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Posts Tagged ‘The Listening Room’
Meet Patrick Bates
March 15, 2013
Patrick Bates is an independent songwriter based in Richmond who, over the years, has played in many bands including Autocue, Planar, The Clair Morgans, the Ash Bruce Trio and others. Four years ago, he started writing songs for a solo project and has since been playing shows all over the country. Now he’s setting his touring eyes back to RVA.
On Tuesday, March 19, he’ll be debuting a new set of songs at The Listening Room with a new set of musicians backing him up. The evening will also feature the Mason Brothers and Chris Dowhan. And on April 6, he’ll be playing at Gallery 5 with a much louder sound along with Clair Morgan and Hens.
The Listening Room Turns 3!
November 19, 2012
Celebrate the third anniversary of the popular Listening Room series on Tuesday with performances by Daniel Levi Goans, Dave Watkins and the Low Branches.
Daniel Levi Goans plays North Carolina folk music with his wife Lauren. Beautiful folk music in a silent environment. Make sure to head to this amazing concert series.
Planting Back to the Listening Room
August 21, 2012
After a few months of missing the Listening Room, I finally made my way back to check out tonight’s show (ER trip be damned!). This month’s show was curated by Karen of “I Could Go On And On,” so I knew there was no way I could miss this (she would have my head if I didn’t make it).
First up was Sweet Fern, made up of Joshua Bearman of the Hot Seats and Alison Self of herself. The duo played a lot of sweet old-time Americana tunes by the Carter Family and Conway Twitty. The banter back and forth was also a treat.
Up next was Charlottesville band The Nettles, which was pretty much The Hill and Wood with an additional singer. I wasn’t able to stay long during their set but the few songs I heard were full of luscious sounds that were calm and entertaining.
Who to See Tonight: The Listening Room, Yeasayer or Jonny Corndawg?
June 19, 2012There are some nights when so many thing are going on, it’s both awesome and annoying. Going to have to take my pick from one of these to go to tonight.
First up, The ever-popular Listening Room series presents its 30th installment featuring My Old Ways, Hezekiah Jones, Brad Hinton and Up the Chain
Brooklyn synth indie rockers Yeasayer will be performing at the National.
The band was formed in 2006 and consists of three core members, Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton, and Anand Wilder. They first came to attention after appearing at the SXSW festival in early 2007. Their debut album All Hour Cymbals was released in October 2007. Yeasayer described their music as “middle eastern-psych-snap-gospel.” Live performances often include psychedelic visuals.
Yeasayer released their second studio album, Odd Blood, in February 2010, featuring more pop music influences than earlier work. The band revealed that the album came out of a massive acid trip in New Zealand. Peter Gabriel’s drummer Jerry Marotta helped to record Odd Blood in an upstate New York studio packed with rare synths and percussion instruments from around the globe to create the characteristic worldbeat sound of the album.
Country singer Jonny Corndawg will be performing tonight at Gallery 5.
Jonny Corndawg is a country singer, not a singer-songwriter. Born in Montana, raised in rural Virginia, Corndawg has been touring on his motorcycle since he dropped out of school in 2001. He’s played shows in every U.S. state, Canada and eleven European countries, Australia, Argentina and India. But you won’t find him on CMT. His music is more in the vein of that obscure ’70s gay country that housewives would discover on a Bear Family reissue in twenty years. In addition to pursuing the lost art of the Real Deal, Corndawg is an airbrushing, leather-working, marathon-running, truck-driving American. Born and Bred.
Wes Swing at the Listening Room
April 2, 2012
The music of Wes Swing is best described as alt-indie-cello-folk and it’s been catching my ears lately. There’s something special to Swing’s music that is keeping me listening to it many times.
Swing will be performing at the Firehouse Theatre for the Listening Room series on Tuesday, April 3 along with Ramona Robbins and Stivali Comodi
Watch Wes Swing and company on Aux Send
2 Shows. 6 Bands. One Block of Broad.
March 19, 2012
For a good night of music, head down to Broad St. for two great shows right next to each other.
First up is the next installment of the Listening Room at the Firehouse Theatre. This month’s show features James West and The Vendors, Eric Hunter and The Dimmer Twins. Every month, the Listening Room brings together some of the best local and regional folk and rock acts and the shows seems to get better every time I go. If you haven’t checked out this amazing series, you need to treat yourself and go.
As always, make sure to get there on time since the show will start at 8 p.m. sharp.
Eric Hunter
And after the Listening Room wraps up, head down the block and check out The Hill and Wood perform at the Camel along with The Kindling Kind and Carl Anderson.
Hailing from Charlottesville, indie-rock sentries The Hill and Wood have been one of Virginia’s most critically adored new-fangled band for over two years. Led by Boston native Sam Bush, the band has shifted from their folk-pop roots and integrated themselves into a multifaceted and stratified sound comparable at times to the chamber-pop melodies of Belle & Sebastian, at other times the symphonic, orchestral swells of Bishop Allen and Wilco. The music’s firm foundation is Bush’s songwriting, deftly communicating the anxieties of expectation and the malaise of the modern identity, all the while uncovering rare and unexpected moments of relief.
The Listening Room Returns
February 20, 2012
After a two month hiatus due the renovations of the Firehouse Theatre, the Listening Room returns on Tuesday, Feb. 21 and will feature Richmond’s own The Moonbees and return guest Chris Kasper from Philadelphia.
And remember, no talking.
A Big Celebration for the Listening Room
November 23, 2011
The Listening Room celebrated its two year anniversary with another set of performances showing off why it’s one of the best music showcases in Richmond. Arriving a bit early, I found it to be already packed. Since this is the last Listening Room for two months (the Firehouse Theatre is undergoing renovations), there was definitely something special to be had this evening.
First up was Nelly Kate, who I had heard before but never got the chance to see live. From the moment she walked through the crowd banging sticks together and singing in a haunting voice, she had me hooked. She used a loop machine to layer voice during her songs (which she admitted was easier for her when she travels to play) and I found myself mesmerized by her lovely voice and her dense musical sound.
Nelly Kate – Minds Corners
Nelly Kate – Heart Prints
Next up was the duo of Bonnie Staley (of the Girtles) and Cliff Boyd (of Sports Bar), who were joined by backup singers Maya and Julie and played a selection of each other’s songs. As they played, I was taken back to an era of radio jingles and shimmering guitars as they played upbeat, melodic songs with a lot of fun vocals. The highlight of the set was “Samby,” a song written partly by Staley and partly by the Beach Boys. They had a very 1950s-sounding vibe to them but somehow it all fit.
Finally, James Wallace ended the evening with a collection of vintage alt-country songs that entertained and captivated with its poppy flavors.
I’m sad that the Listening Room will be on hiatus for two months after such an amazing anniversary celebration. That just means February’s show will have to pull out all the stops to set the stage for Year Three.
The Listening Room Turns 2 Tonight
November 22, 2011
Tonight is the second anniversary of the awesome and popular Listening Room series. It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since a group of musicians started a silent concert series in a church basement. And after two years, it’s still one of the best concert series in Richmond.
Year Three begins with performances by Nelly Kate, Bonnie Staley (of the Girtles) and Cliff Boyd (of Sportsbar) and James Wallace.
It all takes place tonight at the Firehouse Theatre at 8 p.m. sharp.
