RVA Shows You Must See This Week: June 7 – June 13
FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, June 10, 7 PM
Ann Beretta, Austin Lucas, 500$Fine, Madison Turner @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $10 in advance, $15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Hey all you fresh-faced youths out there: listen to the voice of experience. Here is how you will know you’ve become a music scene lifer — when you can remember two different occasions, nearly two decades apart, in which the same band has played their final show. Ann Beretta, of course, is that band. I first saw them back in 1996, when they’d recently come together out of the ashes of RVA melodic hardcore legends Inquisition (who’ve had some afterlives of their own since then). As the other major group to emerge from the ashes of Inquisition, Strike Anywhere, headed farther into the urgency of hardcore, Ann Beretta embraced the anthemic aspects of Inquisition’s sound, landing on an old-school punk approach that brought the world a series of heartfelt, memorable anthems throughout the late 90s and early 00s.
They first came to an end around 2004, but Ann Beretta started playing shows again in the mid-2010’s, and released their first album of new material in nearly 15 years, Old Scars New Blood, in 2017. They’ve remained regularly active ever since — though the definition of “active band” got a little slippery during those heavy pandemic days when no one could play live shows for something like a year and a half — and even gave us another album of new material, the underrated, self-released Rise, last year. But now, they have once again decided to bring another end to things, “ending on a high note” with a massive hometown show full of longtime friends and, like their classic song said, “Forever Family.” This show at Richmond Music Hall on Saturday will be the last chance any of us will get to see Ann Beretta, and whether you can remember seeing them over half your life ago the way I can, or you still have yet to experience the joy of an Ann Beretta live show, you’re going to want to take advantage of this opportunity to sing along with them one last time.
What’s even more amazing is all of the other awesome talent on this bill that you’ll get to enjoy in the run-up to Ann Beretta’s final set. For one, there’s the legendary Austin Lucas, who hails from the folk-punk mecca that is Bloomington, Indiana, but puts his own spin on the genre, bringing his background in metallic hardcore and his connections with punk rock legends like Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry to his memorable, original music. Then there’s 500$Fine, another revived Richmond legend. This band of talented teenagers came to a premature end when their original bass player, Patrick Daly, passed away in a tragic accident. However, in recent years, they’ve found new life, and have released two EPs since the start of 2022, showing that their politically-informed pop-punk remains as vital as ever. Last but not least, punk rock singer-songwriter Madison Turner will get this show started with her memorably quirky and upbeat tunes about burnout and melancholy. If you’ve been reading this column a while, you know I love Madison and have even played in her backing band a few times, so yeah — I’m definitely recommending you get to this one on time. Every performer on this bill has a ton to offer, and you definitely won’t want to miss the chance to sing along to Ann Beretta one last time.
Wednesday, June 7, 7 PM
The Ballroom Thieves, Anna Leonard @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $16 (order tickets HERE)
Boston’s The Ballroom Thieves had an eventful pandemic; they endured a major car accident, their longtime third member quit, and the remaining two members, Martin Earley and Callie Peters, got married. As a married duo rather than a trio, they returned to action last year with Clouds, an album that does show the sort of folk tendencies they tend to be credited with but also contains quite a bit of electric indie energy. In their earlier days, they were really into big three-part harmonies, but their new, leaner lineup has moved them towards solo vocals and quieter overall arrangements, something you can hear on their brand new EP, Undone. If you’re into folky indie vibes, you’ll dig this group, but you’ll be just as pleased by their sound if you like the earlier, more ambient works of My Morning Jacket, or the quiet, ambient shoegaze sounds of Beach House.
The Ballroom Thieves are joined on this bill by local singer-songwriter Anna Leonard, and while I know to outsiders the Ballroom Thieves would seem like a much bigger attraction, local heads know that Leonard’s got an abundance of talent herself. She still hasn’t released more than a single EP and a bunch of isolated tracks, but anyone who heard last year’s “Candy” or her most recent single, “Girlhood,” knows that she’s building up to something exceptional. Whenever she drops a full LP, it’s gonna make a big impact around this town (and hopefully well beyond Richmond’s borders), so now’s the time to get informed about Anna Leonard and start enjoying her music before everyone in the city wants to stand closer to the stage than you during her set. So yeah, show up to this one on time — the local opener’s got just as much to offer as the established headliners.
Thursday, June 8, 7 PM
AJJ, Oceanator, Gladie @ The Broadberry – $22 (order tickets HERE)
The artists who once went by the name Andrew Jackson Jihad are still out there, just in acronym form — they explained the name change when it happened a few years ago by saying that, as non-Muslims, they don’t really know enough about the meaning of “jihad” to be throwing the term around, plus they feel like they’ve given way more attention to Andrew Jackson than one of our most notoriously evil presidents (it’s true, look it up — he was kinda the Donald Trump of his day) deserves. If you’re looking for full name of the band now known only as AJJ, you won’t find it, but you might find something that’s not just different but quite a bit better.
The same can be said of their sound; as a group that started out playing banjo-driven folk-punk with outspoken left-wing political themes on 2007’s People Who Can Eat People Are The Luckiest People In The World, their sound has evolved quite a lot over the past 16 years. On their new album, Disposable Everything, electric instruments are the norm, as are poppy, upbeat tunes that feel like they’ll be more up the alley of Jeff Rosenstock fans than Ghost Mice fans. Everyone who gives AJJ a chance in their current form, though, should be pleased with the results. They’ll still give you an upbeat, energetic show that’ll keep you dancing and singing along with a smile on your face. New York’s Oceanator will be along for the ride with a set of catchy indie tunes about sometimes-depressing topics, and Philadelphia’s Gladie will kick off the festivities with a set of punchy guitar-driven power-pop. This one’s gonna be a lot of fun — even if no one mentions controversial religious terms or oppressive former US presidents at any point during the night (we can only hope).
Friday, June 9, 9 PM
Dead Billionaires, Prabir Trio, Tyler Meacham @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
If you pay close attention to the Richmond music scene, you’re surely thrilled about this Friday night extravaganza taking place at The Camel. We’ve all been awaiting the arrival of Dead Billionaires’ debut full-length for quite a while now, and thrilling in advance singles “Curb” and “Straight Shooter.” Now the wait is over — the full album, Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book, dropped on streaming services last Friday, and this Friday finds Dead Billionaires taking over The Camel for a full-fledged celebration of its arrival into the world. You’ll have plenty of time between now and then to learn this brief seven-song album backwards and forwards — and once you hear it, you’re going to want to put it on repeat anyway, because this record is chock-full of killer tunes.
Dead Billionaires have made their reputation over the past couple years as a band with a grip of catchy choruses and memorable melodies on offer, and this album only strengthens that rep. What’s more, it proves that the confrontational left-wing politics hinted at by their name go deeper than the surface; songs like “Pink Slip/White Truck” and “Checks” kick against the stifling nature of late-capitalist survival strategies, while the simply stated “15 Words” makes a powerful anthem to scream in the face of all the hateful white supremacists and Christian nationalists currently infiltrating our government and making life harder for everyone who isn’t just like them. Of course, Dead Billionaires being intelligent and taking important stances doesn’t prevent them from making danceable music that makes a great party soundtrack, and that’s exactly what their headlining set at The Camel this Friday night will be. So stream the heck out of the new record, and come ready to sing along. Make sure you show up on time for opening sets from fellow Richmond indie rockers Prabir Trio and singer-songwriter extraordinaire Tyler Meacham. And uh, wear your dancing shoes. Trust me on this one.
Saturday, June 10, 7 PM
Come Mierda, Skincrawler, Wasted Space @ Cobra Cabana – $10
You’ve gotta love any band that gives themselves this straightforward a name. For the non-Spanish speakers among you, the English version of the name Come Mierda is “eat shit,” and they sound exactly like the sort of band that would come at you with that harsh an approach straight off the jump. This bilingual New Jersey quartet has a raw, harsh sound that is equal parts Napalm Death-style old-school grindcore and harsh, crusty hardcore a la His Hero Is Gone meets Hoax.
Amazingly enough, this band still only has one EP out, the five-song banger Demo 2021, but they’ve gotten a ton of mileage and made a hell of a lot of noise on the strength of those 11 minutes, so you can rest assured that they’ll be more than capable of shaking Cobra Cabana’s foundations this Saturday night, in the best possible way. Plus, you’ll probably hear some new songs — because god knows they’ve gotta have a full-length brewing by now. Come Mierda will be joined on this bill by Richmonders Skincrawler, who have a sound that is more metallic but every bit as harsh as that of Come Mierda — so expect some serious thrash from these folks. Richmonders Wasted Space will get the evening started with a bang, laying down a set of snarling hardcore fury that should set the tone for the evening in proper fashion. Get stoked for this one — it’s gonna rule.
Sunday, June 11, 5:30 PM
Pulses, With Sails Ahead, Followship, Mikau @ Garden Grove Brewing – Free (donations for touring bands accepted HERE)
Here’s a fun way to wrap up your weekend — with a show over at Garden Grove Brewing that’s technically free. Honestly, though you really should bring some donation money to throw down, because Pulses and With Sails Ahead are on tour together, and we all know it’s expensive to get from one place to another these days (and don’t even get me started about how much more food costs lately). Pulses will certainly reward your attention; this post-hardcore band from Dumfries, Virginia, of all places (though these days, isn’t everywhere north of Fredericksburg just part of the giant morass that is NoVA?), has a sound that mixes melodic, danceable indie riffage with heavy, technical guitar parts and screamed vocals to thrill both the indie kids and the metalcore headbangers.
Tourmates With Sails Ahead hail from New Jersey and refer to themselves on their website as progressive post-hardcore, and on epic singles like “Acid Redux” and “Murder Mountain,” you can absolutely hear why. There’s a lot of catchy melody mixed in with all those complex song structures and technical guitar riffs, though, and it’s the vocals that really make this band stand out, in my opinion. Fans of Chiodos and Fall Of Troy will find a lot to love here, and I am nothing if not a fan of both of those bands. So yeah, I’m stoked. I’m also stoked for a performance by local quintet Followship, who take their own version of post-hardcore in a heavier, more chaotic direction on brand new EP Stigma. Fear not, though, there’s still plenty of understated melody in what these Richmonders have to offer, and you’ll definitely come away humming their tunes under your breath. The evening kicks off with a set by Mikau, who hail from the DC area and recently did a split EP with Richmond queercore faves Mattachine. Mikau’s music features strong electronic elements, but hits hard as hell — if anything, this band might be the heaviest ensemble on this entire bill. It’s a great way to start off a Sunday evening that promises to be filled to the brim with post-hardcore awesomeness.
Monday, June 12, 7:30 PM
Out Of Your Head Records presents Second Mondays, feat. Brian Jones Quintet, Jones/Murphy/Dominique @ Artspace – $20 suggested donation
I’m always happy with the second Monday of the month comes around, because it offers me another opportunity to check out the unique and fascinating worlds of music Out Of Your Head Records continue to conjure up for their monthly showcase across the James River over at Artspace. This time around, they’ve handed the reins to guest curator Brian Jones. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but the fact that this longtime Richmond drummer shares a name with the original guitarist of the Rolling Stones, who released an album 60 or so years ago called Out Of Our Heads, doesn’t mean anything in particular. It’s just a big coincidence, I swear! The fact that this evening promises to be one of the more intriguing selections of musical talent put on at Artspace by Out Of Your Head since these Second Mondays programs got started, though, is not a coincidence at all.
Brian Jones should be well known around Richmond as a guy who has nothing to do with the Rolling Stones — after all, he was a core member of 90s local success story Agents Of Good Roots, and has since been involved in many excellent jazz-related performances and ensembles around the city. He’s also released quite a few records as bandleader, and he’ll be pulling from some of those, 2014’s Canis Lupus and 2020’s American Vernacular in particular, for the Brian Jones Quintet set at this event. The quintet’s membership has been known to shift, but saxophonist and longtime Jones collaborator JC Kuhl is along on this particular ride, as are guitarist and Spacebomb mainstay Trey Pollard, and bassist/co-head of Out Of Your Head Adam Hopkins. In addition to this killer quintet performance, we’ll also get an opening set from an improvisational trio that finds Jones joined by guitarist Phil Murphy and synth/electronics commander Dave Dominique. This should be an evening of fascinating jazz experimentation — as you know by now you can always expect from Second Mondays. Come out and support this event; we’re lucky to have its like here in the river city.
Tuesday, June 13, 7 PM?
Thotcrime, Cocojoey, Homewrecker & The Bedwetters, Humanitarian Deficit, Defying Death @ Powers BMX – $?
A lot of times when I put shows in this column, I know everything there is to know about them. But every once in a while, I barely know enough, and just can’t resist the temptation to include them anyway. This is one of those shows. I don’t know what time it starts. I’m not sure what order the bands are playing in. I don’t know how much it’ll cost to get in. But look, here’s my advice — show up at 7 pm on the dot, plan to stick around til midnight at least, and bring at least $20. Because you don’t want to miss a minute of this one. Why not? Because the headlining band on this gig (at least as far as I’m concerned) is Thotcrime, and this band is my new obsession. If you’re anything like me, you may occasionally have had the thought, “You know, as queer sassy screamo grindcore bands go, .gif From God is pretty extreme. But can the envelope be pushed even farther?” Thotcrime is here to assure you that yes, it absolutely can be.
On their 2022 LP, D1G1T4L_DR1FT — released by Prosthetic Records, label home of .gif From God, natch — Thotcrime mixes the frantic energy and harsh screams of Richmond’s queer screamo faves with a strong dose of electronic mayhem and quirky yet melodic song structure derived from 00s cybergrind faves like Genghis Tron and Horse The Band. The result is chaotic in the extreme, yet strangely catchy, and will appeal equally to fans of 100 gecs and The Great Redneck Hope. Tourmates Cocojoey are even crazier, coming across like… I dunno, Alec Empire jamming with Anamanaguchi? A happy hardcore version of Ghostemane? That’s “happy hardcore” the techno subgenre, by the way, not “Negative Approach’s John Brannon with a big grin on his face.” So yeah, this show is gonna be totally bizarre, but in the best possible way. And there are even three other great bands on the bill I haven’t even mentioned yet, including Texas queer metalcore ragers Homewrecker & The Bedwetters, homegrown screamo up-and-comers Humanitarian Deficit, and Richmond’s own tuned-to-drop-Q mosh maniacs, Defying Death. Seriously, no excuses: do not miss a single second of this one.
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
