RVA Shows You Must See This Week: August 14 – August 20
FEATURED SHOW
Friday, August 16, 9 PM
Antichrist Siege Machine, Funeral Chant, Hiss @ Fuzzy Cactus – $15
Metal. It’s one of the fundamental building blocks of this city’s music scene; when I got here 30 years ago, metal (in the form of GWAR) was the main reason Richmond, Virginia had a spot on the musical map. Back then, if you weren’t into metal, hardcore, and punk, there wasn’t much live music to see on any given night. Today, I feel like some segments of the scene are eager to shake off that legacy and rebrand the city as a place for some more “cultured” musical genres (which, to me at least, often feel pretty boring). But I for one am glad that this city’s heavy metal heart continues to shine through, regardless of how many indie-adjacent dad-rock bands haunt the local clubs.
Take this Friday night show at Fuzzy Cactus. We all know Fuzzy is Richmond’s premier rock n’ roll bar, but at its heart, metal is really just rock n’ roll played extremely fast with a shit-ton of distortion. So it’s appropriate that Richmond’s own Antichrist Siege Machine will be taking the place over with a rampaging set of hyperspeed dirt-encrusted black metal anthems. Earlier this year, Profound Lore released this merciless metal ensemble’s fourth album, Vengeance Of Eternal Fire, and it’s been setting my headphones ablaze ever since. This Friday night, ASM is going to take the Fuzzy Cactus stage to blast us all with molten charcoal rage, and if you’re anything like me, you’re going to have the time of your life.
They’ll be joined on this bill by Funeral Chant, a California-based quartet who’ve leaned much harder into the old-school brand of ripping thrash with blatant allusions to Hellhammer, Possessed, and Bathory coating the rage-filled epics on their debut LP, Dawn Of Annihilation. These guys are known for a take-no-prisoners live approach in which spiked gauntlets, flying hair, and upside-down crosses are the order of the day. Their songs are a little more stretched out than those of Antichrist Siege Machine, but if you’re looking for a happy medium between Hell Awaits-era Slayer and Blaze In The Northern Sky-era Darkthrone, you’ve definitely found the right band. Richmond newcomers Hiss open this one up, and I know absolutely nothing about them, but at this point we’ve had more than enough evidence that this is an absolutely unmissable show, so show up on time, see what they have to offer, and glory in the furious metal power that will wash over you like waves throughout this night.
Wednesday, August 14, 7:30 PM
The Losers, Ultra Bleach, K9, Spicy Meatball @ Another Round Bar & Grill – $12
I’ve definitely seen points in time when people were very black-and-white about the division between hardcore and punk rock. You were either into one or the other, and the one you weren’t into was strictly for losers and dweebs. Thankfully, over 40 years after Decline Of Western Civilization introduced the term “hardcore punk” to the wider world, it seems like people worry about that division way less. Indeed, some of the best modern music from the worlds of punk and hardcore is being made right at the dividing line between hardcore and punk, at a place where the term “hardcore punk” really is the most accurate genre label. That’s definitely true of The Losers, a quartet from San Francisco whose sound has the speed and anger of the best hardcore, the catchiness and engagingly anti-social attitude of classic punk, and who mixes it all together on their most recent solo EP, Storm The Beach, into something that is without a doubt best described as both. This is hardcore punk, and it rules.
The Richmond-based bands who join The Losers on this bill are at least somewhere in the neighborhood of hardcore punk as well. If anything, Ultra Bleach — a new quartet featuring former Hot Dolphin guitarist Robert Barrow — land closer to the punk side of that whole thing, welding a formidable garage-punk guitar sound and some serious rock n’ roll swagger to a dose of energetic vocal fury. But if you can rock with classic 80s-style hardcore, you’re going to have lots of fun while these folks are onstage. As for K9, these folks take a strange approach, mixing mostly undistorted guitar jangle and an almost folk-ish sound with frenetic speed and raw DIY vibes in a manner that can’t be anything but punk… even if it isn’t quite hardcore. Spicy Meatball is the band on this bill that I can tell you the least about; they’re apparently playing in public for the first time at this show, so unless you’re close personal friends with the band, you’ve probably heard as little of them as I have. But I’ll give them one thing — their band name rules. Show up at this one; whether you’re a little bit punky, a little bit hardcore, or maybe just a bit of both, you’ll be glad you did.
Thursday, August 15, 7 PM
Mazarine, Autumnal, Ampule, Human Worm @ Imperial Lounge – $10
Sometimes it’s Clayhouse, sometimes it’s Bad House, but it’s always really Imperial Lounge, a club that has become one of the more active show spaces in the city almost overnight by virtue of taking in two different house-show booking collectives at the same time. Needless to say, this is a good thing. It gives another local venue a chance to thrive, and it gives two different house show spaces a way to be sure the cops won’t shut down the show (and hopefully a better chance of getting their security deposit back — or at least not getting sued by their landlord). It also gives me the chance to tell all of you about shows that I would otherwise have an ethical commitment to not writing about (don’t want to blow up anybody’s spot, don’cha know). So that’s nice for me too. Everybody wins!
That definitely includes you, you lover of live music, because you’re not gonna get a better show this Thursday night than the one taking place at Imperial Lounge. It’s headlined by Richmond rockers Mazarine, who mix the delicate indie tones of classic UK twee-pop with the glittering, hazy guitars of early-90s UK dream-pop. They’re joined on this bill by two out-of-town acts, the first of which is Colorado’s own Autumnal. This group calls themselves “fuzz folk,” and that’s not entirely inaccurate, though I think they’re definitely more melodic than distorted most of the time. That said, the songs are always lovely, and that’s what really counts, isn’t it? They’re coming through town with Ampule, who hail from Wyoming, of all places — a state so small I’m surprised there are even enough musicians there to start a band, let alone a good band. Ampule is definitely a good band, though, one that mixes dark, moody grunge vibes with top-notch shoegaze distortion. If you can imagine The Toadies and Nothing making a collaborative LP, you’re halfway to imagining the Ampule sound. To get there multiply the awesomeness by two. Things will start out with a set from Richmond trio Human Worm, who mix catchy punk with synth squiggles and programmed beats like Best Coast on a Devo bender. All of it’s gonna be great, so don’t miss a single second of it.
Friday, August 16, 7 PM
Thin, Sarmat, Circle Breaker, Disrotter @ Imperial Lounge – $10
We’re back to Imperial Lounge again on Friday night, but this time it’s for a completely different kind of sound — one that is every bit as great as the sound that graced it the night before. Specifically, this is a bill full of chaotic metallic hardcore noise-rock pandemonium, and god knows we all need a big dose of that kind of thing in our lives at least once every few weeks (I’d probably go for it three times a week if I could, but I’m under no illusions about how abnormal I am). New York trio Thin headline this one with a strong dose of chaotic metal wildness. They call it “mathgrind” on their bandcamp page, but I think that makes them sound way more predictable than they actually are on their second LP, 2023’s Dusk. There’s chaotic screamo mixed in here, along with guttural death-thrash and wild tech-metal moments, all of which remains in tension from moment to moment, cranking up the weirdness and making this band an unpredictable thrill a minute to listen to.
Not to be outdone, Thin are joined on this bill by fellow New Yorkers Sarmat, who go in a proggy, almost jazzy direction with their complex, technical guitar leads even as the roaring low-end vocals, rumbling double bass, and chugging guitar riffage sends things over the line into full-on death metal. I’m tempted to compare this band to Cryptopsy, but overall they’re decidedly weirder, and that’s a big part of what makes their 2023 album Determined To Strike such a fun listen. You’ll definitely want to see what this band will do next; it’s generally not going to be what you expected. Queer thrashcore ragers Circle Breaker will represent Richmond on this bill with some high-energy headbanging tunes. They’ll be joined by fellow Richmonders Disrotter, who evoke classic Morrisound-era Florida death metal on their most recent EP, Restless Death, and will surely do a similar thing in rip-roaring fashion when they get this one started. Get ready, because here it comes.
Saturday, August 17, 7 PM
Moon Walker, Supergold, Moon City Masters @ The Canal Club – $16 in advance, $20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
I’m always at least a little surprised when a band first comes to my attention because they’re headlining one of the city’s bigger clubs. I always find myself thinking, “Considering how much attention I pay to music, shouldn’t I have heard of these guys by now?” But of course, as any reader of this column could tell you, I’m not perfect, so it can’t be seen as that much of a surprise that bands get past me now and then — even good ones, like Moon Walker. This group is led by one man, Harry Springer, whose previous band apparently fell apart during the worst days of the pandemic, leading him to start creating music on his own. Clearly the other members were just slowing him down, because since he started putting together music by himself and recording it in his bedroom, he’s released three albums full of Beatlesque, soul-tinged indie tunes, all of which feature Springer’s literarily political lyrics. Moon Walker’s latest single, “Genocide Money,” mixes a catchy, deliberately-paced guitar melody with a strongly communicated and intensely delivered political statement about the endless bombing campaign happening in Gaza.
At some point, Moon Walker has expanded from a guy in a bedroom to a full band, and it’s that band who will be bringing their multilayered sound and complex lyrical and sonic palette to The Canal Club this Saturday night. They’re joined by Florida pop group Supergold, who on recent singles are doing a great job of updating that catchy yet somewhat forgotten sound of 80s rock radio that wasn’t quite new wave and had nothing to do with Motley Crue. Their sound makes me think of names Casey Kasem used to intone from my transistor radio on Saturday mornings when I was 7 or 8 years old: Corey Hart, The Hooters, Simple Minds… are these references totally baffling to anyone under 40? If so, you’re just going to enjoy Supergold that much more — because you weren’t there the first time. The bill is rounded out by Moon City Masters, who’ve got a dayglo retro rock n’ roll sound that will surely put a smile on your face. Get to The Canal Club this Saturday night and thrill to this trio of excellent acts. You won’t be sorry you did.
Sunday, August 18, 7 PM
MissFit Toys, Absynthe Of Faith, Malice Machine @ Fallout – $10 in advance, $15 at the door (order tickets HERE)
It’s always nice to see another great industrial/goth bill hit Fallout, especially since they don’t do live music all that often down at this Shockoe Bottom fetish club. Mostly it’s dance nights, and they’re mostly limited to “members only,” but when the performers hit the stage, they sell tickets to the general public, and that’s always a treat. What’s even better is when there’s a bill like this one in the offing. Orlando group MissFit Toys have a lot to offer on multiple levels; not only is their spooky synth-fueled gothic industrial sound the sort of thing guaranteed to please folks who dug Skinny Puppy, first-LP Nine Inch Nails, and Twitch-era Ministry, they’ve got a visually striking and performatively energetic live show that’s sure to keep your attention even as you’re dancing up a storm out on the floor. What more could a good goth ask for?
Believe it or not, I’ve already got the answer — a set from Absynthe Of Faith, a Minnesota-based project that cuts up samples overtop of pounding beats in a manner reminiscent of Nitzer Ebb or KMFDM, with a pinch of early Lords Of Acid thrown in to spice things up. These folks are concentrating on the dance floor, and they’ll get you stomping in no time flat. The same can be said of openers Malice Machine, who hail from Pennsylvania and bring a bit of metallic crunch to the proceedings in a manner that will surely please fans of Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste-era Ministry. It all adds up to a great excuse to put together an all-black outfit, put on your most severe eye makeup, and go dance it all out at Fallout. It’s your last shot to leave it all on the dance floor before the start of yet another work week. Make it count.
Monday, August 19, 7 PM
Stormy Monday Blues Revue, feat. Markiss Blowfish @ Reveler Experiences – $10 in advance, $15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Monday nights don’t always have a whole lot to offer, but one thing you can always count on after dragging yourself through another blue Monday is that you can head over to Reveler Experiences and take part in an entirely blues-based evening. The Stormy Monday Blues Revue combines sets from excellent local blues musicians with an interactive jam session that gives players all around the city a chance to come jam with the band. This Monday night brings us a set from Markiss Blowfish, a country-blues busker who you may have seen playing his solo tunes down by the Farmer’s Market at some point over the last decade or so. He’s out there quite often, and his songs always brighten up the day.
Markiss will start the evening with a solo set. Then after a short break and another brief set of tunes, he’ll host a jam session with members of the audience who feel inspired to join the band and show off some songs they know. Whether you bring your guitar and join in with the Stormy Monday house band, or just come to chill and hear some fine sounds, it’s always a fun way to blow off steam and have a great end to your Monday. Make sure you find your way to Reveler this Monday night. It’s sure to cure your blues.
Tuesday, August 20, 7 PM
Sifter, Chemical-X, Rat Fight, Rubber Dagger @ Bandito’s – $10
Let’s end this week’s column with a fun night of catchy punk tunes that’ll put a smile on your face every time. Richmond’s own Sifter is at the top of the bill, but before we delve into what these guys have to offer — something I’d hope at least some of you are familiar with by now — let’s talk about our out-of-town performers on this fine evening, New Jersey punk rockers Chemical-X. They’ve released four EPs since getting together during the darkest days of the pandemic, and their latest, Mawkish, finds them cranking out three killer punk tunes in a confident manner that evokes legends like The Adolescents, Black Flag, and Agent Orange at their best. On Tuesday night at Bandito’s, you can expect a rip-roaring set of punk-as-fuck sounds when these boys hit the stage. It’ll be an absolute blast.
Really, though, the same can be said of the three Richmond-based groups who’ll act as openers on this particular shindig. As previously mentioned, Sifter has made a name for themselves around the Richmond scene with catchy punk tunes full of antisocial swagger and footstomping, fist-raising choruses. They’ll surely only add to their legacy with a rager of a headlining set on this fine evening. Relative newcomers Rat Fight have been playing out a bunch in the last several months, and their noisy, fun punk sound is always a treat. As for Rubber Dagger, they’ve got a classic street-punk sound that should amuse anyone who gets a kick out of breaking out old Peter And The Test Tube Babies records from time to time. All that and a chance to order a plate of Banditos’ always-crucial nachos? This one’s just about perfect.
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): rvamustseeshows@gmail.com
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