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Weird Flex But Awesome

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The brand new flexi-disc from Richmonders The Wimps and Grebes comes to us as the first release from Perpetual Care, a locally-focused “interdisciplinary studio,” and revives an unusual format with an intriguing history and aesthetic.

It’s always nice to see local people trying something new, especially when that leads to their work existing beyond the digital space in which we’ve all been confined for way too much of the past two years, while out in the real world — you know, IRL — a deadly pandemic raged.

The split EP from Richmond bands The Wimps and Grebes, which was released about a month ago, is definitely a great example of something new on the Richmond scene — though, in reality, it gets to a place the scene has not previously gone by returning to a very old technology that was relatively common in the DIY world around a quarter-century ago. The technology I refer to is the flexi-disc, a record made not with solid slabs of vinyl but merely a thin, floppy vinyl sheet — one that often needs to be stabilized by having something relatively heavy, like a coin, set onto its inner label while it plays.

Back in the 90s, when alternative rock and its many subsets were enjoying a moment of popularity in tandem with underground “zine culture,” a lot of independent record labels and independent magazines joined forces to promote their music while adding value to their zines by giving away flexis inside zines — something they were particularly well suited for. I still have close to a dozen from 20-plus years ago, including promo singles by Elastica and Shonen Knife, and a flexi that was given away in the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal magazine featuring Biz Markie covering Elton John’s “Bennie And The Jets.”

I don’t think I’ve played any of these in at least 15 years.
(Photo by Marilyn Drew Necci)

Flexis have experienced a bit of a revival in recent times, and this one, which features two songs adding up to exactly six minutes on one side with a blank backing, is the first one I’ve seen from a local Richmond endeavor. And I guess you could say it’s somewhat of a novelty, but I for one think it’s pretty goddamn cool. And I’m not just saying that out of nostalgia, either.

This split flexi is the first release by Perpetual Care, which co-founder Darrin Higgins calls “a Richmond, VA project-based interdisciplinary studio with an emphasis on music and culture.” Higgins and co-founder Brent McCormick, who are both designers in their day jobs, founded Perpetual Care in order “to partner with, partake in, and promote the community caring for them.” Their hearts are certainly in the right place, then, and the music on this record is coming from a pretty great place as well.

The Wimps at Go West during the recording of “Great White Shark”

The Wimps are first up on this “soundsheet,” and they’re probably the better known of these two local groups. A four-piece group that prominently features organ on its contribution, “Great White Shark,” the Wimps offer a lot of appeal to underground music fans around the city. They aren’t a punk band by any means, but their driving, no-frills power-pop is close enough to the more melodic end of that genre to have crossover appeal for the punks, while still easily connecting with the more melody-focused indie kids around the scene.

Grebes are a newer project from around town, or at least they haven’t caught my attention before now. The project of songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Ungerleider, Grebes has a delicate indie mood on their track, “Locust.” Ungerleider may not be all that familiar a name to me, but he’s got a pretty formidable resume, with previous stints touring with the Fruit Bats, Natalie Prass, Angelica Garcia, and others. Chances are if you’re impressed by those names and the music they’re responsible for, you’re going to find a lot to like in the Grebes tune gracing the inner portion of this flexi-disc’s playable surface.

Jacob Ungerleider of Grebes

Perpetual Care have clearly just begun with their Richmond-focused artistic and cultural efforts, but this is a strong opening salvo from a project that isn’t afraid to think outside the box. I definitely will be keeping an eye out for what else they bring to the city in the future — hopefully good things are coming soon. For now, if you want to get a copy of The Wimps/Grebes split flexi for your very own (and why wouldn’t you?), you can get a copy for $6 plus $2 shipping from Perpetual Care’s website. Christmas is coming; get one for the Richmond indie music fan in your life this holiday (even if that does mean you’re just buying it for yourself).

Photos courtesy Perpetual Care, except where noted

RVA Shows You Must See This Week: November 10 – November 16

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FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, November 23, 2021, 7 PM
Beach Bunny, Miloe @ The Broadberry – $20 in advance, $24 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Oh hey, how’s it going? What have you been up to for the past year and a half? It’s been a wild ride for me too, but I’m back, I’m fully vaxxed, and I’m ready to rock. Lucky me, because the big news my first week back is that Beach Bunny is returning to RVA this Saturday night. If you were paying attention back in 2019, you’ll surely have noticed Honeymoon, the debut full-length by this Chicago four-piece. Led by singer-guitarist-songwriter Lili Trifilio, Beach Bunny started out as a solo project, gaining members over their first few years as they released four promising EPs. Honeymoon fulfilled that promise on its best songs, the vast majority of its running time being occupied by upbeat, jangly power-pop with an undeniable punk energy and attitude. There were still a few quieter, more minimalist ballads on the album, which weren’t my faves but stood as an understandable hangover from the solo years.

However, at this point, Beach Bunny’s moved on from all that, and their two post-pandemic statements, four-song EP Blame Game and brand new single “Oxygen,” go all in on the catchy, punky, power-pop vibes, and feature sharp lyrics that unflinchingly take on the worst aspects of interpersonal relationships among the youthful subculture the best music always comes from. Case in point: Blame Game opening track “Good Girls (Don’t Get Used),” which inverts the potential victim-blaming of the title to call out slack-ass indie boy hypocrisy. Meanwhile, the EP’s title track takes on rape culture in unsparing terms, and “Nice Guys” skewers the many dudes who don’t realize that putting women on a pedestal is still objectification.

So yeah, Beach Bunny has a lot for us, but it’s not all acid; “Oxygen’s” lyrics are an upbeat celebration of the dawning of a great new relationship, and pretty much all of the songs have that bouncy swing that we all loved from those early Best Coast records. So yeah, if you wanna dance with a big smile on your face, this is the show for you! Show up Saturday night at the Broadberry, bring your vax card, and get ready to have a blast.

Wednesday, November 10, 8 PM
Blvck Hippie, The Wimps, No Moniker @ The Camel – $8 in advance, $10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
This is one of those times where I’m not actually sure who’s opening and who’s headlining, so let me just say — you really want to show up at the beginning and stay to the very end for this one. But let’s start by talking about Blvck Hippie, since they’re the ones who are on tour. A Memphis-based project led by Josh Shaw, Blvck Hippie takes an intricate approach to indie tunes that contain a trenchant analysis of the limitations inherent in the indie rock scene of 2021. And of course, as a Black man playing music in a scene that is all too often way too white, Shaw’s observations aren’t the same old typical indie-boy laments.

In fact, you can tell that as soon as you listen to Blvck Hippie’s debut full-length, If You Feel Alone At Parties, released just last month and containing gems like “Answering Machine,” “July 5th,” and the title track, all of which deal frankly with alienation and the ongoing fallout from trauma. At the same time, Shaw’s lead guitar riffing adds an unmistakable melodic counterpoint to all of the music he’s presenting here, with the result that some of these subtly sad songs are also perfectly structured to stay in your head all day. Which is good, because this is a band whose music should give you plenty to think about. Of course, it should be acknowledged that The Wimps and No Moniker are also pushing back against the standard whiteboy-indie paradigm. And that’s definitely good. But the real reason you should catch both of these groups is the reason it always should be: both the quirky alt-rock of The Wimps and the bouncy disco-infused indie sound of No Moniker are excellent — as is Blvck Hippie. So hey, rock with ’em.

Photo by Alden Bonecutter

Thursday, November 11, 7 PM
Shakey Graves, Sun June @ The National – $25 in advance, $30 at the door (order tickets HERE)
If you’re aware of Shakey Graves, it’s probably due to his lengthy tenure in the rootsy world of the genre known as Americana — which is to say, he pulls from old-time music, but he doesn’t discriminate. Folk, country, blues, rockabilly… it’s all welcome. That very musical freedom is probably what led ol’ Shakey to the intriguing sound of his latest EP, 2020’s Look Alive, which is closer to moody, synth-infused indie rock than anything you’d normally associate with the “Americana” tag. In that way, he’s sort of following a similar path to that of Sturgill Simpson, though his approach is very much his own.

And of course, now that I’ve said all that, I should mention that the release Shakey Graves is really touring behind right now is Roll The Bones X, a tenth-anniversary reissue of his debut LP featuring another entire LP’s worth of outtakes tacked onto the end. And if it’s intriguing takes on what Greil Marcus called “the old weird America” that you’re looking for, well, on Roll The Bones X, Shakey Graves absolutely has what you’re looking for — and plenty of it. The million-dollar question, then, is: which of these Shakey Graves sounds will you get when you go see him on Thursday night at the National? His most recent explorations of the outer boundaries of genre? His original raw, earthy take on folk/blues/country vibes? A little of both? All I can tell you for sure is that, whichever you get, you can’t really go wrong. My advice: show up, and let it roll from there.

Friday, November 12, 9 PM
Sigmund Fraud, Mad Abbey, Marshall Family Values, Rikki Rakki @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
What better night than Friday night to dive into a show full of up-and-coming local talents, and really re-immerse yourself in the depths of what’s going on down here in the river city? If there is a better night, I didn’t find it this week. So I’m definitely advising that you come out to the Camel this Friday to enjoy the festivities around the release of Sigmund Fraud’s latest album. Aside from their great name, what do you need to know about Sigmund Fraud? Well, there’s the fact that they mingle a variety of different genres into their jammy, soulful, rockin’ sound, and the fact that, if you move around their Bandcamp page from one song to another, you’ll have a tough time really pinning them down. Everything they try, though, from the synth moods of “Lovespell” to the spaced-out slacker rock of “West Clay Street Blues,” is a lot of fun. And that’s what really counts.

There’s more going on here than just one band, though. Three other Richmond ensembles will be on hand to liven up your night, and all of them have a very strong likelihood of doing exactly that. Mad Abbey’s rocked-out approach to the power trio format brings some prog and classic rock touches to the fore. Marshall Family Values have a bit of desert spookiness to their rock n’ roll sound — I’m almost reminded of the Meat Puppets at some points. Finally, Rikki Rakki sees singer-songwriter Erika Blatnik take a somewhat noisy approach to what are fundamentally really beautiful heartfelt tunes. What form they’ll take live is open to question, but I’m certainly intrigued — as I am by this entire bill.

Saturday, November 13, 9:30 PM
Thunderchief, Future Projektor @ Bandito’s – Free!
OK, this show is a big relief. I say that because, as a dyed-in-the-wool metalhead, I found this week’s lineup of live music hits surprisingly weak on heaviness — that is, until I got to this Saturday night shindig at Bandito’s. Richmond metal veterans who wish to experience the bliss that is a Saturday night spent banging your head while mercilessly heavy riffs fly at you with great force, this show is for you. The bill starts off with Thunderchief, a duo that pairs talented thrasher Rik Surly with RVA metal/punk veteran Erik Larson (Avail, Parasytic, Alabama Thunderpussy, etc). Surly screams and dishes out huge riffs while Larson pounds the hell out of the drums. On last year’s No Sufferance For Thy Fools LP, their sound is way heavier and thicker than you’d expect a duo to generate, and that’s sure to be true in the live room at Bandito’s as well (secretly the best-sounding smaller venue in this city. Yeah, I said it).

Then there’s Future Projektor, the other band on this evening of heavy sounds that all of us are blessed to receive for our zero-dollar investment. If you remember Gritter, you may recognize some of these fellows; guitarist Adam Kravitz and drummer Kevin White were both part of that downbeat metal outfit, while bassist Sean Plunkett is a veteran of fellow Richmond metallers I Am The Liquor. The three of them have now come together to crank out some instrumental heavyosity in the glorious Richmond tradition of Breadwinner, the Alter Natives, and many others. Get ready for a night of serious brutality — one that you can start by saving your cash for a big plate of pre-show nachos (secretly the best nachos in this city. Yeah, I said that too).

Sunday, November 14, 6:30 PM
Samantha Fish, River Kittens @ The National – $22.50 – $32.50 (order tickets HERE)
Here comes a night full of rip-roaring blues guitar pyrotechnics courtesy of Kansas City’s own Samantha Fish, a woman whose music I admit I was unfamiliar with before I heard she was rolling into town. Well, checking out the singles from her latest album, Faster, which came out last month on Rounder Records, made me a believer. There’s some of Bonnie Raitt’s talent for guitar-slinging pop balladry in Fish’s DNA, for sure, but like both Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughan — another obvious influence on what Samantha Fish is up to in 2021 — she can rip out guitar leads sharp enough to cut yourself on. And if you don’t watch out, that’s exactly what’ll happen.

But don’t panic — you’ll be safe at The National this Sunday night (assuming you’re vaxxed up, that is. I shouldn’t even need to say that at this point). All you’ll have to worry about is how much fun you’re going to have rocking out to the straight fire Samantha Fish and her band are gonna lay down (again, only speaking metaphorically). And hey, based on what I’ve seen, at least a little bit of that fire is going to come from Samantha Fish’s outfit. The woman is not only a top-level shredder but an impeccable dresser, so be sure to keep your eyes open.

Monday, November 15, 9 PM
Cassidy Snider & The Wranglers, Brady Heck, Jacob Ritter, Chuck Jones @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Let’s go from a touring blues singer to a homegrown one. I’m speaking, of course, of Richmond’s own Cassidy Snider, who is less focused on shredding and more on deep country soul. So far, the only release she and her backing band, The Wranglers, have up on the internet is a live album recorded at The Camel last winter, and it showcases the sheer amazingness of Ms. Snider’s voice. Her four-piece backing band features banjo, fiddle, organ, bass, and drums, but no guitar. However, with her singing up front, it’s totally unnecessary. Her powerful instrument shakes the rafters, at times completely overpowering the microphones that documented that fateful performance at the Camel.

You won’t have to worry about that at The Camel this Monday night, though — only the limits of your ears. However, even with my own significant hearing loss, I’m not the least bit worried about picking up everything Ms. Snider is laying down. It’s gonna be great. And even greater is the opportunity to pick up a copy of Cassidy Snider & The Wranglers’ brand new LP, which they’ll be releasing at this show. Opening sets from local talents Brady Heck, Jacob Ritter, and Chuck Jones (not the guy who directed all those old Tom and Jerry cartoons… though wouldn’t that be sweet?) only serve to make this entire evening even more enjoyable. So shake off the Mondays and spend the first night of your workweek at the Camel. It’ll do you no harm.

Tuesday, November 16, 7 PM
Post Animal, Ron Gallo @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $15 in advance, $18 day of show (order tickets HERE)
I have been hearing the name Post Animal for a few years now, but this is my first time really diving in. And I must say, what I’ve found has been particularly enjoyable; a psychedelic quartet from Chicagoland who know how to create a huge atmosphere and a powerful mood. Last year’s second LP, Forward Motion Godyssey, demonstrates this in fine fashion, layering melodies aplenty, both vocal and guitar, with oceans of reverberating sound and color. I can’t imagine this music will be anything but even more amazing at full volume in the live environment. Now, if you’re one of those people who’d go to see Post Animal hoping to get a close-up look at Stranger Things actor Joe Keery, I must warn you that he’s no longer in the band. While he may have contributed to the band’s most recent album (I’m actually not able to tell), he won’t be performing with them.

But look, if you skip out on this show for that reason, I have to question your taste. After all, this quintet still contains five very talented songwriters, who are capable of channeling the best of that early Tame Impala vibe through a psych-pop lens that is pure Elephant 6. What’s not to love there? Plus! You’ll also be getting a set from Ron Gallo, whose catchy rock n’ roll vibes early in his career, circa 2017 single “Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me” have been augmented with a fair dose of psychedelia in its own right on his most recent album, Peacemeal. You know you’re gonna dig that.

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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]

VA’s Can’t-See Shows This Week: March 18 – March 24

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Hey there, folks, it’s that time of the week when we normally let you know all the best goings-on in the live music scene here in Richmond and around the state for the next week! As you may have realized, though, the current COVID-19 outbreak and the many social and legal restrictions placed on large gatherings have almost entirely shut down the live music scene here in Virginia. There may be a few things still going on, but we wouldn’t feel very responsible advocating for you to go see them. What’s a show-loving girl to do?

Well, for this week’s column, I decided to have compassion for those of you who have either joined me in the wonderful world of working at home (welcome to the club — isn’t it fun doing your job in your pajamas?) or, more unfortunately, found yourselves without any work while your place of business is temporarily shut down. I may not be able to send you to any clubs to see awesome bands light up your evening with their killer sounds… but I can offer you ten great performances by Richmond bands, all available for your viewing pleasure right here on the internet. You can space them out one (or two) per day as with the usual column, or binge them all tonight — the choice is yours! Crank the volume on your headphones for this one.

Lamb Of God at Hellfest Open Air, Clisson, France, June 23, 2019

We’ll start with what we all certainly hope is a preview of coming attractions — a full set by Lamb Of God, complete with multiple cameras and top-quality audio. Richmond’s veteran metal faves are planning as of now to release their latest LP, Lamb Of God, on May 8, and follow it up with a full US tour, featuring June dates at Jiffy Lube Live in NoVA and Veterans United Amphitheater in Virginia Beach. Will all that still happen in light of COVID-19? We can hope… and in the meantime, we can take comfort in this one-hour preview of what Lamb Of God’s latest lineup, now featuring former Prong drummer Art Cruz in place of retiring OG Chris Adler, has in store for us.

Division Of Mind at FYA Fest, Tampa, Florida, Jan 5, 2020

Taking things to a bit more of an underground level, here we have a room-destroying performance by Richmond hardcore ragers Division Of Mind, at Florida’s FYA Fest back at the beginning of this year. Guttural vocals, chugging guitars, brutal breakdowns, and an equally brutal mosh pit are what this video is all about. Better yet, despite the circumstances, it still features multiple camera angles and a great sound mix. Division Of Mind don’t have a social media presence (right on, I wish I didn’t), so I don’t know what’s up with them at this moment, but I’m sure they’d appreciate you grabbing a copy of their recent self-titled LP on Triple B Records if you haven’t already.

No BS! Brass Band at The Broadberry, April 17, 2014

Let’s take things in a more upbeat direction, shall we? This six-year-old live performance by No BS! Brass Band isn’t the most recent live footage online by this group, but there’s no substitute for seeing this Richmond favorite right here at home. And since at this moment, we have no way of knowing whether their gig planned for April 3 at The Broadberry is still going to happen or not, we may as well enjoy their music from home right now. Push the coffee table back and dance, y’all. And consider buying some merch from them, if you have the scratch — they will really appreciate the support. (Needless to say, that goes for all the bands on this list.)

Avail at House Of Independents, Asbury Park, New Jersey, September 5, 2019

Did you miss all the Avail reunion sets last year? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. And if you’re not planning to head to Punk Rock Bowling or Furnace Fest later this year, you might especially appreciate this audience recording of their set in Asbury Park last summer. This is one of the few videos I’ve picked that doesn’t have pro audio, so the sound isn’t perfect, but what is perfect is that evocation of what it felt like to be crammed up against the stage (always my favorite spot), singing along and avoiding the moshers… and the sweat flying off Beau Beau’s head. We can’t be there now, but it’s a lovely reminder.

Nickelus F and Ohbliv at Brewer’s Cafe, November 27, 2019

Want to chill with some fine hip hop? Check this Brewer’s Cafe session from last fall, featuring two of Richmond hip hop’s leading lights of the 21st century. Nickelus F is on the mic, spitting some of the best rhymes you’ll find anywhere in the world, while Ohbliv keeps the beats flowing on the decks. They’re behind the Brewer’s counter, and they aren’t serving up any hot drinks, but Brewer’s Cafe is still open for carryout and delivery today, and both Sweet Petey and Ohbliv have plenty of great tunes available over on Bandcamp for your listening pleasure (links above). They’d all appreciate your business during this trying time, I can assure you.

Palm Palm at River City Roll, September 1, 2019

If you know how awesome J. Roddy Walston & The Business were as a live act, you really need to catch Palm Palm, Walston’s new band with members of The Trillions, The Southern Belles, and the Milkstains. These folks had the misfortune of having their spring tour fall apart while they were on it earlier this month; they had to skip the last half of their dates and head home because all the other shows were cancelled. Fortunately for us, their set from last summer at River City Roll is online in its entirety, featuring high-quality audio and a very active single camera capturing the event from all kinds of angles. If you dig this, hit up Palm Palm online to support them by buying a t-shirt. After losing quite a few tour dates, they sure could use the help.

Windhand at Elsewhere, Brooklyn, NY, November 2, 2018

Windhand is another Richmond band who had a tour fall apart on them this month; indeed, this very night, they were supposed to be in Harrisonburg playing The Golden Pony. Now that show, and the rest of their March tour dates, are cancelled, and the only place we can see them is on YouTube. Luckily for us, this incredible live performance was captured by Revolver Magazine in high-quality audio by multiple cameras back in 2018, and we can enjoy it to our heart’s content now. With their tour having been cancelled, Windhand have been selling leftover tour merch on their BigCartel page — go grab some records and t-shirts if you’ve got the scratch.

.gif From God at Wonderland, July 5, 2019

Here’s what will doubtless be the messiest live video you’ll see this week — .gif From God laying waste to Wonderland last summer, in their inimitable fashion. This video is washed out and chaotic, full of flying hair and overdriven guitar chugs, and if you don’t know these songs going in, you might at times struggle to make out what’s going on. But that’s what .gif From God are all about, and if you ask me, it’s part of their charm — a delightful wall of chaos. No word as yet on the status of .gif From God’s April tour, but if you don’t have a copy of their latest LP, approximation_of_a_human, now is absolutely the time to get one. And if you do, you should donate to their Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project fundraising team — a good cause is still a good cause, even during a quarantine.

Bio Ritmo at Rio Loco Festival, Toulouse, France, June 19, 2015

And now for something completely different — a high-energy salsa infusion from long-running local band/party machine Bio Ritmo. This was filmed several years ago and far from home, but don’t get it twisted — this impeccably-documented performance is still muy caliente and well worth your time. Bio Ritmo haven’t performed locally since back around Christmas and don’t have anything in particular coming up, so why not stock up on their impressive back catalog over at their Bandcamp? Guaranteed to heat up your living room even if your space heater’s broken.

Good Day RVA Live Sessions Playlist, feat. Benjamin Shepherd, McKinley Dixon and Friends, Sports Bar, Doll Baby, The Wimps, Spooky Cool, Antiphons, Dumb Waiter, Clair Morgan aka New Lions, Dave Watkins, Lobo Marino, Navi, The Trillions, Andrew Alli & Josh Small, White Laces, Nelly Kate, Houdan The Mystic, Black Girls aka Rikki Shay

Who’s up for a lightning round? Good Day RVA have got the mother of all live sessions for you here with a mega-playlist featuring all of the sessions they’ve filmed over their entire career, which has been going on for… damn near 10 years now. Wow, time flies, huh? These videos feature a who’s who of Richmond’s best musicians, captured at various evocative sites around Richmond and ensuring that the city itself is just as much of their videos as the excellent bands involved. Maybe you’ve missed some of these over the years and need a reminder, or maybe you saw them all when they came out and would just enjoy a playlist full of great Richmond sights and sounds with which to warm your heart while you’re stuck in the house. Either way, this will go down smooth and warm your heart and soul. Guaranteed.

Must-See Shows will be back next week. Whether we return with actual live shows around town, or more video picks to get us through another week of quarantine, only time will tell… but I’m not getting my hopes up. See you then!

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

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FEATURED SHOW
Sunday, June 23, 7 PM
Toxic Moxie (Photo by David Morton), Magnus Lush, Among The Rocks And Roots @ Gallery 5 – $6 in advance/$8 day of show (order tickets HERE)
One of the core principles of this-here column is as follows: local music, specifically music from Richmond, is awesome. But that’s not just because our city had the fortune of attracting (or incubating) a lot of really talented people. A big part of what makes this relatively small US city so great at producing a ton of wonderful sounds from talented musicians is the community that exists within the scene here. Pretty much everyone involved in the local scene works to help support each other in our mutual creative endeavors. That’s not only true across styles and genres, it’s also true for people who don’t necessarily play music themselves — the promoters, the photographers, the zine-makers, even the kids who just go to a lot of shows and help make sure that bands get paid.

In that spirit, it’s great to see three local bands with significantly different sounds all coming together at Gallery 5 this Sunday to help a friend. I’ve never known Celeste Canady to play in a band, but her photography and overall scene support has made her an essential member of Richmond’s music community for years. Now she’s headed off to start the next chapter in her life by moving to Chicago — and three great Richmond bands are playing this fundraiser to help Celeste on her way.

Whether you personally know Celeste and also want to contribute, or are just looking for a great night of local music to cap off your weekend, Gallery 5 is the place to be this Sunday night. Toxic Moxie are our headliners, and they’ve been teasing a new LP for a damn minute now, so chances that this show will bring you a live preview of their killer new material are pretty high, I’d say. Magnus Lush’s excellent post-hardcore sound is always captivating and worth your time. And Among The Rocks And Roots are still building yet further from their 2018 LP, Raga, a creative peak in their epic multi-movement song construction and noisy, raging, yet hypnotic and enticing bass-drum duo sound. These groups are very different, but they are all excellent, they’re all coming out of Richmond, and best of all, they’re all coming together to support members of their community. Gotta love it.

Wednesday, June 19, 7 PM
Daddy Long Legs (Photo by Colby Sadeghi), The Bush League, The HellHounds @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $10 (order tickets HERE)
It’s not exactly in the mainstream eye right now, but if you know where to look, you’re sure to notice that there’s quite the revival in rootsy, bluesy rock n’ roll happening these days. Daddy Long Legs are part of that whole thing — the NYC three-piece play music landing somewhere between the amplified Chicago blues of Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter, and the noisy gutbucket howls of The Cramps and Jon Spencer. Hard not to love that!

On their new LP, Lowdown Ways, dish out some rollicking noise, making the most of their unusual lineup configuration — a slide guitarist, a singer who plays blues harp at times and guitar at others, and a drummer with a tiny kit and an ever-present maraca in one hand — and crank out some sounds that will appeal both to fans of early Fat Possum Records superstars like RL Burnside and T-Model Ford, and to Richmond punks who miss the heyday of local roots-punk rippers The Nervous Ticks. All of this adds up to a ton of fun; you’ll certainly be moving your feet if you make it out to this one.

Thursday, June 20, 8 PM
Moon Hooch (Photo by Jeffery Allen), Nathan-Paul & The Admirables, Brunswick @ The Camel – $15 in advance/$18 day of show (order tickets HERE)
I love it when something totally unexpected rolls through town, and that’s why I’m super-stoked to see Moon Hooch coming through. This trio is the kind of thing you’ve almost never seen before — two saxophones and a drummer, plus some occasional electronic augmentation and a completely unpredictable approach to songwriting that creates some of the freshest sounds I’ve encountered in a while. Moon Hooch are definitely not jazz. Nor are they a sax-driven rock n’ roll band. They aren’t an avant-garde experimental noise ensemble, either. And while their latest release, a collaboration with rapper/producer Tonio Sagan, has a decided boom-bap feel, they aren’t hip hop either.

So if Moon Hooch aren’t any of those things, then what are they? Answer: they’re a whole lot of fun. Any group who got their start as subway buskers are sure to know how to entertain a crowd, and Moon Hooch are no exception. They make danceable tunes full of groove and forward motion that are sure to get your booty shaking. Sometimes the result is reminiscent of John Zorn’s more accessible work, while at other times you just may find yourself thinking of Richmonders Dumb Waiter; those of you with longer memories may also end up thinking at times of Morphine. But mostly what you’re going to be thinking about when Moon Hooch are onstage at the Camel is what a great time you’re having. And that’s ultimately the best result possible.

Friday, June 21, 8 PM
Briana Marela, Plastic Pyramid, M4DF4C3 @ Sediment Arts – $9
This Friday night, it’s time to step into a slightly different headspace over at Sediment Arts. Many of us associate shows at art galleries with avant-garde sounds and performances, and while that isn’t universally true, such an instinct is not going to steer you wrong this Friday night. Briana Marela is an electronic musician from the West Coast, who uses her voice to create ambient layers of ethereal melody, then augments these floaty textures of sound with subtle programmed beats, synths, and gorgeous vocal melodies with their own flawless sense of melodic pop excellence.

The result might make you think of more recent work by Bjork, or even Grimes in her pre-Elon Musk days. But Briana Marela very much has her own thing going on, which she shows both on her most recent LP, 2017’s Call It Love, and a song she created last year in collaboration with Radiolab. “4th Amendment” is a song that uses the Bill Of Rights’ prohibition against unwarranted search and seizure to explore important issues relating to consent. Clearly she’s coming from an intelligent mindset — she’s currently pursuing an MFA in Electronic Music at Mills College — and her complex music demonstrates that, giving the listener a lot of sonic rabbit holes to fall down. In the best way, of course.

Saturday, June 22, 7 PM
Minor Poet (Photo by Joey Wharton), The Wimps, HotSpit @ The Broadberry – $10 in advance/$15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
A whole bunch of Richmond indie musicians — Matthew E. White, Natalie Prass, Lucy Dacus — have made it big in that world over the past several years, and now it appears that Minor Poet’s Andrew Carter is set to follow in their footsteps. Following up on And How!, his 2017 debut LP under the Minor Poet name, Carter has just released his follow-up EP, The Good News, with none other than Sub Pop Records. Which technically makes Minor Poet labelmates with Nirvana, and if that isn’t impressive, I don’t know what is.

OK, actually, I do know what is — the brand new six-song offering from Minor Poet. The Good News is a triumph of pop songcraft, full of lush instrumental augmentation around a really solid core of pop-rock melody that nods toward both the Beatles and the Shins on the way to an excellent, original place of its own. At The Broadberry this Saturday night, Carter and his allies in Minor Poet will bring the whole thing to vibrant Technicolor life before your very eyes. And then you’ll have a chance to grab a copy of The Good News on vinyl for your very own. Trust me, you’re going to want to.

Sunday, June 23, 9 PM
Greenbeard, Lady Killer, 3:33 @ Wonderland – $10
We’ve explored all sorts of multi-faceted sounds and styles this week, but we all know what the music scene in Richmond was built on, so this Sunday night, let’s all head down to Wonderland and get back to our roots in the rich earth of Southern metal. Two Texas bands are headed to Shockoe Bottom to help us out with that, and with a name like Greenbeard, you know the first of these two has to be good. You might wonder whether that name is intended to be a weed reference, but the fact that the first song on their latest EP is called “Contact High II” should remove any doubt.

And of course, these guys churn out exactly the sort of rumbling sun-baked grooves that you’d hope for from any metal band who like to make marijuana references. Greenbeard’s music occupies a territory bordered on one side by the hazy psychedelia of Hawkwind or Monster Magnet, and on the other by the straight-up Camaro grooves of Fu Manchu. If you like spending time in that territory — and let’s be real, who doesn’t? — this show is for you. Fellow Texans Ladykiller push that vibe in a bit more of an 80s cock-rock direction, complete with some of that slightly-awkward “pretty women as scenery” vibe straight out of mid-80s Motley Crue videos. But once they start to play, all doubts go by the wayside — these guys are riff masters, and there’s no denying it. Local metal-punk madmen 3:33 will kick off their next tour with an opening slot on this one, so expect things to be hard n’ heavy from the word go. Which is exactly what you want.

Monday, June 24, 6:30 PM
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Father John Misty, Jade Bird @ Altria Theater – $59.75 – $79.75 (order tickets HERE)
I’ve been a fan of Jason Isbell since back when he was still in the Drive-By Truckers. He wrote some of the best songs on their albums that he played on, and when he left the group a dozen years ago to kick off a solo career, I certainly wasn’t complaining. Isbell’s been repaying my faith in him ever since, creating half a dozen excellent solo albums thus far. The most recent of these, 2017’s The Nashville Sound, was the first to give his band, the 400 Unit, equal billing, and it makes sense — it’s very much a band record, with a sound that is guaranteed to please everyone who loves heartland rock, alt-country, and any sort of heartfelt anthem delivered with grace and sincerity.

Since that album was released, Isbell has contributed a song to the Star Is Born soundtrack. Meanwhile, his current tourmate, Father John Misty, recently started playing a song that he swears was rejected from that same high-profile film. Of course, as with anything Father John Misty is up to, you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt — the guy’s been one of the music world’s most notorious tricksters since he quit Fleet Foxes and changed his name from plain old Josh Tillman back in 2012. But for someone who’s public persona is sometimes quite difficult to figure out, Father John Misty’s music is always excellent, something he proved yet again on last year’s God’s Favorite Customer. You might hear all sorts of weird between-song pronouncements during his set at the Altria this Monday night — but you’ll definitely hear some powerful music. And that’s really what it’s all about.

Tuesday, June 25, 7 PM
Damien Jurado, Corrina Repp @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $18 in advance/$20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Here’s another pretty impressive labelmate Minor Poet can now claim as a result of his Sub Pop signing. Damien Jurado’s been making his spare, affecting music for around 25 years now, and in the late 90s and early 00s, he was recording for Sub Pop, releasing moody acoustic singer-songwriter masterpieces like Ghost Of David back before Iron And Wine was a name anyone knew.

In the years since, Jurado’s released over a dozen albums, at times dabbling in full bands and more electrified sounds. But on his latest, the just-released In The Shape Of A Storm, Damien Jurado has once again returned to his roots, producing an album of haunting ballads that aren’t quite folk, country, indie, or emo, but will likely appeal to people who enjoy any of those genres. Jurado’s music is always an intense, haunted listening experience, even on record. When he takes the stage at Capital Ale House this Tuesday night, you should be prepared for an emotional journey — one that may take you to some pretty dark places. But even so, you’ll be tremendously glad you took the ride.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Saturday, June 22, 7 PM
The Connells @ The Jefferson Theater – $20 (order tickets HERE)
It may very well be that you have to be “of a certain age” to remember the Connells in 2019. And if so, that’s a shame, because while this band’s most successful periods were the college radio era of the late 80s and the post-Nirvana alt-rock boom of the early 90s, their songwriting talent was more than sufficient to make them the authors of some truly classic alt-pop tunes. Granted, they weren’t as heavy as the grunge bands of the day. What’s more, their roots in North Carolina linked them much more closely to fellow Southern indie groups like REM and Dillon Fence than to the quirkier collegiate alt-rock of the Massachusetts area (like the Pixies or Dinosaur Jr).

All the same, songs like “Stone Cold Yesterday,” “Slackjawed,” and “Fun And Games” showed that namesake brothers Mike and David Connell, along with perennial lead vocalist Doug MacMillan, knew exactly how to put together a perfect pop tune. The results on album after album harked back to 60s classics by the Beatles and the Byrds while also indicating a clear kinship with UK groups like The Smiths and The House Of Love. All that sounds pretty great, right? And see, that’s why you should definitely make it out to the Jefferson Theater Saturday night when The Connells come through — regardless of whether or not you saw them on the lawn at your college in 1994. Their heyday may be a bit far back in the rearview, but these songs are timeless.

Tuesday, June 25, 7 PM
Kristin Hersh Electric Trio, Fred Abong @ The Golden Pony – $12 in advance/$14 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Kristin Hersh has been making music for nearly 40 years, and she’s been a unique and fascinating artist that entire time. Beginning in the early 80s with her band Throwing Muses, Hersh used a spiky iconoclasm learned from punk to twist her noisy pop tunes into strange, off-kilter shapes that made the results fascinating. Beginning in the early 90s, Hersh began alternating full-band Throwing Muses albums with more minimal but no less fascinating solo albums, which veered from raw emotional declarations to covers of old Appalachian folk ballads.

These days, Hersh has managed to distill all her disparate musical threads into a single unified sound. 2018’s Possible Dust Clouds integrates the noisy, tangled postpunk sound of Throwing Muses and Hersh’s post-Throwing Muses project, 50 Foot Wave, with the arresting minimalist songcraft of her previous solo material. Now she’s out on tour performing not as a solo artist or a bandleader but something in-between — fronting an Electric Trio featuring former Throwing Muses bassist Fred Abong and former 50 Foot Wave drummer Rob Ahlers. Will the result be an overview of her 35-year recording career, or will Hersh plunge fearlessly into the future on the trail of her unique muse? Regardless of which way things go, the result is sure to be a captivating performance. Head up to Harrisonburg and see it for yourself — it’ll be worth the trip.

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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: May 1 – May 7

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

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

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

Wednesday, May 1, 7:30 PM
Whitesnake, The Black Moods @ The National – $50 (order tickets HERE)
Y’all know I’m old by now, but I’m even older than you realize, because I’m officially stoked that Whitesnake will be in town tonight. And look, we need to set the record straight on Whitesnake — because while I know everyone today only remembers them for that groundbreaking classic of car-dancing, “Here We Go Again” (a great song, to avoid misconceptions), they actually have a 40-year career of heavy-blues awesomeness. Led for their entire career by former Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale, Whitesnake included as many as three ex-Purple players in their early days, and has also, over the years, featured guitar-slingers from groups like Thin Lizzy and Def Leppard, as well as the legendary axe-slayer himself, Steve Vai.

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

Thursday, May 2, 9 PM
Pissing Contest, Nightcreature, Railgun @ Bandito’s – Free!
Hey all you punk-as-fuck Richmond ragers out there — take notice of this particular Thursday night gig! And not just because it’s free and there’s beer there. If you like to spike your hair and raise two fingers to the world, Richmond’s own Pissing Contest are the band for you. This quartet’s been venting their speedy, anti-social frustration on this city for over five years now, and they’re releasing their second full-length collection of punk tunes full of, um, piss and vinegar at this free Bandito’s gig. So get stoked.

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

Friday, May 3, 9 PM
Ecstatic Vision, Heavy Temple, Sinister Haze @ Wonderland – $10
Do you like your music trippy? No, more trippy than that — like Hawkwind’s Space Ritual crossed with early Ash Ra Tempel, with saxophones blaring and electronic sounds making you think a spaceship is launching right behind your back even as a really heavy rock groove cranks right through the center of your skull and makes it impossible not to nod along. If so, you’re well on your way to appreciating the sheer enormity of the psychedelic power Philadelphia’s Ecstatic Vision will unleash upon Shockoe Bottom at Wonderland this Friday night.

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

Saturday, May 4, 3 PM
Laundropalooza 2.0, feat. Rebekah Rafferty and the Wakes, Keilan Creech, Weekend Plans, The Wimps, T Star, Deli Kings, The Northerners, Kenneka Cook, Moniker, Elliot Johnson @ Strawberry Street Neighborhood Laundromat – Free!
This is the kind of thing I wouldn’t normally believe could happen in a town like Richmond. An all-day Saturday show… in a laundromat? Get outta here. But don’t be skeptical, because it’s all true, and what’s more, it’s been done before! And why not? Spring is here, the temperatures are rising, the skies are finally clearing, and it’s time to enjoy the world once more. Considering that advance promo for this event advises you to bring a lawn chair and/or a blanket, I’m guessing it’s happening outside — and as I recall, the Strawberry Street Laundromat does have a lovely backyard and patio, so it really does all add up to a lovely afternoon.

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

Sunday, May 5, 10 PM
Black Plastic, HotSpit, CAPTCHA @ Bandito’s – Free!
Sunday night is always a great night to head down to Bandito’s. There aren’t always free shows featuring great local bands happening, but it happens more often than not, and this Sunday is one of the nights where local music is definitely on the menu at my personal favorite local spot to get heaping plates of nachos — so don’t miss out! Black Plastic are a Richmond band who’ve been around for a couple of years but kept the releases to a minimum; thus far, they only have one official single to their name.

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

Monday, May 6, 7:30 PM
IDLES, Fontaines DC @ The Broadberry – $15 in advance/$17 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Playing basic three-chord punk can be the sort of decision that leads people to think that a band is untalented; especially today, four decades into the punk rock era, it’s the rare band that can both rage and riff in simple, direct, aggressive fashion and make clear from jump that they are bringing a fierce, critical intelligence to their take on no-frills punk. IDLES did this exact thing on their first LP, Brutalism, with sardonic songs that mocked anti-intellectualism and apathy.

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

Tuesday, May 7, 6 PM
Psycroptic, Cannabis Corpse, Gorod, Micawber, Crucial Rip, Voarm @ The Camel – $20 (order tickets HERE)
To the uninitiated, death metal probably seems like a lot of undifferentiated low-end noise. However, to those of us who’ve been listening to it for decades, there are many fine gradations that appear in what, to be honest, still is pretty much a wall of unrelenting aggression and brutality. This show at The Camel Tuesday night is definitely an unrelenting evening of death fucking metal in the offing. However, the bands on this stacked bill showcase all sorts of different approaches to the same basic template. And that’s what makes this one truly unmissable. Take Psycroptic, the veteran Australian group headlining this bill. They’re currently on tour in support of their seventh album, As The Kingdom Drowns. On that album — and surely onstage at the Camel Tuesday night — they display mastery of a technical approach to death metal that mixes complex riffing and melodic undertones with powerful brutal breakdowns in a fascinating multi-layered fashion.

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

Picks from elsewhere around the state:

Saturday, May 4, 9 PM
Murphy’s Law, The Unabombers @ Taphouse Grill – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Where New York Hardcore is concerned, it doesn’t get much more OG than Murphy’s Law. Formed by singer Jimmy Gestapo (who mostly just goes by Jimmy G these days, for reasons that should be obvious) in 1982, this band’s fun n’ games take on hardcore emphasizes the sort of goofy reprobate attitude that was always the flip side of punk’s iconoclastic, anti-social approach to the world. As a result, over the course of their five albums, Murphy’s Law have often focused on drugs, parties, and avoiding responsibility — themes with widespread appeal among the punk rock masses that may also serve to explain why they’ve been around for over 35 years and, as previously mentioned, only released five albums.

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

Sunday, May 5, 7 PM
Acid Dad, Ladada @ Charlie’s American Cafe – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
For a fortysomething nerd like me, who grew up parsing the finer differences between My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, and the Catherine Wheel, it’s hard to figure what actually counts as “shoegaze” anymore. But the mere fact that we have to have this conversation about Acid Dad is in and of itself indicative of something — that something being ringing guitars, hazy distortion, laid-back vocals, and heavy beats, all adding up to a sound that is, if not “shoegaze” proper, at least guaranteed to appeal to fans of good old-fashioned alternative rock.

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

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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

St. Patrick’s Day Double Feature Brings Wonderful Weirdness To Gallery 5

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To close out the 26th annual James River Film Festival, Gallery 5 celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a double feature from Silent/Music Revival and Strange Projections, featuring the classic St. Paddy’s Day film, Leprechaun.

The evening of St. Patrick’s Day saw the James River Film Festival close out in fine fashion, with a bizarrely fascinating double feature at Gallery 5. While some were ending their weekend with shamrocks and green beer, the James River Film Society (JRFS) presented a new installment of the long-running Silent/Music Revival series, followed by the latest installment of the JRFS’s Strange Projections series.

Curated and hosted by VCU film professor Mike Jones, the James River Film Festival celebrated its 26th year this year, and did so while remaining entirely volunteer-run and funded through donations. Silent/Music Revival doesn’t have quite as storied a history, but it has been around for a long time now, so chances are you’ve encountered at least one of their unique screenings before. But for those of you still not in the know, this Richmond tradition pairs silent movies with local musicians who, having never seen the films before, improvise a soundtrack on the spot.

As always with Silent/Music Revival, this event was free, and the experience it offered was amazing. The film featured this time around was Jean Vigo’s 1933 film Zero For Conduct. The 40-minute film, which depicts an oppressive school environment and small rebellious acts committed by students, was based on Vigo’s own experiences in boarding school as a child, and was banned in France for 12 years after its release. Silent/Music Revival showed the film from a rare 16mm print, which definitely gave the proceedings a throwback feel.

The soundtrack for this film was created by organ-driven indie band The Wimps, who did an exceptional job of making their music pair with the film, despite the fact that they couldn’t even see the movie being played from where they were set up. The audience’s enjoyment came just as much from seeing the way The Wimps’ impromptu score synced up with the movie as from the movie itself.

After the Silent/Music Revival portion of the evening ended, the James River Film Society held a St. Patrick’s Day-themed episode of their Strange Projections series. It featured an old VHS copy of Leprechaun, a 1993 low-budget horror film featuring Jennifer Aniston before she was famous, mixed live with sounds from old cassettes from the period — specifically an Irish alt-rock trio consisting of The Cranberries, U2, and Sinead O’Connor.

The result was totally weird, probably too weird to focus on completely. However, as this screening marked the end of the five-day film festival, the environment was much more relaxed, as most in attendance hung out chatting and enjoying the refreshments Gallery 5’s bar had on offer.

This evening of filmed entertainment marked a great way to cap off a St. Patrick’s Day weekend, despite the lack of holiday-themed festivities (beyond the showing of Leprechaun, of course). While they aren’t always connected with each other or a film festival, both Silent/Music Revival and Strange Projections are semi-regular film series, and are always worth checking out when you see them happening around town (especially since they are generally free of charge). Keep an eye out for both!

Written by Aviance Hawkes and Marilyn Drew Necci; photos by Aviance Hawkes