For nearly 15 years, Nathan Willett and Cold War Kids have fielded the shifts in the music landscape’s seismic activity as well as the ebbs and flows in their own camp while simultaneously sticking to their game plan. Over the course of a dozen releases on majors and indies alike, non-stop tours and the festival circuit’s biggest stages, massive radio and streaming successes as well as a few lineup changes, Cold War Kids have become a major part of the modern scene. Coming off of the high water marks of 2014’s Hold My Home with its smash single “First” and the Capitol Records-backed LA Divine in 2017 feeling mostly satiated, Willett began to hone in on what was most exciting and integral to him in both the Cold War Kids recipe as well as in the current music climate as he began to write new material. He obsessed over the seemingly never-ending stream of Kanye West-produced records released in the summer of 2018, enamored of their breezy compactness and fresh feeling, which excited him to explore a new working relationship with his own producer of favor, Lars Stalfors (St. Vincent, Foster the People). Thepair entered the studio to write a very specific, of-the-moment type of album, encouraged to take the doors off of the idea of what the band was in order to see where it could go Willett and Stalfors incorporated some pieces of the core CWK sound while stripping away therafter-reaching production of their past records, aiming for leaner, tighter tunes. And, taking inspiration from a slogan on a T-shirt made by the band’s bass player and resident visual artist Matt Maust, Willett had the project’s title, lyrical themes, and structure in mind even before any songs had been completed—three unique eight-song volumes called New Age Norms. Writing from urgent, of-the-moment perspectives in order to respect and reflect the day’s normative behaviors and climate, Willett focused on a bird’s eye view of the current values he was observing all around him—the new norms of class, gender, race, and power that are creating our modern world. The first volume’s eight songs explore the connective tissue apparent to him in the landscape, with the sense of optimism and uplifting positivity he feels necessary to approach any issue, or song One such line—“Don’t sit around and complain about it”—provided the focal point for the first song on and written for New Age Norms, “Complainer,” a call to do something constructive rather than dwell on all the things that might drag us down. Co-written with the pop writer Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Rita Ora) and Electric Guest’s Asa Taccone (whose drummer,Matthew Compton, plays drums throughout New Age Norms), “Complainer” sizzles with its fresh mix of modern production and stand-by CWK sonic influences like Can and Talking Heads. The next song, “Fine Fine Fine,” recalls The Jam meets Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life,” abouncy rock-and-roller featuring female backup singers and a youthful raging against aging and maturing; “Waiting for Your Love” would sound right at home on an Emotional Rescue period Rolling Stones record, but with an update of Mick Jagger’s explicit stray cat strut to a version suitable for our times.
The Congress @ The Camel
The Congress are here to spread holiday cheer at The Camel. Support to be announced soon.
Saturday December 21st
Doors at 8, Show at 9
$15 ADV, $20 DOS
The Congress
http://www.thecongressmusic.org
Richmond VA
Richmond Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
Choreography by Stoner Winslett
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
This season marks Artistic Director Stoner Winslett’s 40th time staging her continually evolving, acclaimed version of The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky’s familiar music whisks both Clara and audiences alike on an extraordinary journey, from a battle beneath the branches of a magical Christmas tree, through an enchanted snowy forest, to the Kingdom of Sweets. With its colorful sets, fanciful costumes, and beloved characters, such as the Russian Bear and Arabian Snake, The Nutcracker continues to charm generations.
Holiday Dreams! A Spectacular Holiday Cirque!
Holiday Dreams, A Spectacular Holiday Cirque!
Holograms, projection mapping, interactive lasers and award-wining cirque artists all come together under the most spectacular holiday production show in the world! Holiday Dreams presents a jaw-dropping, modern holiday show featuring cirque artists, comedy, daredevils and a modern soundtrack.
The Story
Holiday Dreams is a holiday show unlike any other. The story centers around two characters: one who is going to tell a wonderful Christmas story and the other, a Grinch-like heckler from the audience who is at the “wrong show.” Jaded and cynical, our whimsical heckler is taken into a journey around the beauty and wonder of the Holiday Season, represented in all its glory with the use of projection mapping–a technique of projecting computer images as seen by audiences in television shows like America’s Got Talent. Holiday Dreams also features holograms, where elements seem to appear and disappear from thin air and interactive Lasers. An incredibly diverse and talented cast of acrobats, cirque performers, musical comedy actors and daredevils round out this truly unique and modern show.
About the Show
Holiday Dreams is not your average holiday show! It harnesses the magic of Christmas to create an awesome holiday spectacle, using projection mapping, and hologram technology to create a truly unique show. The story is elegant in its simplicity and designed to be followed by audiences of all ages.
Ghost Of Pop 2019
Ghost of Pop 2019 time! Kick off the holiday season right with a whole bunch of local bands, holiday vendors, holiday photo fun, drink specials, and all the magic that can be contained in a former firehouse turned art/music venue.
Doors 7pm / Music 8pm // ADV $5 / DOS $10
Deli Kings
Prabir Trio
Saw Black
Aster
https://asterr.bandcamp.com/
+ DJ Julie all night!!
Tickets will go on sale Friday 11/15
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Gallery5 is a 501c3 non profit arts organization devoted to engaging communities through the arts. Support our mission by making a donation at www.LongLiveGallery5.com
New Year’s Eve @ Hardywood
Send 2019 off with a blast with Hardywood and Love Canon! Join us for an exclusive concert in our newly refurbished barrel room.
Your ticket includes access to the concert as well as:
🎉 Two drink tickets (including our house wine and cider!)
🎉 Photo booth to capture your end of year memories
🎉 A midnight ball drop
🎉 Plenty of New Years Eve fun and frivolity with poppers and noise makers galore!