RVA Shows You Must See This Week: July 12 – July 18
FEATURED SHOW
Monday, July 17, 7:30 PM
Out Of Your Head Records presents: Third Mondays, feat. Gary Kalar & Pippin Barnett, Cisco Bradley @ Artspace – $15 suggested donation
I think by now I’ve established within this column that I really dig Out Of Your Head Records’ monthly Second Mondays nights at Artspace, for so many reasons. One is that once a month, it livens up a night that is often the night of the week with the least good shows on it. Another is that it’s so very different from the usual offerings around Richmond’s live music scene. I mean, I dig punk, indie, metal, hip hop, and hardcore as much as (or more than) the next person. But I really like it when things get changed up.
This time around, Out Of Your Head is changing it up even more than usual. Not only is this month’s edition on the third Monday of the month instead of the second Monday (what, did Fourth Of July being on the first Tuesday pre-empt the first Monday and set everything back a week? That’s my best guess), it also features a writer as one of its two acts. That writer, Cisco Bradley, is a professor at Pratt, and previously published a biography of legendary free jazz bassist William Parker. His latest book is called The Williamsburg Avant-Garde: Experimental Music And Sound On The Brooklyn Waterfront, and it will be the focus of his appearance at Artspace, as Professor Bradley will be reading excerpts from the book and discussing its contents with the audience. The book covers the history of this small district within Brooklyn’s thriving underground music scene from its rise in the late 80s to its waning in the early 10s (thanks gentrification), and Bradley’s talk should serve as inspiration for musicians of all genres here in Richmond.
The evening will also feature a performance from Gary Kalar & Pippin Barnett, a duo who make music pulling from a variety of far-flung influences. Kalar is a genius of the stringed instruments, from guitar and mandolin to more unusual instruments from Turkey, Bulgaria, and other far-off lands. Barnett is a brilliant improvisational drummer who has been a key part of all sorts of ensembles, from playing with experimental jazz legends like John Zorn and Fred Frith to holding down the beat for legendary Richmond underground groups like The Ululating Mummies and the Orthotonics. Between Kalar and Barnett’s excellent musical contributions, which should feature a high level of improvisational brilliance, and Bradley’s fascinating discussion, which one anticipates will make you want to buy his book immediately, this should be a fascinating evening on multiple levels, featuring multiple forms of art. Out Of Your Head Records raises the bar once again.
Wednesday, July 12, 7 PM
Willi Carlisle, Justin Golden @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $15 (order tickets HERE)
I think it surprises people sometimes that I dig quite a bit of folk and country music. I know I don’t seem like the type, what with my love for metal and punk and all that stuff. But what’s always been fun is figuring out how many people who play folk or country today started off in bands that played punk, metal, and other loud heavy genres. Willi Carlisle is no exception — when he was young, he played in punk bands. He was also into Dungeons & Dragons and football at the same time, which is the kind of contradiction I can appreciate. For Carlisle, it was all important to the path he was walking. Since he knew he wanted to be a folk singer from a very young age, he tried to do a lot of living when he was growing up, to give him a great variety of human experiences to use as inspiration.
He also got an MFA, though, so he’s a proper writer, and that comes through in his lyrics, which avoid Americana cliches in favor of complex tales that don’t skimp on elaboration. On last year’s Peculiar, Missouri album, he sings about everything from economic anxiety to becoming comfortable with his own queerness. Sounds like a pretty accurate microcosm of the American condition in 2023, if you ask me. Plus, his songs are catchy and memorable, and even if it takes longer to memorize Carlisle’s lyrics than it does for most country singers, you know they’ll be worth learning in the end. Local blues guitar phenomenon Justin Golden opens this one, and is sure to get the night started off right with his six-string pyrotechnics and his relatable tales of heartbreak and struggle. Make sure you catch this one.
Thursday, July 13, 6 PM
Creeping Death, Enforced, Upon Stone, Saintpeeler, Blazing Tomb @ The Canal Club – $18 in advance, $20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
When you name your band after one of the all-time greatest songs of the entire thrash metal genre, you’ve set a very high bar for yourself to clear. That’s the situation for Texas quintet Creeping Death, but I’m sure you understand that if they weren’t able to clear that bar easily, they would never have made it to this column. Instead, here they are, pulling into town to enrapture us all with a brutal death-metal sound that’s at its peak on their brand new album, Boundless Domain. These guys may sound more like Bolt Thrower than Metallica, but either way their furious attack and killer heavy riffs set them a cut above the rest. They are well worth your time.
Considering that this is Richmond, though, just as many of you are probably excited to see this show in order to see the second band on the bill: RVA’s own Enforced. Having just released their third LP, War Remains, two months ago, Enforced are currently riding high, taking their latest slab of dark metallic hardcore around the world to demonstrate what Richmonders already know: these guys take no prisoners. War Remains is both their heaviest and most energetic release yet, and with a pit full of ravenous hometown fans, you can expect the Canal Club crowd to react accordingly. Enforced are in a position to steal the show in a major way, but anyone who doesn’t stick around to catch Creeping Death’s set as well is ripping themselves off. And with support acts including Los Angeles’ thrashing black metal ragers Upon Stone, ripping Texas grind maniacs Saintpeeler, and local death-thrash up-and-comers Blazing Tomb, whose furious attack will be a rip-roaring start to this redoubtable bill. You know what to do.
Friday, July 14, 7:30 PM
Glossing, Hubris, Kristeva @ Get Tight Lounge – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
This one should be exciting. Really, though, I’ve been excited about Glossing ever since they hit the scene. Bringing together talents from the DC and Richmond scenes, this band is full of impressive musicians who have demonstrated their cooperative genius on the two brilliant songs Glossing have released thus far. The phrase “leave you wanting more” has never been more apt, in my case, so it will be a great relief to finally get more music from Glossing this Friday night at Get Tight Lounge, as they celebrate the release of their debut EP. Of course, as I write this, it still isn’t out, so I haven’t actually heard the whole thing. But based on their impressive latest single, “Potential,” I feel confident in predicting top-level post-hardcore sounds that mix the heavy guitars of bands like Hum with the melodic sense of modern shoegaze legends The Joy Formidable. Get a jump on celebrating everything Glossing has to offer by coming to this show. It’s the right thing to do.
That’s not just true because you’ll see Glossing at the top of the bill, though. We’re also receiving a rare treat in the form of a stateside visit from Switzerland’s Hubris, who are on tour supporting their latest LP, The One Above. And it should give you some hint as to what these Swiss folks have in store for us to find out that, despite being over 45 minutes in length, said new LP contains only four songs. Hubris creates proper epics that generally stretch past the 10-minute mark, full of melodic power, dynamic shifts, and slowly increasing tension. Each one feels like a miniature movie unfolding in your mind, and watching the quartet put them together in front of you onstage is sure to be quite the experience. Richmond’s own Kristeva will open things up on a high note, and considering how rare this band’s live performances have been over the past couple of years, you’ll definitely want to show up on time and hear every note they play. So yeah, do it.
Saturday, July 15, 7 PM
Alienator, Anti-Machine, Invertebrates, Ivy Creep @ Cobra Cabana – $10?
As I write this, it’s only Tuesday night. And I don’t know about y’all, but this week has already been pretty goddamn difficult. By Saturday night, I’m sure I’m gonna be a total basket case. If you ask me, that makes it a great night to say “fuck everything” and get wild at a raging hardcore punk show. Even if you aren’t having the kind of week I’m having, I’m sure you understand the liberating power of diving into a mosh pit and flailing around with abandon, covered with your own and everyone else’s sweat. This will be the perfect opportunity, because not only is a show on Cobra Cabana’s patio sure to be hot and sweaty at this time of year, the lineup we’re being presented with is guaranteed to be totally off the chain.
Take Alienator, our headliners. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, this band’s got a wild attitude about them that is perfectly reflected in their loud, fast, out-of-control hardcore punk sound. They recently followed up their amazing 2022 demo with an EP called World Of Hate that only kicks things up to an even higher level of intensity. Expect proper mosh pit chaos from their set. As for NYC’s Anti-Machine, the fact that this group features former members of Crazy Spirit, Bloodkrow Butcher, and Bukkake Boys, among others, will give some of you an idea of what they have in store. The rest of you can track down their recent EP, Too Many Eyes, to hear the kind of raw hyperspeed punk attack that is Anti-Machine’s stock in trade. Or just come to the show — I guarantee you’ll be impressed with your first impression. Richmonders Invertebrates will be on hand to provide a solid dose of old-school hardcore mania, while openers Ivy Creep will give us their very first live set ever, making predicting what they’ll sound like all but impossible. Still, sharing a bill with this formidable a lineup speaks well for them. Get ready to get your ya-yas out at this one in proper fashion, y’all. God knows we all need it.
Sunday, July 16, 7 PM
Invalids, Cloutchaser, Houdan The Mystic, Closet Space @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Back in the 90s, when I was just starting to go to shows, my friends and I would use the term “math-rock” to describe bands like Don Caballero or Breadwinner — bands who mixed their complex song structures with a bedrock heaviness that was impossible to miss. In the intervening years, though, the math-rock style has evolved to incorporate a strong melodic sense, leaving much of the genre’s original heaviness behind. I loved the original heavy math-rock bands, so it took me a minute to get used to this change, but the more I’ve listened to modern melodic math-rock bands, the more I’ve been won over by them. Therefore, when I tell you that New Jersey quartet Invalids are particularly skilled at the melodic math-rock sound, you should know that’s no faint praise.
Indeed, while I only recently discovered this band, last fall’s Permanence LP gave me all the evidence of their brilliance that I needed. Invalids mix speedy tempos, fascinatingly complex drum fills, and lightning-speed fretboard acrobatics into their formidable sound, but what really makes it stand out are the layered melodic vocals, which manage to bring catchy, memorable choruses to a genre traditionally thought to be too complicated for all that. It takes co-headliners Cloutchaser, a duo from North Carolina, to add a strong sense of humor into the mix, but even though their music is instrumental, they are adept at doing so on their latest EP, Metallica, which finds the group incorporating tongue-in-cheek musical references to famous tunes by everyone from The Police to Dillinger Escape Plan into their intricately catchy riff structures. As for RVA faves Houdan The Mystic, live appearances by this talented trio have been rare over the past several years, and they haven’t released anything new since 2017, so let’s all show up for their set at this show and make sure they know Richmond hasn’t forgotten how great they are. Locals Closet Space will open things up with the least complicated song structures on the entire bill, but don’t worry — they’ll make up for their lack of complexity with a clutch of killer tunes that you won’t soon forget.
Monday, July 17, 7 PM
Private Mind, Centralya, Adrienne @ Bandito’s – $10 (order tickets HERE)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — Richmond is lucky to have a promoter like Love Tiger Connection operating in our city. The world of melodic hardcore and post-hardcore is very active right now, and many of the best bands in those scenes have made their way to Richmond over the past couple of years thanks to the efforts of Love Tiger Connection. This Monday night gig at Bandito’s is just the latest example of what I’m talking about. While Long Island’s Private Mind haven’t exactly been prolific so far in their career, releasing just six songs in the past three years, all six of those songs are excellent, so it’s hard to find fault. If you were a fan of the 90s post-Quicksand/Helmet band Handsome, or (for a less dated reference) you dig what Militarie Gun is up but wish they’d be just a touch heavier, Private Mind are gonna tick a lot of boxes for you.
As for the rest of the bill, I’ll be honest — I’m not sure what’s going on. The LTC flyer and some recent Private Mind Instagram posts indicate that Centralya are also on the bill, so let’s talk about them first. This Connecticut band definitely have some post-hardcore touches and melodic moments, but on their new LP, That Which Feeds On Life (love the title), they show that they can get properly heavy and scream their heads off at times. Expect their set to have a lot of energy and intensity, but mixed with some catchy melodic moments of a decidedly emo nature. I’ve also listed Adrienne above, as they are listed as playing this show on the Bandito’s monthly show calendar. I’m not promising that’s accurate, since LTC’s flyer doesn’t mention them, but I kinda hope it is, because Adrienne, a Massachusetts quintet, really impressed me with their recent EP Summer’s Beginning. Three songs of intense emotional mosh a la forgotten 90s faves like New Day Rising or Mean Season. If Adrienne aren’t playing, I apologize for getting your hopes up — but either way, I totally trust LTC to give us some great bands to fill the “more TBA” portion of the bill.
Tuesday, July 18, 7:30 PM
Shockoe Sessions Live presents: Agents Of Good Roots @ In Your Ear Studios – $20 (order tickets HERE)
We’ve definitely discussed Shockoe Sessions Live in this column before. Started by some of the folks at In Your Ear Studios as a way to bring us live performances at the height of the pandemic via YouTube livestreams from the big room at In Your Ear, these weekly Tuesday-night sessions were popular enough that they survived the long-anticipated return of in-person live music in late 2021, and even started admitting small crowds to the sessions so new fans and longtime followers could witness them in person. It’s an advance-tickets-only sort of thing, giving you an opportunity to sit quietly in a couple dozen folding chairs and see the magic happen before your very eyes — and it’s only gaining momentum as it continues. Most recently, Shockoe Sessions have spawned an actual record label, Shockoe Records, who’ve released material from local powerhouses like Rodney “The Soul Singer” Stith and Ms. Jaylin Brown (and quite a few more on the way).
This Tuesday night marks Shockoe Sessions Live’s 150th episode, and they have picked a band with a tremendous legacy here in Richmond to celebrate the occasion. Agents Of Good Roots were originally together back in the 90s, releasing four LPs between 1996 and 2000 and even getting a major label deal at the tail-end of the post-Nirvana alternative rock feeding frenzy. They never quite made it big, but members of Agents Of Good Roots remain very active in the local music scene, creating excellent sounds and acting as role models for a whole new generation of Richmond rock, jazz, and indie musicians. Returning to action in 2017, Agents Of Good Roots are a great example of a Richmond band that, like host venue In Your Ear Studios, both have a formidable local history and remain a strong part of the current local scene. Let’s all come together this Tuesday night and celebrate them all.
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
Not taking commissions right now — much as I could use the money, I’m just stretched too thin. But please consider supporting my Patreon, where I’m documenting my progress on two different novels and (sometimes) writing about music of all types. patreon.com/marilyndrewnecci
