ear to the ground in this town, you’re sure to have heard the name Calvin Presents in recent months. This talented singer and pianist has been catching a lot of ears with his unique take on the place where soul, jazz, R&B, and hip hop all meet. His music is powerful and memorable, and it’s sure to sound outstanding in the Bandito’s back room. This show certainly offers variety as well; local punk-rock noisemakers Brain Drain are also on the bill. What’s more, the talented and eclectic Dave Watkins, who is capable of everything from old-time Americana to post-rock guitar ambience, is opening this show up — so you’ll be getting killer sounds from start to finish. Grab some tacos and get ready to rock.

Friday, January 11, 8 PM
Basilica, Home Astronomy, One Less Life, Referendum @ McCormack’s Irish Pub – $5
I have always found it important to keep a high level of metal in my diet — and I’m not talking about iron supplements either (though, as an aging lady, I should probably be looking into such things). Right now I’m talking about Basilica, a death metal band from North Carolina who will be bringing their remarkably catchy bangers to McCormack’s in Shockoe Bottom this Friday night. Last year’s Orbit Has Ceased EP shows that this band is ready, willing, and able to get your feet moving not only because they’re heavy as fuck, but also because they have some incredible riffs on offer.

If you’re not prepared for a full night of metal awesomeness, though, you’re in luck, because this show offers a variety of tuneage for the discriminating music connoisseur. Fellow Boone, NC residents Home Astronomy will arrive in company with Basilica, and their sound has not an ounce of metal to it, instead dabbling in the introspective moods of modern emo. And as you know if you’ve been reading this column for a while, that’s another genre I try to keep at high levels in my musical diet. With the addition of Tidewater deathcore mavens One Less Life and Lynchburg mosh machines Referendum, this bill has everything your body craves. Drink up.

Saturday, January 12, 6 PM
Tallies, Tula Vera, Nightcreature, Thin Pigeon @ Hardywood – Free!
The sounds are gonna get downright gorgeous over at Hardywood early on Saturday night. A pair of excellent groups will be bringing their excellent music to town from points Northeast of here, and we should all make sure to head to Hardywood and enjoy them going down. Tallies are a Toronto band with a brand new LP coming out only a day before they arrive in RVA, and from the advance singles that have hit the internet thus far, it appears this group has a downright brilliant dream-pop sound that should make fans of Baltimore’s Wildhoney or UK duo Honeyblood very happy (even though Tallies don’t have “honey” in their name).

As for Tula Vera, who come to us from New Jersey, they’re a bit more of a bouncy indie rock group, but they’ve got melodic sensibility to spare and brought a ton of it to the world on their excellent self-titled debut from a year or so ago. Both of these groups are sure to get your hips shaking, and they come to us in company of excellent local up-and-comers Nightcreature and Thin Pigeon. Plus, word has it there’ll be a curry truck at Hardywood for all your dining needs, and I guess they sell some drinks there too. “Not a bad way to spend your Saturday evening” is certainly a massive understatement, but you probably already knew that.

Sunday, January 13, 7 PM
Jon Spencer & the HITmakers, The Ar-Kaics @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $15 in advance/$18 day of show (order tickets HERE)
The man, the myth, the legend… Jon Spencer is coming to town, he of the mighty Blues Explosion, as well as Pussy Galore, Boss Hog, and a few other excellent projects. He’s been blowing the minds of rock n’ rollers around the world with his unique brand of down n’ dirty, booty-shaking rock n’ roll noise fuckery for going on 40 years now, and his currently on tour with a group he’s calling the HITmakers. They’re here to revel in the fact that, after four decades of trash-rock excellence, Spencer has finally released an album as a solo artist, cleverly entitled Spencer Sings The Hits!

Now, as with Pussy Galore’s 1990 swan song, Historia de la Musica Rock, this ironically-titled collection isn’t actually a “hits” record at all, instead presenting us with a new slab of fine Spencer tunes with all the gas-tank-clanging gutter-blues excellence we’ve come to know and love from his previous work. His touring group features veteran Michigan outsider-rocker M. Sord on drums and Sam Coomes, formerly of Quasi and Heatmiser, on keys. Spencer hollers and whales away at the guitar, and as usual, there’s no bass — though Coomes’ keyboard will fill in plenty of low-end on its own. Chances are you’ll hear not only rad new rockers but some Spencer classics from throughout his career… and you’ll definitely get an opening set from VA’s own retro-garage heroes The Ar-Kaics. So really, what’s not to like?

Monday, January 14, 6:30 PM
Tyler Carter, R I L E Y, Matty Wavez, Calebfolks @ The Canal Club – $15 in advance/$18 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Tyler Carter is probably most familiar these days as the angel-voiced clean singer for bizarre yet incredible emo-R&B-metalcore group Issues, who have proven over a couple of excellent albums that they can spin gold out of a musical hybrid that seems like it shouldn’t work for even five seconds. However, Carter, who also previously spent time in metalcore group Woe Is Me, has been dabbling in solo work for a while, first releasing a solo track back in 2010. As of 2019, he’s finally worked his way up to completing a full-length solo effort, Moonshine, and it’s that project that he’s on tour in support of right now.

If Carter’s group work leads you to expect heaviness from his solo music, you might be thrown a little bit for a loop by the smooth, emotionally-driven pop/R&B sounds he’s created for Moonshine. That said, anyone who’s heard more than 30 seconds of Issues’ music has to know that he’s always had this in him. And while we haven’t heard the album in its entirety yet (it’s supposed to be coming sometime soon…), the songs that have made their way to the internet show that Carter has every bit the facility with soulful pop crooning that he’s shown in the metalcore world. So get stoked for this one, regardless of what genres you usually gravitate toward… it’ll be a satisfying performance no matter what.

Tuesday, January 15, 7 PM
Tancred, Haybaby, Sammi Lanzetta @ The Camel – $10 in advance/$12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Jess Abbott’s been demonstrating her talent in the field of songcraft for a while now. With each of her first three solo albums under the name Tancred, she showed further growth, as well as increasing comfort with what she’s doing and just what kind of music she wants to make. Her fourth album, Nightstand, which came out last summer, took things to a new level; largely gone is the introspective-acoustic format that was her standard MO back when Tancred started. These days, the songs are catchy and musically upbeat, featuring full-band backing and an alt-rock/indie-pop sound that’s sure to make your smile.

However, Abbott’s lyrics have remained dark and moody, expressive of an inner struggle that is by no means over. In that sense, she’s kind of followed the Waxahatchee path — steadily moving towards accessible melodies while continuing to focus on dark topics that most of us are sure to relate to, no matter how post-adolescent we are (like 25 years post-adolescent, in my case). And Tancred has quite a bit in common both musically and lyrically with Haybaby and Sammi Lanzetta, the two excellent local artists sharing this bill — even if they aren’t completely on the same page genre-wise (Haybaby’s a bit darker, Lanzetta a bit more straight-up rock). If any of this sounds appealing to you, rest assured it all will — and if you’re still not tuned in to what Tancred is up to, you really can’t afford to miss this one.

Bonus Hampton Roads Picks:

Friday, January 11, 8 PM
School Drugs, Nervous System, BATO, Street Weapon, Kept In Line @ Charlie’s American Cafe – $7
Almost every time I ever did drugs was when I was at school, which might seem slightly less insane if I tell you that I’ve been straight edge since 11th grade. But my point is that the name School Drugs makes pretty instinctive sense to me — didn’t we all do drugs in school at some point? Chances are, the answer for most of you is “LOL WTF no!” but maybe the members of this band will get where I’m coming from. I sure get where they’re coming from, at least on a musical level.

This New Jersey band mixes antisocial punk rage with old-school hardcore velocity and a few metallic touches. It’s definitely right up my alley, and it’ll be up yours too (heh heh) if you love cutting the shit and starting the pit. Just don’t take any of those dumb orange pills that weirdo metalhead from your study hall gave you — they don’t do anything. This show will feature a bunch of other killer punk bands from the Tidewater area, some of which are faster than others but all of which are sure to grab your attention. Don’t forget your steel-toed boots.

Tuesday, January 15, 8 PM
Beggar’s Row, Pummel, Compulse, Street Weapon @ Pourhouse of Norfolk – $5
We’re staying in the hardcore-punk world this week for our second Hampton Roads show, but this one is definitely for the kids who identify much more with the HC end of the spectrum. This show finds powerful, heavy Virginia Beach hardcore crew Beggar’s Row presiding over a murderer’s row of hardcore talent from around the state and beyond. Pummel hail from New Jersey and bring a solid dose of uptempo if not speedy hardcore to the Pourhouse — expect to see a lot of two-stepping (the hardcore kind, not the square-dancing kind) in the pit for these guys.

From within the boundaries of the Commonwealth — but almost as long a drive away — comes Roanoke, VA hardcore quartet Compulse, who definitely keep it rough and tough on their EP from last summer, Forged By Struggle. Not to be outdone, the show will kick off with a set from VB rabble-rousers Street Weapon, who’ve got that whole Negative Approach-core thing down cold, complete with slight tinges of Blitz-style oi and early-Warzone fury. This one’s gonna be a rager from top to bottom, and on a Tuesday night in January, you really can’t ask for more.

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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