I’m sure by now, you’ve been bombarded by information on this weekend’s big music festival – the RVA Music Fest. It’s safe to say that Shockoe Bottom is going to be insanely crowded and lots of good music will be heard.
The festival has been in the works for quite some time and if successful, could lead to an annual event of showing off some of the best music Richmond has to offer.
Just look at everything included in the two-day festival.
RVA Music Fest Showcases – Saturday, Sept. 10
Audra the Rapper, Nickelus F, Noah O, Artik Phreeze, Swordplay, Cain McCoy, Just Plain Ant, Ohbliv – The Camel
Club Luv featuring DJ EPOC – New York Deli
Dead Fame, Canary Oh Canary, League of Space Pirates – Balliceaux
Heavy Grinder, Nint3ndo, Ameera – Hat Factory
Long Arms, Loren Ipsum, No Dice -The Republic
Long Jawns – Bellytimber
Miniature Tigers, Baby Help Me Forget, Fire Bison, Marionette – Strange Matter
Downbeat Switch, The Kindling Kind, Mulle – Cafe Diem
The Main Event – Sunday, Sept. 11
Stage 1 – Girl Talk, Best Coast, the Trillions, the Diamond Center, White Laces, the Silent Age, Climbers
Stage 2 – No BS Brass Band, Goldrush, Black Girls, Antero, Luggage, Proverbial
DJ Tent – Doddie, Long Jawns and Bobby LaBeat of Audio Ammo; Mr. Jennings and Akasha of PLF; Shugadadde, JMungz and Rometti of Euphoria; M.A.S.S. FX and Skywalk3r of NLP; Jesse Split and Joanna O of Turnstyle
The After Party – Sunday, Sept. 11
The Men, Flechette, Caves Caverns – Strange Matter
Now, as awesome as this event is, all the acts playing are seriously focused on one particular scene. It’s completely catering to the indie rock and underground crowds – which is the typical crowd who reads RVA Magazine (the event’s sponsor). Don’t get me wrong, all the local bands participating are incredible and there is some amazing talent taking the stage, but Richmond’s folk, jazz and pop rock scenes are completely ignored. I wouldn’t get so worked up if the festival wasn’t touted as “The music festival of Richmond” and “showing off the best of local music” because it’s not. It’s only one small part of an even more amazing bigger scene.
And I’m surprised that Richmond’s two biggest music venues – The National and the Canal Club – are not included in the showcase evening (maybe because they are not advertisers in RVA Magazine, but I could be wrong on this). While they’re not on the official RVA Music Fest bill, The National and Canal Club are also hosting local acts the same evening.
The Canary Promise, East Coast Secondaries, Empire, Gandhi’s Gunmen, Others May Fall, The Weakest – The National
Seraph, Beyond The Victory, This Mountain is Man, Artifice, Silence is a Burden – The Canal Club
Hopefully if this festival becomes a yearly event, groups in other genres can be included in the lineup which would create a more diverse selection of artists and by doing so, bring in a lot more people.
In any case, the RVA Music Fest will be the place to be this weekend. Go and enjoy live local music.
102.1 The X brings back Richmond’s local music showcase, Local X-Posure, for it’s 7th year. Every Thursday at the Canal Club, five local bands compete and each week, one finalist will advance to the finals on March 31 for a shot to play The X Chili Cook-Off on April 16.
The holiday season is upon us (yay, I guess) and that means there’s going to be something happening every night (or many things) until the end of the year. Some great shows are coming and in an effort to streamline it, here are a few to take note of.
Singer-songwriter Will Hoge played here last month, and now, his younger brother Josh Hoge is getting in on the act with a performance at the Canal Club on Sat. Dec. 4 with Todd Carey and Isaac Russell. His music is a nice fusion of country and pop that definitely grabs your attention.
Josh Hoge – Stay Away
On Sunday, Dec. 5, Antonette Goroch, known mostly as AntonetteG, is making a stop at the Camel to play her eclectic mix of indie pop, Americana and experimental rock. She’s played with numerous bands but is touring solo this go-round and playing songs from her yet-to-be released record, “Pretty Pictures.”
AntonetteG and the Golden Boys – Pretty Picture
AntonetteG and the Golden Boys – My Horseshoe
I’m not the biggest fan of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, but every hipster and indie rock loving person I know will not shut up about how great this guy is. So it should be noted that he’s playing at the National on Sunday, Dec. 5. Based on his rabid following, I’m sure the show is already sold out.
Mayfair is a new pop rock group that’s just sprung up recently. These guys have an intense sound and are reminiscient of bands like Jimmy Eat World, Relient K, Foo Fighters and many others.
Their music is incredibly catchy, full of a lot of energy and definitely makes you want to rock out.
With Halloween just around the corner, Richmond has numerous shows to scare the hell out of you.
Alt-country rockers Drive-By Truckers will be playing two nights at the National for a rocking Halloween bash on Oct. 29-30.
Drive-By Truckers – Santa Fe
Gallery 5 will present “Dia de los Muertos,” a Halloween party showcasing all the multicultural and traditional practices on Saturday, Oct. 30.
Performances by Tequila Mockingbird (made up of members of Prabir/Goldrush, Long Arms, Roslyn, and Brand New Groovement), Lobo Marino performing the Silent Music Revival and Gull, along with burlesque from Voix de Ville Follies and live improv from the Richmond Comedy Coalition.
The ladies of Taboo will be hosting a “Dead Sexy” Halloween party at the Canal Club on Saturday, Oct. 30 with the music of Microjoy, Four 50 Four and Pedals on our Pirate Ships.
And on Halloween, head over to Strange Matter for “Return of the Living Dead Bands Part II” featuring performances of songs by dead bands the Misfits, Descendants, Led Zeppelin, Bad Religion and NOFX – brought to life by members of: T-Division, Landmines, Grundle Punch, The Animal Beat, Real Talk, Point Blank, Sad Bastard Revival, Brainworms, The Trillions, Souvenir’s Young America, and Plastic Martyr.
Finally punk rockers Safety Word Orange released a brand new song entitled “Halloween” from their forthcoming acoustic EP.
If you haven’t had the chance to see Mae in an intimate setting, this may be your last chance.
The band is presenting “Goodbye, Goodnight,” their fall tour which reunites the original five members. However, it’s also their last tour together for the indefinite future. The tour kicks off Friday, Oct. 1 here in Richmond at none other than the Canal Club.
They’ll be selling limited edition scratch and sniff versions of the (e)vening EP (finally, it’s out) and the first show on the tour that sells out will get “The Everglow” played from beginning to end.
Ed Kowalczyk, the lead singer of early 90s rock band Live is coming to Richmond.
Songs like “I Alone” and “Lightning Crashes” still take over my head when I think of Live. Since the band broke up, Kowalczyk has launched a solo career and released “Alive” earlier this year, which is full of plenty of hard rock anthems that made Live so great in the first place.
This is a rant that’s been building up for quite some time.
It’s quite simple. Most shows in Richmond never start when they say they will. If it’s scheduled for 8 p.m., it’ll be at least until 9 p.m. before someone starts playing. It also happens between sets as well as bands switching setups.
I understand that not every show can start right at the scheduled time. Late arrivals, faulty equipment, waiting for a bigger crowd are all things that would push a show back and I understand that and perfectly okay with it. A 15-20 minute wait for a show is not the end of the world. But when a band starts playing almost an hour after the scheduled start time, it throws everything off.
Not only do you have to wait for an unknown amount of time for a band to take the stage, the other bands on the bill are pushed further into the night. And with peoples’ schedules, attention spans and noise ordinaces, it just hurts everyone involved.
Examples:
• A show at Artist’s Underground had two shows back-to-back. The first one started much later than it should, so the second show (the one I was seeing) kept getting pushed resulting in bands having sets of 10 minutes each.
• This one time at the Canal Club, the second act of the night decided to take their time ordering shots at the bar instead of setting up. Nothing like waiting an hour in between sets.
• I was at a small house show and had to wait almost an hour because the opener needed a mic stand. It was a tiny venue and everyone was quiet. There was no need for a mic.
• Just this past week at the Camel, two bands fought over who was going to play second (because neither wanted to be last) which resulted in having to wait forever for a show that lasted until well after midnight.
It may seem like I’m getting bent out of shape over it, and I understand things happen, but sometimes it just gets ridiculous. I pay money and support music to see a show, not wait around.
NOTE: I will hand it to the Listening Room crew, though, because their shows start right on the dot. If you get there at 8:01, the show is already in progress. Good method to uphold.
The night started off at Gallery 5 for the Silent Music Revival. The eloquent and hypnotic music of Dave Watkins performing alongside the 1926 silent film “The Adventures of Prince Achmed” was something that needed to be seen (and heard) to fully appreciate. The animation people were able to create back then is very astounding and Watkins’ music matched up perfectly as he played for a straight hour and seven minutes.
While Dave Watkins is an amazing musician, the set lasted too long and his music started to become repetitive. Most of the Silent Music Revival shows are well under an hour and I think this one was stretching it a bit thin. Dave Watkins was still a spectacle to see performing musical improv.
After Gallery 5, I head down to the Canal Club to watch the guys in Against Grace play as part of a day-long benefit for the Make A Wish Foundation with numerous bands including Roslyn, Love and Reverie and Safety Word Orange (who I’ve missed seeing for the fourth time. I will get to one of their shows eventually).
As Against Grace played the final set of the night, it’s evident that these guys have grown on the stage as well as in their music. They sounded incredibly polished but not overdone as they played favorites as well as new tracks from their latest EP. It’s a shame more people weren’t in attendance to see what a musical gem Richmond has. Best song of the night had to be “Monday,” a collaboration with hip-hop artist doethepaperboy, whose vocals only added to the stunning track. Video here.
Two great acts out of the many we have in this city. And that’s just one night.
I’ve never been a fan of when celebrities join a band and overuse their limited popularity to get the band noticed. It didn’t work for Keanu Reeves and Dogstar. And it didn’t work for that band featuring that guy from “Ace of Cakes.”
Putting the celebrity in the spotlight is a double-edged sword. Yes, it gets your name out there more easily since people will most likely have heard of the popular band member. And that in turn will probably get you more fans.
However, billing your group as “featuring Celebrity X” is only riding the coattails of one member. The rest of the band and the music itself is superficial. The band becomes known as “that celebrity’s band.”
I would rather let the band speak for itself. Jared Leto and 30 Seconds to Mars have been one of the few to escape that celebrity shadow and make the music the focus.
And on that note, You Hang Up, featuring Frankie Muniz of “Malcolm in the Middle,” will be playing tomorrow night at the Canal Club.
I’m sure by now, you’ve been bombarded by information on this weekend’s big music festival – the RVA Music Fest. It’s safe to say that Shockoe Bottom is going to be insanely crowded and lots of good music will be heard.
102.1 The X brings back Richmond’s local music showcase, Local X-Posure, for it’s 7th year. Every Thursday at the Canal Club, five local bands compete and each week, one finalist will advance to the finals on March 31 for a shot to play The X Chili Cook-Off on April 16.
The holiday season is upon us (yay, I guess) and that means there’s going to be something happening every night (or many things) until the end of the year. Some great shows are coming and in an effort to streamline it, here are a few to take note of.
With Halloween just around the corner, Richmond has numerous shows to scare the hell out of you.
If you haven’t had the chance to see 
This is a rant that’s been building up for quite some time.
The night started off at Gallery 5 for the Silent Music Revival. The eloquent and hypnotic music of 
After Gallery 5, I head down to the Canal Club to watch the guys in 
I’ve never been a fan of when celebrities join a band and overuse their limited popularity to get the band noticed. It didn’t work for Keanu Reeves and Dogstar. And it didn’t work for that band featuring that guy from “Ace of Cakes.”
