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VA Shows You Must See This Week: January 2 – January 7

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FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, January 4, 9 PM
Djanuary, feat. Stu Kindle, Sweet Potatoes Music, The Pop-Up Duo, Lil Jimmy & The Robinsons @ The Dark Room – $5
Well folks, it’s 2020. We made it through another holiday season — and another decade — alive, and it’s time to get our bearings and ease into yet another year here in Trump’s America. And what better way to get a non-stressful start on the 20’s (finally, a decade with an abbreviation that makes sense!) than with a week heavy with the wonderful sounds of jazz?

That’s what we’ve got for you this week, and at the top of the list is Djanuary, a year-beginning celebration of legendary Romani jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt masterminded by local ukulele strummer Stu Kindle. Reinhardt was one of the first guitarists and first Europeans to exert a strong influence on jazz, a feat made that much more remarkable by the fact that he only had the use of three fingers on his left hand due to an injury he sustained in a fire at the beginning of his career. Reinhardt’s integration of Romani folk music, and focus on stringed instruments rather horns and woodwinds, helped kickstart an entire genre known as “gypsy jazz.”

You can hear a strong influence from Reinhardt’s approach on Stu Kindle’s own agile, speedy ukulele technique, which makes it eminently appropriate that he’s the Richmond musician spearheading this entire evening. He’ll be joined in this evening-long tribute to Django Reinhardt by a variety of local talents including jazz combo Sweet Potatoes Music, the acoustic jazz-folk of Pop-Up Duo, and swinging acoustic string band Lil Jimmy and the Robinsons (which also features Kindle on ukulele). It won’t be loud, it won’t be heavy, but rest assured, Djanuary at The Dark Room definitely will be hot.

Thursday, January 2, 7 PM
Plastic Nancy, Hollywood Cemetery, Big Fundamental, Cleophus James @ Poor Boys – $5
I can’t imagine anyone isn’t glad to see Poor Boys and PRSMCAT carrying on the banner of Locals Only in this post-Strange Matter era — and it’s even better when it results in a rock-solid bill like this one. Plastic Nancy top the bill with some pretty outstanding psych-pop alt-rock that hit a new high on recent single “Think Of Now.” I for one can’t wait to see what their next batch of tunes sounds like — and chances are we’ll get at least a little bit of a preview tonight!

Hollywood Cemetery are a newer group from right here in the river city, but they’ve certainly got their sound locked down tight if recent EP Sweet Dreams is any indication; I never would have thought the mixture of catchy emo pop and Interpol-style postpunk drama would be anywhere near this much fun, but I’m happy to stand corrected. Alt-rockers Big Fundamental and soulful postpunks Cleophus James (old-person points for you if you know the reference) round out a killer bill of talented Richmond groups you should be paying attention to in the new decade.

Friday, January 3, 7 PM
Opin (Photo by Joey Wharton), ADAR, Velocity 128, Bri Bevan @ Gallery 5 – Free!
Gallery 5 turns 15 this year (as does RVA Mag — watch this space), and they’re showing no signs of slowing down as they roll into 2020 with an awesome art show featuring custom-made toys. That alone should make turning up at their free First Friday event a no-brainer, but the musicians they’ll have on hand only make it that much more essential. Opin, the post-White Laces group featuring members of Magnus Lush, Night Idea, and Navi, among others, is currently gearing up to release the long-awaited follow-up to their 2017 self-titled debut.

New single “No. 3” finds Opin in powerful form, with driving rock rhythms, multi-layered synths, and an incredible vocal melody overtop of it all. Can’t wait for more where that came from. This show will also feature DC retro synthwave duo Velocity 128, turning the whole place into the dancefloor from an 80s crime movie, as well as a performance by Charlottesville jazz-soul-rock hybrid ADAR. Local singer-songwriter Bri Bevan rounds out an excellent bill you’re sure to enjoy — get there.

Saturday, January 4, 10 PM
The Gilberts, Black Plastic, Lounge Lizzard @ City Dogs – Free!
It’s rare for too many bands to be touring around the holiday times, so this early into a new year, you’ve got to expect a lot of locally-focused shows. Fortunately for us, Richmond has a wonderful music scene that in no way, shape, or form has any need of out-of-town bands to make for excellent live musical experiences. For example, this Saturday, we’ve got this outstanding three-band local bill happening at City Dogs, the Main Street hotspot that was, in the early days of the 21st century, home to one of the best live venues in the city — the glorious chaos that was Nara Sushi.

City Dogs may or may not get as wild on this Saturday night as Nara used to back in its prime, but the music is certainly worthy of excitement regardless of how crazy y’all get out there in the crowd. Local quintet The Gilberts dish out indie-pop tunes with a shambling punk spirit. Black Plastic raves up with some driving alternative rock tuneage. And then there’s Lounge Lizzard, whose vocalist, Sera Stavroula, will be celebrating a birthday this evening — they’ll rise to the occasion with a big dose of their raging metallic punk sound. It all adds up to an evening you’re sure to enjoy, especially in light of the lack of cover charge. Use your cash to grab some chili dogs instead! Just be sure you don’t take them into the pit — that’s always a sloppy proposition.

Sunday, January 5, 8 PM
Brydge/Williams/Kartari @ Cary Street Cafe – Free!
Get ready for the first full work week of the new year — and the first non-holiday week since back in the first half of December — with this evening of fine jazz sounds over at Cary Street Cafe. Bassist Chris Brydge has worked with a lot of local jazz talents around town, including JC Kuhl, Fred Hibbard, and quite a few others. He usually does so in the company of drummer Emre Kartari, his rhythm-section partner in crime. And this evening finds the two of them together once again, this time working with saxophonist Eddie Williams.

This same lineup has performed gigs under the name The Eddie Williams Trio as well, so will the equal billing for the three indicate a different instrumental priority in this performance? The improvisational nature of jazz as a musical style all but guarantees we won’t know until the three musicians take the stage, but regardless of how it all plays out, we can certainly expect some outstanding bebop sounds from this trio of instrumental talents. Just what we all need so we can face the boss on Monday, right?

Monday, January 6, 8 PM
Zack Mexico, Landon Elliott, The Flavor Project, Manzara @ The Camel – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
North Carolina group Zack Mexico have an intriguing approach to the art of creating psychedelic indie music, and you can tell the second they start setting up their gear. Beginning as a quartet, the group has expanded significantly in their decade together, most prominently with the addition of a second drummer. Seeing two full kits up there onstage is always powerful, and this band’s laid-back, tuneful approach does indeed carry a lot of power, even as it is often wielded with a subtle grace.

This is part of why Richmond singer-songwriter Landon Elliott is such a good match for Zack Mexico, musically. Elliott’s recently-released LP, Domino, shows off strong songcraft, making judicious use of 80s-style production and instrumentation at times while always first and foremost serving the gorgeous, introspective pop songs Elliott creates with a natural ease. It will be a treat to see this multi-layered sound come to life on the Camel’s stage this Monday night. The Flavor Project and Manzara will round out this eclectic bill with injections of funky Latin hip hop and dark, heavy postpunk. It’s sure to be a good time.

Tuesday, January 7, 8 PM
Dexter Moses & Marcus Tenney @ The Dark Room – $5
This Tuesday brings more jazz to the Dark Room, in the form of a meeting between two talented local saxophonists. Dexter Moses is the younger of the two, a blazing jazz talent who is still too young to order a beer at the HofGarden bar (at least for a few more weeks), but has been making a name for himself around town since his high school days. His skills at sax are worthy of a player twice his age.

Marcus Tenney isn’t quite there yet — his 2019 LP Triple Trey was a celebration of his having reached 33 years of age — but anyone who pays the slightest bit of attention to the local jazz, funk, and hip hop scenes is sure to know that he’s got a ton of talent in his own right, whether he’s showing it off in Butcher Brown, No BS! Brass Band, hip hop duo Tennison, or as the leader of his own jazz quartet. What sort of fireworks will ensue when the veteran comes together with the young gun in a fiery sax duo on the stage of the Dark Room? Something you’ll definitely want to see.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Saturday, January 4, 5 PM
True Body, You’re Jovian, Gone, Carnival Bird @ Smartmouth Brewing (Norfolk) – Free!
Down Norfolk way, Smartmouth Brewing’s warehouse seems to be about the closest thing they’ve got to Richmond’s wonderful Hardywood — a place predominantly concerned with creating craft beer (which I know the kids all love), which also brings the area some excellent free musical performances on a somewhat regular basis (now this is what I’M here for). They’re kicking off the year with exactly that sort of thing this Saturday as they bring us all a live performance by Norfolk gothic-postpunk ensemble True Body.

True Body haven’t given us a new helping of their dark, dramatic, synth-driven sound since the 2017 “Over It”/”Tourists” single, and that was three years ago now, so catching them live has become a must. Plus, they’re joined on this bill by fellow Norfolkers You’re Jovian, whose shoegazey indie-rock sound is always a hazy delight. There’s also a band called Gone on this bill, and all I can tell you for sure is that they’re not the same Gone featuring ex-members of Black Flag. But we do have a bit more information about Virginia Beach’s Carnival Bird, an indie-electro-pop duo featuring members of Radflux and Berries who will return to the stage at this event for the first time in over a year. So yeah, all of this is definitely worth being present for — especially since it won’t cost you anything to get in.

Sunday, January 5, 6 PM
Watersdeep, Route 29, Old Old, Good Grief @ Flipside Lounge (Fredericksburg) – $5
I freely admit that I don’t know as much about Fredericksburg’s music scene as I’d like to, but I’m always trying to learn, so I’m glad to have discovered a new F-burg venue to keep an eye on — Flipside Lounge, which is starting the new year off right by presenting this bill of catchy emo-punk groups from throughout the Old Dominion (should I be capitalizing those letters? Shrug). Watersdeep, at the top of the bill, are technically from DC, but close enough, right?

The Watersdeep boys refer to their sound as “sadboi pop-punk,” and if you enjoy bands like Saves The Day, Taking Back Sunday, and Knuckle Puck as much as I do, you’re sure to get a charge out of this band’s energetic, intense sound. Route 29, who coincidentally enough hail from my own hometown of Warrenton, have more of an indie feel, but still draw on emotional undercurrents that give their music a welcome resonance. Blacksburg’s Old Old are tough to google for, but reward the tenacious internet searcher with both a tough side and a sweet sensitivity. The entire evening kicks off with some fine power pop from Good Grief. Taken as a whole, it’s more than worth the hour’s drive up 95.

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Top Photo: Django Reinhardt in 1946, by William P. Gottlieb, Public Domain, via Wikimedia/Library of Congress

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: November 27 – December 3

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

FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, November 30, 7 PM
St. Edwards Reunion Show, feat. Fun Size (Photo by Joey Wharton), Broken Chains Of Segregation, Uphill Down, Knuckle Hed, 500$Fine, Phelics @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $10 (order tickets HERE)
We’re used to believing that in the age of the internet, everything lives forever. Of course, if you had a Geocities site 20 years ago or a MySpace account 10 years ago, you know that isn’t true, but still. What about stuff from before the internet, though? How much history that still exists within living memory is totally unknown to everyone that wasn’t there at the time? To be more specific: how many of my readers under the age of 35 have any idea that the basement cafeteria of a Catholic school in Chesterfield County was once one of the more consistent music venues in the Richmond area?

I know, it sounds crazy! And yet, for a time in the late 90s, St. Edwards Epiphany School on Huguenot Road acted as a gateway for an entire generation of suburban high schoolers to get into the music scene. It seemed like a safe place to drop your curious 12 year old — because it very much was — and everyone from teenage pop-punk bands to downtown stalwarts played there on at least a semi-regular basis.

Of course, for the most part, you can’t hear any of the bands that were St. Edwards regulars anymore — at least, not the way they were heard at the time. Their primitive 4-track demo cassettes may have been digitized at some point, but the recording technology 18 year olds had access to at the time wasn’t the greatest, and almost none of these bands left behind recordings that captured the immediacy and joy of seeing them live. Therefore, we can all be grateful that, this Saturday night, half a dozen of the most memorable veterans of St. Edwards’ basement stage will be back together once again, doing a set for old times’ sake down at Capital Ale House.

Fun Size is still around today, so you may have caught their catchy, emotional pop-punk sound at one point or another. But 500$Fine’s bassist, Patrick Daly, tragically died at the age of 16, so this performance, with Bradley Lile of fellow St. Edwards stalwarts Cloud 13 filling Patrick’s spot on bass, will be their first in over two decades. Their fiery, political take on reggae-influenced melodic punk made them Chesterfield’s own high-school Clash for a couple of years. If you’ve never seen them before, you need to fix that. Descendents-style melodic punks Uphill Down will also be returning to action for the first time in a very long time, and a lot of us are itching for our chance to sing along with “Time Bomb” once again.

I’m way over on word count for this section, but I just can’t stop until I mention the Rage Against The Machine-meets-Quicksand midtempo political hardcore stylings of Broken Chains Of Segregation — the only band on this bill I never got to see the first time around (though I did see post-BCS act Conscience, so I’m not a total poser). We also can’t forget Knuckle Hed’s classic snotty pop-punk sound — show up to find out if frontman Brooks Cullum is still as wild onstage as he used to be — and Amelia County’s own Phelics, the emo boys from the country with the catchy tunes about life in the sticks. I know most of you weren’t there the first time, and have no reason to care about all these bands you’ve never heard of, but nonetheless, this is a one-time look back at an important chapter in Richmond music history, and you’d be a fool to pass up an opportunity to see so many of the bands that did the work to get us here today.

Wednesday, November 27, 10 PM
The Shack Band‘s Ninth Annual Gravy Ball @ Tobacco Company Club – $10
Thanksgiving is a great time of year to be a fan of jam bands. I don’t know what it is about this holiday — maybe it’s association with good times, good food, and good friends — but it brings out the best in all our local jam-rockers, and The Shack Band is no exception. For almost a decade now, they’ve been bringing out their sax-driven melodic jams for a super-fun pre-Thanksgiving throwdown known as the Gravy Ball. For year nine of the Gravy Ball, they’ve taken over the basement of the Tobacco Company to bring you two full sets of catchy tunes with plenty of sauce. So spice things up on the last night before the big family meal — you’ll be glad you did.

Thursday, November 28, 10 PM
Funky Monks @ Cary Street Cafe – Free!
Thanksgiving Day is like Christmas Day, in that it’s hard to find live music in which to partake. Most people are visiting family or gathering with a big crew of friends. But if all your peeps are out of town and you’ve got nowhere to go and no one to chill with, Cary Street Cafe has got you covered this year, because the Funky Monks will be doing one of their classic tributes to the Red Hot Chili Peppers — the pre-2006 stuff, when they were still good. This group takes things back to the good ol’ days by reuniting two of the three Santamaria Brothers, Andres and Gabe, who will delight you with live performances of all those Blood Sugar Sex Magik classics. Don’t spend Thanksgiving alone — bring your tube sock down to Cary Street Cafe and get funky with the monks.

Friday, November 29, 8 PM
Keller Williams’ Thanksforgrassgiving, feat. Keller Williams & The Keels, Lindsay Lou @ The National – $23 (order tickets HERE)
So bluegrass isn’t jam-band music, but in this day and age it’s about the closest you can get, at least culturally, so it’s no surprise that another big Thanksgiving throwdown taking place in Richmond this week is bluegrass-centered. Keller Williams has been making music with bluegrass as a foundation for over 25 years now, and he’ll be celebrating his mix of that classic Kentucky folk music and farther-reaching influences like reggae, jazz, and psychedelia with his Thanksforgrassgiving show on Friday night at The National.

For this show, Williams will be playing with Keller & The Keels, his trio with Larry and Jenny Keel, spotlighting their brand-new third album, Speed. This one’s a fun one, as it features bluegrass-style interpretations of popular tunes by such diverse artists as Weezer, Fiona Apple, and The Presidents Of The United States Of America. It should be a blast to see Williams and the Keels up there doing pedal-to-the-metal bluegrass versions of “Hash Pipe” and “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and if your family Thanksgiving is as tough on your nerves as mine often can be, a little unmitigated fun will be a huge relief.

Saturday, November 30, 8 PM
J. Roddy Walston & The Business @ The National – $20.50 in advance/$23 at the door (order tickets HERE)
This was a tough choice, y’all. For a holiday week, there’s a ton going on this Saturday — Sammi Lanzetta and Tyler Meacham both have record release parties, Cattle Decapitation and Atheist are at the Canal Club, and there’s a big emo-friendsgiving thing happening at the Broadberry. But I felt like I would be doing you a disservice if I sent you anywhere but back to the National this Saturday night to see J. Roddy Walston & the Business one last time.

Yeah, that’s right — I said “one last time.” The group has been open on social media about the fact that this performance will be their last for the foreseeable future. They might play together again at some point in the future, but right now there are no plans for such a thing. So if you loved the piano-driven heartland rock of 2013’s Essential Tremors, featuring classic banger “Heavy Bells,” or their excellent 2017 follow-up, Destroyers Of The Soft Life — or if you’re just one of the fortunate ones who knows that this group puts on an absolutely hellacious live show — you’re going to want to make it out to The National on Saturday. Because if you don’t catch them now, odds are that you’ll never have another chance.

Sunday, December 1, 9 PM
Lobby Boy, Bureau, Thin Pigeon @ Bandito’s – Free!
No matter what time of year it is, the free Sunday night shows at Bandito’s are always a treat. This weekend in particular, we’ll all probably be sick of turkey by Sunday night, so a plate of delicious nachos or tacos will be just what the doctor ordered. And of course, you’ll get some great sounds from up-and-coming Virginia bands in the side room that secretly has the best live sound of any small venue in this city. I’m serious.

What will you be listening to this fine Sunday night? Well, for starters, you get a set from Harrisonburg indie group Lobby Boy, who just released a lovely new EP called Lore! (yes, with the exclamation point) earlier this month. It mixes upbeat guitar melodies and postpunk-style synth textures with some excellent melodic vocals and catchy choruses that’ll get your feet moving. Locals Bureau have a bit of a twee pop vibe about them, which should have the Citrus City-loving indie kids in this town smiling. RVA’s own Thin Pigeon will add a dose of driving postpunk goth energy to the bill, just to bring the lights down a bit. This one will be a fine end to a fine holiday weekend.

Monday, December 2, 8 PM
Pat Keefe & Friends @ The Camel – Free!
It always takes a while to get back into the swing of things after a long holiday weekend, which is probably why your best bet on this Cyber Monday is a relatively low-key affair. Head on down to The Camel after your dreary first day back at work to chill with Dalton Dash leader Pat Keefe, who’ll join together with some friends — including members of Dalton Dash and other rad local combos — to bust out some Dash-style upbeat acoustic tunes and get a smile spreading across your face. It’s not gonna be a super-big deal, but it’ll be a lovely way to spend an evening — and it’s hard to have a problem with that, right?

Tuesday, December 3, 7 PM
Agnostic Front, Slapshot, Mutually Assured Destruction @ The Canal Club – $18 (order tickets HERE)
You hardcore heads are going to need to be back in the swing of things by Tuesday, for sure, because an absolute stunner of a bill is heading your way and you’re going to want to be at peak energy for this one. The one and only Agnostic Front are coming to town, and they’re going to play their groundbreaking first album, Victim In Pain, from front to back. Agnostic Front are given credit for pioneering the crossover thrash sound later in the 80s, but Victim In Pain was their original statement of purpose. When it was released in 1984, it defined the classic NYHC sound, and remains a fundamental building block of hardcore to this very day. Tracks like “Blind Justice,” “Your Mistake,” “Last Warning,” and the immortal title track are unparalleled classics, and I guarantee that the entire Canal Club will be on their feet and moshing for all of them.

Amazingly enough considering the history of inter-city beef, Agnostic Front will be accompanied on this tour by near-equally groundbreaking Boston hardcore stalwarts Slapshot, whose 1986 debut Back On The Map defined the sound of that city’s hardcore scene as surely as Agnostic Front had done in New York two years earlier. Expect legendary tracks like “Chip On My Shoulder,” “Hang Up Your Boots,” and “No Friend Of Mine” to get the place going almost as crazy as Agnostic Front will an hour later. And considering that brand new Richmond band Mutually Assured Destruction, featuring former members of Breakaway, Down To Nothing, and Holy Land, is opening this one up, it’s gonna be a night of urgent sounds from beginning to end. Be prepared, y’all — this one’s gonna be off the chain.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Friday, November 29, 2 PM
Dark Arts Fest 2019, feat. Arms Bizarre, NFK Nightmares, Raise Hell Over The Summer @ Smartmouth Brewing (Norfolk) – Free!
We all expect that Black Friday will be a nightmare, right? There’s no way anyone hasn’t gotten to that point yet. But what if I told you that there is a place you can go this Friday where you can have a good time, get some shopping done away from the feeding frenzy of sale-hunting Walmart haunters, and hear some great music in the bargain? Is that something you might be interested in? Yeah, I thought it might be. Smartmouth Brewing is just a short drive down I-64 for all the Richmond denizens, and is right in the heart of Norfolk. It’ll be a great destination for all your Christmas shopping needs this Friday, as their 2019 Dark Arts Festival brings us the opportunity to patronize unique artisans and partake of some lovely art throughout the afternoon.

Then starting at 6 PM, it gives us some excellent musical delights as well! Three Norfolk combos will dispense aural treats for your ears from the stage, beginning with Arms Bizarre, whose heavy yet inviting sounds split the difference between psychedelic doom and fuzzy shoegaze. NFK Nightmares bring more of a catchy punk style to your Friday evening, to get you dancing and burning off those Thanksgiving calories. And Raise Hell Over The Summer will raise hell on Black Friday with some rockin’ tunes to kick off the evening. It’s gonna be a great time — and you can’t say that about anything else you might do on Black Friday, so plan your trip to Smartmouth Brewing now.

Saturday, November 30, 8 PM
Manchester Orchestra, Foxing, oso oso @ The NorVA (Norfolk) – $25 in advance/$29 at the door (order tickets HERE)
As melodramatic, emotional indie rock goes, Manchester Orchestra have certainly established themselves as leading lights of the genre. However, ten years ago, they were still hungry young kids looking to make their mark on the world. The mark they made came in the form of a classic album called Mean Everything To Nothing, which took their sound from their promising earlier records to another level entirely, and gave a generation of emo kids the kind of melodramatic rallying cry that every coming-of-age cohort of kids needs.

Now, ten years later, Manchester Orchestra are going on tour to celebrate a decade since that album’s release. Some things have changed in the interim, from details of sound to intricacies of lineup, but Andy Hull and co. still have that fire in their guts that made them so powerful at the time of Mean Everything To Nothing’s release — something they demonstrated most recently on 2017’s A Black Mile To The Surface — and you can expect both old and new tunes to be delivered with mind-blowing power and urgency on this night.

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

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

VA Shows You Must See This Week: August 14 – August 20

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

FEATURED SHOW
Sunday, August 18, 7 PM
The Mob, Serqet, Benderheads @ Gallery 5 – $12 in advance/$15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Classic UK punk takes many forms. Defiant yet melodic bands like the Sex Pistols and The Clash are the most popular one, and made a huge imprint on the music scene for the next several decades. There’s also the rawer, angrier, melody-free political hardcore of bands like Discharge and Antisect, which led to long-running subgenres like crust and d-beat. But there’s another entire world of classic UK punk, one that is sometimes known as peace punk, or anarcho-punk, but is much harder to describe musically. It’s from that world that Somerset, England’s The Mob was born.

Associated with the loose-knit circle around anarchist punk band/label/collective Crass, The Mob were one of quite a few bands in that world who created their own original sound. Their most famous single, “No Doves Fly Here,” is almost gothic in its dirge-like gloomy sound, stretching on for nearly seven minutes and fully capturing the post-apocalyptic horror of war’s devastated aftermath. However, it’s their 1983 LP, Let The Tribe Increase, that is the peak expression of The Mob’s ominously gothic punk mood, one that connects them both to legendary 80s UK acts like Amebix and Zounds and modern Danish groups like Iceage and Lower.

The Mob disbanded in the mid-80s, but they’ve been back together in their original lineup for almost a decade now. However, this is the first time they’ve ever made it to Richmond, and you’d definitely be best advised to join with the punks who’ve been waiting to see them for the last four decades by heading to Gallery 5 this Sunday night. They’ll be joined by two Richmond punk powerhouses; their kindred spirits in postpunk crew Serqet and hardcore maniacs Benderheads. No matter how long you’ve been waiting, it’ll be worth it.

Wednesday, August 14, 9 PM
Skizophrenia, Vaaska, Under Attack, Destruct @ Mojo’s – $8-$10 donation
Japanese punk is definitely its own thing. It was born of influences carried across the oceans from the US and UK, but the effect of Japanese culture was formidable, and led to a completely different spin on hardcore punk — one that has spawned a rich cultural history over the past several decades. Skizophrenia are part of that history, and their output over the past decade and a half has made up for its relative sparseness with a fiery attack that stands as unique even within the sui generis world of Japanese punk. Which is why you should definitely make it out to Mojo’s to see them tonight.

Their raw, speedy sound manages to communicate energetic rage while not taking on any sort of heaviness or macho aggression. Instead, Skizophrenia plays a form of Japanese punk that is both melodic and fun, even as it retains the noisy, frantic elements that are so endemic to the punk rock of their native country. They’re coming through Richmond tonight in the company of Vaaska, a Texas band with whom they shared a split EP, and whose Spanish-Scandinavian crust-punk hybrid is fast and scorching in its own right. Richmond punk supergroup Under Attack and noise-core newcomers Destruct round out a bill that’s guaranteed to blow your mind.

Thursday, August 15, 9 PM
Frankie & the Witch Fingers, Weird Tears, Deli Kings @ Wonderland – $10
Frankie & the Witch Fingers sounds a lot more like a band from decades past than it does like the name of a modern band, but don’t let their throwback band name throw you off — this group has a very up-to-date take on the many genres they dip into over the course of their latest LP, ZAM, which was released back in March. Over its one-hour running time, you’ll catch everything from Blue Cheer-style proto-metal to guitar-driven acid funk to straight up rock n’ roll — all with a strong tendency toward psychedelia.

This group has had a prolific history thus far, releasing five LPs in the past seven years, and the creative energy it takes to churn out killer sounds at that kind of pace absolutely shows through in their frenetic live performances. When they hit the Wonderland stage tomorrow night, you’re going to have a lot of trouble standing still. And why would you want to? Dance the night away! You’ll also be able to enjoy the rock n’ roll sounds of Weird Tears and the psychedelic heavy-osity of Deli Kings as part of this evening, and that’s always a lovely bonus. What are you waiting for? Set the controls for Shockoe Bottom.

Friday, August 16, 8 PM
Volk, Mackenzie Roark, Toward Space @ Garden Grove Brewing – Free!
“Cowpunk” was a term you heard for a while in the 80s. It was applied to everyone from The Meat Puppets to Lone Justice back then, and while as a Southern girl myself I certainly got excited about this subgenre’s potential when I first heard about it, I was usually disappointed to find that the bands lumped into it were far more country than punk. 30 years later, though, Nashville’s Volk have come along to give me what I wanted from all those bands back then.

On their latest EP, Average American Band, this wild n’ crazy two-piece inverts the usual cowpunk formula and injects some of the rawest, most fire-spitting moments of the Bloodshot Records scene into a sound that’s got a lot more to do with the White Stripes and the Gun Club than anything you’d hear on an alt-country Pandora playlist. I love it, and you should too, especially if you love to get wild and crazy to the out-of-control garage rock sounds of local trio Toward Space, who are, by an amazing coincidence, also on this show! Singer/bandleader Mackenzie Roark is also on this bill, to inject just enough of that lovelorn country balladry into the evening for you honky-tonkers out there.

Saturday, August 17, 7:30 PM
Mannequin Pussy, Empath, T-Rextasy @ The Camel – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Damn, talk about taking things to the next level. Like a lot of Richmonders, I already liked Philadelphia’s Mannequin Pussy quite a bit; their frequent visits to the city over the past five years or so have seen them rise up from the basement and win the hearts of punk rockers all over town. But their latest LP, Patience, not only sees them signing to Epitaph Records but also finds them creating the strongest, most assured music of their career thus far.

On Patience, they’ve found a way to both crank up the bile-spitting punk intensity and delve into the kind of heart-wrenching melodies that make brilliant breakup songs like “Drunk II” and “Fear/+/Desire” into instant classics. It’s as if Live Through This-era Hole had collaborated with White Lung. So yeah, it’s awesome, and hearing it communicated at top volume as one of Mannequin Pussy’s incredible live performances is only gonna make the whole thing hit that much harder. They come to The Camel accompanied by upstart Philadelphia psych-punk band Empath and Brooklyn alt-poppers T-Rextasy, both of whom will up the ante on what’s already guaranteed to be an outstanding night of music. Don’t blow this one.

Sunday, August 18, 9 PM
Insect Surfers, Atomic Mosquitos, Armistead’s Army @ The Camel – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
It’s hard to stand out in the genre of instrumental surf rock, a land where many people seem most interested in slavish imitations of the legendary greats — Dick Dale, The Ventures, maybe Man Or Astro-Man for the more modern heads. But there are still quite a few bands out there in the surf world proudly walking their own path, and the Insect Surfers are definitely one of them. Getting their start fully 40 years ago, this group loves to refer to themselves as “Planet Earth’s longest-running modern surf band,” and show off the exact sort of interstellar sensibility that motto brings to mind on their many ripping tunes.

The Insect Surfers were directly influenced by the manic instrumental surf-guitar groups of the early 60s, but they took just as much inspiration from the early days of punk rock, which was getting started all around them in their own formative years. If you listen close, you can also hear a bit of the space-faring psychedelia of trippy early 70s groups like Hawkwind and 60s spaghetti western soundtracks mixed into recent material like 2017’s Datura Moon. All of this will add up to a night of awesomeness when these guys pull into The Camel; we guarantee that their tunes will keep you dancing all night long, just like those beach-blanket babes of yore.

Monday, August 19, 9 PM
Bermuda Triangles, No Question, Lipid, Archbishop @ Cary Street Cafe – $10
There are a lot of panicked rumors going on, but have no fear — things are still going strong over at Cary Street Cafe! And there’s no better proof than this latest edition of Slimehole’s weekly “Heavy Mondays.” For starters, it’s bringing us a killer set from borderline-indescribable percussion-focused trio Bermuda Triangles, who’ve been blasting Richmond with their unique form of postpunk space-dance jazz-funk for years now. These guys create the best bizarro-boogie soundtrack happening in Richmond right now, and you won’t want to miss this opportunity to get weird with it.

Plus, they’re playing in the company of Wisconsin noisemongers No Question, who blast out some dirty, grungy rage at hyperspeed on their 2018 self-titled EP. They’re prepared to do the same thing, live and in your face, at this gig, and you should definitely come prepared to be blown away. Local punk freaks Lipid are on the bill as well, which is always enjoyable, and this show will open with the debut performance by Archbishop, the latest assemblage of maniacs from past RVA terrors like Olde Shame, The Skin, and Memory Loss. There’s nothing about this one that’s not gonna rule.

Tuesday, August 20, 9 PM
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Annabelle Chairlegs, DJ Chrissie @ Fuzzy Cactus – $15 in advance/$18 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Of course we were all terrified about the future of Richmond live music last year when Strange Matter closed, but as has long been said, crisis creates opportunity, and as this city has warmed up over the course of 2019, we’ve seen more and more live music venues popping up all over! Fuzzy Cactus is the latest example, coming to Brookland Park Boulevard this weekend with some delicious fried chicken and a stage that’ll be full of rock n’ roll sounds on a weekly basis.

The first big show they’re bringing in takes place only a few days after they open up, as Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears pull into town. This Texas ensemble is based around the wild vocals and raging guitars of frontman Lewis, who’s sure to remind you of both Little Richard and James Brown. But it’s the extended ensemble he tours with, complete with horn section, that makes his performances hit so hard — somewhere between BB King and King Khan & the Shrines. They’ll christen the stage of the Fuzzy Cactus in outstanding fashion, and kick off the Brookland Park reign of what’s sure to be yet another great live music venue for Richmond to cherish.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Wednesday, August 14, 5:30 PM
Knotfest Roadshow, feat. Slipknot, Gojira, Volbeat, Behemoth @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater (Virginia Beach) – $41-$250 (order tickets HERE)
Maybe this is just me, but I gotta tell y’all — I find it really hard to feel anything other than love for Slipknot. This crew of Iowa metal misfits with as many members as your average brass band blew everyone’s mind when they showed up in the late 90s with their crazy masks, abundance of percussion, and overflowing amounts of adolescent fury. From there, they just got heavier, shaking off their early nu-metal tinges in favor of brutal, anthemic breakdowns and even the occasional blastbeat. Since losing founding bassist Paul Gray back in 2010, they’ve struggled a bit, ultimately firing a couple of other longtime members in pursuit of the return to fighting form that is this year’s We Are Not Your Kind.

It’s that album they’re celebrating with this summer’s Knotfest Roadshow, and they’ll be bringing their patented brand of masked insanity to the Veterans United stage in VA Beach as part of that. Expect headbangs aplenty as they break out classics like “Disasterpiece,” “Spit It Out,” and “Duality” alongside some excellent tuneage from their new LP. Plus, they’ve got a murderer’s row of metallic excellence along as support, including French death-metallers Gojira, bizarre Danish metalbilly group Volbeat, and legendary Polish thrashers Behemoth. This one will be an absolute feast for anyone who loves metal — and trust me, once they hit the stage, Slipknot’s antics are sure to command your undivided attention.

Saturday, August 17, 5 PM
Suburban Living, Ladada, The Evening Attraction @ Smartmouth Brewing – Free!
Philadelphia indie-gaze crew Suburban Living had a pretty strong buzz a few years ago, but they’ve largely been quite on the release front for the past few years, so it’s a relief to see them rolling through the Commonwealth once again! This Saturday night finds them topping the bill at Smartmouth Brewing’s Norfolk warehouse, which has been throwing a series of free early-evening shows over the past several months. This summer-ending rocker is the last one on the schedule that we know of, so if you haven’t gone and checked the place out, now’s the time!

And of course it will be great to hear the sounds of Suburban Living, whose dreampop deliciousness was showed off to perfect effect on 2016’s Almost Paradise. Will they have some newer material to show off? Well, one never knows — but it’s certainly something to keep an eye out for. The same is true of the support set by Norfolk’s own Ladada, who’ve been at the top of the heap where Tidewater indie is concerned for a while now. And as a bonus, you’ll get a set from Chicago rock n’ rollers The Evening Attraction to kick things off with a bang. This is going to be a blast — gas up the whip.

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

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

Top Photo by Beau Patrick Coulon, via Facebook

RVA ON TAP: American Craft Beer Week & History in the River City

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What’s happening, craft beer lovers of RVA?! Welcome to this week’s RVA On Tap, RVA Magazine’s weekly column for all your craft beer-related events, releases, festivals, and all the booze news your hearts desire.

If you missed the last column, you can check that out here. Our kegs are overflowing this week with beer releases and festivals, events, and other cool happenings around town — so hold on to your mugs!

This week, we’re celebrating American Craft Beer Week and taking tours all around the city to celebrate the great history of beer in Richmond, from brand-new brews releasing to old-school locations from breweries in centuries past.

PHOTO: Three Notch’d RVA Collab House

Before we jump into all the stellar brews coming out around town this week, Happy American Craft Beer Week, everybody! Some of our favorite locals at Three Notch’d RVA Collab House will be celebrating the occasion this week with special events across all four of their locations. Here in Richmond, the festivities started off on Monday with a special tapping of an old favorite, Big Poppa Biggie S’mores, and a Sour House tasting last night at the brewery. Tonight, you can catch Music Bingo at 7pm, or head out tomorrow night for their Flagship Thursday Happy Hour. Passion For A Cure drops Friday at the brewery, a Passionfruit-Mango Gose which was collaborated with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in addition to their 65 Roses Hibiscus Blonde Ale. To close things out on Saturday, they’ll be doing special limited tappings of Cherry Current and American Sour with Apricots all evening, so head on out and drink up!

PHOTO: Beeristoric Historic Taverns Walking Tour

Starting off the history theme this week is Richmond’s 10th Annual Beeristoric Historic Taverns Walking Tour. If you remember from last fall, Beeristoric rode around in November, but this weekend’s tour marks the event’s first walking tour around historic tavern sites downtown. Supported by the organization and by An Bui of The Answer Brewpub, they’ll be visiting sites this Saturday like breweries from the American Revolution, 19th-century German immigrant spots, Christopher Newport’s “beer share” with Powhatans on Fulton Hill in 1607, and James River Steam Brewery — built by David G. Yuengling Jr., which is, you guessed it, the OG Yuengling’s son.

Brown Distributing has teamed up with Mike Gorman, a professional historian. “This is a celebration of our city and our scene, and I didn’t want to lose it,” Gorman said. “As long as there are people that want to hear about the past, present and future of Richmond’s beer community, I want to be there for them.”

Our River City is full of history, and this is a great way to be a part of it. If you’re up for the trek, the tour will walk about 1.5 miles in 2 hours (which really isn’t too far, if you’re familiar with walking around town), and will stop by places like Lickinghole Creek’s Shockoe Location and a few pubs along the way. They’ve only got 30 tickets available, so if you’re into it, get ‘em while they’re hot.

PHOTO: Richmond Historic Haunts

On to the next! Richmond Historic Haunts has teamed up with Three Notch’d Brewing, Buskey Cider and Bingo Beer Co. to do a similar walking tour through Scott’s Addition. Richmond Historic Haunts is the company that brought us some of our favorite Halloween events, and they’ve got even more on the books right now for history buffs. They’ve got Uncivil Wards (which finds the city’s lost Civil War hospitals and prisons), Rails & Sails (through the city’s oldest neighborhoods, to see how the James and trains contributed to the city’s rise), and now Brewing In Richmond to highlight over 300 years of fermenting.

PHOTO: Smartmouth Beer

Speaking of history, one of our favorite beers from last fall just made it. If you remember Smartmouth Beer’s Saturday Morning release in Norfolk, it was a Lucky Charms-flavored beer meant to recreate those delicious mornings from your childhood in front of the TV watching TV history’s best cartoons. Saturday Morning ended up becoming the most-hyped beer *in craft beer history,* which is a huge deal considering how many brews get the national beer scene pumped every season. They only had 100 cases to sell, and they ended up in the papers and on television even down to Florida — which is pretty impressive for a single beer, to say the least. A big congrats to Smartmouth on this one, and I hope another run comes soon so we get to taste it in Richmond!

PHOTO: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Here’s the summer release I’ve been waiting for: Southern Peach Suncrush at Hardywood! If y’all couldn’t tell by my drooling over last week’s peach cobbler beer, I’ve got a soft spot for this fruit. Southern Peach Suncrush is hitting the taps on Saturday, and they’ve got a few can releases this week as well:

PHOTO: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Dreamlike and The Original Five Flavors are coming out for #FreshCanFriday, and they’re suited to their names. Dreamlike is pillowy-soft, big-bodied and full of citrus. “What’s that in the clouds over there?” says Hardywood, “A Dog? A Bunny?” Nah, booze. There’s no rush to wake up from this dream.

The Original Five Flavors is inspired by Lifesavers, and fruited to match the early days of a classic candy: with cherry, orange, lemon, lime, and pineapple. In beer form, it’s a tart ale, and this 5.0% ABV brew hits in pretty low to enjoy any day of the week.

PHOTO: Castleburg Brewery

Happy birthday, Castleburg Brewery! These guys are celebrating their third trip around the sun this year, and they’re throwing “one heck of a party” for it. For the occasion, head over to their spot on Ownby Lane this Saturday to eat, drink, and be merry with live music and free stuff! Yep, the first 200 people through the door get a free gift — so happy Castleburg’s birthday to you, if you make it over in time. They’ll have bands like Cashmere Jungle Lords and King Easy jamming throughout the day, with guest taps like Oozlefinch Craft Breweries Dude Blanket New England IPA, and Blue Toad’s Apple Blueberry Cider. Castleburg’s also bringing the return of the Queen to their castle, with The Queen’s Garde, Bier de Garde back to their taproom.

PHOTO: Stone Brewing

This week we’re also celebrating the 3rd birthday of the Richmond location for one of the nation’s largest craft brewers, Stone Brewing. Stone is not only one of my most favorite beers I’ve ever had, but an American favorite from coast to coast — and like we learned a few weeks ago at their movie release party, even across the Atlantic Ocean at their brewery in Germany (as the first American independent brewery to jump the puddle to Europe). On Saturday, come out and celebrate the awesomeness that is Stone Brewing at their RVA spot with unique variations of your favorite Stone brews, vintage releases, barrel-aged beers and plenty more.

PHOTO: The Veil Brewing Co.

Last night, The Veil Brewing Co. brought back Dub Razz Tastee. This extra-special release from our favorite Scott’s Addition folks is a smoothie-style sour ale, and even the color itself is enticing enough for me to want to go grab a glass of it myself. It was flavored with double raspberry in its creation, and it shows. If you’re in the market for a taste, head on out to The Veil while it’s still around, and grab a 4-pack while you’re at it.

PHOTO: Intermission Beer Company

Are you a lover of Hanover’s Strawberry Festival? Growing up, my hometown had a major-awesome strawberry festival every year, and some of my favorite days were spent there as a kid. For all of us Richmonders, the Hanover Vegetable Farms 4th Annual Strawberry and Wine Festival is coming up this weekend, and Intermission Beer Company brewed up something special for it. Strawberry Blonde is coming out on Saturday along with the festival, so grab a glass of this American Wheat Ale while you can — it’s got a light body, low bitterness, “and of course: Strawberries!”

PHOTO: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery

Out on our favorite farm, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery is putting the ass in glass with this donkey-painted brew. Juicy #11 is fermented “hot and fast” with Kveik isolated from the Horrinfal region of Norway, according to its brewers, and its intense-hopping process with El Dorado, Lemondrop, and Idaho Gem hops push out a strong taste. Look forward to full-flavored notes of pineapple, fresh-squeezed lemons, and a bit of pithiniess in this one. You can grab one out on their beautiful 300-acre farm this Friday and sit back with live music and great grub as well.

PHOTO: Strangeways Brewing

Our friends at Strangeways Brewing have their second can release dropping this Saturday, the Vegan Vampyre. This 4.8% ABV Gose with raspberries and lactose pours from the vampire-esque can with a slight pink tint, and according to its brewers, it’s fruity, tart, and refreshing with “just enough sweetness from the addition of lactose to balance out the pucker.” In its creation, it’s made with white wheat soured in a kettle before being boiled with sea salt, Huell Melon hops and the additions of lactose with coriander. You can grab a pack this weekend, and they’ve got more on the way in the series coming up.

PHOTO: Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery

In darker (and delicious) news, DEATH is coming to Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery this Saturday. No, not real death — if it was, I wouldn’t sound so excited about it. Garden Grove’s Belgian Quadrupel, promptly called DEATH in the 10% ABV beer, is being resurrected into the taproom after its start in their brewery “on a cold Winter’s day” more than a year ago. This one’s for the heavy beer fans, with ripe and dark fruit flavors aged over 14 months in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. DEATH is also a double-medal winner, with awards taken home in both the 2016 and 2017 Virginia Craft Beer Cups.

PHOTO: Final Gravity Brewing Company

Blast Off! Gyrus Double IPA is heading straight through the Earth’s solar system this Friday at Final Gravity Brewing Company.

“The force field is strong,” they say, “and your defenses are weak against this one.”

Brewed with Loral, Calypso, and Amarillo hops, this recipe is packed with floral, grapefruit, tropical, and apple-pear tastes. Catch it this weekend, and head over to Final Gravity tonight for Dart Night if you’re looking good on the board and looking for prizes. Come one, come all, because teams don’t matter: your teammate will be drawn randomly, which means single players are invited to come try their hand as well. And if you’re really into it, you can even bring your own darts. Game on!

PHOTO: Väsen Brewing Company

Väsen Brewing Company’s got a secret. This Saturday’s can release is a not-so-well-kept secret they let out on purpose, because it’s too good to keep to themselves. Cashmere Secrets is a velvety-smooth DIPA made with Cashmere, Vic Secret, and Mosaic hops and packed with flavors like pineapple, peach, raspberry, and smaller hits of coconut and pine. It’s dry-hopped and ready to make its debut into your mouth, available in cases as well.

That’s it for this week’s RVA On Tap! As your weekly columnist, I’m here to take all your beer releases, event info, ideas and questions. If you’re a brewer, send me your release info at [email protected], and if you’re a beer enthusiast, drop me a line anytime to talk booze. Catch y’all next week!