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Negative Creep: Weekend Playlist By Pissing Contest

RVA Staff | July 12, 2019

Topics: local punk, Pissing Contest, Playlist, punk, punk bands, rva magazine weekend playlist, rvamag playlist, Weekend Playlist

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

Our playlist this week comes to us from Richmond’s own Pissing Contest, whose harsh, angry, yet catchy as hell punk rock stylings distinguish themselves as both blatantly filthy and full of subtle intelligence — as all the best punk bands do. They released their second album, The Fountain (which references both urine and Marcel Duchamp on its cover — I dig it), earlier this year, and this Sunday night will find them releasing a cassette featuring both of their albums, cleverly entitled Pisscography, at Bandito’s.

Learn more about that free show, which also features fellow Richmonders Roy Batty and Weird Tears, here, and while you wait for Sunday night to roll around, spend your weekend punking out and circle-pitting around your backyard to this excellent mix from Pissing Contest. We’d say “to whet your appetite,” but with a name like Pissing Contest, it’s best to keep food-related metaphors far away from the conversation.

Get pissed, Virginia.

Open this playlist from mobile in your Spotify app HERE.

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

VA Shows You Must See This Week: May 1 – May 7

Marilyn Drew Necci | May 1, 2019

Topics: Acid Dad, Bandito's, Black Plastic, Cannabis Corpse, CAPTCHA, Charlie's American Cafe, Crucial Rip, Deli Kings, Ecstatic Vision, Elliot Johnson, Fontaines DC, Gorod, Heavy Temple, Hotspit, IDLES, Keilan Creech, Kenneka Cook, Ladada, Micawber, moniker, Murphy's Law, Nightcreature, Pissing Contest, Portrayal Of Guilt, Psycroptic, Railgun, Rebekah Rafferty and The Wakes, shows you must see, Sinister Haze, Skeletonwitch, Soft Kill, Strawberry Street Neighborhood Laundromat, T Star, Taphouse Grill, The Black Moods, The Broadberry, The Camel, The National, The Northerners, The Unabombers, The Wimps, Voarm, weekend plans, Whitesnake, Wiegedood, Wonderland

FEATURED SHOW
Monday, May 6, 7 PM
Skeletonwitch, Soft Kill, Wiegedood, Portrayal Of Guilt @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $18 in advance/$20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Monday is traditionally the most difficult night of the week on which to find a rad show at which to rock out. However, there have to be exceptions to every rule, and this week the exception to the Monday rule is hitting us in a big way. Huzzah! This bonanza for heavy music fans rolls into Capital Ale House’s Richmond Music Hall Monday night to decimate the vicinity of downtown Richmond and to make the beginning of our week that much better.

Skeletonwitch are leading this parade, and while this long-running black-death-thrash band has been through some trials and tribulations over the past few years that at one point saw them doing a tour fronted by Richmond’s own Andy Horn (Battlemaster), they’ve landed on their feet. Last year, they released their absolutely killer sixth album, Devouring Radiant Light, introducing permanent new vocalist Adam Clemans into the fold and showing that the removal of their original singer did nothing to diminish their energetic metal power. They’ll be bringing the headbanging rage to Capital Ale House with all the fury you’ve always known from them, so prepare yourself.

And prepare yourself for a trio of diverse and amazing support acts as well. Soft Kill are at the head of this one, and this postpunk group has definitely channeled the feel of fog-enshrouded guitar-driven UK bands of past decades, most prominently the Chameleons, on their latest album, Savior. Your head may not bang during their set, but your heart will be moved nonetheless. As for Belgian band Wiegedood, my less-than-perfect understanding of Dutch leads me to hear their name as something a surfer bro might shout as he catches a really excellent wave, but it turns out it means “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” a fitting name for a band with such a raging, shredding, hyperspeed black metal sound. Expect blastbeats and tremolo-picking aplenty when these guys take the stage. And please, do NOT be fashionably late and neglect openers Portrayal Of Guilt — this outstanding band has arisen from the screamo scene in recent years with some incredibly scathing, heavy, and passionate hardcore that must be heard to be believed. Make the most of your Monday night — go to this show.

Wednesday, May 1, 7:30 PM
Whitesnake, The Black Moods @ The National – $50 (order tickets HERE)

Y’all know I’m old by now, but I’m even older than you realize, because I’m officially stoked that Whitesnake will be in town tonight. And look, we need to set the record straight on Whitesnake — because while I know everyone today only remembers them for that groundbreaking classic of car-dancing, “Here We Go Again” (a great song, to avoid misconceptions), they actually have a 40-year career of heavy-blues awesomeness. Led for their entire career by former Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale, Whitesnake included as many as three ex-Purple players in their early days, and has also, over the years, featured guitar-slingers from groups like Thin Lizzy and Def Leppard, as well as the legendary axe-slayer himself, Steve Vai.

These days, Whitesnake — who were already 10 years deep into their career when “Here I Go Again” hit the top 40 — have Reb Beach of honest-to-god glam metallers Winger on lead guitar, and they’re only a week or so away from releasing their 13th album, Flesh And Blood. There’s definitely some of that glam-metal sleaze going on on the album’s first new single, but let’s be real, this night is all about their Zeppelin/Purple-style blues-metal classics: “Fool For Your Loving,” “Still Of The Night,” “Slide It In,” “Love Hunter”… it’s gonna rule. Apparently you can only get tickets through secondary sellers at this point, and they’re going for twice face value, which is too rich for my blood, but if you’ve got the scratch to drop a C-note on a Wednesday night, you’re sure to have a blast at this one.

Thursday, May 2, 9 PM
Pissing Contest, Nightcreature, Railgun @ Bandito’s – Free!

Hey all you punk-as-fuck Richmond ragers out there — take notice of this particular Thursday night gig! And not just because it’s free and there’s beer there. If you like to spike your hair and raise two fingers to the world, Richmond’s own Pissing Contest are the band for you. This quartet’s been venting their speedy, anti-social frustration on this city for over five years now, and they’re releasing their second full-length collection of punk tunes full of, um, piss and vinegar at this free Bandito’s gig. So get stoked.

The new Pissing Contest album is titled The Fountain, and its cover art makes clear that the album’s title is a reference to Marcel Duchamp’s notorious Dadaist found sculpture of the same name — a porcelain urinal of 1910s vintage. That’s proof that these guys are no dummies, and that they understand the process of making powerful art from shunned and rejected aspects of society. No wonder their new album contains songs with titles like “Buttfuck (My Cigarette),” “Boner Forest,” and “I’m Like King Midas But For Shit.” There’s a point being made here, and it’s being made in a loud, fast, furious fashion. The result is the ultimate in catchy punk rock fun. Don’t drink too much beer or eat too many Bandito’s tacos before their set — that sort of behavior does not go well with all the circle-pit action you’ll be partaking of when Pissing Contest hit the stage.

Friday, May 3, 9 PM
Ecstatic Vision, Heavy Temple, Sinister Haze @ Wonderland – $10

Do you like your music trippy? No, more trippy than that — like Hawkwind’s Space Ritual crossed with early Ash Ra Tempel, with saxophones blaring and electronic sounds making you think a spaceship is launching right behind your back even as a really heavy rock groove cranks right through the center of your skull and makes it impossible not to nod along. If so, you’re well on your way to appreciating the sheer enormity of the psychedelic power Philadelphia’s Ecstatic Vision will unleash upon Shockoe Bottom at Wonderland this Friday night.

Ecstatic Vision pull from the exactly the sort of biker-psych fury and German cosmische motorik I was talking about above on their 2017 LP, Raw Rock Fury, making the connection even more explicit on 2018’s Under The Influence EP, where they cover Hawkwind, the MC5, and Zambian psychedelic-guitar legend Keith Mlevhu, among others. Blowing minds is their mission when they come to Richmond, and they’ll be bringing witchy doom-metal crushers Heavy Temple down with them, just to leave us all properly pulverized and in the perfect mindset for the space journey on which we’re all about to embark.

Saturday, May 4, 3 PM
Laundropalooza 2.0, feat. Rebekah Rafferty and the Wakes, Keilan Creech, Weekend Plans, The Wimps, T Star, Deli Kings, The Northerners, Kenneka Cook, Moniker, Elliot Johnson @ Strawberry Street Neighborhood Laundromat – Free!

This is the kind of thing I wouldn’t normally believe could happen in a town like Richmond. An all-day Saturday show… in a laundromat? Get outta here. But don’t be skeptical, because it’s all true, and what’s more, it’s been done before! And why not? Spring is here, the temperatures are rising, the skies are finally clearing, and it’s time to enjoy the world once more. Considering that advance promo for this event advises you to bring a lawn chair and/or a blanket, I’m guessing it’s happening outside — and as I recall, the Strawberry Street Laundromat does have a lovely backyard and patio, so it really does all add up to a lovely afternoon.

The music looks to be pretty great too — the ten excellent Richmond artists performing here are mostly of the sort that don’t need that much amplification and electricity to put their sound across effectively, so expect a lot of acoustic sounds from local stars like Kenneka Cook and The Wimps, intriguing newcomers like Moniker and Elliot Johnson, perennials like The Northerners and Weekend Plans, and a whole lot more! Plus, if you have laundry to do, this is the perfect time to do it. God knows the hours sitting around the laundromat can sometimes get pretty boring — but having a free show break out behind the building just as you throw in your whites is the perfect antidote for that issue. So enjoy washing clothes for once, and head over to Strawberry Street Laundromat after brunch on Saturday. You won’t be sorry.

Sunday, May 5, 10 PM
Black Plastic, HotSpit, CAPTCHA @ Bandito’s – Free!

Sunday night is always a great night to head down to Bandito’s. There aren’t always free shows featuring great local bands happening, but it happens more often than not, and this Sunday is one of the nights where local music is definitely on the menu at my personal favorite local spot to get heaping plates of nachos — so don’t miss out! Black Plastic are a Richmond band who’ve been around for a couple of years but kept the releases to a minimum; thus far, they only have one official single to their name.

However, what that single has made abundantly clear is that they have an excellent songwriting sense and the ability to crank out catchy, memorable, and delightfully off-kilter tunes in flawless fashion. So their set this Sunday night is certainly essential. But the same can be said about HotSpit, who I wrote about only two weeks ago right here in this very column. At the time, I called them “a promising shoegaze quartet with strong vocal melodies and ringing guitars,” and I can’t imagine that much has changed since mid-April, so we’ll go with that once again, and further inform you that, like Black Plastic, big things seem assuredly on the horizon for this outfit. Grabbing a chance to see them for free as you enjoy a plate of tacos is definitely the move. Newcomers CAPTCHA, who are certainly no slouches in the “let’s come up with an ungoogleable band name” sweepstakes, kick this one off. Be there.

Monday, May 6, 7:30 PM
IDLES, Fontaines DC @ The Broadberry – $15 in advance/$17 at the door (order tickets HERE)

Playing basic three-chord punk can be the sort of decision that leads people to think that a band is untalented; especially today, four decades into the punk rock era, it’s the rare band that can both rage and riff in simple, direct, aggressive fashion and make clear from jump that they are bringing a fierce, critical intelligence to their take on no-frills punk. IDLES did this exact thing on their first LP, Brutalism, with sardonic songs that mocked anti-intellectualism and apathy.

But IDLES went through a lot between that album and their second album, Joy As An Act of Resistance, released last fall. And you can tell; while the raging punk sound remains intact on their second album, this UK band’s approach is significantly more refined, incorporating six-minute dirges and soul covers as well as lyrics that go beyond the first record’s cooking-show references into dark takes on depression, addiction, and death. But in the end, the group’s push is away from nihilism and toward finding positive aspects of life, making it all worth living through and smiling about. They certainly do so with their powerful music, which is if anything getting both more aggressive and more complex; at the Broadberry Monday night, they’ll make you think even as they stir your boots toward the pit. What better way to evoke the spirit of punk in 2019 could there be?

Tuesday, May 7, 6 PM
Psycroptic, Cannabis Corpse, Gorod, Micawber, Crucial Rip, Voarm @ The Camel – $20 (order tickets HERE)

To the uninitiated, death metal probably seems like a lot of undifferentiated low-end noise. However, to those of us who’ve been listening to it for decades, there are many fine gradations that appear in what, to be honest, still is pretty much a wall of unrelenting aggression and brutality. This show at The Camel Tuesday night is definitely an unrelenting evening of death fucking metal in the offing. However, the bands on this stacked bill showcase all sorts of different approaches to the same basic template. And that’s what makes this one truly unmissable. Take Psycroptic, the veteran Australian group headlining this bill. They’re currently on tour in support of their seventh album, As The Kingdom Drowns. On that album — and surely onstage at the Camel Tuesday night — they display mastery of a technical approach to death metal that mixes complex riffing and melodic undertones with powerful brutal breakdowns in a fascinating multi-layered fashion.

Meanwhile, co-headliners Cannabis Corpse, from right here in Richmond, giving their tales of marijuana-infused terror a crushing yet somehow catchy energy, which is pointed straight at your face. Take a big hit of that, and then make sure you give some attention to French thrashers Gorod, whose riffy, progressive approach to the power of death metal shows complex talent while still making sure to rip your head off on a regular basis. There are multiple other bands on this bill, all bringing their own rich understandings of death metal to the stage, all of which will be more than worth your time. Don’t fear the metal — give yourself a chance to understand it. After all, as we all know, the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. And there will surely be excessive headbanging at this gig.

Picks from elsewhere around the state:

Saturday, May 4, 9 PM
Murphy’s Law, The Unabombers @ Taphouse Grill – $15 (order tickets HERE)

Where New York Hardcore is concerned, it doesn’t get much more OG than Murphy’s Law. Formed by singer Jimmy Gestapo (who mostly just goes by Jimmy G these days, for reasons that should be obvious) in 1982, this band’s fun n’ games take on hardcore emphasizes the sort of goofy reprobate attitude that was always the flip side of punk’s iconoclastic, anti-social approach to the world. As a result, over the course of their five albums, Murphy’s Law have often focused on drugs, parties, and avoiding responsibility — themes with widespread appeal among the punk rock masses that may also serve to explain why they’ve been around for over 35 years and, as previously mentioned, only released five albums.

These days, Murphy’s Law are approaching two full decades since their last release of new material, so let’s be clear — this show’s mainly gonna be a big singalong party. From speedy early tunes like “Beer” and “California Pipeline” to midtempo thrashers like “Beer Bath” and “Panty Raid” as well as their many noteworthy ska-infused tunes like “Back With A Bong” and “1%,” you can expect a lot of fun, catchy tunes to be dished out for your slamdancing entertainment. And then you can go home and sleep through work the next day (assuming you have the misfortune of working on Sundays), because as Murphy’s Law would be the first to tell you, living up to adult responsibilities is very overrated. Instead, let’s have some fun.

Sunday, May 5, 7 PM
Acid Dad, Ladada @ Charlie’s American Cafe – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)

For a fortysomething nerd like me, who grew up parsing the finer differences between My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, and the Catherine Wheel, it’s hard to figure what actually counts as “shoegaze” anymore. But the mere fact that we have to have this conversation about Acid Dad is in and of itself indicative of something — that something being ringing guitars, hazy distortion, laid-back vocals, and heavy beats, all adding up to a sound that is, if not “shoegaze” proper, at least guaranteed to appeal to fans of good old-fashioned alternative rock.

On their self-titled 2018 debut LP, Acid Dad effortlessly conjure memories of …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead in their brief but powerful heyday (think Source Tags & Codes), as well as Thee Oh Sees, Ride, and some of the cleaner Sonic Youth albums. They rock hard, is the ultimate takeaway, and chances are they’ll only rock harder in a live environment, where they can really crank up the amps and let it rip. So do yourself a favor; whether you’re a Hampton Roads denizen or a Richmonder with an itch for a road trip, head down to Norfolk and catch Acid Dad at Charlie’s American Cafe. It’ll be the perfect way to wrap up a lovely spring weekend.

—-

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

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

VA Shows You Must See This Week: March 13 – March 19

Marilyn Drew Necci | March 13, 2019

Topics: Adrian Belew, Antenora, Bandito's, Bear Bones, Ben Butterworth & Friends, Cary Street Cafe, Castle Black, Champion RVA, Colin Phils, Dead Friends, Dens, Desert Altar, Dissention, Fellowship, Genosha, Gutted Christ, He Is Legend, Knife Spitter, Kristeva, Leach, Light The Torch, Lounge Lizzard, Lucifer, Mark Morton, MJ Le'vay, Moon Tooth, No Convictions, Pissing Contest, Prabir Trio, Riffhouse Pub, Righter, Saul Zonana, Serpentshrine, shows you must see, Spasyt Out, Spell, Strawberry Moon, The Astral Void, The Broadberry, The Camel, The Canal Club, The Skin, Thirst For The Sea, Turbo Mansion, Yet To Fall

FEATURED SHOW
Wednesday, March 13, 7 PM
Mark Morton, Light The Torch, Moon Tooth @ The Broadberry – $25 (order tickets HERE)

Interesting things are afoot in the world of Richmond metal. You might have heard recently about one thing a member of Lamb Of God got up to in his spare time — specifically, Randy Blythe organizing a crew of kazoo players to chase away the Westboro Baptist Church when they came to town — but it seems that guitarist Mark Morton’s solo album has slipped a little more under the radar.

Well, the time for such a lack of attention has ended — Morton’s solo debut, Anesthetic, was released a couple of weeks ago, and he’s about to go on tour supporting it. He’ll start the whole shebang at the Broadberry tonight. Yes, tonight, so you better get a jump on those tickets! On the album, Morton brings in a variety of celebrity guests to contribute vocals, from metal legends like Testament’s Chuck Billy to alt-rock superstars like Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees/QOTSA) and the late Chester Bennington (Linkin Park). However, the touring band will feature only one vocalist, Mark Morales, who is also in the sludgy alt-rock/grunge group Sons Of Texas and happens to be the only singer who contributed more than one lead vocal to Anesthetic.

With a lineup rounded out by other members of Sons Of Texas, Bad Wolves, and Prong, Morton’s solo band is sure to do justice to the tunes on his new album. You’ll get a chance to hear the Lamb Of God axeman stretch out, indulging in side trips into blues, grunge, and Southern rock that wouldn’t show up in his main group, even as he and his band still totally rock your face off. With touring heaviness from Light The Torch and Moon Tooth also on the bill, this one is sure to rock you through and through. So don’t miss out — there’s things going on you don’t know.

Wednesday, March 13, 10 PM
Prabir Trio,
Ben Butterworth & Friends @ Cary Street Cafe – Free!
Tonight at Cary Street Cafe, this town’s love affair with Fan institution Bamboo Cafe gets taken to a totally new level. Prabir Mehta’s latest musical ensemble, the Prabir Trio, will be releasing a new cassette featuring a musical tribute to Bamboo, and they’ll be holding a release party to celebrate. It’s happening at Cary Street Cafe — according to Prabir, because it’s the closest Richmond venue to Bamboo — and I’m sure there’ll be an after-party at Bamboo later.

The Prabir Trio, which brings singer-guitarist-songwriter Prabir Mehta together with Richmond mainstays Russell Lacy on bass and Kelli Strawbridge on drums, has a Beatles-via-Strokes rock n’ roll urgency that simultaneously evokes past Prabir projects like Goldrush and the Substitutes while also taking the most stripped-down, direct approach Mr. Mehta has yet taken to his music. The result is some great singalong tunes that will rock and roll you all night long. Don’t miss the party tonight, don’t miss the new tape, and don’t miss Ben Butterworth & Friends, who will offer a more laid-back, folky approach with their singer-songwriter sound. This night is definitely worth your time, especially since it’s free! See you there.

Thursday, March 14, 7 PM
Adrian Belew, Saul Zonana @ The Broadberry – $25 in advance/$30 at the door (order tickets HERE)

Adrian Belew is a legend in the worlds of prog-rock and postpunk. Early in his career, he played on classic albums by David Bowie, Frank Zappa, and the Talking Heads, before joining King Crimson and remaining in the constantly-evolving ensemble for around 30 years. He has also had a thriving solo career throughout that time, releasing nearly 20 solo albums over the course of four decades.

Belew’s just about to release his 16th solo album and first in ten years, Pop Sided, and it’s the tour for that album that brings him here to Richmond. While his unorthodox approach to guitar playing has definitely led him to some pretty wild extremes over the course of his career, the material he’s currently playing focuses on his unerring sense of off-kilter pop hooks, and based on live recordings that have made the internet thus far (because the album isn’t out yet, womp womp), it seems he’s got some of the catchiest tunes of his career for us when he hits the Broadberry stage tomorrow night. So get stoked, all you prog-heads — a true guitar hero is about to dazzle us all.

Friday, March 15, 6 PM
He Is Legend, DENS, Dead Friends, Followship, Thirst For The Sea, Genosha @ The Canal Club – $15 (order tickets HERE)

If you’ve heard anything about He Is Legend this week, it’s probably been related to Demi Lovato posting an Instagram story in which she sang along with their classic first LP, I Am Hollywood. But this doesn’t seem to me to be particularly noteworthy news — partly because we’ve known for over a decade that Demi Lovato’s just a metalcore kid who somehow got famous as a pop singer, and partly because it shouldn’t surprise anyone when someone is stoked about He Is Legend’s excellent tunes.

The North Carolina quartet did indeed make their name on that classic debut, but they’ve released four more LPs since then, and despite their evolution to incorporate both more Southern-fried metal licks and clean-vocal melodies, they’re still kicking out the jams as hard as ever, especially if their latest single, “White Bat,” is an accurate indication. It’s safe to assume so, and to roll out to this show ready to headbang. There’s a ton of local and regional talent on the bill to support this one and keep you rocking all night, but if we’re honest, He Is Legend is what it’s all about. That’s right… I said it.

Saturday, March 16, 9 PM
Post-Rock The Block, feat. Kristeva, Colin Phils, Desert Altar, Righter @ The Camel – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
If we’re honest, we’ll all admit that Shamrock The Block is always a bit of a mess. A Saint Patrick’s Day party in the middle of the street with green beer everywhere? What could go wrong? But seriously, whether you attend with glee or avoid that entire part of town all day, we can all agree that it’ll be nice to have a relaxing come-down party at The Camel that night. The fact that Kristeva and Colin Phils will be headlining an evening of post-rock to soothe your nerves, calm your troubled brain, and help you regain your equilibrium.

Kristeva are a post-rock group in the classic sense, complete with lengthy, dynamic instrumentals and plentiful integration of everything from violins to delay pedals. They’ll be celebrating the release of their new cassette, Goliad, which features some downright beautiful melodies as well as some moments of dramatic volume. Goliad is an evocative, enjoyable listen, and Kristeva’s live set is sure to be all that and more/louder. They’re joined by Colin Phils, who’ve done an excellent job of making their name as a math-rock powerhouse since arriving in Richmond from Korea a few years ago. We can expect another helping of their magical excellence once they hit the stage this Saturday night too. And with Desert Altar bringing some stoner doom jams and Righter kicking off the night in proper indie fashion, this whole thing is sure to be a much-needed boost.

Sunday, March 17, 9 PM
Lounge Lizzard, Pissing Contest, The Skin @ Bandito’s – Free!

This one promises to be fun, even beyond the usual fun quotient to be had from a nacho-loaded free show at Bandito’s. Lounge Lizzard, a quartet that up until now has had very little music available, are releasing their new tape at this show. Based on what I’ve previously heard from this project featuring members from Toxic Moxie, Pissing Contest, Cremains, and more, it’s landed pretty squarely on the sort of snarling yet subtly melodic punk sound that was invented in California at the dawn of punk by legends like The Avengers (who had nothing to do with the Marvel Cinematic Universe) and The Dils.

Of course, there’s a good bit of 21st-century metallic crunch in there, as well as Sera Stavroula’s always-incredible vocal prowess, which all of us Toxic Moxie fans are intimately familiar with by now. Meanwhile, if you don’t already know Pissing Contest, you’re in luck, because this local snotty punk group is playing this show as well. They literally start a song by yelling “One-two-fuck-you!” so you know what you’re in for. Expect bondage pants and spray-painted leather jackets. Enjoyably strange noise-rock group The Skin will open this one up, marking their first live performance in quite a while and a welcome return indeed. The punks will dig this one, for sure — as will anyone who enjoys some good clean irreverent fun. For your sake, I hope that category includes you.

Monday, March 18, 7 PM
Lucifer, Spell, The Astral Void @ The Camel – $15 (order tickets HERE)

The classic days of the Satanic panic and me having to hide my Slayer tapes from my mom didn’t happen until the 80s, but in hindsight, it seems like metal’s prime days of pagan witchery and dark hints of the occult began back in the early 70s with first-wave metal bands like Black Widow, Coven, and Pentagram. Lucifer have only been around for half a decade themselves, but this Swedish group manages to perfectly hark back to that classic spooky time in metal on their latest album, Lucifer II.

Now they’re bringing that sound to Richmond, with a performance at The Camel on Monday night. Don’t expect the typical “retro-doom” thing from this band — vocalist Johanna Sadonis’s dulcet tones bring strong melodies into the mix, and the addition in 2017 of legendary Swedish metal musician Nicke Andersson (Entombed, Hellacopters) to Lucifer has added a definite taste of psychedelic astral-plane soaring to the overall mix. Basically, if you’re looking for the kind of music that would be right at home on the soundtrack to a sun-baked film about pagan bikers carving a trail of death and destruction across California in 1970, this group will bring it to life for you, right here onstage at The Camel. Hell of a way to spend your Monday night, am I right? You won’t get another chance like this, so don’t blow it.

Tuesday, March 19, 7:30 PM
Bear Bones, Castle Black, Strawberry Moon, Turbo Mansion, Leach @ Champion RVA – Free!

It’s been really nice to see shows happening more often at Champion as we’ve headed into 2019. Every venue willing to pick up the slack after the staggering loss of Strange Matter is a positive thing for the health of our live music scene. And Champion’s got a proven track record of putting on some pretty great shows, too, so this free Tuesday night show at Champion stands in good company.

This one finds our city playing host to two touring bands from various points around the country, as well as some rad local mainstays. Bear Bones are a duo from Detroit with a heavy sound that’s in no way hampered by their lack of a bass player. Meanwhile, New York’s Castle Black have more of a driving rock sound, one that can go in more of a heavy direction or a darkly melodic one — both are demonstrated capably on their 2018 EP, The Gods That Adored You. Both of these bands will rock you hard at Champion Tuesday night, and of course, local openers Strawberry Moon, Turbo Mansion, and Leach all have sounds of their own that are well worth hearing if you haven’t been acquainted with them yet. And if you have, why not check ’em out again? This one is worth the trip out on a Tuesday night, so go ahead and make it.

Bonus Hampton Roads Picks:

Friday, March 15, 8 PM
Antenora, Gutted Christ, Serpentshrine @ RiffHouse Pub – $5

Heavy music always has a home in the Tidewater area, and that’s never a bad thing. Over at RiffHouse this Friday night, you metalheads will get to experience a treat, as North Carolina shredders Antenora join up with Hampton Roads locals Gutted Christ for a show full of chunky riffs, shrieking vocals, and blasting drums. Antenora have a bit more of a black metal-derived thing going on, although that whole At The Gates-ish Gothenburg sound shows through quite a bit as well on their album Horrors, released last fall. These guys are sure to get heads banging at the RiffHouse.

The same can certainly be said of VA Beach’s Gutted Christ, though they take more of a low-end path to get there. Where Antenora pulls more from Northern European thrash, Gutted Christ show some strong Southern death metal influences, with guttural vocals and double bass aplenty. 2016 LP The Sower Ov Discord shows a definite Florida/Morrisound influence that’s sure to please the Morbid Angel fans out there. The evening will begin with a set from Norfolk’s Serpentshrine, who split the difference between the other two bands on this bill by harking back to the early days of both black metal and death metal. Their latest EP, Occultum Exordium, is sure to please fans of Bathory and of Autopsy equally, just as this show will get all flavors of metalheads stomping around with hair flying.

Tuesday, March 19, 7 PM
No Convictions, Knife Spitter, Yet To Fall, Dissention, MJ Le’vay, Spasyt Out @ RiffHouse Pub
– $8
That whole Shattered Realm school of ridiculously heavy hardcore hasn’t died out, y’all, and if you need proof, look no further than this show from Florida’s No Convictions at RiffHouse. Deep, deep vocals, blasting fast parts, borderline-sludgy breakdowns, and to top all that off, they actually do mosh calls on their 2018 self-titled EP, just to get you even more hyped to do spinkicks in front of your bedroom mirror.

Imagine how much harder all that’s gonna hit when it happens live onstage, and you’re well on your way to imagining just how crazy this Tuesday night show promises to be. Be prepared to call in to work the next morning, because if you don’t mosh yourself into oblivion during No Convictions’ set, you can rest assured that Maryland’s Knife Spitter will take you the rest of the way there. These guys are more about the brutal breakdowns than the low-end sludge, but once you’re in the pit, who’s splitting hairs? This is looking like a guaranteed head-walking good time (even if the opening acts, as is somewhat standard for Hampton Roads these days, are … kinda random), so start doing your leg stretches now.


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

RVA Shows You Must See This Week: 1/31-2/6

Marilyn Drew Necci | January 31, 2018

Topics: Andrew McEvoy, Between 2 Beers, Charmer, Classical Revolutions, Cory's Big Sloppy Hate Fest, Cremains, Des Demonas, Django Tango, Dweebs, Enemy Exorcism, Genocide Pact, Jars Full Of Blood In Hell: Action Unit III, Kryptcest, Left Cross, Lola Pistola, Magnus Lush, Mammoth Grinder, Maximum Zero, McCormack's, Mom Jeans, Musket Hawk, Nerve Rot, No Mas, Occulta, Oso Oso, Paint Fumes, Phlegm, Pissing Contest, shows you must see, Stake, Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb, strange matter, The Camel, The HofGarden, Tiny Moving Parts, Toward Space, Uncle Buck, Van Hagar, War Bonds

FEATURED SHOW
Friday, February 2 & Saturday, February 3, 8 PM
Cory’s Big Sloppy Hate Fest Round 2, feat. Day 1: Charmer, No Mas, Jars Full Of Blood In Hell: Action Unit III, War Bonds, Cremains; Day 2: Uncle Buck, Nerve Rot, Kryptcest, Van Hagar, Musket Hawk @ McCormack’s – Free!
Guess who’s back? OK yes, the show column is back after a week’s hiatus… but that’s not what I’m talking about! Nope, it’s Between 2 Beers Productions, still cranking out the shit-hot metal spectaculars after several years of nonstop booking all around Shockoe Bottom and beyond! B2B majordomo Cory Nicholas is taking things to a higher gear at the start of 2018 by returning to a winning tactic for a jam-packed weekend of brutality. Cory’s Big Sloppy Hate Fest is back for another round, and it’ll be taking over the upstairs room at McCormack’s in the Bottom for two straight nights of carnage. Strap in, folks.

Night one is full of grind, power violence, and other blastbeat-related genres full of speed and noise. DC’s No Mas are the star attraction on this bill, dishing out a Rotten Sound/Nasum-ish brand of extremely metallic crust-grind, laced with the occasional killer Anthrax-style mosh break. Virginia Beach heshers War Bonds have somehow landed on a sound that mixes thicknecked tough-guy mosh with death metal, or something like that. It definitely has its charms. As for locals, Charmer’s been plying their ripping speedcore around town for a while now, but still don’t seem to be getting the attention they deserve–let’s fix that, shall we? Meanwhile, the incredibly named Jars Full Of Blood In Hell: Action Unit III seems to be shooting for some mix of bass-drum grind a la No Comply and 80s-action-worship a la Graf Orlock. Color me intrigued.

On Saturday night, the hits keep on coming, with two excellent Maryland bands at the top of the bill. Uncle Buck takes a different approach to the 80s-movie theme, but their songs fly by so fast and hit so hard you’re not even gonna worry about it. Recommended for fans of Lack Of Interest and other prime Slap A Ham classics. Musket Hawk are not in as big of a rush but their thrashcore-meets-death metal approach to riffage hits every bit as hard. Local grind stalwarts Van Hagar are also on board, and word is they’re hard at work on an LP, so you can expect some killer new material from these freaks. VB low-end death ragers Kryptcest, as well as the first live appearance of Nerve Rot (featuring members of US Bastards and Unmaker) round out a killer night that’ll keep you full of sloppy hate for weeks to come. The best part is that this entire two-day shindig is free; at that price, how can you say no?

Wednesday, January 31, 8 PM
Des Demonas, Paint Fumes, Stake @ Strange Matter – $10 (order tickets HERE)
Oh wow. Usually when these retro-garage style bands hit town, I’m ready for a whole lot of rocking with very little intellectual thought behind it. And that’s awesome — sometimes it’s exactly what a body needs, and I can definitely recognize that. However, Des Demonas are coming from a whole different perspective, primarily because of their  singer, Jacky Cougar Abok. This intense Kenyan firebrand shifts on the self-titled Des Demonas debut LP (released in December on In The Red) between raging rock n’ roll delivery and outright Gil Scott-Heron style political declamations, the most formidable of which is album opener “The South Will Never Rise Again.”

“You can build a big fucking wall between the border of the United States and Mexico but the South will never rise again,” Abok declares, not an ounce of amusement in his voice. Backed by members of veteran DC punk and garage combos like The Make-Up, Medications, and Kid Congo Powers’ Pink Monkey Birds, Abok and his compatriots bring a foreboding, midnight-dark feel to the whole garage-punk thing, much like Ex-Cult, who are personal faves, so you know I’m in. Get ready to dance, but don’t turn your brain off just yet, because Des Demonas are gonna make you use it. Paint Fumes, who’ve made plenty of friends in RVA over their decade or so of existence, are back in support of their year-or-so-old second LP, the excellently titled If It Ain’t Paint Fumes It Ain’t Worth A Huff. And of course, if Paint Fumes are playing, it can’t be much of a surprise that Chaz Tick’s latest project, Stake, are opening up. Killer.

Thursday, February 1, 8 PM
Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb, Enemy Exorcism, Pissing Contest, Maximum Zero @ McCormack’s – $5
More fun, more punk, more Between 2 Beers excellence… it’s shaping up to be that kind of week. I never thought I’d be recommending as many McCormack’s shows as Strange Matter shows, but here we are, and there’s definitely some credit due to Cory and the B2B crew for that one. And hey, it doesn’t hurt that they’re consistently bringing good bands to town — in this case, Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb, who hail from up around DC way. I’m sure I’m not the only one here who’s a sucker for a Dr. Strangelove reference, and it also doesn’t hurt that this band has found a way to do straight-up old-school punk riffage with a melodic sense that is almost power-pop in its sugary goodness. Think Sheer Mag riffs played by the Adolescents, or the Dead Boys stealing licks from the Raspberries — something like that.

Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb are joined on this bill by a triple threat of Richmond punk reprobates, which is headed up by Enemy Exorcism. I’m kind of surprised to see this band’s name on a bill again, as it’s been a few years since they were really around too much, and as the only recorded evidence of their sound I’m aware of dates back to the dawn of this decade, I can’t really tell you how much they have or haven’t changed in the intervening years either. But I’m definitely curious, I’ll say that. Pissing Contest are way less of a mystery, and more of an institution around town. They’re mainly punk in the riff style but just tight enough and crunchy enough to be vaguely metallic. Not bad! And then of course there’s Maximum Zero, the fake Soviet band who pop up every now and then with another entertaining twist on a bizarre gimmick. I’m ready for another dose — how about you?

Friday, February 2, 8 PM
Lola Pistola, Magnus Lush, Toward Space @ Strange Matter – $8 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
If you’re anything like me, you hear the name Lola Pistola and think, “Oh damn, is this another garage-punk show?” But here’s the thing — it’s not! Lola Pistola is not just a musical project but a person, or at least a persona, who leads this Brooklyn combo, and she gives it an intriguing sound that is hard to pin down. Last year’s Curfew was an excellent LP that roamed the entire musical landscape over the course of its 10 songs, from the Hole-style moody alt-rock of “Carroll St” and the jangle-punk of “I’m Stupid” to the hazy acoustic ambience of “Doomed” and the gloomy balladry of “Friday Night.”

So what will Strange Matter goers get from this band/frontwoman’s performance this Friday night? It may not be that easy to predict from moment to moment, but it’s sure to entrance and enlighten showgoers. One thing that holds strong throughout Lola Pistola’s varied discography is an assured songwriting talent that brings us a strong, clear voice. That voice is our guide through the many musical moods it wanders, and it stays true throughout. The RVA locals opening up bring us their own strong voices despite different musical approaches; Magnus Lush’s complex yet tough take on post-hardcore, or maybe postpunk, lands somewhere in the neighborhood of both Fugazi and the Bush Tetras. Toward Space mix the Shangri-La’s with the King Khan & BBQ Show, bringing raging retro rock n’ roll with a heart of gold. It’s all gravy.

Saturday, February 3, 8 PM
Mammoth Grinder, Genocide Pact, Occvlta, Left Cross @ Strange Matter – $12 (order tickets HERE)
Mammoth Grinder is back, in more ways than one! This Texas band has finally released their fourth album, Cosmic Crypt, after a five-year break; also, they’re coming back to RVA, which is especially nice now that the band features two Richmond locals in the form of Iron Reagan’s Ryan Parrish and Mark Bronzino. Does this mean we can say they’re coming HOME? Well, let’s not get too excited, as frontman Chris Ulsh’s loyalties still lie very much with Austin, where he swings the sticks for living thrash legends Power Trip. But it’s hard to remain complacent when faced with an incredible album like Cosmic Crypt — that old-school death metal sound that’s been getting such a workout in recent years is done to perfection here.

Indeed, I’m sure a dubbed cassette of this album would go right into heavy rotation if it were taken 25 years back in time and dropped into the waiting Camaro (or Chevette, as the case may be) of any suburban headbanger. But its retro appeal is no strike against it, and honestly I’d take this album over most of the early Obituary albums I cut my teeth on back then. Yeah, I said it. Genocide Pact, who are on tour with Mammoth Grinder, have an even newer album (this show occurs only one day after its official release), Order Of Torment, which also harks back to the early 90s prime of first-wave death metal — though this time, I’m thinking more of Incantation. Whatever, the point is it’ll get your neck snapping, as will a bonus set from German thrashers Occvlta, whose killer take on early black metal fits right into the early-90s evocation of this whole bill. Left Cross kick the whole thing off, and they’re always a treat, so show up on time!

Sunday, February 4, 8 PM
Classical Revolution RVA presents Andrew McEvoy, Django Tango @ The HofGarden – $6 in advance/$8 at the door (order tickets HERE)
If you’re thinking that this column has leaned really hard on punk and metal so far this week, rest assured I’m thinking the same thing. Variety is the spice of life, and we all need to change it up from time to time, so this Sunday night full of classical guitar performances, being presented by Classical Revolution. Admittedly, I don’t know a ton about classical music of any kind, but this one sounds intriguing. Guitarist Andrew McEvoy will be performing solo, doing his new album Parlor Tricks. This album, which features pieces by Chopin, Villa-Lobos, and Dyens, among others, was put together by McEvoy to demonstrate the influence that folk rhythms had on the music of Parisian high society.

That’s a fascinating enough premise for me right there. And when you add in a performance by Django Tango, a local trio who pay tribute to the early 20th-century Romani guitar master Django Reinhardt and his hot-swinging Manouche jazz sound, I’m definitely hooked. Reinhardt’s swinging sound had its own effect on the sounds of Parisian society in the 30s, and was one of the major movements in jazz music in general at the time. This night won’t have you banging your head, and you can leave your earplugs at home, but where entertaining musical spectacles are concerned, this one’s as good as any death-metal extravaganza.

Monday, February 5, 8 PM
Phlegm, Dweebs @ McCormack’s – $5
Speaking of death metal extravaganzas, though, we’ve still got one more for ya this week, and even though right now the bill only features two bands, the presence of Phlegm at the top of it is really all you need. Phlegm are hardly the most famous death metal band to exist in the history of the genre, but they were on the scene from the beginning, forming in 1988 and becoming a Rhode Island legend through their demos and their work booking touring bands in their area.

Since their breakup in the early 90s, Phlegm have developed a steady cult following, and in the wake of their reformation several years ago, and a 2015 double-disc reissue of all their early demos entitled Consumed By The Dead, they’ve kept at it with a higher profile than ever. So even with only one random opener on the bill, they’re still worth the trip down to Shockoe Bottom all by themselves. I have no idea who Dweebs are, but I’m pretty sure they’re not the ridiculous-seeming family band from Wisconsin that keeps showing up on google searches… I guess we’ll all find out together! And then Phlegm will run us over and it’ll be awesome.

Tuesday, February 6, 6:30 PM
Tiny Moving Parts, Mom Jeans, Oso Oso @ The Camel – $13 in advance/$15 at the door (order tickets HERE)
OK yes, Tiny Moving Parts have been to Richmond within the past nine months or so, and yes, I sent you to that show too, but OMG I’m still so excited about this, because they have a new album out and it’s probably the best thing they’ve done to date. Considering how much I loved 2016’s Celebrate, that’s a strong recommendation to say the least, but seriously, Swell (which came out just last Friday) is even MORE crammed with indelible melodies than the last album, and still hits that same level of passionate emotional intensity. And on top of all that, I feel like it’s even more energetic and bouncy… basically, what I’m telling you is that this already-great band got better in every way.

Is that enough to get you in the door at The Camel on Tuesday night? Or do you need even more? Well, if you’re on the latter side of things, the fact that Mom Jeans is on this bill will surely sway you. At least I’d hope so. This melodic emo band has a bit more of a lovelorn feel than Tiny Moving Parts, but between their name and the fact that they recently followed up their debut LP, Best Buds, with a three-way split EP called NOW That’s What I Call Music Vol. 420, it’s clear that they have a sense of humor as well. In the world of emo, that can be a pretty difficult quantity to come by, so whoever’s gonna lay it on us at any point is a welcome presence on a bill that, in all honesty, is gonna see 90 percent of attendees getting all choked up at some point. Openers Oso Oso (“bear bear” in English) bring some more upbeat punky sounds to the whole emo thing, so while all of these bands will tug at your heartstrings, none of them will take quite the same musical approach to do so. Variety is, after all, the spice of life.

—-

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 by xKgB Productions

RVA Shows You Must See This Week: 12/2-12/8

Marilyn Drew Necci | December 2, 2015

Topics: Alfred, Ataraxis The Ace, Battlemaster, Captive Eyes, Circle Thrift, Counterparts, Dazeases, Deicide, Dharma Bombs, Fit For An Autopsy, gallery 5, Gemtone, Genocide Pact, Jake Barkley, Kaoru Nagisa, Kublai Khan, Marques Berry, MNLV+Chi, Night Idea, Pissing Contest, Red Light Rodeo, Season Of Suffering, Seraph, shows you must see, Stephen McCarthy, strange matter, Subvert, The Acacia Strain, The Broadberry, The Canal Club, The Dream Syndicate, The Green Hearts, The Pack 5, Todd Matthews, Truman, Unsacred, Van Hagar, Wester Green, Yonder

FEATURE SHOW
Saturday, December 5, 8 PM
The Dream Syndicate, Stephen McCarthy & Friends, The Green Hearts @ Strange Matter – $15 (order tickets HERE)

The Dream Syndicate’s show at Strange Matter this Saturday is an important event not just in the RVA music scene but in the music world in general.
[Read more…] about RVA Shows You Must See This Week: 12/2-12/8

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