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RVA Shows You Must See This Week: January 5 – January 11

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FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, January 8, 8 PM
Cleophus James, Sono Lumini @ The Dark Room – $5 in advance, $7 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Folks, I don’t exactly want to start this week’s column off on another bum note, but it feels like it has to be said off the top — right now, a lot of people are coming down with COVID, due to the sheer contagiousness of the Omicron variant. For better or worse, the ship has clearly sailed on lockdowns here in “Merica” where we sure do love our “freedom,” but there’s still a strong possibility that any and all shows you read about in this week’s column — and maybe the next few as well — will get cancelled at the last minute, most likely due to worker shortages because so many people are sick.

With that warning out of the way, it’s time to talk about the most interesting and coolest shows that’ll be happening around this city over the next week, and we’ve gotta start with the album release show for Cleophus James. This quartet of Caucasian fellows are named after James Brown’s character from The Blues Brothers, and they do succeed in harnessing a bit of the funky feel you’d expect a band conversant with that movie (which is excellent, no doubt) to have in their back pockets. There’s a little bit of jam-band energy floating around as well on their newest album, 1am, but for sure the funk takes the lead role throughout, and that’s certainly music to my ears. It probably will be to yours as well.

Supposedly, this show is an album release show. Since 1am came out back in August, at least in digital form, I’m not sure if that means they’re celebrating finally getting physical copies of it in, or whether this is actually another new release from the Cleophus James boys. Considering everything I hear about year-long delays at pressing plants these days, my guess is that it’s the copies of 1am finally making it back from the plant. And considering what a fun, danceable listen that album is, you probably should show up with some extra cash to pick up your own copy. And hey, stick around and dance. The world’s falling down around our ears, after all… why not have some fun with it?

Wednesday, January 5, 7 PM
Woman Crush Wednesday, feat. Tyler Meacham, JOBIE, Bri Bevan @ The Camel – $7 in advance, $10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Bri Bevan’s Woman Crush Wednesday show series is always a pretty solid ticket. And the fact that this week sees Tyler Meacham acting as the headliner only makes it that much more essential. Meacham’s been working her musical magic around the river city for a few years now, and first grabbed my attention back in the heady pre-pandemic days of 2019 with a performance of her then-new single filmed in a closed-down auto garage. There’s a 71 Cadillac Coupe de Ville in the background of that video, and you’ll always catch my attention by giving me an excuse to indulge in automotive nerdery.

The pandemic hasn’t slowed Meacham down any, and she’s brought out a few singles in 2021 that show her talent for upbeat, rocked-up pop singles still at its sharpest. Tracks like “No Running Away” and “As If What She Says” sway slightly from the rockin’ side of things over to slight country inflection, but all of them are pop gems, and she’s able to carry them off in the live environment too, so that just makes catching this show that much more vital. Fellow performer JOBIE appears, from the limited evidence I’ve been able to find online, to go more toward the traditional folk end of things, but she’s still got plenty of pretty tunes to lay out for you, regardless of genre. And with Holly Breivik unable to make it (COVID cancellation? stuck in traffic? I’m not sure), WCW host Bri Bevan will be playing a full set to kick this one off — and that’s never a bad thing. Come chill with these talented ladies tonight.

Thursday, January 6, 7 PM
Vein, Koyo, Living Weapon, Fleshwater @ The Camel – $16 (order tickets HERE)
Vein have certainly been worth keeping an eye on for the last few years. This group started out by combining metalcore, screamo, and nu-metal in a melting pot of almost frightening heaviness on their early EPs, then integrated some outright industrial/electronic textures on 2018 full-length debut Errorzone. Now they’re closing in on the release of their long-awaited follow-up, This World Is Going To Ruin You, and preview single “The Killing Womb” shows that Vein have only gotten both heavier and more teched-out over the course of the last few years. Their use of deathcore-esque downtuned bomb-drop breakdowns is offset by the fact that they not only released a remix album, Old Data In A New Machine, last year, but also recently changed their name to Vein.fm (no one’s really calling them that yet, though, so I’m sticking with the original name). I never thought in 2021 I’d encounter a band that simultaneously reminded me of Slipknot and Ministry, but here we are — and I for one could not be more stoked about it.

Long Island hardcore band Koyo have a shorter track record, but it’s no less impressive — especially considering that their career has occurred almost entirely during the pandemic era. Their debut EP, Painting Words Into Lines, was released the week that the pandemic shut everything down, and this summer saw their third EP, Drives Out East, released on formidable hardcore label Triple B. Quite a growth pattern for a band that spent the entire intervening time unable to play a single live show. Now that they can play live again, Koyo’s only going to further benefit, in light of the way their music manages to be both incredibly catchy and notably hard-hitting. This is one of those melodic hardcore bands that aren’t just trying to find a way to make their pop-punk music sound tougher. No: this is hardcore. But you’re gonna be singing along. This bill is rounded out by Vein side-project Living Weapon and fellow Massachusetts residents Fleshwater, who are sure to get this party started right. Let’s hit it.

Friday, January 7, 9 PM
Honest Debts, Chris Leggett & The Copper Line @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
New year, new First Friday residency at the Camel! Now’s the time for you to get in on the ground floor for 2022 as the year of Richmond quintet Honest Debts holding down every First Friday at The Camel begins this Friday. If you don’t know what’s up with Honest Debts yet, well, if you like rock n’ roll and look for energy and talent in your favorite practitioners of the genre, these guys are sure to be right up your alley. Combining a powerful twin-guitar attack with powerful Hammond organ sounds and some soulful vocals, these guys definitely pick up on the classic rock tradition of bluesy tunes that hit hard as heck.

Pretty much every Friday night calls for this kind of thing, if we’re honest with ourselves, so the fact that we’ll be guaranteed to get it at least on the First Friday of every month this year is welcome news indeed. What’s also nice is that Honest Debts will be bringing a different opener with them each month, in order to open all of our minds with some great new sounds. This time around, it’s Richmond’s own Chris Leggett & The Copper Line, a band that formed around solo singer-songwriter Chris Leggett a few years ago. They’ve apparently got a debut full-length coming in a few months, but why not be an early adopter and learn to appreciate Leggett & co.’s driving country-rock anthems a couple months early? You’ll be glad you did.

Saturday, January 8, 9 PM
Hustler, Melissa, Destruct @ Fuzzy Cactus – $8 in advance, $10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
If you’re looking at this week’s lineup and thinking “there just isn’t enough raw raging punk on this list,” well, this show happening Saturday night at Fuzzy Cactus is sure to be just what the doctor ordered. Headlined by a couple of New York punk bands, this is gonna be a noisy night over on Brookland Park Boulevard, and you definitely are going to want to wear your ripped black t-shirts and steel-toed boots to this one. Hustler is our lead-off act, and while they only have a demo out thus far, the fact that they released their debut cassette through punk rock leading light Sorry State Records is sure to carry some weight with some of you.

And let me tell you, it should! The eight songs they bash through in about sixteen minutes on their demo are full of dark, spooky punk energy, with more than their fare share of death-trip doom and street-level scuzz shining through. If you liked that first Iceage LP, dig early Agent Orange, and enjoy the recorded works of Rudimentary Peni, you’re going to find a lot to like in what Hustler are laying down. As for Melissa, who also released their debut EP this year, I’m hearing a bit more of a dark 80s Euro thrash thing in their sound; early albums by Bathory and Celtic Frost aren’t far from the mark, and when I hear Jane Pain’s harsh, throaty roar, I can’t help but think this band must have been at least partly inspired for their name by the work of King Diamond. Richmond ragers Destruct get this whole thing started right with a heavy dose of UK punk crust madness. If this infusion of noise isn’t enough to get you through the week, I don’t know what I could possibly tell you.

Sunday, January 9, 7 PM
Daniel Weatherspoon @ The Tin Pan – $20 – $26.50 (order tickets HERE)
Here’s one for all the jazz cats out there. Pianist Daniel Weatherspoon has had quite the career, beginning back in the 90s when his work as a sideman and producer brought him into contact with some really big names. These days, though, he’s standing on his own, infusing gospel, jazz, funk, and R&B into a sound all his own. He most recently showed this off on his third solo LP, Journey, released last year just before the pandemic shut everything down. He’s coming to the Tin Pan this Sunday with some fine instrumenal tunes, showing off his prowess on the keyboards and as a songwriter, and generating some smooth vibes to round out your weekend. So hey, come out to the West End, settle down at the Tin Pan, and let it all roll your way. It’ll do you no harm.

Monday, January 10, 7 PM
Kingyoso, FLKL, Celler Dwellers @ The Camel – $5 (order tickets HERE)
With my apologies to JFA, it’s time for some blatant localism. What better night, after all, could there be for seeing a showcase of up-and-coming local rockers than Monday night? And what better place to do so than the venue that has become the absolute mainstay for Richmond’s musical underground, The Camel? You know the answer to both of those questions; that’s why you’re going to want to get your butt down to the 1600 block of West Broad this Monday night and get down with this evening of musical bliss.

Kingyoso is the main band on the bill, and while not terribly much can be learned about this band by poking around on the internet, it is easy to learn that their singer, a lady with a powerful voice and a loud guitar, happens to be named “Goldfish.” That’s apparently where the band name comes from — “kingyoso” is apparently a Japanese word for goldfish, though I must admit I’m taking the band’s word for that. Goldfish is backed on this band’s soulful tunes by a horn section that gives the whole sound a bit of a Stax/Volt feel, as well as a funky rhythm section that is sure to keep things swinging. I wouldn’t quite call the result retro, but if you have love for the prime Southern soul era of the mid-to-late-60s, it’s a safe bet that this group is gonna capture your heart. Long-running VA alt-rockers FLKL (please don’t ask me how to pronounce that name) and brand new Richmond indie combo Celler Dwellers (that is apparently how they spell it, I promise I am not making repeated typos) will round out this bill with some smooth sounds. Get down with it.

Tuesday, January 11, 7 PM
Year of the Knife, Downfall, Shackled, Despize, Killing Pace @ The Camel – $15 (order tickets HERE)
What’s that you say? You want some blazing metallic hardcore to round out your week (for the purposes of the Shows You Must See column, the week starts on Wednesday and ends on Tuesday. Sorry folks, I don’t make the rules)? Look no further than Tuesday night’s evening of destruction, taking place at The Camel and featuring a heaping helping of unholy shreds from Year Of The Knife. This Delaware band brought the absolute fury on last year’s Internal Incarceration, their first true full-length after several excellent EPs. The raw vocals, metallic riffage, and hardcore mosh breakdowns all combine to make this band the best exponent of really out-of-control metallic hardcore since the prime days of Converge and Gehenna (the one from Nevada, the infamous one).

Year Of The Knife are sure to leave the whole place exhausted after they pummel the very atmosphere of The Camel with unrelenting heaviness, but rest assured, their set will not be the only powerful event taking place that evening. Richmonders Downfall released a tough-as-hell LP called Dead To Me back in 2019 on local label Edgewood Records, and rumor has it that they haven’t lost a step since that time, so make sure you’re in the house when they represent RVA in fine fashion. New Jersey’s Shackled will be showing off their brand new LP, Doubt Surrounds All, with a performance you can expect to take no prisoners. Despize, who sure appear to hail from Scotland, have some really raw and heavy-as-fuck sounds to lay on us all as well. Richmond-based openers Killing Pace, on the other hand, have no music online at all. However, it’ll be interesting to see this brand new local act attempt to prove themselves while kicking off this bill of undisputed champions. So yeah, show up on time, and get ready for war, because this one is going to rage.

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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 Shows You Must See This Week: August 7 – August 13

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FEATURED SHOW
Friday, August 9, 7 PM
Jerome’s Dream, Vein, Ostraca, Watchdogs @ Gallery 5 – $15 (order tickets HERE)
If you have paid any attention to the underground screamo scene over the past decade or so, you’re sure to have heard of Jerome’s Dream. Active in the late 90s and very early 00s, this New England-based trio were crucial in defining the faster, more chaotic end of the genre as it was codified at the dawn of the new millennium. Bassist Jeff Smith’s high-pitched screams and refusal to use a mic during shows set a template for an entire generation of bands, and the band’s frenetic, dynamic songwriting demonstrated the most effective way of making a basement full of kids with dyed-black hair writhe and scream spastically along.

Of course, having broken up in 2001, the height of Jerome’s Dream’s fame and influence came long after their demise. But they returned to action this year with a long-awaited crowdfunded album that constitutes their first release in 18 years. Is it as good as the old stuff? Well, it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that opinions are sharply divided on that subject! Between Smith’s inability to recreate his trademark wail (he’d already ceased to do so on the band’s final pre-breakup EP, Presents), the significantly more metallic sound of the guitars on the new LP (entitled LP, of course), and the less frantic, more complex song structures, Jerome’s Dream have certainly undergone a noticeable evolution in their 18 years away from the spotlight.

But will the live show still rule now that the members are all pushing 40? Well, there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to show up at Gallery 5 Friday night and see what these guys have to offer. All the stoked young screamo kids in attendance are sure to provide plenty of high-pitched screams of their own, so you may not even miss Smith’s screech. And with youthful screamo apostates Vein — who, on last year’s Errorzone, patterned themselves more after Slipknot and Mudvayne than anything associated with the 7-letter S word (not that that’s a bad thing) — in tow, local vets Ostraca representing Richmond screamo, and mosh-lovers Watchdogs opening things up, this is sure to be a killer show even if Jerome’s Dream just stand still and play their instruments. And let’s be real, even that will still be cool.

Wednesday, August 7, 7 PM
Drab Majesty, Hide, Body Of Light @ The Broadberry – $15 in advance/$18 day of show (order tickets HERE)
The new romantics of the 80s aren’t so far gone, and these three Dais Records bands are coming to The Broadberry tonight to prove that. Drab Majesty are at the top of the bill, and there could be no other place for Deb Demure and Mona D, with their gothic-electro-postpunk beats, melodies, and life. Having just released their third LP, Modern Mirror, they’ll be taking over the Broadberry tonight to get all the eyeliner-bedecked dance floor warriors to move their feet in the dark.

Drab Majesty’s music definitely brings a nighttime ambience to the air, even if you’re listening to it at 11 AM on a sunny day, but there’s a surprising amount of melody built into what they’re doing as well, making for some killer tunes that’ll lock into your brainstem and refuse to let go. In a good way, of course. Chicago’s Hide, who are also on this bill, have not yet released their latest Dais Records LP, Hell Is Here, but the single preview track available is enough to let us all know that they’ll bring a decidedly angrier and more ominous vibe during their portion of the evening. If Drab Majesty will make you dance and sing along, Hide is going to make you stomp and scream. The bill will be rounded out by Body Of Light, whose brand new LP, Time To Kill, splits the difference between the other two bands on this bill with its pounding yet subtly melodic industrial approach. Dress in black for this one.

Thursday, August 8, 7 PM
Scott Yoder, Nightcreature, Thin Pigeon @ Gallery 5 – $7
A veteran of garage-rockers The Pharmacy and indie-folk singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson’s backing band, Seattle’s Scott Yoder has become quite the unique musical auteur over the past several years. His solo work mingles hints of retro psychedelia with the glamour of old Hollywood and the outright glam of Marc Bolan and David Bowie. Right now, he’s in the midst of releasing six different 7 inch singles over the course of this year, and on songs like “Silver Screen Starlet” and “Cloaked In Nite,” he’s brought a unique world to life in his music — a world he’ll bring to the Gallery 5 stage this Thursday night.

You’re not going to want to miss this one, and not just because Scott Yoder is gracing a local stage — he’ll meet his match in glamour and glitz when Richmond’s own Nightcreature take the stage. On their debut EP, On The Loose, released last fall, this powerful ensemble displayed plenty of garage grit and androgynous glam, all of which they’re sure to bring to the Gallery 5 stage on this lovely evening. Postpunk trio Thin Pigeon will open this one up with some elegant and memorable tunes of their own — expect glittering pop genius from one end to the other with this one.

Friday, August 9, 7 PM
Funeral Proposals, Marshall Family Values, Twin Films, Faded Home @ The Canal Club – $8 in advance/$10 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Ohio’s Funeral Proposals have been together for a few years, so I suppose by this point someone’s already made the “they put the ‘fun’ in funeral” joke. I still want to make it myself, though, because this band’s music is undeniably fun, at least on their latest EP, 2018’s Blue Deluxe. On some tracks they get an upbeat alt-rock groove going, on others they’re more of a bouncy pop group, but the element all of their songs retain in common is a contagious joy — which is only enhanced by the occasional surf-music vibe that comes through.

A trio of local groups join Funeral Proposals at The Canal Club this Friday night to provide various fun sounds of their own. Marshall Family Values sounds like something a politician might talk about, but musically they are quite a bit more pleasant than that might make it seem, mixing wailing guitars and prominent keyboards into a tasty melodic rock sound. Twin Films get more hazy and psychedelic with their indie vibes, and bring quite a bit of gorgeous melody in the process. And Faded Home have a raw, ambient sound that’s sure to evoke some feels. All in all, an excellent way to spend your Friday night.

Saturday, August 10, 7 PM
Crucial Rip, Gravebound, Under Broken Skies, Alcindor, Site Of Suffering @ Another Round Bar and Grill – $8
There was a point when it felt like Richmond’s home for brutal metal was Shockoe Bottom, but in recent months, it’s started to seem like the RVA metal scene has moved out to Lakeside. Another Round in particular has become a central gathering place for all of this city’s headbangers, and this Saturday night of brutal mosh madness will demonstrate to all the doubters exactly why that’s an entirely positive development. Death metallers Crucial Rip, who’ve been one of the city’s leading lights of metal for years now, will be at the top of this bill, giving you a heaping helping of rumbling low-end power, complete with the kind of sick breakdowns that fans of extremely heavy hardcore will gravitate to just as quickly as the death-heads do.

But they’re not all this evening has to offer — oh, far from it! Gravebound are also RVA-based, but their sound is much more familiar to those who dig bands like Sworn In and Chelsea Grin. It’s metalcore, but it’s extremely heavy metalcore — the type that’s also sure to start at least a few mosh pits over the course of their set. With Fredericksburg brutality merchants Under Broken Skies on the bill, as well as newcomers Alcindor and Site Of Suffering, this show is going to be full of reasons to bang your head. And we could all use more of those.

Sunday, August 11, 7 PM
This Kills Me (photo by Brianna Spause), Turbo Mansion, Matt and the Skeleton Crew, Bad Motivator @ Garden Grove Brewing – Free!
Philadelphia’s This Kills Me are coming to Garden Grove this weekend, and that’s going to be a real treat for all of us — whether you know it yet or not. Earlier this year, they released The End, an 8-song project that’s either a mini-LP or a long EP. I’ve never been any good at figuring that sort of thing out, but I do know great melodic songwriting when I hear it. Folks, this is it.

I’m tempted to call This Kills Me a post-hardcore band, but if anything I think it may be more true to say post-pop-punk (which is too many hyphens — believe me, I know); their sound is sure to appeal to fans of classic late-90s bands like Farside and Gameface. Whether those references mean anything to you or not (and if you’re under 30, I’m betting you’re on the latter side of that one), you’ll certainly have a lovely time seeing this band at Garden Grove, especially since the bill features multiple excellent local bands, Turbo Mansion foremost among them. AND, on top of all that, it’s free! Who can argue with that?

Monday, August 12, 8 PM
The Lawrence Arms, Talk Me Off, Bashful @ Bandito’s – Free!
One absolute treat of a free show deserves another, right? For those of you out there who love modern pop-punk, the headline of this little blurb is all you really need to hear — I’m guessing you’re already making plans to queue up outside Bandito’s the second you get off work on Monday. But for those who don’t quite know the deal, here it is: The Lawrence Arms is one of the most important bands in the world of melodic, emotional punk rock since the turn of the millennium. Albums like 2003’s The Greatest Story Ever Told have long since proved this to all who’ve encountered them.

They’ve been around for two entire decades at this point, and have been a bit less active over the past ten years or so, but they’re working on a new album scheduled for next year, and they’re coming to RVA because they have a night off their current tour with Bad Religion and felt like sharing their many classic tunes with us all. Bandito’s shows are always free, so it’s strictly first-come first-served for this one. Luckily for us all, tacos are cheap during Bandito’s happy hour, so come early, grab dinner, and be ready for the show to get rolling by 8:45. It’s gonna be a great one.

Tuesday, August 13, 7 PM
Beres Hammond, DJ Inferno @ The National – $25 in advance/$30 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Not just a Clash song or a Sade album, lovers rock is an entire subgenre of reggae, one that exists in contrast to the heavy-dub sound and Rasta politics of famous Jamaican reggae exports like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Lovers rock mixes the classic reggae lilt with soulful vocals and a stronger emphasis on melodies and balladry. Beres Hammond started out as a Jamaican dancehall singer in the 80s, but established himself internationally with his 90s work, which cemented him as a top-tier lovers rock single and led him to work in the early 00s with everyone from Big Youth to Wyclef Jean.

Now it’s 2019, and Hammond is in the midst of an international tour behind Never Ending, his 20th album and first in over five years. Singles like “I’m Alive” and the title track have proved that his talent is as strong as ever, and he’ll be coming to The National this Tuesday night to charm reggae fans all over the metro area with his reggae balladry. Get ready for an evening of dancing with your baby to Beres Hammond’s smooth, sweet lovers rock. It may only be Tuesday night, but this high’s gonna carry you straight through to the weekend.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Friday, August 9, 8 PM
The Menzingers, The Sidekicks, Queen Of Jeans @ Peabody’s (Virginia Beach) – $22 in advance/$25 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Here’s another one of the most important melodic, emotional punk rock bands to come along since the turn of the millennium. Two in one week? That’s pretty amazing, and if you’re a true fan, driving to Virginia Beach will seem like a small price to pay to catch Scranton pop-punk geniuses The Menzingers on their current tour. It’s been two years since their excellent fifth album, After The Party, and they’re currently preparing a sixth one, Hello Exile, for an October release.

That’s still a bit away, and so far, we’ve only heard one of the songs from it, but “Anna” is a gorgeous, heartrending banger that lets us all know the band who brought us angst-ridden classic “I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore” still have all of their chops 100 percent intact. That’s reason enough to drive down for this one, but the fact that Ohio pop-punk/power-pop veterans The Sidekicks, as well as Philly indie/power-pop trio Queen Of Jeans, are also on the bill makes this one a downright can’t-miss event. So don’t miss it, punk!

Saturday, August 10, 8 PM
Psychonaut, The Magenta Shift, Walkie Talkie @ Clementine (Harrisonburg) – $7
It might be easy for Harrisonburg to slide right by the consciousness of a VA music fan from more populous cities closer to I-95, but paying even a little bit of attention will make it abundantly clear that the scene in the city of Macrock is jumping all year round, not just on that one spring weekend. Psychonaut are a Harrisonburg-based band bringing an excellent psychedelic sound to the city of JMU and beyond, if the rest of the state will only listen.

This show is a celebration of Mind — no, this isn’t some weird new-age workshop, Mind is the name of the new Psychonaut LP, and it’s an album full of dark, moody soundscapes that bring to mind Paisley Underground classics by Rain Parade and The Dream Syndicate, while also harking back to some of the deeper, more subtle bands of the post-Nirvana alt-rock revolution (though I’m gonna guess that neither they nor you, reader, have any memory of California trio Dada — but I promise they were good). The overall result is an album full of intriguing, multi-layered melodies and glittering guitars that pull you in deeper with every listen. To see Psychonaut bring this one to life onstage is sure to be the kind of treat that’s worth driving across the mountain for. Gas up the Jeep.

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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

RVA Shows You Must See This Week: 2/21-2/27

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FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, February 24, 9 PM
Magnus Lush, Piranha Rama, Slump @ Mojo’s – Free?
This Saturday night is an occasion for celebration. Magnus Lush, who’ve quietly become one of the most reliably excellent bands in town over the last few years, are having a big coming-out party to celebrate the release of their new EP, Hell Is Real. In a way, it’s their debut — despite having a consistent history of live fireworks, this band has only given us a demo, which came out three whole years ago, and a couple of live radio sessions that are close to two years old themselves at this point. This new EP captures them on tape at the peak of their powers, so that all the people who haven’t caught on to their hypnotic excellence in a live setting yet can finally find out just what they’ve been missing.

Of course, this show on Saturday night at Mojo’s, which certainly appears to be a free show, is also a great opportunity for all those sleeping on Magnus Lush to wake up. This group’s sound, which incorporates spacey, foreboding keyboards and glittering guitar arpeggios into a postpunk rhythmic approach that is almost Fugazi-ish at times, then tops the whole thing with frontwoman Age Shurte’s powerful voice, is unique on the Richmond scene and all the more valuable as a result. Old heads might find themselves thinking of long-departed Richmond combo Damn Near Red, but there’s really no current comparison to be made. And a big part of that is due to the fact that Magnus Lush is really, really good.

Mojo’s is a great setting for this event, and that definitely adds to its appeal. With its relaxed atmosphere and emphasis on really delicious food, it’s not the first place you’d expect to find excellent live music. But a comfortable environment and a party vibe are sometimes just what one needs to really connect with a live musical experience. The rockin’ rollin’ sounds from openers Piranha Rama and Slump will also crank up the party vibe, as will the between-set live music provided by DJ Baby Maria. But ultimately, this night is all about Magnus Lush. And if you’re not already fired up about it, you need to fix that as soon as possible.

Wednesday, February 21, 5:30 PM
Eidola, Capstan, Andres, Captive, The Blue Sky Disaster, Pulses @ The Canal Club – $10 in advance/$12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Every once in a while, I have no idea who any of the bands playing on a given night are, and I have to check all of them out to figure out what I’m going to write about. Usually, the choice comes down to which band seems the most entertaining or unusual, but every once in a while, one of those bands I know nothing about jumps up and smacks me across the face with their immediate excellence. Next thing I know, I’ve found a new fave. For this week, that band is Eidola, who will be touching down at The Canal Club tonight with an incredible sound that mixes progressive metal, melodic post-hardcore, and technical chops aplenty to blow this entire town away.

Their second album, 2017’s To Speak, To Listen, was my introduction to the band, and it grabbed me by the throat immediately. The fact that an instrumental version of the album was released a few months after the main release makes clear that the band is proud of the music they’ve written for this album. This is for good reason, as their complex song structures and technical instrumental prowess are definitely something to be proud of. However, it’s the melodic, passionate vocals that really raise this band to top level, and they’ll definitely be an essential part of their performance tonight at The Canal Club. Listen, I know this show starts really early and features a ton of bands who are all touring as a big package. Do what you want to do where those bands are concerned — after all, getting more for your money’s never a bad idea. But you simply must catch Eidola tonight; whether you’re a fan of metal or post-hardcore, whether you’re more captured by instrumental mastery or powerful emotions delivered through music, this band has you covered on all fronts. Don’t sleep on them.

Thursday, February 22, 7 PM
Miramar with Classical Revolution RVA @ In Your Ear Studios – $20 (order tickets HERE)
I know I write about metal and stuff like that a whole lot, but y’all, expanding our musical horizons is always an admirable goal, so we’re really lucky that Richmond, regardless of being a bit of a metal mecca, has a ton of other intriguing musical nooks n’ crannies to explore. And all you headbangers and indie hipsters could do with a little more musical exploration, so you should really get yourselves over to In Your Ear Studios tomorrow night to see Miramar perform with Classical Revolution RVA.

Miramar plays bolero music, a Latin style that has its roots in Cuba and spread across Latin America during the 20th century. Their 2016 debut album, Dedication to Sylvia Rexach, celebrated the life and work of the titular Puerto Rican poet and composer. Miramar’s sound may share some musical roots with the Afro-Cuban sound of Bio Ritmo, with whom they share members. However, they are a whole different experience, pairing emotionally-driven vocal duets with a slow, moody musical structure that lends itself perfectly to stringed accompaniment. At In Your Ear Studios tomorrow night, Miramar will be playing one set in their basic sextet form, and another accompanied by a string quartet featuring members of Classical Revolution and the Richmond Symphony. You’re sure to be moved by their powerful sounds, even if it doesn’t lend itself to mosh pits. Open your mind and bask in the many wonderful offerings of our local music scene — you won’t regret it.

Friday, February 23, 7 PM
Harm’s Way, Ringworm, Vein, Queensway, Division Of Mind @ The Canal Club – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Of course, if you’re in need for some heavy breakdowns to cleanse your palate, that’s certainly understandable. And you need look no further than the Canal Club for your fix. Harm’s Way is back this Friday night, and if it’s possible, they’ve gotten even heavier since last time they rolled through town. Their brand new album sees them drawing more than ever from harsh metallic industrial influences — if anything, I’d guess they’ve been listening to a lot of Godflesh lately. The mechanization inherent in their sound makes the latest album’s title — Posthuman — entirely apropos. But on a more relevant point, it makes the album’s plentiful breakdowns hit harder than you probably ever thought possible. Total mosh destruction. Your head just might explode. It’s gonna rule.

But listen, seriously, if you think Harm’s Way, back in fighting shape and heavier than ever, is all this bill has to offer, you must not have actually read the full lineup. Because just as big an attraction if not bigger is the appearance of Clevo hardcore legends Ringworm. Coming from the same deep-rooted evil metallic hardcore foundation as Integrity — who, let’s be real, basically created the modern metallic hardcore sound — Ringworm have remained consistent, powerful, and terrifying on a level that other bands from their era can’t even approach. 2016’s Snake Church was their eighth album, and it hit just as hard as their first; surely the same will be true when The Human Furnace and company hit the Canal Club stage. With Vein, Queensway, and Division of Mind opening up, this will be a real rager from beginning to end, so get ready to go off!

Saturday, February 24, 8 PM
John Nolan, Mammoth Indigo, Sammi Lanzetta @ The Camel – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Hey all you grown-up emo kids! You might be indie hipsters now, you might not let anyone know about the Taking Back Sunday and Straylight Run CDs you still have hidden away behind your racks of Pitchfork-approved indie vinyl… but I know. And right now, while all your super-cool indie friends aren’t paying attention, we can have a little private conversation about just how great all those records still are. I know, right? The best! Anyway, John Nolan, who was an essential founding member of both groups, is not only back with Taking Back Sunday these days, but also has done a fair amount of solo work over the past decade or so, and he’s currently on solo tour to give those songs some much-needed shine.

It’s been a few years since his last solo album, Sad Strange Beautiful Dream, but there’s no rush — after all, those songs are still great, and he hasn’t done a ton of touring since then, so it’s still a perfect time to see what the man’s been up to when he isn’t working with his legendary band. One thing that can be said about it — while it’s emotional, this isn’t emo, by any means. It’s not even really punk-derived; Nolan’s solo work has an acoustic, singer-songwriter vibe that reminds me more of catchy power-pop groups like underrated yet excellent pre-fun. combo The Format. It’ll still make you feel things, it’ll still get you dancing and singing along, but it’s definitely got its own flavor that’ll show all you dyed-in-the-wool Taking Back Sunday and Straylight Run fans a whole new side to John Nolan. What more could you ask for?

Sunday, February 25, 10 PM
Big No, Serqet, Bad Magic @ Bandito’s – Free!
The free local showcases on Sunday night at Bandito’s are an always-reliable source for excellent local music in a strangely great-sounding room, so anytime one comes around I’m always interested. This one is particularly promising, as it brings together a couple of reliably excellent veteran local groups with a relatively new up-and-comer everyone should be checking out. Big No is a moody, psychedelic project with a glowing pop heart, and their most recent LP, Get Over Yourself, really establishes them as a talented group with a ton of killer songs. If you’ve been reading this site for a while, you’ve had plenty of chances to jump onto this bandwagon, but it’s never too late, and free Sunday night shows are always a great low-stakes opportunity. Get into it.

Then there’s Serqet, a band whose name I always take three or four tries to spell. So far, they just have a demo out, but it was released by Vinyl Conflict Records, which should certainly grab your attention. This keyboard-infused postpunk band strikes an early 80s UK note, both with their spooky gothic keyboards and their arpeggiated guitar melodies, simultaneously bringing to mind references as disparate as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Amebix, and the Chameleons. Regardless of what you hear in their sound, you can’t deny its excellence. And the same could be said of Bad Magic, the trio fronted by talented songwriter Julie Karr and featuring local heavyweights Jimmy Held and Tim Falen holding down the rhythm section. Last year’s Harsh Surrender was a killer reminder of just how much talent this band has to offer. It all adds up to a night of intriguing, powerful talent. And there will also be tacos — you can’t beat that!

Monday, February 26, 8 PM
Giving Up, Fat Spirit, Basmati, Gumming @ Strange Matter – $5
Here’s a fun one, full of charm. Giving Up have a sound that simultaneously hits that jangly indie sweet spot so many bands have been messing with lately and also dips sideways into the sort of quirky keyboard pop that bands like Slingshot Dakota or Matt And Kim have been bringing us for quite a while. Giving Up have been around for a good bit of time themselves, but have remained somewhat under the radar due to the members’ being spread across the Midwest, and only coming together to create releases on an occasional basis.

However, they do have a brand new LP out, entitled Garner Cardinals, and it’s a strong, assured effort full of killer tunes. They’ll be bringing these tunes to Strange Matter Monday night and letting all y’all know exactly what you’ve been missing without Giving Up in your life. Should be a whole lot of fun, especially since the local support is provided by such killer bands. Basmati’s fun, slightly mathy indie-core is always a sure bet, and Fat Spirit is guaranteed to bring the grungy rock n’ roll. Gumming will strike the heaviest and weirdest note of the evening, for sure, but who doesn’t love a little spice in the punchbowl? Don’t miss this one.

Tuesday, February 27, 8 PM
Downhaul, Runaway Brother, Two Cars, Riley Little @ Strange Matter – $8 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
It’s always nice seeing local bands who have ambition and are willing to take their craft seriously. I don’t know a ton about Downhaul; honestly, I hadn’t heard much about them before this show came onto my radar. But the fact that this is a show celebrating the vinyl release of their new EP, Where We Started, certainly got my attention. In a time when a lot of bands feel like they’ve done enough just by uploading a garage recording to Bandcamp, seeing a young group put their money where their mouth is to the extent that they’ve paid for a vinyl pressing commands a certain amount of respect. Well done, guys.

And I don’t want to neglect the music, either. This quartet brings us an upbeat, jangly indie-guitar sound that makes me think at least somewhat of Surfer Blood — an impression that is strengthened by the singer’s passing vocal resemblance to John Paul Pitts. However, there’s just as much of the supposedly passe emo revival sound flowing through this band’s veins, if their rumbling rhythm section and occasionally quite strident crescendos are any indication. There’s basically nothing here not to like, and it’s clearly time for this town to start paying more attention to this band. Just to sweeten the pot, they’re joined on this bill by Cleveland emo-punk killers Runaway Brother, as well as a couple of local up-and-comers in Two Cars and Riley Little, neither of which I’m very familiar with. Downhaul is really the reason to show up, though. Do it.

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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] [yes, my email is through GayRVA, don’t get weird about it]

Top image by Vivienne Lee, from a photo by Joey Wharton

Count Me Out & Shark Attack Reunions Headline United Blood 2018’s Stacked Lineup

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United Blood Festival is making its way back to the Canal Club this April 6 and 7 for the 12th year in a row, and the just-announced lineup has people losing their shit. The headliners are just the beginning–the broader lineup as a whole reflects the strength and richness of Virginia’s hardcore tradition.

Virginia has cultivated a following when it comes to the strong music scene that caters to any individuals’ personal music taste. With the current Virginia is for Music Lovers campaign showcasing the many different bands and styles of music that we have to offer, the amount of music that comes out of the state has been staggering.

The music that has the most enduring local tradition, however, is the hardcore and punk scene all around Virginia, especially in Richmond and Virginia Beach. This music reigns supreme because of its pure grit and intensity. The scene itself has also become a family; people are proud to love what they love and proud of the music their local scene is putting out.

United Blood acts not only as a hardcore festival for well known bands to play, but also a showcase for the bands that have came out of Virginia and thrived. This year’s edition will feature headliners including Turnstile, Twitching Tongues, Backtrack, Madball, Death Threat, and Take Offense.

This year’s United Blood lineup also features some unforgettable reunions. Local Richmond band Count Me Out is making a headlining appearance, their first since the band split in 2003. They’ll appear alongside another first-time reunion set from Pennsylvania hardcore band Shark Attack, who released one EP in 2001 before breaking up soon after.

Bands such as Papertrail (VB), Break Away (RVA), Nosebleed (RVA), Division of Mind (RVA), and Candy (RVA), just to name a few, are also putting Virginia on the map. Even bands like Vein, who has worked closely with Richmond bands, including releasing a split EP with local band .gif from God, have created a fanbase and friendship within the Virginia hardcore scene.

Check out the full lineup on the poster below:

This insanely stacked festival will make its way to the Canal Club stage for an all-star weekender on Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Jan 31 at noon–click here to purchase.