RVA Shows You Must See This Week: October 23 – October 29
FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, October 26, 6 PM
Unknown Pleasures (Joy Division), Here Comes Your Band (Pixies), Brass In Pocket (The Pretenders), Gold To Rust (Sisters of Mercy), Mazarine (DIIV) @ Cobra Cabana – $10
I’ve seen a lot of holidays in recent years get taken over by tribute shows featuring one-off bands pulled together by local musicians having a bit of side-project fun, from Christmas to Valentine’s Day. However, it’s good to see that respect remains for the original “learn a bunch of covers and dress up as your favorite band” holiday: Halloween. Without Strange Matter (RIP) here to do their legendary annual “Night Of the Living Dead Bands” showcases, it just really hasn’t been the same, but Cobra Cabana have proven themselves over the past year or so to be the closest thing this town has to Strange Matter’s spiritual successor, so it’s only fitting that they be the venue to resurrect this time-honored classic of a holiday tradition.
This year finds a whole bunch of different bands coming together to bring us a tribute night that seems mostly themed according to the MTV’s 120 Minutes broadcasts of my adolescent Sunday nights. From Joy Division to Pixies to Sisters Of Mercy, most of these bands had a steady spot in the rotation on the alternative rock undergrounds favorite music video show of the Nirvana era. And considering that at least some of these tribute acts are in fact not one-offs but groups of musicians who have been getting together for a while to pay tribute to these acts, you can expect to hear these songs done well at this show — and thank god for that.
One interesting wildcard in the whole affair will be the appearance of an actual Richmond band who writes, records, and performs songs of their own — Mazarine, who normally play a hazily melodic brand of guitar-driven indie tunes, will be setting aside their own material to open with a tribute set of DIIV covers. This feels eminently appropriate, considering how much DIIV influence comes through in Mazarine’s own work; I feel sure they’ll be able to do the Brooklyn band justice. I know less about who makes up the other ensembles involved in this night of classic sounds, but that’s always been half the fun — seeing who you recognize from other bands, up there pretending to be the bass player for Joy Division or the drummer for the Pretenders. Regardless of who is involved, though, this should be a great way to spend the Saturday night before Halloween — celebrating the time-honored tradition of musical masquerade that this show embodies.
Wednesday, October 23, 7 PM
Rozwell Kid, Rodeo Boys, The Dreaded Laramie, Downhaul @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $17 (order tickets HERE)
Here’s a sight for sore eyes: the return of West Virginia power-poppers Rozwell Kid, who haven’t released an album since 2017 and have been pretty tough to track down over the last half-decade or so. This ensemble has always been capable of cranking out some incredible alt-rock anthems, something they first proved to Richmond when they came through town over a decade ago. After their fourth album, 2017’s Precious Art, they got pretty quiet, but a new EP in 2023, Grand Canyon, showed that their pop chops remain intact, even as their most recent tunes show off a mannered, classy restraint that lands them closer to The Beatles than the early Weezer material their first few albums tended to evoke.
Once they’re dishing things out in the live environment, of course, we can expect plenty of the energy they’ve always displayed in the live environment — which will surely be a delight. The same can be said of Lansing, Michigan’s Rodeo Boys, a quartet who bill themselves as “for queers and steers alike” and crank out some scrappy melodic punk anthems on their 2023 LP Home Movies, and who are sure to catch the ear of any among you who appreciate groups like Swearin’ and Cayetana. Nashville’s own The Dreaded Laramie will be a worthy addition to this bill, with their sugary-sweet pop-punk tunes that evoke memories of prime-era Fastbacks — always a fortuitous comparison to be making. The evening will kick off with a set from Richmond’s own Downhaul, who just released their latest album, How To Begin, in September. The new album is the most assured their melodic, emotional indie tunes have sounded, and you can be sure their set of heartfelt, twangy alt-rock will be well worth showing up on time for. So yeah, do that.
Thursday, October 24, 6 PM
Prisoner, Clot, Porcupine, Terror Cell @ The Workshop – $10
Halloween may still be a week away, but I think we can all agree that this is proper spooky season right now, which is why I think it’s great that this killer live music showcase is taking place this week. Every single band playing at this new Scott’s Addition spot is scarily heavy, and the whole night is sure to have a chilling air to it. Of course Prisoner is a huge part of this — our hometown faves are still riding high on the musical triumph that is their latest LP, Putrid | Obsolete, on which they took their always dark metallic hardcore sound into the realm of downright terrifying epic industrial horror metal. But by now, we should all know about Prisoner, right? For that reason, I’d like to spend a little more time on the touring bands who grace our lovely city on this night.
First, there’s Atlanta noise merchants Clot, who’ve released two EPs in the past two months, each of which shows a different side of their musical personality. Hostility crams six songs into just over five minutes of running time, blasting the listener with chaotic quick-change riffage and speedy drumming. Meanwhile, Dehiscence spreads four songs across 15 minutes, emphasizing Clot’s facility with brutal, pounding sludge and screaming hatred. Both of these extremes and all of the many flavors inbetween are sure to be part of Clot’s brutal set at The Workshop this Thursday night. And then, of course, there’s Porcupine, the Chicago-based quartet whose recent LP, All Is Vapor, finds them unleashing the feral beast lurking within them all. It comes out as snarling, raging hardcore with a downtuned sludge-metal atmosphere. Chaos will surely reign when these folks let it rip on Thursday night. You’ll definitely want to be there — but maybe don’t stand too close. Bonus: the evening will start out with a set from Richmond heavyweights Terror Cell, who are preparing to release the full-length follow-up to their stunning 2022 debut, Caustic Light, in just a little over a week. The preview singles released on Bandcamp thus far paint a picture of an already-brutal band taking things to a whole new level. You’re gonna want to see that up close and in person. Show up for this one and get properly spooked.
Friday, October 25, 7 PM
Nabeel, Shower Curtain, Boo Boo Spoiler, Obscure Son @ Bandito’s – $10
Friday night is a great night to get hazey and gazey, and Bandito’s is always a great place to do so — and not just because you can fill up on delicious nachos before the show. They’ve also low-key got one of the best sound systems in the city, and you’ll be able to tell that for yourself this Friday night when this quartet of talented acts takes the stage one after another. Nabeel has kinda come out of nowhere to make a big impression on the Richmond indie scene over the past six months or so, and if you haven’t seen him play live yet, one listen to his brand new EP, Najoom, should leave you with a complete understanding of why that is. The langorous guitar-driven melancholy of this EP’s tunes feels like what you’d get if Red House Painters, Mdou Moctar, and Mac DeMarco all joined up to make a collaborative album. It’s lovely, it’s downbeat, and it tugs at your heartstrings. I for one am a sucker for stuff like that.
I’m also a sucker for what New Yorkers Shower Curtain have in store for us. Combining fuzzy guitar riffage with lovely vocal melodies, these folks offer a vaguely sardonic twist on a time-honored genre vibe on their new LP, Words From A Wishing Well. It’s catchy but also vaguely off-kilter, which is always nice — it certainly never falls into a predictable rut. And then there’s Philadelphia’s Boo Boo Spoiler, who take things in a heavier, noisier direction, but contrast their guitar noise chaos with some gorgeous vocal melodies, sung with strength and power. These folks are sure to make a big impression on all present when they take the stage. The evening’s musical festivities will begin with a set from Obscure Son, the latest project from Hampton Roads-based musician Elliott Malvas (You’re Jovian, The Swirlies). This is likely to be the noisiest set of the evening, though it’ll also be a strong contender for the catchiest. Get ready to start things off on a high note that carries all the way through this one.
Saturday, October 26, 6 PM
Pain Of Truth, Dying Wish, Outta Pocket, Balmora, Killing Pace @ The Canal Club – $25 in advance, $28 day of show (order tickets HERE)
It’s kind of wild to see Pain Of Truth, a band that formed at the height of the pandemic, already having reached the point of headlining big hardcore tour packages, but no one who has heard a note of this Long Island hardcore band’s music could deny that it’s merited. It isn’t as if they reinvented the hardcore genre on 2023’s Not Through Blood, but what they did do is prove that a band could jump right into the long tradition of straightforward hardcore and, if they went hard enough and had enough talent and confidence, deliver a classic slab that stands alongside legendary hardcore albums of eras past. And once they did that, they delivered the goods in a series of live performances that won over the American hardcore scene in a big way.
I know this is review for a lot of you, but if you didn’t immediately click the ticket link above as soon as you saw this lineup, you need to pay close attention to what I’m saying right now: Pain Of Truth is going to be remembered as one of the foremost hardcore bands of this era. This show is going to give you the chance to see them at the absolute height of their powers, and you definitely do not want to blow it. You have been warned. And damn, I haven’t even had a chance to tell you about the other four bands on this bill, all of whom are just as worth the price of admission as Pain Of Truth is. Dying Wish, for one, brings some vicious metallic hardcore rage, and throws in some classic Euro-style guitar riffing for good measure — if you loved At The Gates or Arch Enemy, this band will appeal to you just as much as they click for fans of classic Darkest Hour/Poison The Well material. Then there’s Outta Pocket, who brings classic mosh rage with a furious vengeance. Balmora only released their debut EP last year, but they’ve got a big buzz on the scene and appear to only be headed up from here; catch onto these guys’ brand of raging thrash immediately, especially if you loved bygone legends like Suicide Nation or Enewetak (I know, I know, I’m getting too obscure). Don’t forget Richmond mainstays Killing Pace, who’ll bring the blistering Nails-style speedcore violence to kick this one off. It’ll be an amazing night from beginning to end; don’t miss a second.
Sunday, October 27, 7 PM
Today Is The Day, Thunderchief, Kircher, Beggars @ Cobra Cabana – $20
Few bands have the sheer tenacity necessary to remain not only active but highly relevant after more than three decades of making music, but Today Is The Day are that rare exception. Formed by vocalist, guitarist, and only constant member Steve Austin (no, not the stone cold one, but that guy rules too) in 1992, Today Is The Day have released 11 albums and gone through at least twice that many lineups in the years since — at various points, the band has included members of Mastodon, Hate Eternal, and Richmond’s own Hex Machine. However, it’s Austin’s unique approach and boundless talent that has always made the band what they are. His idiosyncratic noise-rock approach has led to Today Is The Day albums that sounded like psychedelic sludge, chaotic power-violence, and out-of-control noise, but regardless of what genre they’ve leaned toward at any given time, they always sounded most like themselves.
Today Is The Day have had a tough past decade or so, enduring a serious van accident that sidelined them during the mid-2010s, then having the COVID pandemic hit right as they were embarking on a big tour in support of their first album in six years, 2020’s No Good To Anyone. The fact that these guys are back on the horse again is great news for all fans of heavy, wild noise. The latest lineup, which came together in 2021, has apparently completed a new double LP, which is apparently coming sometime next year. In the meantime, their current tour finds the band celebrating the fact that they’ve finally obtained the rights to their entire back catalog. They’ve released some lovely deluxe reissues on their own Supernova Records over the past few months, and they’ve been including songs from every era of their career on recent set lists, so regardless of which Today Is The Day incarnation is your favorite, you’re sure to hear at least one or two songs from that era when they hit the Cobra Cabana stage. Support for this legendary gig will be provided by three different excellent Richmond acts. The first is Thunderchief, a rumbling, thundering old-school sludge-metal duo featuring Richmond punk-metal legend Erik Larson on drums. Then there’s Kircher, a heavy noise-rock duo that approaches their craft with similar intensity to that of Today Is The Day; folks at this show who haven’t heard them yet are likely to dig what they hear. The bill is rounded out by the harsh hardcore of relatively new Richmond quartet Beggars. This night is sure to leave a mark.
Monday, October 28, 7 PM
Cloud Nothings, City Of Caterpillar, Farmer’s Wife, Equipment @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $25 (order tickets HERE)
It’s time for an embarrassing admission: before Cloud Nothings announced this local date as part of their tenth anniversary tour for Here And Nowhere Else, I’d never even heard the album in question. Which is not to say that I didn’t know Cloud Nothings were brilliant; I spent a lot of time back in the day with their 2012 second album, Attack On Memory. For whatever reason, though, I didn’t keep up with their career afterwards. What can I say; I had a LOT going on in 2014 (IYKYK). I’m making up for lost time this week, though — I’ve played this album through at least four times so far this week, and we’re only halfway through. It’s an absolute classic in the world of crunchy indie guitar awesomeness, and as much as I loved the album before it, I can see why this is the one that’s getting the big anniversary tour treatment. It’s fucking awesome, and definitely merits a celebration on its 10th anniversary.
I know some of you are rolling your eyes at me right now; “Drew,” I hear you say, “for someone who knows a ton about music, you sure are an idiot sometimes.” Hey, when you’re right, you’re right. But I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m advising everyone who can read this right now to learn from my mistakes and make sure you spend your Monday night celebrating along with Cloud Nothings by rocking out to the killer tunes they’ll be laying down at Richmond Music Hall on this wonderful night. What’s even better about this one is that you’ll get a supporting set from Richmond’s beloved returning screamo champions. That’s right, I’m talking about City Of Caterpillar, who showed us all that they’re still capable of brilliant emotional screamo epics over 20 years on from their classic self-titled debut when they released the formidable reunion LP, Mystic Sisters, in 2022. If you haven’t caught them since, you definitely need to be at this show Monday night. You’ll also get a set from Austin-based alt-fuzz combo Farmer’s Wife, who exploded onto the scene two years ago with their classic tune “Greg Abbott’s Maxi Pad.” Which tells you all you need to know about how awesome this group is. The evening will begin with a set from Toledo power-pop combo Equipment, who’ll start things off with a blast of guitar-driven fun. Get into it.
Tuesday, October 29, 7 PM
Emma Ruth Rundle, Ora Cogan @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $23 (order tickets HERE)
Let’s end this week’s worth of shows with an evening of foreboding gloom that’ll be perfect for Halloween Eve Eve. Emma Ruth Rundle is the sort of artist who might be described as apocalyptic folk, as she’s best known for her highly atmospheric, sometimes quite minimalist solo LPs full of dark, moody songs you have to turn up the stereo to fully comprehend. The apocalypse vibes are particularly strong with this one, though, and it’s no surprise, as she’s also a member of the post-metal quintet Red Sparowes. That being said, her most recent solo LP, 2021’s Engine Of Hell, was her most minimalist yet, featuring Rundle on her own, playing either guitar or piano and singing. Don’t get it twisted, though — the darkness was just as pervasive as it had been on previous albums. If anything, the quiet atmosphere of Engines Of Hell only made it that much gloomier.
Not everyone is into this kind of thing, but if you are, then you know how amazing it is to hear it done right. Let me assure you, Emma Ruth Rundle does it right — if you’re the sort of Richmonder who has been blown away in recent years by former Windhand vocalist Dorthia Cottrell’s turn toward what she’s called “death folk country,” you’re sure to enjoy Emma Ruth Rundle’s own take on a similar style. Her work replaces the Appalachian feel of Dorthia’s music with a gothic-churchyard-in-the-rain vibe that fits her origins in the Pacific Northwest, but the doom and gloom vibes remain flawless. The moody psychedelic chamber folk of support act Ora Cogan will fit into this whole scheme nicely, and get everyone prepared for the emotional deep dive that Emma Ruth Rundle’s set is sure to be. This is darkened-room mood music for all the Halloween heads out there. Act accordingly.
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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