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

Marilyn Drew Necci | March 18, 2020

Topics: .gif From God, Andrew Alli & Josh Small, Antiphons, avail, Benjamin Shepherd, Bio Ritmo, black girls, Brewer's Cafe, Clair Morgan, Dave Watkins, Division Of Mind, Doll Baby, Dumb Waiter, Good Day RVA, Houdan The Mystic, Lamb Of God, Lobo Marino, McKinley Dixon and Friends, Navi, Nelly Kate, New Lions, Nickelus F, No BS! Brass Band, Ohbliv, Palm Palm, Rikki Shay, River City Roll, shows you must see, Spooky Cool, Sports Bar, The Broadberry, The Trillions, The Wimps, White Laces, Windhand, Wonderland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Palm Palm at River City Roll, September 1, 2019

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

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

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

.gif From God at Wonderland, July 5, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

VA Shows You Must See This Week: December 12 – December 18

Marilyn Drew Necci | December 12, 2018

Topics: 3:33, Alright, Billy Neptune, Black Lotus, Capital Ale House Music Hall, Christmas Jerks, Cold Beaches, Colder Planets, Colin Phils, Deli Kings, Don Fredrick, Dumb Waiter, Eric Hubel, Fat Spirit, gallery 5, Genosha, Ghoul Trouble, Ghouli, God Of Nothing, Good Cretins, Graham Stone, Grem Smiley, Hackedepicciotto, Heft, Justin Golden, Kenneka Cook, London Caroling, Lounge Lizzards, Mackenzie Roark, Manzara, Matt Lisk, Neat Sweep, Night Idea, Nightcreature, Old Faith, One Less Life, Party Wave, Pat O'Keefe, Plastic Nancy, Punks For Presents, Riffhouse Pub, Sammi Lanzetta, shows you must see, Silent Music Revival, Smoke Break, Snow Control, Sound Of Music Studios, Sports Bar, Stolen Goodz, strange matter, stray fossa, The Camel, The Do-Nothings, The Milkstains, The Mostly Dead, The Trillions, Toast, Torino Death Ride, Toward Space, Toxic Moxie, Treble Lifter, Vulcanite, White Laces, X-Mas

FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, December 15, noon
White Laces, Night Idea, Fat Spirit, Manzara, Grem Smiley, Don Fredrick, Nightcreature, Billy Neptune, Deli Kings, Ghoul Trouble @ Strange Matter – $12 (order tickets HERE)
Saturday, December 15, 9 PM
Punks For Presents 2018 Night Two, feat. Good Cretins, London Caroling, Snow Control, Christmas Jerks, X-Mas @ Strange Matter – $10
The time has come. It’s the last hurrah. This Saturday marks the final time that Strange Matter will host any live music. I know a lot of us have been feeling some ways about this, and I’m definitely feeling those feels too. Not just because Strange Matter has been, hands down, the best and most reliable live music venue in Richmond for the past decade, but also because… y’all, I’ve got a column to write every week. I’ve been writing this column for four years, and I can count the weekly installments that went by without featuring at least one Strange Matter show on one finger. When most of the venues around town weren’t even open most random weeknights, Strange Matter could always be counted on to be hosting not just a show, but more often than not, a real banger that I’d put into my column even if it was happening on a Saturday night when every place was hosting something.

Where am I gonna send you now on a random Tuesday night now? We’re gonna find that answer together in 2019, for better or worse. But while Strange Matter still exists, you better believe I’m gonna send you there this weekend. After all, this Saturday, their final day in operation, is going to be a major blowout, featuring not one but two epic shows that will start off around the time you’re paying your tab at brunch and end at last call in the wee hours. What better way could there be for you to celebrate Strange Matter’s truly top-quality decade of operation than to spend about 14 hours within its darkened confines, enjoying over a dozen excellent bands from right here in RVA?

You know the answer as well as I do, so let’s all just mark our calendars now. There’s plenty to get stoked for — a reunion set by White Laces tops off the first epic show of the day, and since it’s always wonderful to see Landis, Jimmy, Jay, and the rest of the gang take the stage together, this will be a can’t-miss moment for any Richmond music fan. The coterie of excellent local faves supporting them on this bill — math-rock kingpins Night Idea, angst-ridden grunge punks Fat Spirit, spaced-out noise-rockers Manzara, so many more — is only matched by the outstanding slate of holiday-themed tribute acts being brought to us on the late show’s jam-packed lineup courtesy of Punks For Presents. Have you ever wanted to hear Clash songs rewritten to feature lyrics about Santa Claus? Or a set of Bad Religion tunes played by people who’ve seen snow on their front lawn at some point in their lives? You’ll get these and many more excellent musical treats at this fun-filled extravaganza. Don’t miss it — if you let your last chance to enjoy Strange Matter while it’s here slip away, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Guaranteed.

Wednesday, December 12, 6 PM
The Milkstains, Sports Bar, Sammi Lanzetta, The Trillions, Cold Beaches, Dumb Waiter, Toward Space, Neat Sweep @ Strange Matter – $12 (order tickets HERE)
Let’s continue to talk about the outstanding fare Strange Matter will be bringing us throughout their final few days of operation, shall we? The many epic local showcases that have filled their stage over the past few weeks have tended to find a focus in one local scene or another, and this one is no exception, bringing us a smorgasbord of the best alternative rock n’ roll this city has to offer. The fact that I took til the third sentence of this writeup to tell you that the Milkstains will be headlining this show with their first local performance since LAST Christmas might just constitute burying the lede, but I write these columns really goddamn fast, so I hope no one will hate on me too much for letting my journalistic principles slip just a bit.

Anyway, based on the advance promo for this show, it seems likely that this performance by the Milkstains may just constitute their last-ever performance as a band, and considering how much sweat, beer, and surf-grunge wildness this band has dished out to this city over the past decade-plus (they’ve been a thing even longer than Strange Matter has), that’s a real loss to all of us. Celebrate the life and the rock n’ roll power of the Milkstains once again/one last time(?) at Smatter tonight — but don’t just waltz in as they’re hitting the stage, because if you do, you’ll miss out on a plethora of fine musical performers, from the heartstopping alt-rock balladry of singer-songwriter extraordinaire Sammi Lanzetta to the garage-pop brilliance of Sports Bar to the jazz-metal madness of Dumb Waiter. And so much more! Dude… it’s gonna be epic.

Thursday, December 13, 8 PM
Old Faith, Colin Phils, Colder Planets, Kenneka Cook @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
I could keep on talking about Strange Matter for every single remaining day of their brief existence, and rest assured, on both this night and the next, there are excellent shows spotlighting indie-rock and grindcore at Strange Matter on these nights. If you were to go, I fully would not blame you. But I would be remiss in my duty as Richmond’s chief chronicler of live local music (I mean, really, who else is there?) if I didn’t tell you about a couple of amazing shows happening at other venues during this final half-week of Strange Matter’s extended wake. Let’s begin with this one, which features an appearance by Greensboro instrumental quartet Old Faith.

There have been quite a few groups that have trod similar musical ground as these North Carolinians now cover, but their ability to evoke perspective, meaning, and emotion through the stunning evolutions of their dual-guitar instrumental epics, as demonstrated on their recently released self-titled LP, puts them in the top tier of the genre, alongside famous names like Explosions In The Sky and Mogwai. When the sounds of their amplifiers grow to fill and surround Capital Ale House’s Downtown Music Hall, the music is sure to take you on an emotional journey. RVA-via-Korea band Colin Phils will also be on hand to bring you their pleasing take on the note-twisting melodic tangles of math-rock, while Colder Planets’s gorgeous alt-rock sounds will put a smile on your face for sure. And of course, there’s Kenneka Cook, the excellent soul singer and amazingly talented electronic-music composer, who’ll bring us an always-delightful set of her amazing tunes. This one’s going to be a delight.

Friday, December 14, 8 PM
Hackedepicciotto, Eric Hubel @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Assuming you’re not hitting Strange Matter, it’s back to Capital Ale House’s Downtown Music Hall on this fine Friday night for one of the weirdest and most intriguing musical experiences you’re going to have anytime in the near future. Hackedepicciotto are coming to town, and while this particular name may not be all that familiar to you, you’re sure to be impressed by their musical pedigree. Alexander Hacke is bassist and co-founder of German industrial godfathers Einsturzende Neubauten; his partner in life and music, Danielle de Picciotto, sang with German postpunk band Die Haut and helped establish long-running Berlin music festival Love Parade.

When they create together, Hacke and de Picciotto make music focused on their interest in yoga and other forms of meditation. Their most recent release is JOY, the second of their albums composed specifically to be soundtracks for meditation, and for that album they worked with New York postpunk guitarist Eric Hubel, formerly of Glenn Branca’s band and a yoga master himself. Now all three come to Richmond to create ambient soundtracks that might have some meditative qualities but also have an intense character that sometimes carries a dark undercurrent and always has the potential to shake your spiritual foundations. It’s hard to say what we’ll see and hear at Capital Ale House Friday night, but one thing’s for sure — it’ll move you.

Saturday, December 15, 7 PM
Genosha, 3:33, Vulcanite, Lounge Lizzard, Treble Lifter, The Mostly Dead, Torino Death Ride @ Sound Of Music Studios – $5
As Strange Matter breathes its last this Saturday night, new life is being born into the Virginia hardcore scene. Metallic hardcore group Genosha will be releasing their latest CD, Our Conspiracy, and while I haven’t yet heard any of the tuneage from it, the two excellent bangers they released earlier this year on a split EP with fellow Commonwealth denizens Treble Lifter (also playing this show; more about them in a minute) give all the reason in the world to expect a powerful slab of dark, brutal moshcore out of this quintet. Being there to see the new Genosha LP being birthed into the world is certainly a fine use of your weekend night, especially if you’re ready for some serious headbangs.

There are quite a few other excellent bands from all around the VA area on this bill as well, and that’s sure to sweeten the pot for the initiated as well as the merely intrigued. Lounge Lizzard in particular are one to watch; this Richmond-based newcomer features members from all kinds of other excellent local bands — Toxic Moxie, Cremains, The Donalds, Skumboyz, and more. Plus, their snarky, catchy old-school punk sound is particularly designed to appeal to fans of The Avengers, which is never a bad thing. The aforementioned Treble Lifter have more of a driving post-hardcore sound, but don’t get me wrong — these guys are plenty pissed off, so you punks are still gonna love it. There are a lot more notable bands on this bill, but I’m running out of space, so I challenge you — learn about them for yourself. Come to Sound Of Music this Saturday night, and find out what’s going on with the new generation.

Sunday, December 16, 7:30 PM
Silent Music Revival, feat. Toxic Moxie @ Gallery 5 – Donations accepted
This should be an intriguing installment of the always-fascinating Silent Music Revival, a long-running series of local shows in which Richmond-area musicians of note create improvised soundtracks for silent films they’ve never seen before. This time around, it’ll be Toxic Moxie who’ve accepted the challenge, and it’ll be fun to see how they incorporate their disco-punk hybrid sound into the world of film score. They’ll have a pretty great candidate for scoring too, as the film on display this week is Jean Renoir’s 1928 picture The Little Match Girl.

Renoir, who shares a surname with Impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir because he was his son, was a pioneering French film director who got his start in the silent era before going on to demonstrate what could be achieved in the film medium with classics like La Grand Illusion and The Rules Of The Game. Starring his first wife and based on that totally bleak Hans Christian Andersen story we all heard as kids, The Little Match Girl was one of Renoir’s more notable early efforts, one that he financed by selling off his dad’s paintings. Now it’s being paired with the music of Toxic Moxie, on a Sunday evening at Gallery 5. What a time to be alive.

Monday, December 17, 7 PM
Alright, Smoke Break, Ghouli @ Gallery 5 – $5 in advance/$6 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Never mind the fact that I always, without fail, write it as two words (“all right”); I’m still stoked to see Alright coming to town. These North Carolinians feature Sarah Blumenthal, formerly of the excellent Charlotte, NC band Faye, on guitar and vocals, and while Alright are clearly dipping a little further into the melodic/emotional end of the musical pond than Faye were, this group carries on the crunching guitars and exuberant bounce that Faye did so well.

Their just-released new EP, On The Outs, is the sort of record that will appeal equally to fans of melodic pop-punk groups like the Candy Hearts and garage-rock roustabouts like Sheer Mag. Live, these tunes are sure to get everybody bouncing around with smiles on their faces. It makes them a good pairing with Smoke Break, the melodic, energetic RVA trio featuring members of Sundials, Hold Tight, and Springtime who also grace this bill. We don’t get too many chances to see these guys, and as their 2016 LP Everything Is Wrong proved, they’ve got a lot to offer. So be sure not to miss out on this one — and show up on time, because local newcomers Ghouli have some caustic, frenetic punk to bowl you over with, and you’ll feel real stupid if you hear their last song from outside when you’re walking up. Don’t be that guy.

Tuesday, December 18, 7 PM
Matt Lisk, Justin Golden, Graham Stone, Mackenzie Roark, Pat O’Keefe @ The Camel – Free!
I don’t think this night is part of the official “singer-songwriter showcase” series The Camel’s been doing off-and-on over the past couple years, but it’s set up in much the same way: several local musicians known for excellently-crafted solo material will all get together and play sets one after the other, and you’ll be able to see it all for free. That’s always a good deal, especially since the Camel has burgers and tacos on the menu that become way more affordable when you didn’t have to pay to get in. So show up a little early, get your grub on, and then settle in to enjoy a night of excellent solo sounds that come to you courtesy of folks like Matt Lisk, whose contemplative acoustic offerings are a great soundtrack for an introspective evening.

By contrast, Justin Golden will bring us some rootsy acoustic blues with a soulful feel that take his work beyond the traditional sound of legends like Robert Johnson and Son House, even as it keeps their spirits alive. Mackenzie Roark, who worked with a former member of Hootie And The Blowfish on her last album, has some classic country sounds to offer that are sure to please fans of Patsy Cline and Wanda Jackson. And of course, Graham Stone has become a fixture on the local singer-songwriter scene, with his folk feel and deep-blue voice always making an impression. The evening is rounded out by Dalton Dash frontman Pat O’Keefe taking a solo turn that we can imagine will maintain a similar old-time mix of folk, country, and bluegrass sounds that we’ve all come to know and love in his band. All of this for no dollars at the door? You can’t beat that with a bat.

Bonus Hampton Roads Picks:

Friday, December 14, 7 PM
The Do-Nothings, Stray Fossa, Party Wave, Plastic Nancy @ Toast – $7 in advance/$10 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Something unusual is going on here. The Do-Nothings are holding this show at Toast as an “album release party,” but until recently, there was no evidence of a forthcoming album to be found. Then on Monday, a post went up on their Facebook page that read, “This is not a test. Our album release show set will be recorded live and released as the album we are having the release show to release. Get it? Your participation is very important to us.” And if that isn’t enough to pique your interest, you’re a less curious person than I am.

Research has revealed that The Do-Nothings, who appear to be based in Richmond even though they’re having this bizarre “release party” in Norfolk, are a project led by singer/guitarist Andrew Altman, who, along with an energetic rhythm section, makes wild, effects-laden psychedelic blues-punk tunes that rarely fail to get weird. Their work reminds me in some ways of the early Black Keys, back when their records were way too grotty to ever get within shouting distance of radio, and in others of the totally bizarre early material by New York freaks Royal Trux. How’s that all gonna translate when they both make and release their next album onstage at Toast this weekend? One thing’s for sure — it won’t be boring. Gas up the Hyundai and go see what these weirdos have up their sleeve.

Sunday, December 16, 7 PM
God Of Nothing, One Less Life, Black Lotus, Heft, Stolen Goodz @ Riffhouse Pub – $5
Northern Virginia deathcore brutality merchants God Of Nothing apparently galled a few people by referring to themselves on the internet a few years ago as “the heaviest band on earth,” but we ain’t mad at ’em. Honestly, new single “1075” is pretty crushing, especially with its incorporation of ambient noise and a ridiculous final breakdown that features several totally silent pauses that trick you into thinking the song’s over before blindsiding you with another monstrous riff. These guys are clearly continuing to build on the legacy of downtuned mosh madness they’ve built up over the last several years, and what they’re showing us lately more than makes them worth going to see — even if they aren’t the heaviest band on any earth that also contains Sunn o))).

New Jersey’s Black Lotus are also on this bill, and while they’re more focused on complex, chaotic masses of progressive metalcore (they call themselves a “djent” band, but I’ve never been able to establish a coherent definition for that particular subgenre) than the sheer low-end crunch of God Of Nothing, they should certainly appeal to fans of the headliner, if their excellent Wilted LP from earlier this year is any indication. There’s a lot going on on this album, for sure, but never fear — a brutal breakdown is always just around the corner. One thing’s for sure: the pit at this show’s gonna be a risky proposition. I’ll be protecting my middle-aged bones, but if you love to mosh hard, this one’s gonna put a smile on your face for sure.

—-

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 Mag Premiere: Opin’s ‘How Can I’

Amy David | April 3, 2018

Topics: Doll Baby, elctronic, Opin, rock, White Laces

Richmond’s Opin is on track to drop their next EP Drifters later this month, and the four-piece has given us a little taste of what to expect with the funky/groovy track,”How Can I,” accompanied by some extra trippy visuals. Formed last year by ex-White Laces members Tori Hovater (vocals, keys) and Landis Wine (vocals, guitar) after they announced the end of their longtime shoegazey turned indie rock group, Opin has since recruited Night Idea’s Ethan Johnstone (drums) and Navi’s Jon Hawkins for their project, put out a self-titled LP on Egghunt Records, and plan to hit the road in the next few weeks.

The video, between its electronic groovy rhythms and spliced images of a giant swirling moth, bikers and more, makes me feel like I am dropped into an old-school video game. The vocals are upbeat yet hazy and transport me into another world as I sit here typing away at work. A world which is carefree and I’m dancing among other carefree souls in a dimly-lit room with nothing but pops of bright colors shining through here and there to light us up as we dance the night away. We can thank director Chris Foster-Baril for his seriously weird and hypnotic work on this video.

“He’s a really excellent graphic designer and does a lot of visual experiments with his artwork,” Wine said. “He’s gotten into more video art and we wanted something interesting to go with that track and he hunkered down and did a lot of rendering and came up with something really cool for us.”

Drifters, Opin’s second release, is slated to drop on Fri., April 20, via Harding Street Assembly Lab, a Lynchburg-based studio who Wine worked with on past projects when he was in White Laces.

“They suggested doing a limited-edition, clear one-sided 12-inch, which I’m a big fan of old dance remix 12 inches and that sort of thing so I jumped at the chance,” Wine said.

The band recorded the six-track (two bonus tracks) EP this past summer in Philadelphia with Jeff Zeigler, who they worked with their on their debut record, and who Wine and Hovater worked with on several of White Laces’ albums.

“Jeff’s a great dude and we had a few songs that were outside of stuff that was on the record that came out last year that we were playing live,” he said. “We basically went in with what we had and did most of it live in the room.”

Wine said the band wrote most of it while Johnstone was gone on tour with Night Idea, and wrapped up finishing touches on the EP in August after having it mastered by Heba Kadry.

To add to the unique sound for “How Can I”, Opin recruited the lead singer of Doll Baby Julie Storey for her lovely backup vocals.

“I’ve known Julie for a really long time since I was at VCU, and she was doing acoustic stuff primarily and it was really cool to get her to hop on a track,” Wine said.

The band plans to hit the road later this month for an East Coast tour with Doll Baby {dates below}, a band that Wine said is one of his favorites and really vibes well with the band.

“I love their songs, I love seeing them live, they’re good people and a great band,” he said.

Judging from the other tracks RVA Mag had the pleasure to have a sneak peek into, fans are in for one hell of a treat this spring when Drifters drops. Get your dancin’ shoes ready. You can pre-order Drifters here, and until then, make sure to catch Opin tomorrow, Apri 4, at Sound of Music Studios with Shormey, Chesapeake’s Shormey, Atlanta/Philly’s Pamela_ and her sons, and fellow Richmond band, WaBeya. Doors: 8 PM and Music at 9 PM. $5 cover.

Tour Dates with Doll Baby: 
4.26 – Dew Drop (Washington, DC)
4.27 – Ortlieb’s (Philadelphia, PA)
4.28 – Golden Pony (Harrisonburg, VA)
4.29 – Odditorium (Asheville, VA)

Photo By: Joey Wharton Photography 

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

RVA’s Opin premiere new video for ‘Get Home’

Amy David | May 10, 2017

Topics: Craig Zirpolo, Egghunt Records, Joey Wharton, Opin, White Laces

Lazers, sparkling lights, and smoke take over in Opin’s new video for “Get Home,” which the RVA band premiered on The Grey Estates this week.

It’s catchy and light, and the beat and lyrics perfectly complement the dreamy, trance-like visuals. “Get Home” was directed by Craig Zirpolo & Joey Wharton and is a track off of their latest self-titled LP which was released in March via Egghunt Records.

Opin, which consists of Landis Wine, Tori Havater (both formerly of White Laces) Jon Hawkins of Navi, and Ethan Johnstone of Night Idea, will head out on tour this Wednesday and circle back around to Richmond in June. Check out tour dates below and be sure to catch Opin’s performance with Doll Baby and Gardener on Thursday at Flora.

You can also snag a tour only cassette of the album from Citrus City Records.

Tour dates:

5.10 Sound of Music w/Dazeases & VV
5.11- Flora w/Doll Baby & Gardener (Richmond, VA)
5.12- Magnolia House w/Sammi Lanzetta & Sorority Boy (Charlottesville, VA)
5.13- LeDroit w/Norwegian Arms (Washington, DC)
5.14- The Golden Pony w/Zooanzoo & Your Ex’s Pets (Harrisonburg, VA)
5.24- Pittsburgh, PA
5.25- BSP Kingston (Kingston, NY)
5.26- Wicked Lady’s Rooftop w/Steady Sun (NYC)
5.27 – Boston, MA
5.28- Johnny Brenda’s w/Valley Exit (Philadelphia PA)
6.02- Charlie’s American Cafe w/Positive No (Norfolk, VA)
6.03- Good Day RVA Fest (Richmond, VA)
7.21- Commonwealth of Notions Fest (Richmond, VA)

Former White Laces members Tori Hovater and Landis Wine talk band split, debut of Opin, & Hardywood show Saturday

Amy David | January 31, 2017

Topics: landis wine, Opin, RVA, rva music, White Laces

“I think we had a pretty solid run, I never felt like our records got bad, and that’s all you want. We did four records in five years…which is pretty good. It’s what you want out of a band,” said Landis Wine, former White Laces vocalist/guitarist as he sipped coffee on a recent afternoon at Patrick Henry Pub.

When beloved RVA rock/electronic group White Laces announced in November that their time of entertaining crowds with their loud, eclectic sound had come to an end, it sent a shock through the local music scene.

For the last six years, Richmond music lovers watched White Laces grow and evolve their sound from loud fuzzy shoegaze to electronic to most recently a poppy vibe through four albums and when the announcement came via Facebook just three months after the band dropped their fourth record, No Floor, fans were left with a hole in their hearts. RVA Magazine contributor and member of Clair Morgan Shannon Cleary even published a tribute to White Laces on his Tumblr page which you can check out here.

White Laces

Luckily, for fans of their music, out of the ashes of White Laces, former members Tori Hovater (vocalist/piano) and Wine have decided to push forward with a new project, one that’s completely different from anything the band has done before.

For the last year, the two have been toiling away on new material to form a new band called Opin under the Egghunt Records label, the same label White Laces was on. They’ve parted with previous White Laces members, Jimmy Held and Jay Ward, but added fellow RVA musicians Ethan Johnstone of Night Idea on drums and Jon Hawkins of Navi.

Opin will make their debut at Hardywood this weekend with an album to follow in March.
The new band actually began to take shape after White Laces had put out their last record, No Floor, and were in between touring.

Photo credit: Craig Zirpolo

“It was an accidental hiatus,” Hovater said. “No Floor was done for such a long time before we put it out we were just kind of sitting on it waiting for all the details to line up.”

Hovater said the band initially ended to release it as tour material between albums to bring on their summer tour, but ended up bringing it on their tour this past fall.

“The amount of time it took to get that record out was an indicator.”

After they finished the last show on their recent tour, Wine said he pretty much knew it was the final chapter in White Laces’ book.

Photo credit: Craig Zirpolo

“It was good hanging out with everybody and it was a fun time in a lot of ways, but then when we were done, Jimmy sent us a text and was like hey, I think those are the last shows I’m going to play with the band, and we were just like, ‘alright,” said Wine. “I think we were all on the same page.”

The band didn’t have a sit down either to talk about if they should continue or call it quits.
“I think we all just knew. There was never any discussion,” Hovater said. “That last tour it seemed liked the natural order of things. Our last show was really fun. I feel like we kind of left on a high note.”

Held and Ward have gone on to pursue other musical ventures as well. Held is playing drums in Bad Magic (Julie Karr, Tim Falen) and both Held and Ward are collaborating on another project together.

Wine and Hovater started working on a series of demos around December 2015 and by February, the duo began recording around various studios and spaces for what would become Opin’s debut self-titled album.

“We picked what fit and what made sense,” Wine said. “Bit by bit we’d go to (now shuttered) Garbers, our practice space, and record some horn parts, record guitar parts. We would do other studio dates here and there.”

Heading to Philadelphia, the two went back to their longtime producer Jeff Zeigler, who also worked on No Floor and Trance, to record parts of the album at Uniform Recording as well as tracked drums with Chris Ward (St. Vincent).

The duo also recorded different parts of the album at Hovater’s house, Sound of Music Studios, The Richmond Ballet, and the University of Richmond.

“We went the Richmond Ballet with Dave Watkins and recorded some sax parts down there,” Wine said. “We went to the University of Richmond to their Indonesian instruments department and they have an entire set of gamelan stuff and we improvised some stuff.”

The coolest part about Opin is Wine and Hovater recruited a cadre of local musicians to add their talents to the album. Lindsey Spurrier of Hot Dolphin provided some background vocals, Dash Lewis of Gardener on modular synthesizer, No BS! Brass Band’s David Hood added saxophones on the record, and Hannah Staniford of the gamelan ensemble Rumput is also featured.

And the duo said having this hodgepodge of Richmond musicians piece-meal the album together was really fun.

“You could add something like that it was really exciting and you’ve got pretty much a band that doesn’t exist, but it sounds good because these people can play off each other,” Wine said. “A lot of what I tried to do is when we would bring people in, I would say ‘hey, play whatever you want and I’ll cut it up later and make it into whatever fits the song.”

Opin wrapped up their 10-track album in June and had it mastered in New York with Joe LaPorta (David Bowie’s Black Star, Young Thug, Run the Jewels).

Hawkins and Johnstone aren’t featured on Opin’s debut record, but will be playing the music at the live shows.

Opin, Photo credit: Michael Anthony

Describing their new sound, the two said they aren’t placing their sound into one particular genre.

“It’s definitely upbeat, it’s meant to be catchy and fun, but there’s also some twists and turns,” Hovater said. “It varies from one track to another.”

Wine said there are some elements of hip hop, and samples from YouTube and other sound engines that he downloaded.

“White Laces was very much a rigid rock band and I wanted to push away from that,” he said. “The rhythms are funkier and groove-based.”

But for fans of White Laces’ music, don’t worry there are still some elements that crept into this record.

“I think it draws from the more pop aspects of White Laces, it takes the catchy melodies that we had going on and putting them in a different setting,” Hovater said.

Opin will play on Time is Tight on WRIR tonight but the first official Richmond show will be held at Hardywood Saturday the 28th followed by the album release on March 24th.

Once they play their debut show, Wine said Opin will hit the road to spread the word on the new band.

“I’m really excited to use the record as a spring-board to get out there,” he said.

Words by Amy David. Top image credit: Samuel Dixon

After six years, beloved RVA band White Laces calls it quits

Amy David | November 7, 2016

Topics: Egghunt Records, electronic, indie rock, shoegaze, White Laces

RVA is a town of music lovers and we hold a special place in our hearts for all the talented bands and musicians that play every night of the week in our music venues.
[Read more…] about After six years, beloved RVA band White Laces calls it quits

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