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How Will RVA Music Survive?

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Coronavirus has had a massive impact on Richmond’s live music scene. We spoke to several promoters and musicians about the future of local music in the wake of COVID-19.

With the coronavirus ending live music for the foreseeable future, the music community has been turned upside-down — not only in Richmond but all over the country and beyond. From artists and performers to promoters and venues, everyone is looking for the answer to the big question: once the threat of COVID-19 passes, what will be left of Richmond’s music scene?

With everything still so uncertain, no one can possibly know all the answers. However, we wanted to check in with the artists and venues of the river city to learn their strategies for survival, what they’ve done to adjust, and what they’re expecting for the future. Here’s what they had to say.

VENUE / PROMOTERS
What needs to happen before you can have a live show again?

Jessica Gordon (Broadberry Entertainment Group, The Broadberry, The Camel): Broadberry Entertainment Group is working to reschedule all our March, April, and May shows — as well as many in June. We are also preparing to reschedule shows in all our venues throughout the summer, if needed. Fortunately, the vast majority of events are being postponed rather than canceled. We have already announced a few new dates and will be announcing more in the near future.

In order have live shows again:
We need to feel confident that the artists, employees, and ticket buyers will be safe when they attend our events. That is and will always be our top priority.

We need people stay home and wash their hands. The more they do that, the sooner they will be going out to see live music again.

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): First we need this virus to be not considered a public health threat. I imagine this will require hearing from our federal and state officials and consultation from medical experts before we can open doors to the public.

Clayton Navarre (Poor Boys): After the virus passes, I believe people are going to be ready to come back out to the nightlife scene and will want to spend money and enjoy events again. One thing I feel that will have to happen is to have free shows for a little while. Hopefully bands are understanding about that and work with venues. [We] also have to take under consideration that some patrons won’t have money because they have been jobless, so as a venue we should run food and drink specials to build our patrons back up.

Mark Bradley Fries (Aspire Presents, Canal Club, Wonderland): We are waiting for the CDC and the governor to publicly allow large gatherings of people once again. Ultimately the decision will come from the government. Though there is still a discussion to be had about the ethics of being legally allowed to gather vs. being actually safe to gather, we will take necessary precautions to be as safe as possible once we re-open.

Photo via Gallery 5/Facebook

Do you see people heading out to live shows in the near future given the social anxiety surrounding COVID19?

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): No, there is a high likelihood of a second surge in COVID-19 cases, and opening up too early is not going to help the long term goal of a safer and medically better off global population. I’m sure some folks will want to head out right away, but we’ll need a gradient of events and capacities to be identified… leaving these decisions up to private businesses is a bad idea.

Clayton Navarre (Poor Boys): Humans have been around for awhile. Social distancing isn’t really in our nature so I personally believe people will come out again; [it] just may take time.

Mark Bradley Fries (Aspire Presents, Canal Club, Wonderland): I think that people are longing to go out and enjoy the company of others, especially after being isolated for such a long period of time. However there definitely are COVID fears that will affect turnout. In addition, many people have tragically lost their income from layoffs related to the illness. Both of these factors will definitely affect turnouts for the foreseeable future. It might be until the fall, or even next year, that the general feeling about going to large events returns to normal.

Can you promote minimal public health standards in your venue according to CDC guidelines and still have live shows?

Jessica Gordon (Broadberry Entertainment Group, The Broadberry, The Camel): We book shows in many venues. We will not be producing live entertainment in any venues until the federal and local authorities say it is safe to do. At that time, we will of course abide by all public health standards and CDC recommendations.

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): Once we are able to have people, once the staff is feeling ready to face crowds, and once the proper communications from national/state/international leadership is factored in, then and then only can we begin the process of opening doors. We’ll comply 100 percent to whatever the health guidelines are, but as of now there is no date set, and more work still needed to be done for tracking, testing, vaccination, and reducing the new cases.

Clayton Navarre (Poor Boys): We can and we will, especially after this is over. This is something else a venue or a bar has to be ready for, and will be the norm after this virus is over. We as a public place need to use all our knowledge and what we are learning to continue to keep our staff and patrons safe after this COVID-19.

Mark Bradley Fries (Aspire Presents, Canal Club, Wonderland): It would depend on the guidelines themselves; I don’t believe any are in place yet. Currently – no we cannot host, as there is an events ban and a stay-at-home order. In the future, if we have to distance folks by six feet, then it would severely limit what kinds of shows we can do, if not make it impossible. If the guidelines refer to sanitizers and masks being available, then yes, we would be happy to take on that expense and comply in order to be back in business.

Other ideas being tossed around from other clubs we work with are: non-invasive thermometers at the door to screen for potentially contagious patrons, gloves / masks available, and reserved distanced seating for patrons who want to keep a distance. However I don’t want to get too caught up in hypothetical ideas before we see what these guidelines are.

People have gotten used to watching live streams on their devices; will this be a part of your business going forward?

Jessica Gordon (Broadberry Entertainment Group, The Broadberry, The Camel): We have discussed doing live streams many times prior to the pandemic, and we were actually recently in talks with a company about piloting some equipment in one of the rooms we book that would allow us, with the artist’s permission, to stream performances. It’s clear there is currently a market for live streams; however, It’s hard to say how much that demand will remain once people can safely go out to shows again. If people continue to express interest in live streams, we will certainly consider ways to produce and share them. We’d like nothing more than to find new ways to share music with the people who love it!

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): Yes, digital is not going anywhere and this global pandemic, while horrendously destructive and sad, has shown that we do have a few options and tools available to us that we could have used in the past and certainly can entertain in the future.

Clayton Navarre (Poor Boys): I hope not, because you’re not getting the same experience watching it on facebook or other platforms. If we have to adjust our way of entertainment, we will, but I will wait until we cross that bridge. It’s nothing like a live show and people around you, feeling those vibes with a nice drink in your hand.

Mark Bradley Fries (Aspire Presents, Canal Club, Wonderland): Live streaming has definitely been a part of the music industry for years, but in the past I sort of saw it as competing with actually attending live shows. People might rather stay at home and watch a YouTube video of the show when it comes out. We also hadn’t navigated the legalities yet on broadcasting copyrighted music. Now though, with people either being afraid or legally unable to attend shows, we definitely need to figure it out. We’d love to sell “virtual tickets,” so fans who are staying home for whatever reasons [can see the show]. Hopefully fans are receptive and willing to pay for streaming concerts, and the expense of properly mixing, filming, and streaming the concert is offset by the demand of virtual audiences.

Photo via Poor Boys/Facebook

How long can your industry stay afloat without any bookings?

Jessica Gordon (Broadberry Entertainment Group, The Broadberry, The Camel): “Your industry” is a broad term. Booking agents, band managers, artists, labels, promoters, and venues all work together to produce live entertainment. We’ve already seen many of the major booking agencies laying off staff and reducing wages. Obviously, artists are unable to tour, and all venues for live entertainment are closed. In terms of promoters, I think the answer to how long we can stay afloat is different for everyone. It’s going to depend a lot on the extent of the government loans that many are applying for right now.

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): Promoters come in all shapes and sizes… and time constraints. There are some bookings we have lost permanently, and others that we’ll get back. As of now the promoter industry is still somewhat on hold as medical experts continue to study the situation and give us information allowing us to begin booking again. Gallery5 has a board of directors that is trying as hard as possible to keep the organization open for as long as possible in hopes of getting on the other side of this virus. There are many others in the USA that will fail and close up doors permanently since the industry of performances/events for crowds is one that often is very cash flow sensitive.

Clayton Navarre (Poor Boys): Realistically, not long. We are in the business of entertainment, socializing with one another, and enjoying food and drinks together. We believe in this city, but some laws need to change to make it better for this industry in the long run to help us survive. We at Poor Boys of RVA will keep it rolling until the wheels fall off.

Mark Bradley Fries (Aspire Presents, Canal Club, Wonderland): In the short term, a lot of venues and promoters have been taking advantage of small business loans, grants, crowdfunding, gift cards, merchandise, Door Dash, and other creative revenue streams. But all of these pale in comparison to well-attended events with solid concession sales. Every business is different; some have already folded while others could survive much longer. A lot of other parts of the music business rely heavily on venues and promoters, so it’s important that we don’t have to find out much longer. Hopefully by late summer/early fall we are able to host events safely once again and make up for lost time.

Do you have any other thoughts on how COVID-19 is going to change how Richmond goes to shows?

Jessica Gordon (Broadberry Entertainment Group, The Broadberry, The Camel): I know one thing for sure. If it is safe to resume live entertainment this fall, people are going to have far more events to choose from when they want to go out. Think about this: promoters are currently rescheduling for the fall all their shows that were originally scheduled for March-June, and in conjunction with normal fall tour for artists, there will likely be twice as many shows this fall as normal.

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): I foresee a time period when we’ll “get back to normal,” but there will be some permanent changes. Some venues won’t make it and will close, closing any options of normalcy for those particular instances/experiences. I imagine there will be a smaller capacity on places. A 600-capacity venue may easily be shrunk to a 150-capacity venue; too early to tell, but I would imagine that could happen. Perhaps this will encourage more advanced ticket sales? Perhaps there will be a “stream-at-home” version of the show available for a lower price? I have yet to see proof, but I would not be surprised if new technologies are needed at front door/security to gauge temp checks or health codes for individuals to gain entry.

Clayton Navarre (Poor Boys): Not really, things will change but some things just can’t, and will hopefully be better for the Richmond venues when we do shows again.

Mark Bradley Fries (Aspire Presents, Canal Club, Wonderland): Hopefully everyone will be mindful going forward about their health and how they can affect others. Staying home if they feel sick; washing hands regularly; maybe even wearing masks in large groups. I do hope, however, that another takeaway is that everyone appreciates the ability to gather and go to live shows; we have a great local scene with tons of opportunities to participate. Hopefully this sheds more light on local businesses and independent venues, and how important they are to our city’s culture.

by The Head & The Heart

PERFORMERS
Do you think bands will be touring in 2020?

Tyler Williams (The Head & The Heart): I’m optimistic bands will be touring in 2020, at least nationally, if not internationally. Promoters and agents are looking to MLB, F1 and other sports to see how they decide to move forward this year so hopefully we’ll all know more in early May.

Majjin Boo (Egghunt Records): We’re hopeful that bands will be back on the road around August. I imagine it’ll be a slow trickle back with some big shows starting to get announced again in the fall.

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): If the world cooperates, if the government prioritizes its citizens over optics, and if the virus is no longer a threat, then I can imagine some going on tour. But I presume it’ll be to a very different style of shows than before, with limited capacities, reduced venue options, and perhaps a more digital approach to some things that traditionally would be in person (meet and greets, radio performances, in stores, etc).

Michael York (Sleepwalkers): No, at least not successfully if you’re an independent artist, like ourselves, until spring 2021. Only the wealthy will be able to provide entertainment for the wealthiest in shipment containers or hyperbaric chambers. Maybe Drake, Jay/Bé/Ye, U2, and McCartney… but they’re chillin’ with fucking doctors by their sides at every moment if anything happens.

As a musician, what needs to happen take for you to feel comfortable performing live again?

Tyler Williams (The Head & The Heart): Besides a complete changeover of our federal government? (laughs) We need to get cases down as low as they can go through social distancing and then implement a widespread test, trace, quarantine scenario. There’s no reason we can’t all get back to living and enjoying live music this year if we reset and start to handle this situation the way it should have been from the start.

Majjin Boo (Egghunt Records): We think that not just for the musicians but for people to gather around at venues for shows we would need to see the infection and death rate drop dramatically (almost zero).

As long as there’s a chance that we can promote the promotion of the spreading of the virus it doesn’t feel ethical to promote shows and tell people to gather in large numbers.

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): We need the virus to be officially not a global threat, we need venues to be able to have new sanitary standards in place, and more than anything else… [we] need fiscal recovery efforts to kick in to allow audiences to have the option of spending disposable income.

Michael York (Sleepwalkers): For careless people to stop spreading this virus. I don’t know actually. Just listen to scientists, and of course, Dr. Fauci. The CDC and community-centered prevention goes a long way.

Photo via Sleepwalkers/Facebook

Do you feel online performances could be a legit way to pay the bills?

Tyler Williams (The Head & The Heart): My hope is that the audience for live music gets turned on to these livestreams and unique online events and sees the value and effort put in and is willing to fund that creativity. It’s uncharted territory for artists as a real revenue source- separate from record sales, publishing and touring. It would be great to see livestream revenue as a fourth pillar that could help musicians live a more balanced life off the road.

Majjin Boo (Egghunt Records): We could see it being a great source of revenue for some types of musicians but personally we would rather just write and record if we’re going to be working from home.

Our heart isn’t in live streaming from our bedrooms or practice space and having our sound be perceived through shitty mics and regurgitated out of tiny speakers after being compressed a thousand times by instagram. 

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): It has been for many… for a long time. The ones with healthy YouTube accounts have monetized that for years. The rest of the world could perhaps entertain these thoughts too, but it will not be possible if the general audience (digital or in-person) does not have the funding to support performances. The next step is to go to full-on porn. I’m ready.

Michael York (Sleepwalkers): Streaming and subscriptions have crossed our minds, and it feels like a natural transition into the next generation of entertainment, regardless of what’s been happening. Netflix, HBO, and Disney + have new material readily available at a rate of $7-15 a month, and that is extremely difficult for independent musicians and artists to compete with. The other side: we’re talking about a complete grassroots movement where your friends and hardcore fanbase are paying your bills. To be honest, I don’t know if it’s possible or sustainable, but it will happen. We’ll see the decline of live music in general, and people will yearn for the real thing deeply. I think what we will also see is the merging of big businesses with people in their homes. Partitioned roles… Spotify and iTunes will take care of published works and remuneration as always (not much $), and live venues will take care of funeral arrangements. But for real – there’s no way to help the situation. It has to clear up… and that takes time.

Will your shows be a combination of online and live performances in the future?

Tyler Williams (The Head & The Heart): This is definitely the future of live music- a hybrid streamed/in-person experience. I don’t think anyone has cracked it yet the way something like Spotify opened up the streaming world but I see tiered pricing based on access to the live experience being the future. Can’t stop the future.

Majjin Boo (Egghunt Records): We will of course keep posting videos of us performing outside of venues but we hope to keep live streaming our performances to settings that are created for performing.

It’s a slippery slope to have your home space be your writing, rehearsing and also now your place of performance. What maybe is a place of creativity and reprieve from the outside world is now just a watered down venue. We’d much rather just wait to rehearse and perfect a set to play a show at G5 in 3-4 months and stream that. 

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): For the time being, that seems like a logical way to approach it, but who knows… things change quickly and it’ll [only] take a few small poorly-made decisions to have long ranging consequences.

Michael York (Sleepwalkers): Watching something on your phone will never equate to going out and seeing a live show, but yes… Absolutely. What excites me is the idea of new content weekly or monthly. It doesn’t necessarily have to be “live.” It’s kind of been a necessary evil, where the music industry has to catch up with the film industry. Everything in film is planned months or even years ahead. With a record – you can put everything out into the ether within a matter of days. People just want new content. I think artists need to step up and create new content unapologetically. The only thing that separates the bad from the good is the self-editing these days, but it’s a beautiful thing. You’re releasing your content directly — from the artist to the consumer.

Do you have any other thoughts on how COVID-19 is going to change the Richmond music scene?

Tyler Williams (The Head & The Heart): Local venues mostly run razor thin margins so hopefully, they can all survive and rebound after this long break. Obviously, Richmond is already in short supply on that front. What Richmond never lacks though is talent and creativity so I would suspect we’ll get some amazing music from local artists and really unique perspectives on their worlds, internally and externally, through this unfortunately tragic, clarifying moment.

Majjin Boo (Egghunt Records): We’re a bit worried about the venues. As long as the venues can weather this storm I think the scene is going to come back more galvanized than ever to create, perform and share their music with the people of Richmond. In return fans are going to be here again but in larger numbers. If there isn’t already, I think as people start going back to shows there’s gonna be a greater appreciation for how incredible our art and music community and also how fragile all this really is.

Prabir Mehta (Gallery 5 & Prabir Trio): I’m excited for musicians to wash their hands more often, perhaps it’ll spill over into other parts of their lives. I also imagine there will be more thought put into what goes up/online. Right now it’s the wild wild west and anyone is putting up anything they want/can because people are stuck at their homes. I don’t imagine that rate of creation/consumption will be sustainable long term when competing against Netflix/Hulu/etc. More planning and strategy may very well become a part of every musician’s to-do-lists moving forward… which takes away the magical spontaneity of the musician lifestyle, but adds a little bit more structure if those musicians are truly trying to make performance a part of their living/career.

Michael York (Sleepwalkers): Same as it ever was… I hope people will write better music coming out of this. Time is inconsequential right now, and that’s the coolest thing about art. Silence is your best friend. If anything, we’ve taken a step back and re-evaluated what we’re doing with our lives. It’s been a great moment of both confusion and clarity, [I’m] just bummed to see that these great impresarios and local businesses are hurting. This virus will be a part of our existence forever now, we’re just figuring out how to own it.

Hopefully we can bring some immunity to these essential workers in the music industry, and fire the non-essentials.

Poor Boys GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-poor-boys-staff-and-families

Gallery5 GoFundMe: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/gallery5-staff-covid19-support/gallery5

Broadberry GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/broadberry-staff-relief-fund

The Canal Club GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-canal-club-family-staff-fund

Intro by Marilyn Drew Necci. Top Photo via The Broadberry/Facebook

VA Shows You Must See This Week: March 4 – March 10

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FEATURED SHOW
Friday, March 6, 7 PM
RVA Game Jams presents Split/Screen: A Video Games Themed First Friday Art Show, feat. Buzzard Dust, Ages, Gull, Mister Earthbound, Danet Jackson, F1NG3RS @ Gallery 5 – Free!
Sometimes, you guys, the world is just a major letdown. At those times it can be easy to get overwhelmed and feel like taking to your bed, pulling the covers over your head, and not coming out for six months. But take heart — there are still things worth being awake and in the world for. One of those is happening this Friday night, as RVA Game Jams partners up with Gallery 5 to bring us a First Friday art opening with a bit of a twist — it’s entirely focused on video games.

This event is a celebration of indie games in the Richmond area, and will feature playable demos of half a dozen games by local creators, including memorably named examples like Not Safe For Bugs and Deer In The Headlights. You’ll get a chance to check out art and artifacts from the creative process of video game development, as well as the opportunity to play these games yourself. And you’ll get to hear some really great tunes from local musicians while you’re at it!

Between rounds of the playable demos, you’ll enjoy sounds from Buzzard Dust, the fiery blackened thrash group who last released an LP on Richmond’s own Forcefield Records back in 2017. Word has it they’ve got a grip of new material to lay on us, though, so get stoked for that. Plus there’ll be a performance from Ages, the latest project from former Magnus Lush leader Age Shurte and talented members of other rad local groups like Weird Tears and Dumb Waiter. And we’ve still only scratched the surface, as several other area performers, from the almighty Gull to the psych-stoner jams of Mister Earthbound, as well as the video-game inspired electronica of F1NG3RS, are all on tap for the night as well. Let the often-solitary pursuit of video games be an opportunity for connecting with the world, and head over to Gallery 5 this Friday night. It’s better than hiding in bed — I promise.

Wednesday, March 4, 7 PM
Mind Shrine, Majjin Boo, Alfred., Castle OG, Shormey @ The Camel – $8 (order tickets HERE)
Mind Shrine may be from Texas, but things will be getting downright tropical, at least in a musical sense, at The Camel tonight when this catchy quartet brings their remarkable sound to town. On their recent self-titled EP, Houston’s Mind Shrine create a warmly glowing pop sound with roots in both smooth 70s AM radio sounds and the music of Brazilian leading lights like Caetono Veloso and Os Mutantes, but fed through an undeniable 21st century indie filter, resulting in pure indie-pop gold. You’re going to want to dive into the warm, sunny sounds this band produces, and the Camel’s giving you the perfect opportunity tonight.

The evening will also present a set from Majjin Boo, who released my favorite Richmond music of 2019 and still have a very secure place in my heart two months into the new year. If you’re not on their wavelength yet, now’s the time. You’ll also have the chance to catch excellent musicians Alfred and Shormey just before they leave town together on a pre-SXSW tour that will culminate with them performing at that legendary Austin, Texas music fest later this month. And of course, Castle OG will round out the bill with some rad local indie sounds. You’re not going to want to miss a minute of this one — so make sure you don’t.

Thursday, March 5, 9 PM
Triumvir Foul, Human Agony, Antichrist Siege Machine, Predation @ Wonderland – $10
That place on the spectrum of musical genre where death metal meets filthy lo-fi noise is a fascinating one for me personally, as it reflects a lot of the turmoil I find myself dealing with on a daily basis. If you, like me, are someone who has your fair share of mental struggles, you might find yourself connecting with Triumvir Foul, the Portland-based death-black-thrash group whose 2019 EP, Urine Of Abomination, covers old-school Autopsy-style death brutality with a rumbling haze of foreboding terror. In other words, it’s fucking awesome. And you’re going to want to see how it translates live.

Meanwhile, Triumvir Foul’s Invictus Productions labelmates, Human Agony, hail from across the northern border in Vancouver and bring a more grinding speed-metal assault on their most recent LP, Putrescence of Calvary, with just as much of the ominous lo-fi grit as Triumvir Foul has to offer. These two groups should make a great team — and locals Antichrist Siege Machine are the perfect complement, bringing the sort of unrelenting death metal rage they displayed on 2019’s Schism Perpetration to the Wonderland stage this Thursday night. They’ll be accompanied by mysterious noise project Predation, who I hear has something to do with Division Of Mind, but that’s all I can tell you. Assuage your inner turmoil with some outer turmoil at this show. You’ll thank me later.

Friday, March 6, 10 PM
Ant The Symbol’s City Dawgz Takeover, feat. Sneeze, Reppa Ton, Rah Scrilla, Ben FM, PT, DJ Elliot Ness @ City Dogs – Free!
Ant The Symbol’s always up to some interesting things, and in 2020, that definitely has not changed. 2019 saw the veteran RVA hip hop producer release The What?!, a dozen tracks featuring a who’s who of the city’s best MCs dropping rhymes overtop of Ant’s always-killer productions. Now in 2020, he’s surprised us all with a follow-up, Holyfield, featuring new versions of all of the songs from The What?! along with a few entirely new tracks. From my initial lessons, I’d guess he took the vocal tracks from The What?! and laid them over new productions; and since Ant’s productions are always the stars of the show, that makes it damn close to an entirely new album only a few months removed from the last one. That’s something worth throwing a party for.

So that’s what Ant The Symbol will be doing this Friday night at City Dogs, as he enlivens this hot dog shop with a variety of leading MCs from around the city, almost all of whom (with the exception of Sneeze) appear on Holyfield, The What?!, or both. DJ Elliot Ness is providing the music, and rappers who should need no introduction to Richmond hip hop heads, such as Reppa Ton, Rah Scrilla, Ben FM, and PT will contribute the rhymes. This leaves Ant The Symbol to hawk copies of the new Holyfield CD, contribute the tracks that Elliot Ness spins, and hang out with his many talented friends. Come chill with Ant The Symbol this Friday night, hear some great rhymes and dope beats, grab a copy of the new CD, and have a couple chili dogs while you’re at it. You won’t regret it.

Saturday, March 7, 8 PM
Addy, Spooky Cool, Young Scum, Castle OG @ Gallery 5 – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
It still feels to me like Addy are a relatively new band on the Richmond scene. Therefore it’s kind of wild to note that they are just about to release their first LP on emo heavy-hitters Topshelf Records — but I’m definitely happy for them, and to see them representing Richmond so well. At Gallery 5 this Saturday night, they’ll be celebrating their debut full-length, Eclipse, which finds the group, originally a minimalist solo project of leader Adam Watkins, moving toward more of a group identity as their current four-piece lineup becomes the focus of their recorded sound.

On Eclipse‘s early singles, we hear Addy embracing a warm, laid-back version of the indie sound, one that definitely pulls in a little Southern flavor to spice things up country-style. There’s an undeniable charm to this band’s aural presence, and that’s sure to translate with ease to the live environment created at Gallery 5 Saturday night. Addy will be accompanied on this joyful musical evening by a few other great Richmond indie groups, including Young Scum, Spooky Cool, and Castle OG, but their new LP is what the evening is all about, so bring a few extra bucks to pick up a copy for yourself, and enjoy a pleasant evening enveloped by the wonderful sounds of Richmond, Virginia.

Sunday, March 8, 7 PM
Lance Bangs, The Firnats, You’re Jovian, Magic Wand @ The Camel – $8 (order tickets HERE)
The Citrus City Sunday residency at the Camel is such a boon to Richmond music, I swear — every time it rolls around, we get a wonderful mix of mainstays from one of Richmond’s leading indie labels and new sounds you might not expect but are always a pleasant surprise. This time around, we’re getting a little more of the known quantities than the unknown delights, but it’s very hard to complain when the known quantity at the top of the bill is Lance Bangs, the slacker-rock trio who’ve slipped into a quieter presence on the Richmond scene recently but still have a ton of excellent tunes to brighten your Sunday evening with. If it’s been a while since you’ve caught these guys live, remember what it was you dug about them so much to begin with this Sunday night at the Camel.

And make sure you show up on time for the other musical delights Citrus City has to offer this evening — rest assured, they are plentiful. The Firnats, who are currently working towards the release of a new album sometime this year, have been described to me as 50s doo-wop and 90s grunge, and as crazy as that sounds, it’s pretty much dead-on — and a very enjoyable listen that will appeal to the indie kids and Future Islands fans out there. You’re Jovian’s Norfolk-based shoegaze sound has been an underrated fave of mine for years, and I’m glad to see them making it up to Richmond more lately. If you don’t know the deal, find out on Sunday — you won’t be sorry. Melodic punk-grunge newbies Magic Wand will kick this evening off with a shot of much-needed energy. Come out to this one — it’ll be a blast.

Monday, March 9, 7:30 PM
Michale Graves, JJ Speaks @ Another Round Bar & Grill – $10 in advance/$15 at the door (order tickets HERE)
How you feel about this event is sure to depend to some extent on what the 90s were like for you. Back then, Glenn Danzig’s original punk band, The Misfits, had a revival in which brothers Jerry Only (bass) and Doyle (guitar) revived the long-dormant project with a new vocalist and some new material. Michale Graves was that new vocalist, and while people who’d grown up with the original Danzig-fronted Misfits were often dismissive of late-90s Graves-fronted releases like American Psycho, those records accumulated a strong following amongst the younger set — many of whom, thirtysomethings today — no doubt hold warm memories of Michale Graves-era Misfits in their hearts.

For those kids — and really, for any of us willing to give an aging punk rocker’s solo project a chance — this acoustic evening with Michale Graves at Another Round should be a treat. His acoustic performances find him bringing new power both to late-90s Misfits songs he wrote and material from his many solo albums since he left that group, all by himself with just an acoustic guitar and his strong, powerful voice. If you have a soft spot for “Dig Up Her Bones” or “Die Monster Die,” you’ll hear them in a whole new way this Monday night at Another Round. You won’t want to miss that.

Tuesday, March 10, 8 PM
Robbie Fulks, Jenny Scheinman @ The Tin Pan – $20 (order tickets HERE)
Based solely on talent, Robbie Fulks should be an outright legend in the country world. However, he’s never completely gotten his due in Nashville circles, partly because he has never been willing to play along with the way the country music industry works. For evidence of that fact, look no further than his classic tune about Music City, the memorably titled “Fuck This Town.” Thankfully, his cult following his given him a viable career over the last few decades, and he’s been able to follow his muse in a variety of fruitful directions.

Fulks’ latest move is one that shows why you should expect the unexpected from this talented songwriter — last year, he self-released a vinyl-only double LP called 16, which is a track-for-track reinterpretation of the long-maligned late-70s Bob Dylan album, Street Legal. That might sound like a recipe for disaster, but Fulks and his band find gold amid the critically-reviled nadir of Dylan’s career. They’ll surely demonstrate this with their Tuesday night show at the Tin Pan; whether Fulks does a whole bunch of Dylan tunes or sticks to his own delightful catalog, this is a musical evening that’s sure to delight all comers.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Friday, March 6, 9 PM
VV, Community Witch, Dysphonia, LEYA @ Taphouse Grill (Norfolk) – $5
Whether you’re a Richmond reader facing the prospect of an hour-plus drive to catch this show by a local favorite or a Tidewater denizen wondering what this RVA band has to offer, I can’t help but encourage you all to make your way to the Taphouse Grill this Friday night to catch VV. This Richmond postpunk foursome brings a harsh undercurrent of horror to their rumbling, dissonant sound on III, the EP they released in January that constitutes their first new material in over two years. If you didn’t catch up with VV a couple years ago when they first arrived on the scene, you should definitely get familiar with what they do now that they’re back in action. This group definitely brings the noise.

They’ll be performing with three homegrown Tidewater musical projects, all of whom bring the outsider punk vibes in plentiful amounts. Community Witch have a charming yet spooky lo-fi rumble to their jangle-punk sound. Dysphonia are hard to find evidence of online, but appear to have a bit more of a jangly indie vibe, one with a bit more melody than the other two groups we’ve discussed so far. And LEYA are just downright odd, but in a riveting manner. So this one is sure to both surprise and enlighten you. Expect the unexpected.

Tuesday, March 10, 7:30 PM
Dead Kennedys, DOA, Demons @ The NorVA (Norfolk) – $22.50 in advance/$27.50 at the door (order tickets HERE)
To all the aging punks out there, I’m sure it seems just as weird to you as it does to me that the Dead Kennedys have been around for longer without frontman, chief songwriter, and punk godfather Jello Biafra on vocals than they ever were with Biafra. But of course, in their post-Biafra incarnation, they’re pretty much a nostalgia act, mainly performing classics from the band’s original early-80s era, and releasing nothing more than a live album or two since they regrouped in the early 00s.

So why go see them? Well, because you certainly won’t ever see them with Biafra on vocals again, and this is the next best thing. Because they’re only gonna play old stuff you already know and love. Because if you can enjoy a DK’s tribute act at a Halloween covers show, you can certainly enjoy one featuring most of the original band. And because Canadian punk legends DOA and Hampton Roads hardcore group Demons are both on the bill as well. The cumulative whole of what this show has to offer is worth appreciating, even if it doesn’t feature Jello Biafra behind the microphone. So enjoy it, and don’t worry too much about the provenance.

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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]

Top Photo by Carl Raw on Unsplash

Weedeater w/ The Goddamn Gallows at The Camel

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Broadberry Entertainment Group Presents!

Weedeater w/ The Goddamn Gallows,
Mister Earthbound, Future Projector, Dirt Merchant

Sunday, March 1st at The Camel
Doors at 6pm, Music at 630pm
$20

Weedeater

The Goddamn Gallows
Spit from the heart of America’s Rust Belt, arising from a night of flophouse violence. Drifting across the states, they cemented their sound in Portland, OR and later in Los Angeles, CA, where they lived in abandoned buildings, squatter camps, storage units and shoebox apartments.

In 2007, they left everything behind and spent the next 4 years living out of whatever vehicle would get them to the next town. Building upon their original sound of twanged-out, punk rock gutterbilly (Life of Sin 2004 and Gutterbillyblues 2007), they began picking up stray musicians along the way and adding to their sound; washboard, accordion, mandolin and banjo (Ghost of the Rails 2009 and 7 Devils 2011) creating a sound referred to as “hobocore”, “gypsy-punk” or “americana-punk”, while never being stuck in any one sound.

Tickets

Lifters @ The Fuzzy Cactus

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Punk rock has been enshrined in pop culture as music with something important to say, and I think that’s great, but one thing punk rock has always had room for, one that gets de-emphasized when we focus on The Clash and forget about the Ramones, is pure no-frills rock n’ roll melody. Durham’s Lifters might not qualify for punk rock if you’re expecting some sort of sophisticated political critique to emerge from their catchy tunes, but if you’re conversant with the genre’s history, the connection is undeniable. And that’s as it should be.

Tonight, if you’re looking for some catchy, fun tunes, played with plenty of energy but not that much polish, and reminding you of great groups like Radioactivity, Teengenerate, or the aforementioned Ramones, you’re going to want to point your feet toward Brookland Park’s own Fuzzy Cactus. There, Lifters and local melodic punk stalwarts Weird Tears and Neat Sweep are going to sweep you off your feet and get you caught up in the toe-tapping joys of punk rock. It all happens tonight; plan your evening accordingly.

BUY TICKETS

VA Shows You Must See This Week: February 19 – February 25

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FEATURED SHOW
Thursday, February 20, 7 PM
Bracewar, Division Of Mind, Combust, Mutually Assured Destruction, Guardrails @ The Camel – $15
There’s a lot going on in the Richmond music scene these days, within all sorts of different genres. And that’s wonderful! But if you want to talk about the styles of music that have a fertile, longstanding tradition in this town, you probably can’t do better than bringing up the Richmond hardcore scene. Going back to the dawn of the 80s and extending all the way to today, Richmond has been a town in which hardcore thrives, and this show at The Camel on Thursday night is the proof that this continues to be true in 2020.

At the top of the bill is Bracewar, one of those Richmond hardcore elder-statesman bands who moved into “plays a few shows a year but is otherwise inactive” mode at least seven years ago, but did thrill us all by releasing their first new material in almost a decade in the form of 2018 EP Colossal. They’ve maintained a slightly higher profile since then, but a Richmond Bracewar show is still a relative rarity, and if you delight in their signature brand of powerful breakdowns peppered with moments of high-speed thrashing, you’ll certainly want to catch this one.

Beyond Bracewar, this bill mostly focuses on current all-stars of Richmond’s straightforward hardcore scene, most predominantly Division Of Mind. This group’s recent self-titled LP on Triple B Records demonstrates that, while they are very skilled at the mosh, they have quite a bit more going on, and are worth your time and attention even if you don’t still find diving into an energetic pit to be the best way to spend a band’s set. Combust are actually from New York, but released a 12-inch EP on RVA’s own Edgewood Records last year, and will bring an energetic and welcome NYHC attack to the Camel’s stage. Plus, there’s Mutually Assured Destruction, who are taking heavy hardcore in an adventurous direction that doubtless owes a bit to Life Of Agony and Twitching Tongues, and the first show ever from Guardrails, who will kick this one off with a ton of pissed-off energy. Carry on the tradition, Richmond — be at this show.

Wednesday, February 19, 9 PM
Lifters, Weird Tears, Neat Sweep @ Fuzzy Cactus – $6
Punk rock has been enshrined in pop culture as music with something important to say, and I think that’s great, but one thing punk rock has always had room for, one that gets de-emphasized when we focus on The Clash and forget about the Ramones, is pure no-frills rock n’ roll melody. Durham’s Lifters might not qualify for punk rock if you’re expecting some sort of sophisticated political critique to emerge from their catchy tunes, but if you’re conversant with the genre’s history, the connection is undeniable. And that’s as it should be.

Tonight, if you’re looking for some catchy, fun tunes, played with plenty of energy but not that much polish, and reminding you of great groups like Radioactivity, Teengenerate, or the aforementioned Ramones, you’re going to want to point your feet toward Brookland Park’s own Fuzzy Cactus. There, Lifters and local melodic punk stalwarts Weird Tears and Neat Sweep are going to sweep you off your feet and get you caught up in the toe-tapping joys of punk rock. It all happens tonight; plan your evening accordingly.

Thursday, February 20, 9 PM
Excitable Boys, Daniel Case, The Dolphins @ Fuzzy Cactus – $7
It’s always interesting when you know enough about a band to care what they have to offer, but have no idea what they actually sound like. Such is the case with Excitable Boys, a band seemingly named for Warren Zevon’s most famous album, and made up of three different musicians one usually wouldn’t expect to see grouped together. In this case, those musicians include country-folk singer-songwriter Benjamin Shepherd, former Southside Stranglers guitarist Kevin Guild, and Irish-by-way-of-New-York indie-folk artist Cal Folger Day — who isn’t even a boy, putting a lie to the bandname in a far more entertaining fashion than the millions of all-male “girls” bands.

Anyway, that’s certainly an intriguing trio to bring together in one musical combo… but what exactly do you get when you mix an Irish indie-folk troubadour, a punk rock guitarist, and an Americana singer-songwriter? There’s only one way I know of to find out, and that’s to show up at Fuzzy Cactus this Thursday night and see what happens when the three of them take the stage together. It’s sure to be interesting; perhaps even, dare I say… exciting! (Sorry, y’all, but I couldn’t resist.)

Friday, February 21, 7:30 PM
Yamato Drummers present: Jhonetsu — Passion @ Altria Theater – $35 – $43 (order tickets HERE)
It’s not often that an opportunity for something truly unusual comes across our desk here at RVA Must-See Shows headquarters, so when something like this shows up in the local live music environment, we’ve got to make the most of it. Therefore, I encourage you to suck it up, deal with the higher-than-average ticket prices that accompany any night spent at the Altria, and go see Wadaiko Yamato, aka Yamato Drummers, this Friday night.

This group hails from Nara, Japan, a city once known as Yamato, and plays the sort of ensemble drumming native to Japan that’s known in the West as taiko. Wadaiko Yamato are a group made up of around a dozen different drummers, who explore the possibilities of percussion through polyrhythmic dynamics and highly choreographed theatrical dance performances. If you recognize the deep, transformative power of the beat that lies at the heart of music, you’re sure to be captivated and energized by what Wadaiko Yamato bring to the stage. It’s not the kind of thing you’ll see every weekend, either — that’s for sure. Make seeing this one a priority.

Saturday, February 22, 7 PM
Enforced, Alfred, Louderhead, Brain Tourniquet, Serqet @ Gallery 5 – $10
The war on drugs has been a highly damaging initiative of the US government over the past half-century or so. While it has failed to make a significant dent in the use and trafficking of mind-altering substances, it has allowed for a massive increase in the percentage of the US population that is incarcerated, a phenomenon that’s had a disproportionate effect on African Americans and low-income, marginalized folks across the country. This is why it’s heartening to see the first tentative steps being made here in Virginia to move beyond carceral methods of dealing with drug use and trafficking and toward decriminalization and harm reduction initiatives that grass-roots activist groups have been pushing for years.

This Saturday’s event at Gallery 5 will offer you the opportunity to both support these efforts and become part of them yourself… as well as hearing some great music, of course. The evening will begin with a free naloxone training session, then move on to music from Richmond leading lights like dark metallic hardcore ragers Enforced and psychedelic hip hop lyricist Alfred. There’ll also be a performance from Louderhead, who I am guessing is a Motorhead tribute band (always fun). And of course, DC power-violence freaks Brain Tourniquet and local goth-punk heroes Serqet will be in the house as well. The music will be great, the cause is just as great… get involved in this one.

Sunday, February 23, 9 PM
Catfest 4, feat. Cadillac Cat, Young Apollo, Gemi Jhay, Ley Cash, Pyrex Pedro, Civonnee, Balu, Delow, Cassius Kay, Qash, Skyy With 2 Y’s, Lowlifeball, Rasul, Don Chase, Ceo, Dee16Hunna, Mia Money, Lxrd Sleeza, Kaywan, Rascal Grimez, Tyrone Leake Jr., Moochiee @ The Camel – $10 (order tickets HERE)
It’s hard to keep up with the Richmond hip hop scene, and that’s not just because there’s a ton going on in this city. It’s also because hip hop is one music scene that doesn’t seem to have much use for the non-social-media internet, so information is at a premium, and google searches can only do so much. That said, I have been hearing the name Cadillac Cat for a while, so the fact that this jam-packed Sunday evening at The Camel is his fourth annual Catfest isn’t that much of a surprise.

If you also know the name Cadillac Cat, it’s probably because he’s produced a variety of material for Noah-O, including their 2017 full-length collab, Face/Off. These days, he’s working on a project called God Status, and if the video for first track “Free Shine” is any indication, this is going to be a hard-as-fuck street-level attack full of pounding beats and braggadocious flows. Expect something similar from his headlining set at this event. As for the 20-plus other artists performing, expect a crash course in an entire segment of the mid-Atlantic hip hop scene, one that’s sure to teach you a whole lot of shit you can’t learn from the internet.

Monday, February 24, 8 PM
Halfcast, Linden Row, Afib, Madison Turner @ The Camel – Free!
These free “Industry Night” shows the Camel has been throwing lately are intended to give all the people who work difficult shifts in the world of food service every weekend an opportunity to celebrate the end of their week’s busiest time. However, they also help out the Richmond live music preview industrial complex, an industry that I’m pretty sure consists entirely of me. So I’m really glad these exist, as they are sometimes the only thing remotely worth paying attention to on a Monday night — and that’s definitely true this week.

This week’s event offers a pretty strong local lineup, especially for a show that will cost you zero dollars to attend. That lineup is topped by Halfcast, a local trio who mix a chops-conscious metallic approach with alt-rock sensibilities to create crunchy melodic gold. Then there’s Linden Row, an alt-rock combo with plenty of energy and the same sort of mischievous surf-punk feel that shines through prime Pixies material; their set is sure to be a blast. I haven’t heard Afib, but they feature Truman drummer Dylan Anderson stepping out from behind the kit to pick up a guitar and play some indie/emo tunes, and that’s certainly an intriguing concept to me. And of course, Madison Turner, who’ll be playing her alt-punk-indie-folk tunes accompanied by a full band at this gig, is always worth seeing. So show up on time and catch it all. The price is more than fair.

Tuesday, February 25, 7 PM
GARZA, Jouwala Collective @ The Broadberry – $20 in advance/$25 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Do you like to dance? If you do and you’ve spent any time at all in the state of Virginia, you’re sure to be familiar with the work of Rob Garza, better known as one half of the legendary DC duo Thievery Corporation. Thievery Corporation has been active for over two decades and show no signs of slowing down; indeed, they recently announced a new LP coming in the spring. However, Garza’s creative mind is always restless, and so he has brought us GARZA, a project initially born from his desire to write music for other people.

In the end, he couldn’t bear to give the music he’d come up with away, and it was released late last year on an EP entitled Where The Moon Hides, which finds Garza collaborating with vocalists Seann Bowe and EMELINE to create some lovely, immersive electronic melodies that increase the pop quotient of Garza’s Thievery Corporation work without losing that pulse that always keeps your feet moving. GARZA will utilize a whole ensemble of singers and live instruments to wonderfully recreate these tunes in a live setting at the Broadberry this Tuesday night. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes for this one.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Thursday, February 20, 7 PM
Summer Salt, Okey Dokey, Breakup Shoes, Berries @ Elevation27 (Virginia Beach) – $17 in advance/$20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Groundhog or no groundhog, the fact remains that summer is far away at the moment. Therefore, it’s an especially welcome breath of fresh air that brings Summer Salt to Virginia Beach’s Elevation27 this Thursday night. This Austin Texas group mixes the sweet beach pop of Brian Wilson and the Brazilian bossa nova of artists like Gilberto Gil and Joao Gilberto into a base that is fundamentally indie-pop in nature. The result is the sort of lovely sound that’s sure to please fans of both Paul Simon’s Graceland and Animal Collective’s Feels.

In other words, it’s the perfect late-week listen for a Virginia locked in the late-winter doldrums. And it’s sure to bring a smile to your face even if you do have to don your heavy coat to walk from the club back to the car at the end of the night. The evening will also feature performances from catchy psychedelic indie group Okey Dokey, who hail from Nashville, and some electro-pop sounds from Arizona’s Breakup Shoes. Plus, VA Beach’s own Berries will kick off the evening with some charming indie-pop of their own. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Sunday, February 23, 7 PM
Tommy Stinson, Dashdown @ Hive Collective (Norfolk) – $25 – $100 (order tickets HERE)
Wrap up your weekend by spending an intimate evening in the company of Tommy Stinson and his acoustic guitar at Norfolk art gallery the Hive Collective. If you’re not familiar with Tommy Stinson by name, his time as bass player in The Replacements, Guns N’ Roses, and Soul Asylum should certainly let you know why he matters. But what really makes it a good idea for you to go see the man perform solo is the strength of his material as singer and songwriter, both under his own name and as the frontman for Bash And Pop.

That quartet, which released one excellent LP called Friday Night Is Killing Me in the wake of The Replacements’ early-90s breakup, then went their separate ways, got back together a few years ago for a long-awaited, much-belated follow-up called Anything Could Happen, which proved that they still had the spark that made their earlier work so wonderful. Stinson’s relatively recent solo LP, 2011’s One Man Mutiny, was just as great and heartfelt, and you can expect to see the sort of sloppy, sincere talent that’s always been the hallmark of his work on display at this intimate performance, so I highly recommend you get there.

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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]

Top Photo by Gabe Becerra/Twitter