• 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

RVA Shows You Must See This Week: 2/7-2/13

Marilyn Drew Necci | February 7, 2018

Topics: Addy, Adult Mom, Amor Fizz, Big Baby, Big Brutus, Butch Parnell, Chris Farren, Cupid McCoy, Droopies, Everymen, gallery 5, Gamelan Raga Kusuma, Graham Stone, Gumming, Hardywood, Hot Reader, Imaginary Boys, Keep, Khadonna, Mangoux, Mc Chicken, Piranha Rama, Rumput, Sammi Lanzetta, shows you must see, Singles Nite, Soft Web, Sound Of Music Studios, strange matter, Strawberry Moon, The Camel, The Zeta, This Land Is Now Dead, Toxic Moxie, War On Women, World Inferno Friendship Society, You're Jovian

FEATURED SHOW
Friday, February 9, 7 PM
Rumput, Gamelan Raga Kusuma @ Sound Of Music Studios – $7
In this town, it can be easy to get focused on the local mainstays — indie rock, metal, punk, etc — and miss the weirder and more intriguing side avenues the incredibly fertile Richmond music scene has to offer. But it’s always worth keeping an eye out. In fact, sometimes it’s the people from the scenes most often in the limelight that will lead you down the most fascinating musical side streets. Such is the case with Rumput, an acoustic ensemble that features Hannah Marie Standiford (Cardinal Compass) and Natalie Quick (Paint Store) working with local folk musicians to combine American folk traditions with the music of the Indonesian region.

Rumput are serious about their musical project, too — in fact Standiford, Quick, and Edward Breitner of Rumput are all currently living in Java, on yearlong scholarships to study Indonesian folk music and art. It is these traditions Rumput infuses into their music and performances, mixing Indonesian shadow puppetry and American scrolling artwork for their visual presentations even as they integrate Indonesian string band music, known as keroncong, with American string band traditions drawn from old-time folk music. The result is pretty amazing, and you can get a taste of this by checking out their self-titled debut, released last summer before three of the band members departed for Java.

Things are definitely stepping up to a higher level in the new year, though, as Rumput is currently working with Indonesian master musician Danis Sugiyanto, who is currently a visiting artist/scholar at University of Richmond. Sugiyanto will be acting as artistic director for Rumput throughout 2018, leading the group on their upcoming tour of Indonesia in July. Their current project, Akar, focuses on trickster tales, a common tradition in both Indonesian and American folklore, and the Rumput performance at Sound Of Music this Friday night will act as a sneak preview, giving RVA residents a chance to see what will be presented to Indonesian audiences this summer. It’s going to be essential listening and viewing, so I encourage all of you, even the most dyed-in-the-wool metalheads currently reading, to broaden your horizons and see what Rumput has to offer you. You’ll thank me later.

Wednesday, February 7, 8 PM
World Inferno Friendship Society, Everymen, Toxic Moxie, Hot Reader @ The Camel – $15 (order tickets HERE)
One could be forgiven for thinking the World Inferno Friendship Society is a fringe group of diabolical carny circus people here to set the entire world on fire based on their goofy name and colorful presence online and in real life. The fact that they are actually just an extremely creative band, with origins in punk rock and influences pulled from a variety of musical traditions coming from all over the world, might calm you down a little bit. But really, both descriptions are true; the musical performances are just this group’s way of challenging expectations, inspiring a beaten-down populace, and waking up the world.

Right now, the band is working on a new album entitled All Borders Are Porous To Cats, based around an extensive tale starring “a cat in the hat who wants to come to your house and hide out,” according to frontman/only-constant-member Jack Terricloth. Points about immigration and trying to understand rather than condemn those who aren’t like you may be delivered more subtly, but as always with WIFS, they’re very much there. As is the musical conglomeration that shifts from bizarre Eastern European folk-swing to bouncy punk and back again at the drop of a hat, never giving you time to get bored or reason to stop dancing. Stick with this band, they’re going places. And they’ll certainly get you moving — and thinking — with their show at The Camel tonight. Show up; they’ll do the rest.

Thursday, February 8, 8 PM
The Zeta, Amor Fizz, Gumming, This Land Is Now Dead @ Soft Web – $5
It’s only Thursday night, but over at Soft Web it’s already jumping, as this evening sees some incredible international bands combining with excellent local talent to bring one of the coolest shows of the week to life on a weeknight! The Zeta (which basically means “the Z”) is a Venezuelan band who bring an atmospheric approach to a post-hardcore style in ways that remind me of bands like Envy, but with a melodic yet passionate feel that I could trace to more emotional bands like Moving Mountains. They are joined by Argentinians Amor Fizz on this outing, who have a more intense and frenetic approach than their tourmates, and definitely flirt with the whole “screamo” thing on their self-titled 2016 LP (though I’d be more likely to call it chaotic hardcore, to be honest).

The two local bands on this bill are bringing plenty of awesomeness on their own, and I’m just as excited about them as I am about the touring bands. Gumming are relatively new, seeing members of Whorecough and Pucker Up combining to bring the same sort of sloppy, noisy hardcore attack we’ve all enjoyed from their previous groups. And of course, This Land Is Now Dead have returned from long hibernation to destroy us all once again with a hard-hitting, complex, and emotionally-driven wallop of post-hardcore metallic angst. I don’t mind telling you that this band was my favorite local band a couple of years ago, and I’m delighted to see them performing once again for the first time in over a year. Don’t miss it.

Friday, February 9, 8 PM
Strawberry Moon, Cupid McCoy, Addy, Mangoux @ Gallery 5 – $5
I really dig the weird, delicate take on jangly indie rock that has become the stock in trade of a certain segment of the Richmond underground scene. It’s nice to hear people taking new approaches to sounds that could easily be getting stale by now. The latest example of that happening is Strawberry Moon, a local duo that mingles moody acoustic songs with glittering electric guitar leads that add texture and atmosphere without overpowering the music’s quiet heart. They’re just about to release a record on local label Crystal Pistol, one of the labels that’s done the most to bring this sort of music to a wider audience, and this gig will see the release of the first single from that release. If the group’s fascinatingly foreboding first EP is any indication, the new release is going to make a lot of waves locally and beyond. Being there this Friday night is a great way to find out for yourself.

Strawberry Moon is joined on this bill by Cupid McCoy, a band they’ve been linked with from the start that takes a colorful and fun approach to electronic-infused pop music with a sweet, sugary core. Their sound may be significantly different from that of Strawberry Moon, but their equally delicate and open approach shows why the two groups work together so much. They’re two sides of the same delightful coin. Addy, a local project that came out of nowhere not long ago to capture a great deal of local attention, will also be on the bill, as will Mangoux. Both of these projects bring a dream-pop sweetness that is the perfect garnish to this night of quiet yet intense musical beauty. You might just be able to leave your earplugs at home for this one, but that doesn’t mean it won’t still hit hard.

Saturday, February 10, 6 PM
Butch Parnell, Big Brutus, Piranha Rama @ Hardywood – Free!
Here’s a double bill that should be catnip for all you fans of acoustic folk music that can make you think without making your ears ring. Butch Parnell and Big Brutus are songwriters of Southern origin with thoughtful outlooks and strong melodic chops. Parnell was once the frontman for long-running alt-country group Runaway Dorothy, but has been out on his own for a few years now, and currently has several releases under his belt. Most recent EP The Fall retains the twangy feel of his previous music, but definitely shows a broad-ranging outlook with a heartfelt and sincere cover of the Beyonce hit “XO.” Parnell makes this R&B ballad his own; it blends seamlessly with his original compositions on the EP and puts forth emotion just as skillfully as the songs he wrote himself. He’ll charm you with this one, and really with all of his tunes, if you’ll only give him a chance.

Big Brutus is a project helmed by Atlanta songwriter Sean Bryant, and most recent LP America Circa finds Bryant commenting wryly on the inhuman aspects of modern capitalism over catchy tunes that fit perfectly with the lyrics’ substantive critique of post-Trump American society. It’s neither loud nor abrasive, but this album shows Bryant turning his strong voice outward to make a bold statement regardless of volume. Big Brutus are sure to make a big impression at Hardywood this Saturday. Openers Piranha Rama kick things off with what just might be the loudest set of the night — and that’s never a bad thing.

Sunday, February 11, 7 PM
War On Women, You’re Jovian, Droopies, Keep @ Gallery 5 – $6
Wow, here’s something I never would have predicted — an acoustic set from War On Women, the metallic punk band from Baltimore who have made feminist critique of our oppressive, patriarchal society their raison d’etre. Intense anti-rape anthem “Say It” and pro-choice screed “Pro-Life?” were highlights of their incredible 2015 self-titled debut, carrying on the rage and the message of classic feminist hardcore bands of eras past such as Bikini Kill and Spitboy with a sound updated for the 21st century and ready to take on all comers. How, one must wonder, will that translate acoustically? I’m sure I’m not the only one excited to find out. Gallery 5 this Sunday night is our chance! Let’s hit it.

And of course, we’re all gonna want to show up on time, as there are some more killer sounds on offer at this show than just War On Women’s acoustic set. You’re Jovian, a killer shoegaze band from the Hampton Roads area, has been playing out for quite a while, but just finally laid a full LP, They Were Selected And Divided, on us last year. It was long overdue, but the point now is that it’s finally here and we’ll all be able to enjoy its excellent tuneage when these guys pull into town Sunday night. Droopies and Keep are two excellent local bands in a similar vein who will add a great deal of value to this already overstuffed bill — nothing to complain about there!

Monday, February 12, 8 PM
Adult Mom, Chris Farren, Sammi Lanzetta, Big Baby @ Strange Matter – $10 in advance/$12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
It’s always nice to watch musical projects develop over the years. Last time I caught Adult Mom, they were playing house shows as a mostly-solo act; these days, they’re touring as a full band behind their second LP, Soft Spots, released last year. Their sound, a melancholy melodic pop vibe that demonstrates its punk influence mostly in its down-to-earth minimalism, is hard to resist. Adult Mom comes at you with catchy hooks aplenty and lyrics that are both vulnerable and cutting in their emotional honesty, and you’re sure to be won over.

They’re joined on this show and this tour by Chris Farren, a singer-songwriter better known as the frontman for popular groups like Fake Problems and Antartigo Vespucci. With his solo material, he’s taken his sound in a softer, more acoustically-based direction, as is often predictable when frontpeople go solo. That doesn’t mean it’s any less excellent, heartfelt, or memorable, though, as his debut solo full-length, Can’t Die, showed. Farren’s solo sound might be a touch more folk-punk than Fake Problems were, but that doesn’t mean fans of his previous work won’t find a lot to love here. Local rockers Sammi Lanzetta and Big Baby offer talented local support that’ll keep you dancing all night, so don’t miss a moment of this one.

Tuesday, February 13, 8 PM
Singles Nite #4, feat. MC Chicken, Graham Stone, Imaginary Boys, Khadonna @ The Camel – $5 in advance/$7 day of show/$15 for couples (order tickets HERE)
We all know how much of a bummer Valentine’s Day can be when you’re single and lonely. That’s no fun at all, and local promoters Slimehole know all about it. This show will be their fourth Singles Nite presented over the past five or so years, and as always, it’s a way to spend Valentine’s Day that for once makes it easier on those who aren’t coupled up. This event features the unique practice of charging couples an extra dollar for arriving together. And you can probably find a way to beat that by arriving separately and not hanging out until after you’re safely in the door… but you should probably just cough up the extra dollar, y’all. It’s only fair.

This year’s edition of Singles Nite sees jazz weirdo, viral video phenomenon, and overall goofball MC Chicken heading up the proceedings with a set of special sounds for the lovers and the lonely among us. Will it include “Richmond River Rat”? I can’t rule it out… Graham Stone will also be on hand to give his countrified rock n’ roll sounds a Valentine’s twist. There’ll also be some tribute sets from long-running Cure cover band Imaginary Boys, and from Khadonna, a new project from local electro-punk group Kuni that will see frontman Jonny Khalili living out his Madonna fantasies onstage at The Camel. It’s sure to touch all of our hearts.

—-

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] [yes, my email is through GayRVA, don’t get weird about it]

Top photo from Rumput’s Facebook page

RVA Shows You Must See This Week: 11/15-11/21

Marilyn Drew Necci | November 15, 2017

Topics: Adrienne Shurte, Allie Smith, Betrayer, Big Baby, Champion RVA, Colder Planets, Devil's Hand, DJ Good Show Steve, emilio's, Firing Squad, Furnsss, gallery 5, Joy Again, Julie Karr, Kelli Strawbridge, Kenneka Cook, Landon Elliott, Left Cross, Mangoux, Minibeast, Nathan Grice, Organ Donor, Pere Ubu, Prabir Mehta, Richmond's Last Waltz, Ruth Good, Sabella, Shadows, shows you must see, Silent On Fifth Street, Solace Sovay, Sorority Boy, strange matter, Tess Fisher, The Camel, The Canal Club, Timmy Peele, Toxic Moxie, Traitors, Wonderland

FEATURED SHOW
Friday, November 17, 8 PM
Richmond’s Last Waltz, feat. Kelli Strawbridge, Kenneka Cook, Landon Elliott, Prabir Mehta, and many more @ The Camel – $5 in advance/$7 day of show (order tickets HERE)
OK listen, I wouldn’t normally go all-out for a tribute show, but this one seems deserving of special mention to me. The Last Waltz was a concert film made by Martin Scorcese, documented the star-studded farewell concert by The Band in 1976. The original film featured not only a full set of The Band’s excellent moody, country-infused folk-rock but a host of guest appearances by everyone from Neil Young to the Staples Singers. Now, some local Richmond musicians are recreating the entire film as a long concert featuring all sorts of Richmond notables in a variety of roles. They’ll be kicking off the last weekend before Thanksgiving with this celebratory tribute event, live onstage at The Camel, and it’s sure to be an amazing time.

All it takes is one look at the lineup of musicians taking part in all of this to recognize its brilliance. It all starts with the quintet who’ll be playing the roles of The Band themselves, which features members of The Congress, Angelica Garcia‘s backing band, solo singer-songwriter Sid Kingsley, and more. Then there are the many guests making up a veritable who’s who of the Richmond soul, jazz, funk, jam, folk, and rock scenes–Kelli Strawbridge, Prabir Mehta, Kenneka Cook, Landon Elliott, Corey Axt, Brent McCormick, and quite a few more will pay tribute to the various guests who join The Band throughout the evening. Though I will say that I hope whoever portrays Neil Young (Prabir?) doesn’t go so far as to recreate the huge chunk of cocaine hanging out of Neil’s nose, which had to be rotoscoped out of the original film. Oops!

It’s the second half of November, y’all. Christmas music is already playing in the stores, Santa’s at the mall charging parents exhorbitant amounts for pictures with their terrified toddlers, turkey consultants are giving seminars on how to make Thanksgiving meals at Bed Bath and Beyond–it’s the holiday season, is what I’m saying. Around the musical world, this time of year offers us all a chance to have some fun and maybe not do everything with the same sort of seriousness and do-or-die intensity we bring to the stage most of the year. Seeing a bunch of incredibly talented local players loosen up and jamming on some old The Band tunes over at The Camel is a far less stressful way to celebrate this time of year than most of the other things we’ll be doing. So hey, why not? It’ll be a blast!

Wednesday, November 15, 8 PM
Pere Ubu, Minibeast, DJ Good Show Steve @ Strange Matter – $20 (order tickets HERE)
Pere Ubu aren’t exactly spring chickens. Sole remaining original member David Thomas (he’s the guy with the cane in the picture) has been doing the band since 1976, right after his previous band Rocket From The Tombs broke up. Rocket, one of the first punk bands, did a lot to create a sound and scene that’s still going strong over 40 years later, but Pere Ubu’s immediate mission became to mutate, undercut, and otherwise distort the original stripped-down rock n’ roll of punk into much weirder and more cerebral shapes. They’re still doing that to this day, as proven on recently-released 16th or so album 20 Years In a Montana Missile Silo. The mesmerizing atonal racket of early analog synths is still a core element of the Ubu sound, as are Thomas’s high, hectoring vocal rants, the funky rhythm section, and the razor-sharp guitar leads that cut through the whole thing.

From classic early singles like “Heart Of Darkness” to new album highlights like “Prison of the Senses,” the band will explore their full 40-plus-year history from the Strange Matter stage this evening. As a special bonus, they’ll be joined by Minibeast. This group features Peter Prescott, best known for his lengthy tenures as the drummer for pioneering postpunks Mission Of Burma and late 80s/early 90s noise-rock mainstays Volcano Suns. In Minibeast, Prescott indulges in his more outre interests, exploring all sorts of different instruments and textures as the head of a four-piece band. It might not be what you’ve come to expect from Prescott, but with an innovator like him, you should probably learn to expect the unexpected. This is also true of Pere Ubu, really. Prepare to be challenged.

Thursday, November 16, 6 PM
Richmond Unplugged, feat. Julie Karr, Allie Smith, Tess Fisher, Nathan Grice, Adrienne Shurte, Timmy Peele @ Champion RVA – Free!
Just as with our featured show this week, we have here yet another unusual bill that shows different sides of quite a few local musicians you’ve come to know and love. This week, Champion’s Thursday night free-show series takes things up a notch with the first ever “Richmond Unplugged” event. They’re hoping to make it a series, which has plenty of potential for awesomeness, so hopefully a lot of y’all make it down for this one. You certainly can’t go wrong by doing so, especially with Julie Karr at the top of the bill here. I get that these are all people we mainly know as frontpeople of electric bands, but Julie Karr has a bit of an advantage since, in addition to her years fronting Bad Magic, she has a long-running solo career from which to draw. Her spirited, bluesy folk solo material is just as riveting as the janglier, more indie-style Bad Magic tunes, so either way, you can’t lose.

As for the others on this bill, I’m sure all of them have busted out a solo set at least a time or two, though you’re far less likely to have caught them doing so in the past. However, from Blush Face to Big No, one thing we know about all of their bands is that they all are driven by strong songwriting and memorable melodies. All of those things should shine just as brightly in a solo acoustic environment, so this new take on some pretty excellent local sounds is sure to be worth your time. Plus, you’re getting six full sets from a variety of local Richmond music luminaries, all for exactly zero dollars. If you’d nitpick this one, you’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.

Friday, November 17, 8 PM
Solace Sovay, Toxic Moxie, Mangoux @ Gallery 5 – $5
Solace Sovay haven’t had the highest of local profiles over the past couple of years (partly because of their onetime issues with finding a permanent drummer), so you could be forgiven for having no idea who this local trio actually are. However, the time to get on board has arrived, as this Friday night’s show at Gallery 5 marks the release of their latest album, It Doesn’t Matter What It Is, Just What It Seems <3 (yes, the heart is part of the title). Copies of the album will be handed out to all show attendees for free, so that $5 (already a criminally cheap door price in a time when $5 won’t even buy you a combo meal at Taco Bell) goes even farther this time around. You’d be a fool to miss it.

I should probably elaborate on what Solace Sovay has to offer, though, just so you know what you need to stop missing out on. Right now, only three tunes from their new album are available for streaming online, but all of them show the same sort of strong melodic sense and huge, glowing atmosphere that initially struck me about this band upon first seeing them at a house show several years ago. The word “shoegaze” gets thrown around a lot these days, and in a lot of cases it indicates a pretty poor understanding of what is actually meant by the term. However, Solace Sovay’s sounds really do indicate influence from the more mellow side of that early 90s UK movement, with Slowdive vibes crisscrossing some prime early Smashing Pumpkins riffs and even a bit of that outstanding later Talk Talk ambience (Spirit of Eden here, folks, not “It’s My Life”). The occasional accents from saxophone or keyboard only take these songs higher. I can’t wait to hear the whole thing. The fact that Toxie Moxie and Mangoux are both on this bill as well only sweetens the pot. Don’t miss this one.

Saturday, November 18, 9 PM
Left Cross, Organ Donor, Devil’s Hand, Firing Squad @ Wonderland – $5
These days it seems like certain segments of the hardcore scene are all but indistinguishable from straight-up death metal. Here in Richmond, the primary proponent of that blurring and confusion is Left Cross, a band formed by members of Unsacred and fueled primarily, it seems, by a desire to recreate the dark, terrifying sounds of formative 80s metal classics like Scream Bloody Gore, Seven Churches, or even Blood Fire Death. It’s pretty awesome, if a bit of a surprise to find this band’s first album being released by Vinyl Conflict and not Prosthetic or something. But hey, who cares? Shredding is shredding, and in this case shredding rules, so let’s all get ready to headbang!

Organ Donor are also on this bill, and there’s no confusion about which side of the hardcore/metal line this group exists on–it’s the metal line, and make no mistake. I haven’t heard anything from them since their 2012 demo (I know, I know) but unless they’ve done a full reinvention of their sound in the last five years, you can expect some serious guttural chugging from these folks, and plenty more reasons to bang your head. Devil’s Hand, one of the many longer-running Richmond hardcore bands who only seems to show up on a bill once every couple years these days, will be busting out the raging USHC sounds of their 2013 Vinyl Conflict EP release for this one, and the younger and still quite active RVA HC band Firing Squad will kick things off with a dose of high-speed pugnacity. Wear your studded wristbands for this one, y’all.

Sunday, November 19, 9 PM
Sorority Boy, Colder Planets @ Emilio’s – Free!
If you’ve actually checked out some show calendars out there, you’re probably aware that a lot of longtime touring veterans are coming to town on this night. The noise-rockers are all gonna be seeing Unsane at Strange Matter. The emo revival types, and the kids who are still around from the original days, will be catching the MeWithoutYou/Pianos Become The Teeth double-bill at The Broadberry. The sad indie punks will be down at Capital Ale House checking out Waxahatchee. I found it very hard to choose which one of these three shows to cover, but I ended up deciding not to cover any of them, because for my money, the most interesting and least predictable live music event happening in Richmond this Sunday night will be taking place over at Emilio’s.

That’s for my money, but you won’t have to worry about any of your money getting invested in this one, since this show is free. You are certain to have a good time, though, especially with the presence on the bill of Charlottesville’s Sorority Boy. This glittering duo manages to combine a minimalist, lo-fi aesthetic and a fuzzy, overloaded shoegaze beauty in much the same way many classic DC/Maryland alt-punk bands did back in the early 90s. They evoke pleasant shades of unjustly forgotten bands like Black Tambourine, Lorelei, The Lilys, and Rocketship with their overdriven guitar melodies, to outstanding effect. RVA five-piece Colder Planets, who join Sorority Boy on this bill, bring more instruments and a cleaner sound to the table, but their grasp of those thrilling jangly melodies is similar to that of Sorority Boy, making this show a great way to spend two hours and zero dollars on a Sunday night. More like this, please.

Monday, November 20, 6 PM
Traitors, Sabella, Shadows, Betrayer, Silent on Fifth Street @ The Canal Club – $12 in advance/$15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Haha OMG OK let’s just get this out there right now–Traitors is kind of a ridiculous band. I’m not saying I don’t love them, because I kind of can’t help but love them in the same way I’m super stoked on Sworn In or Xibalba, but it must be admitted that they are ridiculous. Deathcore was bound to reach this extreme, though, in which bands broke through some sort of fourth wall into the nether reaches of slam death metal by deciding that breakdowns were so sick they just weren’t gonna play anything else. It’s true–Traitors songs start with breakdowns. Brutal ones. Then at a certain point, after that riff has started to seem relatively normal-speed, they break it down farther. Eventually they land at the sort of insane slow-motion breakdown pioneered by Shattered Realm and On Broken Wings a decade or so ago. Then the song ends, and another one starts. With another breakdown.

What I’m saying is, if you hate it when there are random mediocre two-step parts in the middle of mosh songs just to break them up, if you get sick of waiting around for the breakdown, Traitors are the band for you. They’ll keep you spinkicking and windmilling all night. You’ll need to do some exercise so you’re not tired out after two songs, of course, but that just means you should listen to Traitors records while you work out, in order to get more stoked and become more familiar with the changes so you can time your mosh moves perfectly. I admit that I will be way back in the anonymous crowd during all of this–after all, when was the last time you saw a 40-year-old woman throwing down hard in the pit? But don’t let my intrusive awareness of my own mortality stop you–be young, be wild, be free, be the kids wrecking the pit during the Traitors show at The Canal Club this Monday night. Your elders are watching–don’t let us down.

Tuesday, November 21, 8 PM
Furnsss, Joy Again, Big Baby, Ruth Good @ Strange Matter – $7
Here’s another show with some pleasant reminders of the excellent indie sounds that surrounded me in my late 80s/early 90s high school heyday. Ah, the good old days… just kidding, I was miserable. If it weren’t for music, I wouldn’t have made it out, for sure. Furnsss may remind me of bad times, but they do so by playing some really great music with a really pleasant, positive vibe. There are some clear callbacks to 80s college-rock jangle here, but a post-chillwave aesthetic sees this band firmly grounded in the sounds of today and the scene of 2017’s college rockers. Even though this music appeals to my old ass, it is firmly of the moment, and it’s been great watching Furnsss work their way up through the house-show underground and into the relative big time at Strange Matter.

Furnsss are joined on this tour by Joy Again, a fun, upbeat band from Philly with some indie-style jangly guitars that pair well with a sort of pop-garage aesthetic reminiscent of a far more sugary Sheer Mag. They’re fun, Furnsss are fun, and with the addition of local jangly indie-rock superstars Big Baby, this bill just got a whole lot funner! The evening will kick off with a set from Camp Howard side project Ruth Good, who have a lot to offer in their own right. This is a bill to put a smile on your face. And as the weather gets colder and the dark side of the holidays beckons, that’s something we could all use.

—-

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] [yes, my email is through GayRVA, don’t get weird about it]

RVA Shows You Must See This Week: 8/9-8/15

Marilyn Drew Necci | August 9, 2017

Topics: 3:33, Awake At Last, Big Baby, Big Bliss, Big Quiet, Billy Neptune, Bjork Risque, Black Naked Wings, Bonus Roll, Cream Dream, Cruelsifix, DJ Gringo, DJ Harrison, Dr. Millionaire, Drew is a nerd, DRI, Enforced, Flora, Graveside Breakfast, Growl, Kenneka Cook, Mangoux, Marina City, Nic & Wes, ROC KANDI, Serqet, shows you must see, Silver Twin, Sonny Falls, Sorority Boy, Sound Of Music, Stake, strange matter, Sunlord, Suzy, Sweet Knives, The Blue Sky Disaster, The Camel, The Canal Club, The Funeral Portrait, The Smirks

FEATURED SHOW
Sunday, August 13, 8 PM
DRI, Sunlord, Cruelsifix, Enforced, 3:33 @ Strange Matter – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Trends in the world of metal come and go (and that’s true no matter what some “anti-trendy” metalhead might tell you). However, if the last 35 years are any indication, it appears that thrash is evergreen. Speedy drumming, chunky riffs, harsh vocals, and wailing solos never go out of style. Therefore it can be little surprise that OG thrash speed demons DRI are still going full speed ahead after 35 years. But what’s really great is how good they still are! [Read more…] about RVA Shows You Must See This Week: 8/9-8/15

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]