• 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

Faced With A Pandemic, RVA Rap Elite Takes The Show Online

Jay Guevara | September 16, 2020

Topics: battle rap, Big B, coronavirus, COVID-19, cyphers, King Fizzle, O-Z, Radio B, Richmond hip hop, RVA Rap Elite, Spielburg, Synse, The Dark Room

In January, the RVA Rap Elite started their third season of cyphers and rap battles at The Dark Room in Scott’s Addition. In the small venue within the Hofheimer Building, the hip-hop based platform had established a consistent home after spending 2019 going from one venue to another. Then in March, the coronavirus pandemic stopped the world as we knew it. Gyms were closed, some people worked from home, while others were laid workers off or furloughed. And in the local music world, live events came to a sudden and complete stop.

As venues closed, artists lost their traditional way of connecting with fans, and the income they derived from tours and shows went away. In the darkness that the pandemic brought to the music culture, social media interaction between artists, fans, and platforms reached a new level. RVA Rap Elite evolved.

With their venue gone, they replaced their March cypher with a virtual March Madness bracket called Rap Elite Madness, featuring 64 emcees spitting to see who would come out on top. Followers watched videos of each head-to-head matchup and picked the winners in the comments. In addition to the virtual tournament, a weekly schedule of different live events were posted on their Instagram page each week. 

The usual schedule would go like this: 

  • Mondays were for interviews with an artist or battle rapper
  • Tuesdays featured live playlists hosted by Spielburg
  • Wednesday presented a recap of the previous week’s worth of Rap Elite Madness action
  • Thursdays focused on an open beat cypher hosted by producer NameBrand
  • Fridays brought Freestyle Fridays hosted by Radio B

I checked in with one of the RVA Rap Elite staff members and several of the emcees involved in Rap Elite Madness bracket to get the inside information about how the platform has worked to elevate its influence during an unprecedented time. 

A picture containing person, child, young, baseball

Description automatically generated
Big B. Photo via @bigb81dreaming on Instagram

Big B was one of the artists featured in the Rap Elite Madness tourney. I had a chance to chat with him on the platform. 

Jay Guevara: Tell me about your take on the March Madness bracket that RVA Rap Elite did. Did you think that it was beneficial for everybody, or just the winners of the later rounds?

Big B: I thought it was a great way to keep the platform going. Rap Elite was at an all-time high before COVID hit. I think they did a great job of still providing a way for artists to get recognized and [get] exposure. It also gave an opportunity for those who might not have been ready to cypher on stage to have access to the platform and be seen.

Jay: How did this push your pen to do better in the later rounds?

Big B: I had to really study my opponents. I couldn’t just write a verse and throw some bars in and expect to advance, so it added another element to the process.

Jay: If the pandemic didn’t happen, do you think the platform could’ve expanded the way it did, via social media with their weekday calendar of IG Live exclusive events?

Big B: I think it was a learning curve that I’m sure they will implement going forward.  These events during the week will keep people focused on Rap Elite for the whole month leading up to the big event. In a sense, that is a good thing that came out of a bad situation. These guys work hard to make the platform what it is, and I know it was devastating for this to happen right when everything was at a peak.

Jay: Who were some of your favorite emcees or surprise contestants in the March Madness bracket?

Big B: I had a lot of favorites.  Loved how O-Z added the visual element. Synse was dope the whole. My sleepers were Jason and Zo the poet!  They came through and did their thing.

A person standing in front of a mirror posing for the camera

Description automatically generated
King Fizzle. Photo via @kingfizzle on Instagram

King Fizzle was the champion on Episode 7 of the RVA Rap Elite and was a competitor in the Rap Elite Madness Tourney.

Jay: Please give me your take on March Madness. Do you think it was beneficial for everybody, or just the winners?

King Fizzle: I can only answer that for myself. Emcees will have different goals and expectations for the competitions. If your intention was to build your fanbase or your domain, then can you demonstrate a measurable conversion in follower count or engagement on your platform? What metrics have you decided to use to determine your success?

But what if you went in with the intention to train yourself for combat? How do you anticipate your enemy’s offense? How does the presentation of offense differ from the stage platform? That requires a different set of skills. If your intention was to play the game, and you didn’t make it into your expected bracket, by your predetermined metric of success, the competition was not beneficial for you.

For myself, I had several intentions: learn basic video editing techniques, train my audience on how to listen to my style of writing with the use of subtitles and typography, and among other things, to stay consistently writing. Under that criteria, it was highly beneficial for me.

Jay: How did you push your pen during the tourney and pandemic?

Fizzle: These one-minute raps are great for me to demonstrate how I stretch multis, without the subject of the scheme becoming abstract. If you notice when I stretch a rhyme pattern, I never have any repeating vocabulary. In a competition cypher setting, I don’t get to display the different rap forms I can deliver because certain forms are not appropriate for a given instrumental. For example, in my first round I used this as an opportunity to inject comedy, or I misdirect the audience by hitting them with something they didn’t expect me to say. The deliberate pacing of breath and motor expressions assist in landing that punch.

But this competition ain’t a measure of who really got techniques, fundamentals, or even bars on lock. Strategy for this competition will take you farther than good writing, in my opinion. My success criteria were different, so I didn’t play with strategy, and bad strategy can make even good writing sound like filler. And that’s what happened in my losing round. Out of context, as a stand-alone piece, the verse is alright, but with me and my opponent both being battle rappers, the verse was lacking. And you can tell I wasn’t trying to be savage. I used the word “brethren” in a rhyme against a woman. I clearly wasn’t writing for Zoe, and that was the wrong play.

It’s even deeper when you consider the format of presentation. O-Z done proved that Rap Elite as a platform tests every aspect of being an emcee, and it’s all considered. You could have everything flawless on paper as pun intended, but what overall impression you left on the voter weighs more than what you did with your pen.

Jay: If the pandemic didn’t happen, do you think the platform could’ve expanded more with social media?

Fizzle: The platform did expand as a result of the pandemic. Even purely quantitatively you had something like over sixty artists in the same event, versus a max of thirty we can do for a one night on a stage. Then those sixty people spread it to their domains, and Rap Elite got big looks for that. From an emcee’s perspective, Rap Elite is expanding when emcees are fighting just to make it to the platform/competition. When the competition becomes prestigious.

Like how we talk about how Juice and Eminem came out of the Rap Olympics — Rap Elite is going to do that for our emcees. Selective restriction doesn’t imply expansion, but with standards and a higher barrier of entry comes notoriety, and in that sense, there will be expansion in both the digital space and as a community event. We see all this happening already.

Jay: Who were some of your favorite emcees or surprise contestants?

Fizzle: It’s great to see other oratory artists play the brackets. We have some of the highest caliber poets, so shout-outs to Roscoe. It’s always a dope to see the intersectionality of arts and elements. I watched Synse open for KRS-ONE the year we had that big snowstorm, so when I saw him spit again, I said “Wait, this the same guy?” And it was. Quick follow. Big ups to all the performers who stay on their deen. That’s Jason and CGoss. Love to my homie Robalu, because this is the closest you would see us battle. There were some ill verses in the brackets. Kilroy’s verse stood out to me. I always award points to emcees who can present words differently, and he did that. And you know the emcees who stay consistent on Rap Elite are always a crowd favorite.

A person wearing a hat

Description automatically generated
Spielburg. Photo via @spielburg on Instagram

Spielburg is the social media contributor for the RVA Rap Elite platform. His responsibilities range from IG Live/On Site interviews to hosting a weekly IG Live Playlist, on which he plays music by artists from Virginia and the DMV. 

Jay: Was the March Madness bracket successful to you? And what rounds stood out the most to you?

Spielburg: Extremely successful; it drove much warranted traffic towards the platform. Plus, the engagement from the MCs who participated gave RVA Rap Elite a broader audience. The rounds I enjoyed the most were the Sweet 16 rounds and Final 4. The showman and penmanship rose as the competition stiffened.

Jay: If the pandemic didn’t happen, what would’ve been the direction that the platform went next in elevating their influence?

Spielburg: Radio B is constantly seeking ways to expand the reach of RVA Rap Elite. If COVID-19 never happened, there would have been a strong presence from us, not only on IG but on other streaming platforms. 

Jay: When you get submissions in the playlists, what’s a common pattern you hear that artists can improve on?

Spielburg: For the most part, every submission has been well received, but if I’m looking for areas of improvement, I would say sound quality, delivery and content. That’s relative to most of the MCs starting out.

A person wearing a blue hat

Description automatically generated
Synse. Photo via @iamsynse on Instagram

For my last two interviews, I spoke with the two emcees that faced off in the final battle of Rap Elite Madness. First up: Synse.

Jay: How did the tourney push your pen to do better in the later rounds?

Synse: For me it didn’t have anything to do with rounds. It had everything to do with being an emcee. The fact I participated in the tournament itself was all I needed to continue to push myself and my pen. I had at that point already been doing weekly rap drops on my IG; I called them #SynseSundays. I challenged myself to them every Sunday for a year straight.

Jay: If the pandemic didn’t happen, do you think the platform could’ve expanded more the way it did via social media, with their weekday calendar of IG Live exclusive events?

Synse: Anything is possible. I think anyone with great ideas always bumps into the “Now how do I get this to the people” stage. I guess it was a bound-to-happen kind of thing, the pandemic just sped it up.

Jay: With the return of the open cyphers taking place outdoors, how do you see the outside aspect affecting the performers? Do you see it affecting some artists in a way that affected battle rappers when empty room battles became a norm? Some artists and performers thrive from a small or large room crowd, so do you feel like that’s going to affect the emcees and battle rappers at all?

Snyse: Crowd or no crowd always affects an artist. In my opinion, whether it helps or hurts, I believe it depends on the artist’s familiarity to surroundings/settings. It also could depend on what stage of the career that artist is in. Any given night can be a bad night or a good night.

Jay: If you had to formulate a COVID RVA Rap Elite starting five, who would be on the squad? Who would you call the most improved emcee during all this?

Synse: I’m a newcomer so I wouldn’t. I’m still learning the scene and the artists, so I don’t think I know them well enough to begin grouping people. Salute to all those who participated and even bothered to check out the work that I’ve done. Continue to grind, continue to shine. I’m Just Here To Rap.

A person looking towards the camera

Description automatically generated
O-Z. Photo via @odashz on Instagram

Finally, the emcee who won it all in the Rap Elite Madness tourney: O-Z.

Jay: How did the tourney push your pen to do better in the later rounds?

O-Z: First, I want to shout out RVA Rap Elite. Thanks for having me. Shoutout to @ogmelrose, @rich_homie_rheese, @willjungmusic, @killroyg, @_c_slick, and @iamsynse. These were the guys that inspired me and pushed me. All dope artist and def should be tapped into. 

Honestly, initially, I didn’t know what to expect. For the first two rounds, I used recycled verses. At the time the verses felt comfortable and they fit well with the beats. In my mind, which was the wrong approach totally, I assumed everyone would use recycled verses. I’m sure some did; however, it was very clear to see those that did not. Further along, or more specifically with round 3, the sweet 16, the production inspired me, and I instantly wrote my verse the night it was sent. Ironically, during the very next Rap Elite live recap discussion, they made remarks about artists recycling verses. From then on, I wrote every bar for every round. The competition demanded it.

Jay: If the pandemic didn’t happen, do you think the platform could’ve expanded more the way it did via social media, with their weekday calendar of IG Live exclusive events?

O-Z: Absolutely. With zero doubts. There isn’t much to say besides the simple fact that prior to shutting down we were selling out the Dark Room the past few events. The trajectory was extreme, when you really think about it. I’m talking, the venue is at capacity by 7:30. I haven’t seen that before here in Richmond on a consistent basis. The expansion is still happening. I can promise you that.

Jay: As the champion of the Rap Elite Madness tourney, how does this influence you going forward?

O-Z: Winning the tournament was beyond inspiring. You’d be surprised how many new people you meet when we were all isolated. That was our first time experiencing the kind of environment we were exposed to and being able to come together for such a great experience. You couldn’t ask for better. These kinds of things can’t be written. It’s a story to tell when time passes us all and we look back and say, “Oh yeah!” Or even when we are possibly put in that predicament again.

Going forward, it has allowed me to open up in a way, to where now I’m living outside of my comfort zone. Before I was just stepping outside of it. I’m influenced to live outside of it now, because the idea is to never be comfortable, and to always keep climbing. 

Jay: RVA Rap Elite has been recording private cyphers at the Dark Room to continue with this season’s team battles they’ve been keeping points for. Do you think this is something we’ll see in the following seasons to come? And if so, has this been a justifiable substitute in a time where events in small spaces are restricted due to the pandemic?

O-Z: I think we will continue to see this going forward, and I also expect to see new things added as well. There is always something new going on at Rap Elite. As far as the justification of the events and where [they’re held] due to restrictions… maybe so, but in reality, a lot was implemented prior to the pandemic. So if anything, not being able to have the events with conviction, it will be hard to look at numbers and stats with that same level if we aren’t even able to know specifically when and where the events will take place. That comes with understanding that this is a very unpredictable year we are forced to rely on. Most things we have going on now were things we already had planned prior, and are trying to implement to the best of our abilities. Whether I’m involved or not, I can see the work being done and the measures being made to continue the movement. Big love.

In addition to continuing with weekly Instagram Live events, RVA Rap Elite has recently begun hosting socially-distanced outdoor rap battles around the city. To keep up with what they have going on, stay tuned to their Instagram @rvarap.elite.

VA Shows You Must See This Week: November 6 – November 12

Marilyn Drew Necci | November 6, 2019

Topics: Alluvion, Alpha Romeo, Amala, BBX, Bejxy, Bingo Beer Co, Cadillac Cat, Capital Ale House Music Hall, CAPTCHA, Chameleons Vox, Chauncey De Giant, Christopher Tignor, Colin Phils, Colpa Mia, Cop/Out, Cut The Architect's Hand, Days N Daze, Distant Dee, Don Chase, Dre King, Ellen Siberian Tiger, Fan Ran, Future Teens, gallery 5, Genosha, Hex Machine, Hotspit, Illa Styles, Jay Aston, Jimmy and the Delay, Kidd Khy, Lair, Leftover Crack, Lil Grits, Limbs, Lisa Prank, Magic Wand, Manzara, Murdersome, Nhibitions, Noah O, O-Z, Oceanator, Papi Majae, PT Veil, Pump Fake, Queen Elephantine, Riffhouse Pub, SAE, Sentius, Sharptooth, She, shows you must see, Site Of Suffering, Slim Kartel, Strangeways Brewing, Tavishi, The Bunker Brewpub, The Camel, The New Mutiny, Theatre Of Hate, This Will Destroy You, Tone Redd, Unmaker, Van Silke, Vulcanite, Wonderland, Wristmeetrazor, Yung Apollo

FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, November 9, 5 PM
Thrashgiving IV, feat. Vulcanite, Genosha, The New Mutiny, LAIR, Murdersome (Photo by Dennis Williford), Alluvion, Site Of Suffering, Cut The Architect’s Hand, Sentius @ Strangeways Brewing – $10 cash, or $5 with canned/non-perishable foods

OK, y’all, Halloween is over, which means we’re officially into the holiday season, for better or for worse. Right now it’s for better, at least for me, because in spite of all it’s terrible cultural baggage, Thanksgiving as it exists in 2019 is my favorite holiday. Sleep late, eat a big meal, watch football… what’s not to love? We hit the “for worse” part along about 8 PM when Mom starts getting antsy and wanting to hit the Black Friday sales (these days a good many of them start as soon as the sun goes down on Thanksgiving, and whoever’s idea that was needs to be put on trial for their crimes against humanity).

Anyway, Thanksgiving itself is still a few weeks away, but over at Strangeways Brewing, they’re getting into the giving spirit a little early, as this Saturday brings about the fourth annual Thrashgiving celebration, put together by Metal Teresa Productions as a benefit to help feed the hungry and house injured military veterans and their families. These good causes are well worth your support, and if you bring some canned or non-perishable food items to donate, you’ll get half off admission, so that rules as well!

In return for your five bucks and your cans of beans, you’ll get a veritable showcase of the best Virginia’s metal scene has to offer. From grunge-metal ragers Vulcanite to mournful doom sludgers Lair — who have a brand new self-titled album out as of last week — and from bloodthirsty thrashers Murdersome to brutal hardcore mosh maniacs Genosha, this show has a ton of headbanging awesomeness to offer. In addition to those four, there are half a dozen more excellent groups on the bill, and considering how cheap the price of admission is, it’s really quite the bargain if your tastes run toward headbanging. This one gets our highest possible recommendation.

Wednesday, November 6, 8 PM
Future Teens, Oceanator, Colpa Mia, Pump Fake @ The Camel – $10 (order tickets
HERE)
Despite the name at the top of the bill, as far as I know, none of the bands playing at The Camel tonight have any members under 13 years old. However, Boston’s Future Teens do have a new album called Breakup Season, which is full of melancholy, heartfelt indie rock tunes of the sort the band aptly labels “bummer pop.” These days it seems like that whole twentysomething malaise that descends when you get out of college and don’t know where you’re going to go next can last well into your 30s and beyond, and it can be comforting to hear a band sing poignantly and relatably about it over some amazing pop melodies.

That’s what Future Teens has to offer, and I think we could all use a night of that — maybe a bit more than we want to admit. Along with it, we’ll also get a set from New Yorkers Oceanator, who have a similar sort of emotional vibe but add a good deal more bottom-end crunch to their harder-hitting alt-rock tunes — which is always nice. Richmond’s own Colpa Mia will add their own indie sound to the mix, and brand new local emo duo Pump Fake will get things started at The Camel tonight. Get down there and soothe your troubled soul with music.

Thursday, November 7, 7:30 PM
Chameleons Vox, Theatre Of Hate, Jay Aston, Unmaker @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $20 (order tickets HERE)

The Chameleons were incredibly important to the development of UK postpunk in the 80s. While other guitar-based bands like Echo And The Bunnymen, The Cure, and The Jesus And Mary Chain are a bit more well-known today, any listen to 21st century exponents of music like this shows an indelible influence from the sound The Chameleons expertly crafted during their initial 80s run. The mix of Mark Burgess’s insightful, poetic lyrics, thundering basslines, and dramatic baritone vocals combined perfectly with the glittering twin guitar lines of Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding to create a legacy that still endures after four decades.

The Chameleons did briefly reform and release three more albums in the early 00s, but these days, Mark Burgess soldiers on as the sole original member, performing classic Chameleons tunes under the name Chameleons Vox. While his backing band has featured a variety of different musicians over the past decade, Burgess has always recruited excellent guitar players to recreate Smithies and Fielding’s gorgeous spiraling melodies, and his own vocal and bass talents ensure that the songs retain their proper gravity. Basically, if you love the Chameleons — and if you’ve enjoyed bands like Interpol, Shadow Age, or Soft Kill in recent years, you definitely do — you’re sure to have a wonderful night seeing Chameleons Vox bring legendary songs like “Swamp Thing” and “Thursday’s Child” to full, glorious life.

Friday, November 8, 8 PM
Ellen Siberian Tiger, HotSpit, She, CAPTCHA @ Bingo Beer Co – Free!

Don’t panic, folks — I’ve done some research and learned that despite their band name, Ellen Siberian Tiger is just as human as you and me. This trio from Philadelphia dishes out some pretty excellent grungy alt-rock in the vein of Hop Along or Speedy Ortiz, and I for one am digging it. I also can’t help but love the powerful, confrontational feminism espoused on tracks like “Kitchen Knife” and “When Men Explain Things To Me.” We need more of these sorts of lyrics in the world.

Ellen Siberian Tiger will be rocking the halls of Bingo Beer this Friday night in a manner my punk rock friends always wanted to back in the 90s, so I can’t help but be excited, and I’m just as excited for the trio of excellent Richmond groups that are sharing this bill with them. The outstanding HotSpit are at the top of that list, and while they’ve still only released a few demos online, their live performances around town over the past year or so have shown that this band has a ton of talent on offer, from their excellent vocal harmonizing to the gorgeously downbeat melodies they seem never to run out of. She, who’ve excellently evolved from a solo project into a trance-inducing atmospheric indie combo, will also bring some lovely sounds to your ears on this evening, and CAPTCHA are certainly far more pleasant than any gridded image demanding you click on the portions of the screen that feature crosswalks. Get down with this one.

Saturday, November 9, 9 PM
Queen Elephantine & Tavishi, Hex Machine, Manzara @ Wonderland – $10

In a world that tends to be overfilled with doom metal bands these days, it’s rare to find one that’s approaching the genre in a manner previously unheard. But with Queen Elephantine, who were originally formed in Hong Kong and now make their home in Philadelphia, just such a band may have come along. Granted, new LP Gorgon is heavy and gloomy as fuck, but it’s hard to say that this is really “metal” in the conventionally understood sense. Instead, it seems to combine astral-travelling psychedelia, apocalyptic drone, spooky occult atmosphere, and noise experimentation, all with a massive dose of sludgy heaviness.

The result, at least on Gorgon‘s 13-minute opener, “Mars,” is like some sort of strange crossbreed between Acid Mothers Temple, Corrupted, and Sunn O))). It certainly should come to mind-expanding full-volume life at Wonderland this Saturday night, and if we’re reading this correctly, local experimental noise musician Tavishi will be lending additional texture to Queen Elephantine’s set for what’s sure to be a fascinating and unmissable experiment in dark, crushing noise. Local noise-rock powerhouse Hex Machine will open up, along with quietly devastating Richmond postpunk group Manzara, making this an evening sure to blow your mind. Be there.

Sunday, November 10, 8 PM
Rice God & Friends Fall Festival, feat. Noah-O, Fan Ran, Illa Styles, BBX, Amala, Yung Apollo, Alpha Romeo, Papi Majae, Dre King, Bejxy, Kidd Khy, Slim Kartel, Chauncey De Giant, Don Chase, Van Silke, SAE, O-Z, Lil Grits, PT Veil, Distant Dee, Tone Redd, Cadillac Cat @ The Camel – $8 in advance/$10 at the door (order tickets HERE)

It’s been about a month now since Noah-O and Fan Ran got together once again to unleash a new installment of Dirty Rice on the world. Dirty Rice: Deux, which dropped just over a month ago, is yet another piece of evidence in the argument that Noah-O’s at his best when he works with one really talented producer for the entire length of a project. See also The Rain with DJ Mentos (a project that led directly to the formation of Analog Suspects), or Face/Off with Cadillac Cat, or All Souled Out with the late Kleph Dollaz… and that’s not even all the examples I could mention.

This Sunday night at The Camel, Noah-O and Fan Ran will be teaming up to lay some dirty rice on y’all in the live environment, and they’ll be doing it up right by turning the whole thing into a Fall Festival that will feature over a dozen other hip hop talents from both RVA and the surrounding region. In addition to top-level local powerhouses like Illa Styles, Slim Kartel, Distant Dee, and the aforementioned Cadillac Cat, there’s also a whole crew coming through from the Kentucky/Ohio area, including Yung Apollo and Alpha Romeo, plus a whole bunch more from all over! If you love hip hop, this is going to be hours of the dopest rhymes and sickest beats imaginable, with Noah-O and Fan Ran at the center of it all. So hey, you know what to do.

Monday, November 11, 7 PM
Lisa Prank, Magic Wand, Jimmy And The Delay @ Gallery 5 – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)

I love the band name Lisa Prank — and it’s not because I’m old enough to have actually had a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper. Well, OK, it’s not JUST because of that. Anyway, Seattle singer-songwriter Robin Edwards struck gold when she named her indie-pop project, to the point that I’m amazed no one else has done it first. And on brand new LP Perfect Love Song, she also struck gold by getting production help from Rose Melberg, whose work in Tiger Trap, The Softies, Go Sailor, and others has been instrumental in creating and developing the exact sort of indie-pop milieu that Lisa Prank is working within today.

If you’re a fan of any of those bands, or if you’re too young to remember them but do enjoy bands like Speedy Ortiz and The Worriers, Lisa Prank is sure to be right up your alley. If they were 5 percent heavier or noisier, I’d call them pop-punk, but as it is, this is just simple, catchy pop music — and it’s great at being exactly that. It’ll put a big smile on your face, as will opening sets from local newcomers Magic Wand and Jimmy And The Delay. This will be a great way to end a really tough back-to-work Monday, so be there and let this show ease you into a better rest of your week.

Tuesday, November 12, 7 PM
This Will Destroy You, Christopher Tignor, Colin Phils @ The Camel – $15 (order tickets HERE)

In the wake of Explosions In The Sky’s Friday Night Lights-fueled early-00s success, a rising musical tide lifted all instrumental post-rock boats, and that of This Will Destroy You was definitely one. However, almost fifteen years after the release of their rapturously received debut, Young Mountain, This Will Destroy You have proven themselves to be more than just another post-rock combo writing epic instrumental after epic instrumental, all of which start to sound the same after a while.

Last year saw This Will Destroy You release two new albums in the space of a month, New Others Part One and New Others Part Two. Both show this quartet to be focused on different goals than one might expect; their songs are focused less on the sort of emotional escalation that, after a while, tends to feel like a gimmick repeated once too often. Instead, they build a musical mood and then live within it for several minutes, allowing the textures of their music to become the focus. It’s proggy, yes, and it’s also a bit nerdy, but there’s not a damn thing wrong with intelligent music, especially when it is able to be moving without being cliche. This Will Destroy You accomplish all that with aplomb on their albums, and seeing them pull it off live is sure to be quite the treat.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Friday, November 8, 6 PM
Sharptooth, Limbs, Wristmeetrazor, Nhibitions, Genosha @ RiffHouse Pub (Chesapeake) – $10 in advance/$12 day of show (order tickets HERE)

As metallic hardcore shows go, this one is sure to be top-notch. Maryland’s Sharptooth are an absolutely ferocious quintet full of anger and fury of an incredibly political nature. 2017 LP Clever Girl features a song called “Fuck You Donald Trump,” but if anything, the title track’s condemnation of men who act as insincere allies, or “No Sanctuary”‘s vitriolic condemnation of anti-LGBTQ bigotry, ring even more bold and true and real to me. Singer Lauren Kashan has used her platform to be a strong advocate for issues relating to abuse and oppression, and as awesome as her band is, the kind of heart she puts into her lyrics and onstage presence makes Sharptooth that much better.

So if you’re the kind of metal/hardcore fan who wishes more bands would take a stand for issues that matter, this is the show for you. And it features a bunch of other great bands as well — Florida’s Limbs refer to themselves as “post-hardcore” but on 2018’s Father’s Son, they lay out a brutal, metallic sound that still feels HC as fuck to me, even if it’s not Negative Approach. Wristmeetrazor, who are sorta-kinda from Virginia, arise from the screamo scene but have a strong metalcore attack on their latest LP, Misery Never Forgets. And of course, Genosha and Nhibitions hold it down for the heavy hardcore scene in Tidewater and Central Virginia with skill and panache. This one’s gonna rule.

Saturday, November 9, 7 PM
Leftover Crack, Days N Daze, Cop/Out @ The Bunker Brewpub (Virginia Beach) – $16 (order tickets HERE)

I admit it — for the longest time, I never gave Leftover Crack a chance. As a straight edge kid, their name wasn’t exactly appealing to me, and their reputation as simultaneously the crustiest of squatter punk bands (their Wikipedia page features a section entitled “Venue bans, criminal records, and visa restriction”) and a straight-up ska band seemed totally incoherent. But recently I went ahead and listened to some of their music, and it turns out that they’re actually pretty goddamn talented. Instead of having goofy horns all over the place, they play catchy, hard-charging punk tunes. And while they do often use those catchy off-beat bounce riffs that we all identify as ska, they also incorporate touches of metal and hardcore. In the end, they are clearly first and foremost a punk band, in the same way Operation Ivy always was.

So hey, maybe going to see Leftover Crack on their latest tour isn’t such a bad idea if you like some good punk rock fun. One thing’s for sure, there won’t be a dull moment from a band that’s known for writing unapologetic, provocative songs about shooting cops and doing drugs — and for having an audience full of even bigger reprobates than the members themselves. You might want to steer clear of the pit if the stories we’ve heard about mid-set barf are true, but the tunes will make up for any suspect stenches that might invade the room over the course of the set.

—-

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

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]