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One Last Time Through The Wash

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Richmond punk rock/power-pop trio Washers are performing live for the very last time tomorrow night at Gallery 5. Even as they call it quits, though, they’ll be celebrating the release of their new album, Be Careful. And you’re gonna want to get in on that.

The pandemic has taken a lot of great music from us over the past year and a half. Mostly I mean all the bands we could’ve seen live if clubs hadn’t had to shut down for over a year, but another very important element of the loss the music world has experienced is all the bands that have come to the conclusion, for one reason or another, that they needed to call it quits.

One Richmond band like this is Washers, the trio of Stuart Holt, Joel Alford, and Brad Perry. These guys were already known around town for their work in bands like Sports Bar, Worn In Red, and Pity Party, and the music they made as Washers built on the punk rock/power pop pedigree they’d established in those other bands. Sadly, while we were all hiding in our houses from the pandemic, Washers came to an end.

“The pandemic as well as some big life changes a few of us experienced made everyone reflect on our priorities,” said drummer Brad Perry of the breakup. “We’re all still friends, but it had just kind of run its course.”

Luckily for everyone in Richmond, we will still get one last chance to experience Washers in a live setting — at Gallery 5 tomorrow night. Perry is excited to give it one final go. “We’re all proud of the music we made together, and we had a lot of fun doing it,” he said. “So we’re excited to have one last hurrah with two bands we love at Gallery 5 (which was also the site of our first show in 2016!).”

In addition to one last live performance, Washers has a real treat on offer for fans old and new — the release of their second (and, sadly, final) album, Be Careful. This nine-song collection is full of fun, catchy tunes with surprisingly substantive lyrical themes. Synth-tinged opener “(Hanging Out With) Brad” is just a fun song about chilling with friends, but the chorus hook is hard not to chant along with and draw some possibly unintentional resonance from. “I don’t read much, I just watch stuff,” the band chants.

Then there’s mid-album mid-tempo banger “Building A Brand,” a song that views the ubiquitous social climbing of every wannabe social-media “influencer” with undisguised disdain. “Take another photograph, for the 13th time — the light just wasn’t right,” sings Stuart Holt. “Building up my brand real nice for 10,000 strangers with faces glowing bright.” This over a chunky riff that pops like the catchiest Cars tunes even as it hits like the heaviest Pixies riffs, but with an undeniable undercurrent of hardcore chug.

The album offers plenty of other fun moments, from the bouncy upbeat pop of “Blocking The Box” to the rendering of caged-up frustration as driving hooks on album closer “Gone,” which closes the album with a singalong chorus you’ll be humming for the rest of the day. The lyrics to this one could symbolize a lot of reasons why a person might want to get out of a situation, from despair of a bad relationship to frustration with a crappy job, but after a year and a half of COVID precautions, it might be as simple as wanting to back to the places we used to go without fear.

That same theme, of frustration with the many restrictions we’ve dealt with since last spring, comes through in the album’s title. According to Perry, that’s a definite factor. “We settled on the name, Be Careful, right as things felt like they might be starting to open up again after vaccinations were happening. But we probably all felt like it couldn’t be that simple – the pandemic wasn’t going to be “done” just like that,” he said. “Safe to say everyone wanted to feel relief, and we thought we all wanted to rekindle that love of playing loud music with friends. But nothing is the same as it was before. All of us are putting more care into every decision we make. So maybe that’s why the name struck a chord.”

Unfortunately, the album is only available digitally at this point, and Perry doesn’t think that’s likely to change. “Pressing anything on vinyl is crazy expensive and takes forever these days, so we aren’t doing that. But we all came up playing record release shows, so even though there’s no physical record, it still just feels natural to do a show where we play a bunch of these songs,” he explained. “Some of them will sound familiar to folks who came to see us pre-pandemic, but there are at least a few that we haven’t played live before.”

So this Saturday night banger will be a treat in a lot of ways, but you don’t have to sacrifice your own ability to “be careful” in order to come. Proof of vaccination will be required for entry, and the big fire station doors will be open to allow air to circulate and keep everyone breathing as much fresh air as possible. In addition to a headlining set from Washers, attendees will get to see fellow Richmond locals Big No and Teen Death. Plus, all proceeds from Washers merch sales will go toward Doll Baby frontwoman Julie Storey and her ability to pay medical bills she incurred while fighting brain cancer. So buy a t-shirt — it’s for a good cause! (You can also donate directly to Julie at her GoFundMe.)

Washers’ record release/final show is taking place on Saturday, October 2 at Gallery 5 (200 W. Marshall St). Admission is $7 in advance, $10 at the door, with tickets available via Eventbrite. And to get yourself psyched for their final performance, you can stream Washers’ Be Careful right now over at Spotify and Apple Music, or buy your very own download of it at Bandcamp. Let’s go!

Top Photo by Steve Crandall, via Washers/Facebook

Dreaming Is Free: Weekend Playlist by Washers

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It doesn’t happen every Friday night any more, but occasionally RVA Mag still brings you a super-fun playlist from Virginia’s most influential artists, musicians, and institutions.

Our first playlist of the Biden administration era comes to us from Washers, a Richmond melodic indie-punk trio featuring members of quite a few bands you’ve probably heard and enjoyed (Sports Bar, The Measure [SA], Worn In Red, etc). They’ve been around for a few years, but the ass end of the COVID quarantine era has spurred a period of productivity in them, and they’ve recently made their 2017 LP, The Things We Do, available on streaming sites. (It’s also available on Bandcamp if you want to pick up a permanent copy — after all, it is Bandcamp Friday…)

Of course, as drummer Brad Perry admits, “That’s not a newsworthy accomplishment in and of itself.” However, what is noteworthy is the fact that this rerelease of sorts is accompanied by an as-yet-unreleased bonus track, “Nowhere,” which actually premieres as the opening track on Washers’ RVA Mag Weekend Playlist. Which we’ll get to momentarily, but first, I need to let you know that there’s still more to come: Washers finished an album just before the pandemic descended upon us all, and they’ve spent the past year mixing and mastering on a remote basis to get it ready for release. No release date yet, but it’s coming soon, so keep an eye out for that one.

In the meantime, enjoy this massive playlist from Washers, which is set to soundtrack your entire weekend with plenty of catchy tunes, from the punk and indie hits you’d expect these guys to love to some freakier moments and even a few surprising left turns into country and hip hop. I forgot to give them my usual “25 songs, give or take a few” guidance on making this playlist, so they’ve given us an unbelievable 87 songs, for the longest RVA Mag playlist yet! You certainly won’t lack for tuneage this weekend.

Turn it up, Virginia.

Open this playlist from mobile in your Spotify app HERE.

Still Rocking In The Commonwealth

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For the ninth year in a row, WRIR DJ Shannon Cleary brings us a jam-packed multi-night showcase of excellent local music under the banner of his radio show, The Commonwealth of Notions.

WRIR and The Commonwealth of Notions Presents: Volume 9, a showcase of some of the best bands Richmond has to offer, kicks off on Saturday, August 3 at Gallery 5. The showcase will continue with its second show on Saturday, August 10 at The Camel. Both shows act as fundraisers for WRIR, a local independent radio station. 

Shannon Cleary, who hosts The Commonwealth of Notions — a show on WRIR that frequently features local artists — has been organizing the festival for the past nine years. “I wanted to see if I could develop a live equivalent of the radio show,” Cleary said. “Showcase the bands I’m playing on the show and use that as a means of supporting independent radio based out of Richmond.”

As always, this year’s The Commonwealth of Notions Presents features something for music fans of all types. Those attending the first show will be treated to the driving, political punk of Lounge Lizzard, who put out the first of their recorded music just this past March. HotSpit, a relatively new band in Richmond, will also be bringing their lush, melodic indie rock to the stage. Warrington will spruce things up with some delightfully emo-flavored indie, and the show will finish up with the high-energy garage rock of Washers, followed by the synthy, spooky punk of VV. 

The second night of music, at the Camel, will feature Midlife Pilot, who skillfully turn emo music into something positive and upbeat. Things will get a little more distorted when Twin Drugs takes the stage and show off their hypnotic shoegaze. Gnawing brings a powerful sound to the bill, and the jangly indie pop of Young Scum is always a pleasure to witness live. Opin closes out the night with their danceable synth-filled sound.

Both nights of the festival offer an excellent opportunity for music fans to hear the sounds they love while also checking out bands they may have never heard of. For the bands performing, it’s a rare opportunity to be part of a diverse bill. “I appreciate how it brings artists together onto bills that might not typically get the chance to play shows together,” Cleary said. “They are all fans and supporters of one another.” 

VV (Photo via Facebook)

Proceeds from the shows benefit WRIR, which is run by volunteers and is “the largest low power FM station of its kind in the country,” according to its website. The station airs everything from political talk shows to programs about film. There seems to be a show for just about every type of music, including punk, electronica, and Americana. 

Cleary noted that while also supporting local bands, people who attend the shows “are supporting a platform like WRIR that gives independent, underrepresented ideas, thoughts, and art a voice in the community. It’s an opportunity to support a lot of things all at once that all come together to piece together the identity of the creative community in Richmond.”

With two nights of music and bands that touch on multiple genres of music, The Commonwealth of Notions Presents: Volume 9 has something to offer for everyone while raising money for an independent radio station Richmond is lucky to have. It provides an excellent way to support Richmond’s buzzing music scene in general.

“I want to showcase artists, venues, organizations and beyond that I think are doing remarkable things in the scene,” Cleary said. “And the fact that this will be the ninth year that I’ve done this has not completely hit me yet.”

Top Photo: Opin, by Craig Stephen (via Facebook)

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

VA Shows You Must See This Week: May 22 – May 28

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FEATURED SHOW
Sunday, May 26, 12 noon
Jonny Z Fest 2019, feat. Kenneka Cook, Washers, Gull, Josh Small, Night Kid @ Hardywood – Free!
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 12 years since we lost Jonathan Zanin, known to all and sundry as Jonny Z. To get personal right out the gate, he was a longtime friend, and I still can’t think too much about his death without getting upset. For those of you who didn’t have the fortune of knowing him, all I can tell you now is that he was a really positive dude who poured a ton of energy into music, art, and activism, and absolutely made Richmond a better place for the entire time we were lucky enough to have him here.

It still makes me sad to think of Jonny being gone, but I am nonetheless very glad that Bizarre Market — an organization Jonny was heavily involved with — have kept his memory alive with their yearly Jonny Z fests. The latest one is happening this Sunday afternoon at Hardywood, and you should absolutely come out and celebrate the life of a great guy gone too soon by enjoying all that Bizarre Market has to offer. There will be dozens of vendors on hand, as well as interactive art, play areas for the kids, raffles, and of course Hardywood’s selections of fine craft brews, which I hear good things about from those who dabble in that sort of thing.

And of course, this is a music column, so we can’t forget the music! Some major Richmond mainstays, many of whom were also friends of Jonny Z, are on this bill. The always-talented electro-soul goddess, Kenneka Cook. The incredible, indescribable one-man band hijinks of Gull. The catchy punk goodness of Washers, a relatively new trio featuring members of Sports Bar, Worn In Red, and more. The emotionally-driven acoustic folk sounds of Josh Small. And then there’s the obscure but talented solo singer-songwriter sounds of Night, Kid. All of these artists will offer enjoyable sounds by which to dance, smile, and remember. And that’s a beautiful thing.

Wednesday, May 22, 6 PM
The 1975, Pale Waves, No Rome @ Virginia Credit Union Live – $39.50 – $59.50 (order tickets HERE)
When I first discovered the 1975 six or so years ago, they only had a couple of EPs out. I thought of them as kind of a poppy emo band, and longtime readers of this column won’t be surprised to hear that I therefore loved them immediately. They’ve released three albums since then, all of which have hit number one in their native United Kingdom. And clearly they’re pretty popular here in the US too, since they’re playing the 6,000-capacity Virginia Credit Union Live! venue, out at RIR. And it hasn’t sold out yet, so you should certainly grab a ticket make sure you’re there.

Because the 1975 aren’t just another emo-pop group with a few crossover hits. On their more recent material, they’ve tapped a very deep vein of multi-layered melodies that draw from both 80s R&B and New Wave, as well as a bunch of other classic genres. And on their latest LP, 2018’s A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, they’ve become fearless social commentators; popular single “Love It If We Made It” makes harsh and condemnatory references to modern social ills from Eric Garner’s death at the hands of police to Kanye West’s inexplicable and depressing embrace of Donald Trump. In some ways, they remind me of the best bands from the 80s New Pop movement — Scritti Politti, ABC, The Human League — all of which brought an incisive intelligence derived from punk rock straight to the top of the charts. In other ways, they remind me of Radiohead circa OK Computer and Kid A, when they were simultaneously enormously popular and relentlessly challenging. In all ways, I think they are great. AND! They’ve got UK goth-poppers Pale Waves, who made one of my favorite LPs of 2018, opening for them! What more do you need?

Thursday, May 23, 10 PM
Positive No, Young Scum @ Bandito’s – Free!
Positive No may not be one of the most active bands in Richmond, but if you ask me, they have been one of the best and most worthwhile bands this town has to offer for at least five years now. Their excellent music, which mixes post-hardcore energy with shoegaze melody and a delicate, ethereal presentation that sometimes explodes into fury, is always worth showing up for. Their two LPs and many EPs and singles have given us a wealth of excellent music, which may not be aired all that frequently in the live arena, but becomes a rare treat when they play the occasional gig.

This is one of those occasional gigs, and it’s free, so you really need to be there. Positive No will be releasing a new two-song single at the event, and for you vinyl nerds, it’s a lathe-cut EP, which means instead of being pressed at a plant, each copy is individually carved one groove at a time. Understandably, there are only limited copies available, but even if you aren’t able to snag one, Positive No’s performance will be more than worth staying out late with work in the morning. Better yet, Young Scum will also be on hand to delight the masses with their charming, witty indie pop. It’s gonna be a night full of awesomeness, whether you’re a vinyl collector nerd or not. Don’t blow this one.

Friday, May 24, 8 PM
The Felice Brothers, Johnathan Rice, Dogwood Tales @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $15 in advance/$17 day of show (order tickets HERE)
The Felice Brothers have been making fine folk-rock sounds for over a decade now, and older releases of theirs like Yonder Is The Clock and Celebration, Florida have earned praise from earlier generations of RVA Mag reviewers. In more recent years, though, they’ve largely kept a low profile, with frontman Ian Felice making a solo album in 2017 while his brother James played in Conor Oberst’s backing band.

But earlier this month, the group released Undress, their first album in three years. And it has made abundantly clear that The Felice Brothers have still got it. Ian and James have been joined on this record by a new rhythm section, and the resulting stripped-down four-piece has a driving energy that returns The Felice Brothers to first principles and shows that they still know how to make energetic, memorable tunes that’ll get you dancing and singing along. The group’s heartfelt sound is at its peak on Undress, and seeing this lineup live is sure to be a treat. Indulge.

Saturday, May 25, 9 PM
The Accused AD, Occultist, Enforced @ Wonderland – $10
Here’s some hardcore drama for you — there are two different versions of classic crossover-thrash skate-and-destroy ragers The Accused currently in existence. One still uses the band’s original name, due to the fact that original guitarist Tommy Niemeyer is still in the band, even though the other current Accused members are johnny-come-latelies Niemeyer recruited within the past decade. The other, The Accused AD, features vocalist Blaine Cook, who sang for the band for 20 years and six albums, along with guitarist Alex Sibbald, who played bass with The Accused for 18 years and five albums.

I’ll leave it to you to decide which has a more valid claim on the name at this point in history, but one thing I will mention in the Accused AD’s favor is that they’ve actually made a new album within the past decade — Ghoul In The Mirror, released a few months ago. If you loved the Accused’s classic 80s LPs, chances are a good part of that was due to Cook’s wild, unhinged vocal attack, and to the metallic hyperspeed riffs that came roaring at you nonstop. Rest assured, The Accused AD has both of those in spades, and their new LP proves it. Now all that’s left for you to do is head down to Wonderland Saturday night and let them prove it to you live and in your face. It’s sure to be a thrashing good time.

Sunday, May 26, 2 PM
Alright, Gnawing @ 6131 Records Storefront – Free!
There’s a new record store in town! It’s not open that often — only Fridays and Saturdays — but it will allow you an opportunity to shop in-person at the home of Richmond’s own 6131 Records. Not only do they put out a ton of good releases for bands both local and outside the state, they’ve got a pretty bodacious distro, full of vinyl, CDs, stickers, t-shirts, and tons of other stuff, all of which you can get in-person access to by visiting them.

6131’s storefront won’t normally be open on Sundays, but they’re making an exception and opening up the store for this unique afternoon of acoustic performances. Singer-guitarist Sarah of North Carolina band Alright will be treating us all to stripped-down versions of that band’s excellent melodic punk tunes. Meanwhile, John, who not only plays drums for Alright but also plays guitar and sings in Richmond’s own Gnawing, will deliver a set featuring bare-bones versions of Gnawing songs for us all. It’ll be a quick way to both hear some great tunes for zero dollars and get acquainted with a brand new brick-and-mortar spot to buy records in Richmond, and if that isn’t a good way to follow up Sunday brunch, I don’t know what is.

Monday, May 27, 9 PM
Deterioration, Van Hagar, MSD, Oozing Meat @ Cary Street Cafe – $10
To quote the Damned, “Noise noise noise.” That’s what you can expect when Cary Street Cafe’s usual Deadhead-sanctuary vibe is disrupted Monday night by an invasion of grindcore bands. Deterioration are at the head of the parade, and this Minnesota trio pride themselves on their supersonic attack and irreverent approach. Expect gratuitous samples and ridiculous song titles, but mostly you can expect insanely fast blast beats and lots of furious screaming. Sounds like fun to me.

A trio of locals will round out this bill with some grind insanity of their own. My former roommates Van Hagar can always be relied upon to bring the noise, and that’s exactly what they’re doing here — no cabo wabos about it. Expect some tunes from their forthcoming LP, which one can certainly hope will make it to us sometime this year. And then there’s newcomers MSD, whose dirty, crusty approach to grind is sure to bring a smile to the faces of those who can never get enough high-speed low-end rage. Finally, there’s Oozing Meat, whose recently expanded lineup features members of Suppression and Fake Object, and whose sound straddles the line between grindcore at its most extreme and outright experimental noise. This one will rattle the walls for sure.

Tuesday, May 28, 7 PM
Model Zero, Slump, Nightcreature @ Gallery 5 – $6 in advance/$8 day of show (order tickets HERE)
If you’re a fan of that dark arena in which the lines between garage rock and gloomy postpunk get too blurry to fully make out, Model Zero is the band for you. Formed by former members of Ex-Cult and Jack Oblivian’s backing band, The Sheiks, these guys have deep roots in the Memphis scene that’s spawned everyone from Jay Reatard to 68 Comeback. Model Zero definitely capture a bit of the analog-synth/primitive-beatbox feel that Reatard’s synth-punk project, Lost Sounds, displayed, but there’s also a whole lot of dirty gutbucket rock n’ roll mixed in here, and you wouldn’t be wrong to detect a strong hint of The Cramps there as well.

Model Zero’s self-titled debut LP will be officially released on Slovenly Recordings a few days after they perform in Richmond. You may or may not get a chance to grab early copies of the vinyl, but what we can guarantee for sure is that you’ll get to hear this band’s loud, dark, and energetic sound up close, personal, and at top volume, and it’s sure to rock you. Don’t miss that, and definitely don’t miss the two RVA-based openers either. Slump’s psychedelic take on hardcore punk is always a treat, and Nightcreature’s unique approach to their own garage-punk flavor is sure to get the show rolling on a high note.

Elsewhere Around The State:

Friday, May 24, 8 PM
Helgamite, Crystal Spiders, Krode @ The Golden Pony – $7
“Stoner doom” is a term that gets thrown around a lot in the metal scene, but what it means isn’t always clear. While it can lead you to bands cranking out played-out third-rate versions of Saint Vitus riffs — and I certainly don’t blame you if that makes you somewhat gunshy — sometimes it’ll send you straight towards some of the most creative, weird, and original sounds being made in metal today. Fortunately for us all, Helgamite are firmly in the latter category.

Helgamite hail from the tiny town of Rileyville, which lies somewhere between Front Royal and Luray in the mountainous western part of the state. All that isolation can be surprisingly good for creativity, and on their 2016 LP, Hypnagogia, this four-piece showed just how creative they can be, fusing epic sludge-metal riffs with psychedelic atmospheres and otherworldly jazz vibes provided by saxophonist Casey Firkin. If the idea of Hawkwind and Neurosis collaborating to create a Pentagram LP gets your synapses firing, you definitely want to make your way to Harrisonburg Friday night to see these freaks come down from the mountains and blow your mind.

Saturday, May 25, 8 PM
Natural Velvet, Clary Sage, Mirador @ Charlie’s American Cafe – $10 in advance/$13 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Baltimore’s Natural Velvet aren’t easily described. Their use of “postpunk” as a genre tag is certainly accurate, but if you’ve followed the evolution of that term over the past four decades, you certainly know that it covers a wide range of sounds. Natural Velvet explore many different facets of that genre, as well as quite a few others. On 2017’s Mirror To Make You, vocalist/bassist Corynne Ostermann channels both Alice Bag and Siouxsie Sioux in her powerful, gripping vocal approach, as the band’s pounding, off-kilter attack pulls off some decided Birthday Party-style rages before pulling it together to rock you in the most straightforward of fashions. Just for a second, though.

This is all sure to add up to something unpredictable and unmissable when it’s presented on a live stage. And therefore, I can’t help but recommend that you NOT miss it, especially if you’re already in the Hampton Roads area on this pre-Memorial Day Saturday night. You’ll also get an intense and unpredictable set of synth-noise-punk awesomeness from Norfolk’s own Clary Sage, as well as some moody shoegaze bliss from up-and-coming Norfolk locals Mirador. This one’s going to be wild — make sure you’re there.

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

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

VA Shows You Must See This Week: February 20 – February 26

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FEATURED SHOW
Friday, February 22, 6 PM
New Lions, Large Margin, Basmati, Grandma @ Hardywood – Free!
It snowed this morning. It’s supposed to be 60 degrees tomorrow. Who knows what the weather will be like this weekend. But while Richmond’s topsy-turvy weather spends the rest of winter (and probably longer than that) pulling itself together, we can at least be assured that, in this town full of outstanding music, it’ll always be pleasant inside.

That will definitely be true at Hardywood this Friday night, when this jam-packed lineup of top-tier local musicians hits the stage. Topping the bill is New Lions, and this sextet is what we get when Clair Morgan stops pussyfooting around about whether or not he’s a solo artist and just forms a band already. Not that that’s any big new thing — New Lions is basically the same ensemble Morgan was leading when he made his last record, 2016’s New Lions And The Not-Good Night (ah, see, you’re starting to get what’s happening here), and the group’s pleasing mix of indie melodies and intense, math-y emo remains intact. Plus, they’re almost done with their new EP, so you’ll probably hear at least a song or two from it aired out live.

Large Margin are the other big story of the night, and while this band may have been ultra low-key with their rollout, one listen to last year’s self-titled full-length was enough to blow your hair back for sure. This quartet of local post-hardcore luminaries is kicking up some serious dust with their Fugazi-inspired take on angry, energetic noise-core, and on a personal note, it’s pure catnip for me — I love it. This show marks the physical release of the aforementioned self-titled full-length, and you’d all be fools not to grab it on cassette while the getting’s good. You’d also be fools not to arrive on time and catch powerful sets from long-running indie-math vets Basmati and the looping pop genius of Grandma. This show doesn’t even cost anything to get in, so you officially have no excuse.

Wednesday, February 20, 7 PM
Doc Rotten, Love Roses, The Chuggernauts @ McCormack’s – $7
Punk never sleeps, at least not before the sun’s coming up. And punk doesn’t care what day of the week it is, or what sort of job you have to get to at some point tomorrow. Punk thinks you should probably just quit your job. What has it ever done for you? It’s an especially incisive critique when you consider all the great things punk bands like Doc Rotten have given you over the years: snotty singalong choruses, catchy melodic leads, angry yet upbeat riffs you can raise your fist and yell along to.

These are the really important things in life, right? And you might worry about how you’re going to pay rent if you don’t once again forgo sleep and stagger in to work at 8 AM tomorrow regardless of how late you were out tonight. But none of that matters tonight, when Jersey punk crew Doc Rotten will have you singing along with an upraised fist (possibly clutching a beer). Last summer’s Illusion To Choose LP is full of bouncy bass lines, crunchy guitars, and deathless anthems that speak to the struggles we all go through, and when they crank out those tunes in Shockoe Bottom, you’ll be feeling good for sure. Local ragers Love Roses and The Chuggernauts are along to keep you smiling all night. Don’t miss it — no matter what time your alarm is set for.

Thursday, February 21, 10 PM
Typesetter, Late Bloomer, Washers @ Bandito’s – Free!
The classic midwestern emo sound may have quite a bit of history behind it these days, but it is by no means dead. Two great bands are coming through town this Thursday night to prove it to you, and while both of them are from out of town, they do have Richmond connections in that both of them have released albums on our city’s own 6131 Records. The first is Typesetter, who keep the midwestern tradition alive from their hometown of Chicago. Their latest album, Nothing Blues, finds the group mixing gorgeously wistful vocal harmonies with driving riffage and a solid grasp of the dynamics that make for a perfect full-length listen. Their set at Bandito’s is sure to deliver on the album’s promise.

And then there’s Late Bloomer, who hail from one state south of here and, like Typesetter, released a full-length on 6131 last year. Waiting finds this band rocking a little bit harder than their labelmates, catching a bit of that post-Nirvana 90s alt-rock feel in their net along with a generous helping of pastoral emo resonances. If you dig one of these bands, you’re sure to dig ’em both. Local openers Washers should appeal to you as well. This driving melodic punk band lands somewhere between local luminaries Teen Death and Sports Bar, and considering they share members (and a label) with the latter group, there are a lot of local heads who should already be in their corner. If not, show up at Bandito’s and get familiar already, y’all.

Friday, February 22, 7:30 PM
Chris Corsano/Bill Nace, Crazy Doberman @ Shockoe Denim – $10
Let’s get experimental this Friday night, shall we? This bill of experimental music with equal footing in jazz, punk, and improvisation is the sort of thing we might have expected to show up at Black Iris a year or so ago, but this time it’s happening in a completely random spot — Shockoe Denim, where you’d normally expect to hear nothing stranger than the phrase “selvedge denim.” This Friday night, though, it’s getting downright unusual in the fancy jeans store, as New England noisemakers Chris Corsano and Bill Nace perform a collaborative set.

You may recognize guitarist Bill Nace’s name, at least if you’ve followed what the members of Sonic Youth have been up to since their band dissolved. Nace is part of a duo called Body/Head, in which he collaborates with Kim Gordon. He’s done a ton of other stuff in the experimental music world too, as has Chris Corsano, a drummer of no small repute who has worked with everyone from Jim O’Rourke to Jandek at one time or another. These two have joined together previously under the name Vampire Belt to create glorious volcanoes of wild free-jazz cacophony. How will this performance differ? All we can do is show up and see. One thing’s for sure — it’ll be a wild ride. Especially with Richmond’s own pack of wild improv-experimental noise dogs, Crazy Doberman, opening up. The jeans store just might get a little unruly.

Saturday, February 23, 8 PM
Buzzherd, Musket Hawk, MSD, Cruelsifix @ Champion RVA – Free!
Local punk luminaries Tired and Pissed Records are bringing another devastating showcase to their hometown, this time over at Champion Brewing’s RVA location. And while those who pay attention to this sort of thing might have come to expect straight-up punk with a bit of a metal edge from the T&P crew, this time around finds them veering into the land of outright metal — which fits the environment, a brewer that those of us who don’t partake in the intoxicating stuff have come to associate with music that induces major headbangs.

This event finds two touring bands from north of our city heading into town; Buzzherd hail from Bethlehem, PA, a rust belt city mostly known for completely overdoing the whole Christmas thing. You can imagine what sort of angst this could induce in young metalheads, and you’ll hear all that angst and more when Buzzherd take the stage and wallop you with their chunky, violent take on metallic hardcore… or hardcore-damaged metal, as the case may be. Baltimore’s Musket Hawk take things in a more low-end direction, as they rumble and grind their way toward the perfect fusion of death metal and punk. Again, perfect music for their rather unstable home environs — and perfect music for you to spend your Saturday night headbanging to. Local powerhouses MSD and Cruelsifix only add to the reasons to wear your denim vest and get crazy at this one.

Sunday, February 24, 9:30 PM
Dropping Ugly, W I S H, Collider @ Bandito’s – Free!
We’re back at Bandito’s for the second time this week, for the fourth free show of the column this week, and if you don’t think this is a great time to be alive regardless of the weather, well, I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe to spend the money you’re saving on a huge plate of nachos at one or both of these Bandito’s shows and find out how great life truly can be. Then, feeling stuffed and happy, you can wander into the music room, check out a few great bands for zero dollars, and have a further realization of how truly #blessed you are.

This show features a performance by Dropping Ugly, which is the sort of band name one might understandably associate with thuggish hardcore stomping. One would therefore be surprised to discover that this Richmond duo is much closer to shoegaze/dreampop-influenced indie sounds, with a strong emphasis on beauty and melody. They’re dropping ugly, all right — there’s nothing not-gorgeous about this group’s sound. Sunday night provides you with the perfect opportunity to discover that, and while you’re at it, to take in the heavier shoegaze-oriented approach of W I S H, who will give you serious gaze-heads flashbacks to the days of the Swirlies and the Lilys. It’s glorious. DC’s Collider round out the evening with some killer sounds that make me want to reference bands no one reading this has ever heard, like Monsterland and Drop Nineteens. That’s an endorsement, in case it’s not clear. Want to know more? Go to this show. Like many of the shows in this week’s column, it’s free — so don’t say I never gave you anything.

Monday, February 25, 10 PM
SMUG, THRE3, 7th Grade Girl Fight @ Cary Street Cafe – Free!
I’ve recently heard the word “smug” used to describe that wave of annoying, pretentious right-wing YouTube jerks we all hear way too much about these days. It’s fitting; it’s a word that makes you think of a smarmy jerk with a superior smile on his face after having said something he thinks is brilliant and you know is ridiculous. Thankfully, the band SMUG doesn’t seem to consist of guys like that. Instead, they’re a trio hailing from Buffalo, NY (home of the Goo Goo Dolls, who rule. Yeah, I said it) and dishing out some powerful melodic punk on their brand-new album, Gorgeous.

So yeah, it’ll be fun to see these guys rock out at Cary Street Cafe, as long as you don’t think too hard about the meaning of their name. They’ll be joined by a duo of Virginia-based melodic rock bands with numbers in their names. THRE3 is a band who must have been frustrated when they realized that both 3 and Three had been taken. They used that frustration to fuel their creativity, and produced some pretty killer punk-adjacent sounds with strong Ted Leo resonances on their 2018 album, Do Or Die. Meanwhile, 7th Grade Girl Fight bring us some fun indie sounds with obvious debts to the world of power-pop and garage rock. The whole evening’s gonna be pretty swell.

Tuesday, February 26, 9 PM
Red Sea, MRC, Shormey, Lobby Boy @ The Camel – $8 (order tickets HERE)
Here’s a show brought to you by Underground Orchard, a recent booking and promotion endeavor spinning off from the Citrus City Records empire here in Richmond. And considering how reliable the Citrus City name has become in terms of delivering quality 21st-century indie music, especially with an electro-pop flair, it’s no surprise to find Underground Orchard carrying on that legacy by bringing us a performance from Atlanta’s Red Sea.

If you tuned in to this band three years ago, you surely heard a different sort of sound — one more guitar-based and indie-math driven. These days, though, they’ve moved into the realm of electronic synth-pop, and recent singles are simultaneously reminiscent of Duran Duran, Vampire Weekend, and early-90s techno-house. It’s not easy to pin down, and it’s certainly not predictable, but it’s a whole lot of fun, as you’ll find out when you’re shaking your booty on the dance floor at The Camel Tuesday night. Be sure to check out the Tidewater-based dance entertainments of True Body side project MRC and Citrus City’s own Shormey, as well as similarly-driven Harrisonbury project Lobby Boy. This one will keep your feet moving.

Bonus Hampton Roads Picks:

Saturday, February 23, 8 PM
Summer Heart, Brothertiger, Karacell @ Charlie’s American Cafe – $10 in advance/$13 day of show (order tickets HERE)
There’s a lot of great electronic pop music that comes out of Sweden — and no, I’m not (just) talking about Swedish House Mafia. All sorts of people with strong electro-pop bona fides hail from this Scandinavian country, from Robyn to Avicii to Max Martin. Therefore, can it be any surprise that there’s also a fertile electro-pop underground in the country? It’s that underground that has produced Summer Heart, the solo project of Swedish production genius David Alexander. And it’s Summer Heart who will be bringing the gorgeous sound of sunshine to Norfolk in the wintertime. Bless.

Summer Heart spent 2018 releasing a project called 12 Songs Of Summer, one song at a time. The songs, doled out once a month throughout the past year, are being released as a compilation for this tour, and you’d be wise to pick it up and finally be in a position to let the jams play for a while. They’ll bring a big smile to your face, whether you’re playing them at home or dancing to the tunes in person at Charlie’s American Cafe Saturday night. But to be clear, we definitely recommend the latter course of action. This has been a cold, gross winter, and it’s not over yet. We all need a little bit of summer in our hearts.

Monday, February 25, 8 PM
156/Silence (Photo by Ale Gibson-Photography), No Good Deed, Beyond The Grave, Yung Mutt, Lil Broken Heart @ Riffhouse Pub – $5
Y’all had to know this moment was coming — the moment in every column where I do my level best to convince every single one of you to get stoked about a metalcore band that’s coming to our area. You made it through the whole column, you thought you might get away without it this time — but it was not to be, as I will now fervently implore you to gas up your auto and head to Norfolk’s RiffHouse Pub this Monday night to see Pittsburgh, PA’s 156/Silence.

If I am to be totally forthright with you in my advocacy, I must admit that I have no idea what their seemingly random name means. However, it matters little; their 2018 LP on Innerstrength Records, Undercover Scumbag, contains all I need to understand about this band — a powerful collection of driving metallic sludge. filled with angst and fury, plus plenty of noisy guitar chaos, thundering drums, and intense throat-shredding screams. This band is sure to delight fans of everything from Sworn In to The Chariot to All Else Failed, and as I am all three of those fans, I am fair and squarely stoked. You will be too if you make it to RiffHouse Monday night; when have I ever steered you wrong?

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] [and yeah, there’s plenty more of my writing to read over at GayRVA — come say hey.]

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

RVA Shows You Must See This Week: May 2 – May 8

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FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, May 5, 7 PM
Power Trip, Sheer Mag, Fury, Red Death @ The Broadberry – $18 in advance/$20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Just in time for the weather to really warm up, here comes one of the hottest gigs of the year! I hope you bought a new air conditioner before everybody sold out of ’em — if you come home from this gig on Saturday night covered in sweat, that old freon-deprived thing in your window that just acts like a big noisy fan will do nothing to cool you off. But even that’ll be all right, because you’ll be returning from the kind of evening that’ll fuel you with the energy you need to get through the hot summer months in Richmond… which are apparently already upon us.

Power Trip is a band that’s been coming through and laying serious devastation on the entire metropolitan area on a regular basis for long enough that they shouldn’t need much of any introduction. However, even if you’re intimately familiar with the brutality this Texas thrash outfit delivers, you’ve still got plentiful reason to come out and headbang. In addition to their still-hot 2017 LP Nightmare Logic, these guys will be touring behind the just released non-LP comp Opening Fire: 2008-2014, which celebrates their tenth anniversary as a band by making all their earliest stuff available once again in an easy-to-obtain format. And in case you’re thinking “They’ll never actually play any of those old jams,” Power Trip singer Riley Gale told Revolver recently that they’d be busting at least one out. Get stoked for that!

And hey, get stoked on the amazing dual-headline potential of the fact that Sheer Mag is also playing this show. While their punky garage-pop might seem like an odd fit for a tour with Power Trip, what these two bands have in common is a strong positive energy. As their 2017 LP, Need To Feel Your Love, so strongly demonstrated, Sheer Mag are one of the most vital bands in the music world right now, and they’ll have you dancing with a big grin on your face just as hard as you’ll be headbanging to Power Trip a short time later. California HC heads Fury — who have nothing to do with that long-departed Swiz side project, though they’re in the same league musically — will bring the, um, fury in their opening slot, and DC’s always-reliable Red Death will kick things off with a bang. Bring your sweatbands.

Wednesday, May 2, 7 PM
Charly Bliss, Skating Polly @ The Camel – $13 (order tickets HERE)
Sometimes even getting to Wednesday can be so difficult, it starts to make you feel like the weekend will never come. Thankfully for you, this Wednesday night sees Charly Bliss and Skating Polly rolling into town, bringing the fun party vibes you wait all week for right to the middle of the week, where you need it most. Both powerful and #relatable, last year’s debut full-length, Guppy, helped put Charly Bliss on the map in a big way. Bringing the winsome charm of Girlpool to the chunky guitar-pop riffs of bands like Speedy Ortiz, Guppy won a lot of people over, and for good reason.

As for Skating Polly, this youthful Oklahoma band has an irresistible charm all their own. They may have come together when stepsisters Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse were still in junior high, but they’ve come into their own in a big way on The Make It All Show, their brand new LP, which comes out this Friday. The sisters have strengthened their lineup by adding their little brother on drums, and they’ve got a thicker, more self-assured sound that’s still loaded with the kind of pop charm and hooks that helped them win audiences over when they were still younger than they had any right to be. Come out tonight, bug them for a copy of the new album (chances are they’ve got ’em regardless of offical release date), and dance your ass off. Why wait for Friday night?

Thursday, May 3, 6 PM
Basement, Citizen, Pronoun, Souvenirs, The Grim Gang @ The Canal Club – $20 (order tickets HERE)
You emo fans are in for a treat this Thursday night — a double bill sure to knock your socks off is coming to The Canal Club, and I hope you’re ready! At the top of the bill is excellent UK band Basement, who had a high-profile departure from the scene after their second album but thankfully have been back on track for a few years now, starting with 2016 album Promise Everything and continuing with a variety of tours including the one now bringing them to our doorstep. Their mix of emotional melody and a harder-edged sound that draws equally from mid-90s post-hardcore and chunky alt-rock is somehow simultaneously reminiscent of Quicksand and Hot Water Music (and I hope I’m not dating myself too much with those references).

It may only be their status as Americans that makes the difference, but Citizen began with a much stronger association to the emo revival that everyone was super-stoked about five years ago. However, as trends moved on, they stayed consistent, demonstrating their talent and songwriting quality once again last year with the release of their third album, As You Please. Citizen’s consistently emotional style tugs at your heartstrings even as they attack their instruments with passion and ferocity. Either one of these two bands is worth the price of admission on their own — both together makes this Thursday night gig such a steal that you’d be totally justified in calling in to work the next morning.

Friday, May 4, 8 PM
The Sword, The Shelter People @ The Canal Club – $17 in advance/$20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
These days, I’m sure it’s only the old heads who are aware of The Sword’s RVA connection (well, old heads and those who have been reading my column for a while, because I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before). Evolving out of a stonerific RVA ensemble known as the Ultimate Dragons, The Sword first decamped for Texas and then went through a variety of lineup changes, making frontman JD Cronise their only still-extant connection to our hometown. Even if no one here knew any of them, though, we’d all have good reason to catch their latest jaunt as it touches down in Shockoe Bottom. The band just released their sixth album, Used Future, and it’s every bit as killer as their previous outings.

Some may write The Sword off as Fu Manchu-ish stoner boogie, but their musical evolution over the years has proven that they have a lot more to offer than your typical Camaro-rattling Cali bong-rock ensemble. Used Future takes their sound ever further in a progressive direction, with some of the songs blasting off into outer space fueled by the killer guitar pyrotechnics generated by dueling axemen Cronise and Kyle Shutt. Get ready to have your head expanded. Openers The Shelter People are much more conventionally rooted in late 60s proto-metal stoner fundamentals, but that does nothing to minimize the wallop their 50-foot-thick riffage will lay on you. Pull back the curtains of smoke and enjoy this one in your most laid-back frame of mind.

Saturday, May 5, 7 PM
Pedals On Our Pirate Ships, New Junk City, Washers @ Champion RVA – Free!
Killer melodic punk never goes out of style, and if there’s one thing that’s made that fact clear, it’s been the recent (welcome) return of Pedals On Our Pirate Ships. A longtime project of guitar-slinging local punk troubadour Matt Seymour, this project has undergone quite a bit of revamping since their last LP in 2012 — which might explain why they’ve started going by just plain “Pedals” more and more often. With only two members remaining from their last incarnation, they’ve filled the lineup back out with members from Sundials and gone fully electric for a strong sound that’ll give a real kick to their always-catchy tuneage.

On this bill, their pairing with Atlanta’s New Junk City seems incredibly appropriate, as this band brings their own dose of melodic punk with a powerful electric kick. Their contributions to a recent split EP with UK band Hot Mass make that eminently clear, bringing to mind a few incredible dirty-yet-heartfelt legends of pop-punk’s past, including Dear Landlord and Bent Out Of Shape, among others. The evening kicks off with a set from Washers, a band uniting members of Sports Bar and Worn In Red under the banner of old-school catchy punk. Think The Dictators, or Fear, but without the shady shady politics (god knows we don’t need any more of those). This one is gonna get you dancing.

Sunday, May 6, 7 PM
Hop Along, Saintseneca @ The Broadberry – $15 in advance/$18 at the door (order tickets HERE)
There’s something both amazing and terrifying about a band releasing an absolutely incredible album. It’s amazing just because the album exists at all; what’s terrifying is the prospect of a follow-up. Will it take forever? Will it be disappointing? Will the band implode under pressure? Will they just repeat themselves to diminishing returns for the next decade-plus? Hop Along assuaged a lot of fears when they released Bark Your Head Off, Dog, the follow-up to 2015’s outstanding Painted Shut, earlier this year. While Bark Your Head Off is every bit as excellent as this band’s previous release, it’s by no means a carbon copy of what Painted Shut had to offer.

Of course, frontwoman Frances Quinlan’s songwriting skills remain intact, so you can expect great tunes both old and new to greet your ears when Hop Along takes the Broadberry stage this Sunday. But you might also be pleasantly surprised by the risks the band takes with their sound, integrating quiet electronic textures alongside their traditional folk-tinged melodies and alt-rock guitar scrapes. And of course, there’s Quinlan’s incredible voice on top of it all, which manages to turn a breathy twang into a heartfelt grasp for emotional connection in the most powerful of fashions. She and her band are sure to hit close to home for all of us on this night; you owe it to yourself to show up and have a real emotional experience — especially since most of us spend our lives fleeing from such things.

Monday, May 7, 8 PM
Worriers, Positive No, Sea Of Storms, Bad Magic @ Strange Matter – $8 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Lauren Denitzio just continues to amaze. This excellent songwriter first showed their chops as the less-heard, more-anticipated songwriter in The Measure (SA). They carried that talent over in a big way to the Worriers, who despite perennial lineup instability have become a consistent force for incredible music in the underground punk rock scene. Their third LP, Survival Pop, came out last year and carried on this tradition with songs that both bravely attacked important issues too often swept under the rug in our society (“Gaslighter,” “What We’re Up Against”), and displayed real emotion and vulnerability in a manner that can offer comfort to even the most repressed among us.

The Worriers have come through Richmond with a variety of lineups over the years; Denitzio is often backed by a variety of fellow punk luminaries from bands like The Ergs, Bridge And Tunnel, and more. But really, who’s backing them isn’t that important; what matters here are the songs, and the strength of their delivery. As long as it’s Denitzio up front, you’re guaranteed to get those. And on this incredible bill, you’re going to get a triple-shot of killer local tuneage in the bargain, from Positive No’s politically-driven melodic alt-rock and Sea Of Storms’ hard-hitting post-hardcore emotion to Bad Magic’s always-on-time indie-rock crunch. Don’t miss a single minute.

Tuesday, May 8, 8 PM
Patty Smyth and Scandal @ The Tin Pan – $47.50 in advance/$52.50 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Look, I’ll admit it — the price for this one is high. And you’ve gotta be pretty old to remember Patty Smyth’s heyday with hits like “Goodbye To You” and “The Warrior” (I’m in my 40s and these songs all predate my teen years). That said, while Smyth may not have quite as much indie cool cred as her Y-to-I doppelganger Patti Smith, she and her longtime band Scandal still rock like crazy, and anyone with the means would be foolish to miss out on this surefire great time on a Tuesday night.

Make no mistake, Patty Smyth does have some indie cool points. After all, her first husband was legendary first-wave punk Richard Hell, and one of her biggest hits as a solo artist back in the 80s was a cover of Tom Waits’ “Downtown Train.” If you ask me though, it’s her time fronting Scandal that produced her best work; the catchy kiss-off “Goodbye To You” and the feminist power anthem “The Warrior” are deathless rock n’ roll classics. Patty’s been back together with Scandal since that early-2000s VH1 show Bands Reunited made them the subject of an episode, and you can expect the eternally-youthful Smyth to bring the fire when she and Scandal hit the Tin Pan stage Tuesday night. Trust me on this one.

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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] [and yeah, in case you’re wondering, more awesomeness from my cracked and bleeding fingertips is available at GayRVA — come say hey.]

Image by Vivienne Lee, photos via Facebook

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond