RVA Shows You Must See This Week: February 13 – February 18
FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, February 15, 7 PM
Double Release Show, feat. Wrong Worshippers (Photo by Eleanor Trask) & Nancy Raygun, with Oh Devil, Bullseye @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
If you had told me that life would just kinda continue on as normal even while an authoritarian government attempted an autogolpe right before the country’s very eyes, that the world would actually NOT stop if our Constitution was subtly replaced by the unilateral actions of a corrupt, twice-impeached, yet somehow re-elected president and his seig-heiling best bud the literal richest man in the world, I don’t know if I’d have believed you. And yet, here it is, a random mid-February week in Richmond, and life is going on even as we all try to figure out how to cope with our appalling new reality. I’m no different — I went to my day job today, came home and cooked dinner, then sat down to write this column. Somehow, despite everything, life goes on.
And if nothing else, music remains one of the finer pleasures this life has to offer. Therefore, I care more than ever about the music being created by the artists operating in and around the Richmond underground musical community. It’s what’ll sustain us through these dark times, act as the soundtrack for our street protests, and keep us from going crazy while we wait on hold to leave messages for our Senators. And it’s what will keep us from losing hope, giving us something great to look forward to on our Saturday nights when what we really need is a source of joy to get us through another week. This Saturday night, I give you a powerful source of musical joy, coming to you from right here in Richmond: this double single release show at The Camel, featuring co-headliners Wrong Worshippers and Nancy Raygun.
Wrong Worshippers are a youthful duo who use solely bass and drums to create a thick, heavy alt-rock sound that’s every bit as loud and impactful as bands with twice as many members — if not more so. The focus on low-end doesn’t stop them from writing catchy choruses and tuneful riffs, and that’s proven by their recently released single, “Experimental Jazz.” It’s got an unstoppable singalong refrain and some incredible riffs that’ll have you on your feet and bouncing around maniacally as they dish it out for you this Saturday night. And while I sometimes am surprised that bands these days will do a full-on release show for a one-song single, when the song is this good, I have to admit it’s merited.
Fellow local rock combo Nancy Raygun have a new single of their own on offer, and “Surroundings” does a great job of carrying this band’s established psychedelic indie sound forward to new horizons of possibility. It’s maybe the most immediately engaging song I’ve heard by them yet, and you’ll definitely be singing along with it as you walk down the street hours after the last time you heard it. Their whole set should be a blast this Saturday night, really; in conjunction with the Wrong Worshippers’ single celebration, the party feels more than called for. Oldsters like me should just pretend these two bands released these songs as two sides of a split 7 inch vinyl EP, and that’s what the celebration is for. (Don’t think too hard about the fact that if they really did do that, the record would cost fifteen bucks.) Oh Devil joins the party with their thick alt-rock tuneage cranked to max volume, while Bullseye makes their live debut (as far as I know). It’s an auspicious occasion, and a perfect opportunity to forget all the terrible things that confront us in the light of day right now — at least for a few hours.
Thursday, February 13, 7:30 PM
Roy Haynes Tribute, feat. VCU Faculty Jazz Septet @ W.E. Singleton Center (922 Park Ave) – $12 (order tickets HERE)
Legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes lived a long and beautiful life; he passed away last November, only about four months shy of his 100th birthday. His fruitful career saw him do all sorts of amazing things; in addition to releasing over 30 albums on which he was bandleader, he played drums on too many other jazz albums to count, appearing on classic records by pretty much every jazz legend you can think of, from Lester Young and Charlie Parker to Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk to John Coltrane, Ray Charles, Pat Metheny, and way too many more to list. His pioneering approach to jazz drumming had influence across many different genres over the decades of his life, and he was hailed for his incredible playing by members of The Rolling Stones, Phish, and the Allman Brothers Band. On top of all that, if you ever drove around inside the video-game world of Grand Theft Auto IV, you heard Roy Haynes’ voice as the DJ for Jazz Nation Radio 108.5. The man was a true force of nature who changed the world of jazz, and of all music, many times over.
In celebration of Haynes’ remarkable career — which spanned well over half a century — the VCU Faculty Jazz Septet has gotten together to bring us a tribute concert to Haynes this Thursday night at the W.E. Singleton Center, on Park Ave on the Monroe Park campus. Rest assured this is not just a random group of professors breaking instruments out of mothballs. Even if you know nothing about the VCU Music program, I promise you know many of these people, if not all of them. For starters, JC Kuhl is on saxophone — a legend of the Richmond scene, who has played with everyone from Agents of Good Roots to Bio Ritmo to Jandek. Guitarist Trey Pollard is best known as the in-house arranger, conductor, and composer for Spacebomb Records, and has played with folks like Matthew E. White, Foxygen, and The Waterboys. Andrew Randazzo, a true legend of the bass guitar, is part of this ensemble as well — you know him from Butcher Brown and from his perennial Yuletide ensemble, R4ND4ZZO B1GB4ND, among other things. No BS! Brass Band’s Taylor Barnett will contribute trumpet, Jazz Girls Day DC founder Shannon Gunn is on trombone, and Ropeadope recording artist Dimitrije Vasiljevic is on piano. Last but certainly not least, Tony Martucci — veteran of a three-decade career that has included the Russian-American jazz collaboration Jazznost, aka Partners In Time, as well as many other ventures as both bandleader and sideman — will hold down those amazing drums. The level of talent present in this city knows no bounds, and that’s true no matter what genre of music you look into. If you don’t know what the Richmond jazz scene has to offer, this concert is a great opportunity to find out. Plus, you’ll get to celebrate the life of one of jazz music’s all-time greats. RIP Mr. Haynes, we won’t see your like again.
Friday, February 14, 7 PM
Bilmuri, Ally Nicholas @ The National – $?? (order tickets HERE)
This doesn’t happen too often, but the moments definitely come along from time to time, and this is one of them: I am, with this show, recommending something that I have to admit is a guilty pleasure. Bilmuri is a little embarrassing, the kind of music I don’t want anyone to walk into the room while I’m listening to it. This shaggy ironic-hipster-looking dude, whose government name is Johnny Franck, is stirring together a surprising concoction of genres that seem like they can’t possibly taste great together. Bilmuri’s album American Motor Sports mixes polished, melodramatic emo melodies with chugging guitars straight out of melodic metalcore and a vocal delivery that mixes in undeniable elements of R&B, hip-hop, and modern country. It sounds like what you’d get if Bring Me The Horizon, Machine Gun Kelly (in his emo era), The-Dream, and Luke Bryan were all genetically cloned into one guy. It sounds cringe as hell. It — I am 100% serious right now — FUCKING RULES. I love it.
So yes, in spite of my cheeks burning with embarrassment, I am swallowing my pride and telling you to spend your Friday night at The National with Bilmuri. What sort of people will you be standing shoulder to shoulder with as Bilmuri drops into a chugging metalcore breakdown with banjos in the background and everyone sings “Why is it always up to you and I’m collateral damage?!?!?” at the top of their lungs? I’m not sure, but I would guess that at least some of them will also own Kid Rock records. That said, even a stopped clock is right twice a day, and I’m willing to admit in public that I think this is one of those times. The Kid Rock fans at the Bilmuri show are right — this dude fucking rules. Don’t @ me, and don’t let the fact that the National’s ticket website is so broken I can’t even tell how much this show costs stop you. If nothing else, you’ll be able to get a ticket at the box office — god knows they aren’t selling any with their website this FUBAR. Whatever they’re charging, it’ll be worth it.
Saturday, February 15, 7:30 PM
Har Mar Superstar @ Get Tight Lounge – $18.19 (order tickets HERE)
Here’s one for the elder millennials out there who feel nostalgia for that classic mid-00s era of indie sleaze. Har Mar Superstar was a legend of that era, a pudgy guy with a disco suit and a cheesy mustache known for his wild live shows that frequently ended with him stripped down to his undershorts. Classic albums like 2004’s The Handler were full of bouncy dance grooves that featured lyrics about partying and forgetting your troubles, and in the years after 9/11, a lot of people were looking for exactly that sort of thing. Associated with acts like The Strokes and Father John Misty, Har Mar spent the years of his greatest fame making music for the type of folks who loved to go to indie dance nights and listen to Junior Senior, Chromeo, and Peaches.
Those days are quite a few years in the past, though, and Har Mar Superstar has grown up along with the rest of us. While the dancing days aren’t entirely behind him, his more recent material, specifically 2021 LP Roseville, takes things in a more serious direction, possibly motivated by his having gotten sober and working as a mail carrier for a few years. These days his music feels more introspective, influenced by classic soul and sunshine pop rather than the pure disco party sounds of his earlier material. And the thing is, it may be different from what he did before, but it’s just as great. This guy has major pop songwriting skills, and that comes through on all of his material, even if he’s half-naked and covered in sweat as he performs it. This particular performance at Get Tight Lounge might be more mature and less off-the-chain raging than what you’d have gotten from Har Mar 20 years ago, but it’ll be just as much fun. And isn’t that what you’ve always wanted from a Har Mar Superstar show? Two decades later, this guy still delivers.
Sunday, February 16, 7 PM
MC Lyte, DJ Lonnie B @ Ember Music Hall – $40 (order tickets HERE)
How amazing is this? MC Lyte is coming to Richmond! If you’re an old-school hip hop head, you know what this means, but for the rest of you this might require a bit of an explanation. And I’m glad to provide it. You see, I grew up listening to MC Lyte. One of the first female MCs to grab some fame and respect in the hip hop world, she burst onto the scene with her 1988 debut, Lyte As A Rock, on which she set herself apart from most of the female rappers from the early years of hip hop by hitting just as hard as the baddest male MCs of the era. Her beats hit hard and stood alongside the groundbreaking productions of the era from folks like The Bomb Squad and Dr. Dre, which made them the perfect backdrop for her hard, no-nonsense flow. For me, the album of hers that hit the hardest was 1993’s Ain’t No Other, on which she rapped with such unbridled ferocity that it was an outright joy to hear, especially on the lead single, “Ruffneck,” which sang the praises of masculine men who didn’t concern themselves with social graces. I couldn’t relate to the sentiments, but the attitude was impossible to deny, especially delivered overtop of some incredible heavy beats that represented some of the best productions of the era.
I lost track of MC Lyte after that 90s era people call “the golden age” ended, but while her release rate slowed down, she never stopped. Indeed, she just released her latest album, 1 of 1, last fall. It shows that she’s lost nothing in the intervening years, bringing hard rhyme styles over banging beats. She made a lot of powerful friends over the years, and 1 of 1 features guest appearances from legends like Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah, Big Daddy Kane, and Ghostface Killah — which wouldn’t mean much if the album didn’t stand alongside her classic material from 30 years ago. Fortunately for us all, it absolutely does, and it’s clear that regardless of how deep into her career MC Lyte is, she’s still at the top of her game in 2025. You’ll definitely want to find out for yourself, especially if you remember classics like Act Like You Know and Bad As I Wanna B. Come out and enjoy some classic tunes alongside some great new jams from MC Lyte’s new album — she’ll remind us all that, regardless of how long it’s been, we’re still at the top of our game out here.
Monday, February 17, 7 PM
Solera, Siren Wells, Drunk Mother @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
We all know that Monday nights aren’t the craziest nights of the week in the live music scene. However, as I always remind y’all, Monday nights are always great for heading out and checking out some of the low-key up-and-comers who are just starting to make their name in this city. On nights when there’s no heavy competition for your ticket dollar, you can learn a lot about the bands you’ll be hearing a lot more of in another year or two. That’s definitely the case with this Monday night triple-header at The Camel, which is headlined by Richmond’s own Solera. This six-member ensemble mixes alt-rock drive with an intensity that feels primarily derived from classic R&B, in a manner you might expect to mix uneasily. However, nothing could be further from the truth — these folks manage to both rock hard and focus on the soulful vocal melodies without either side getting short shrift.
This is shown to great effect on Solera’s first single, “Foreclosure,” which is the only studio recording they’ve released as I write this. Having said that, by the time this show comes along, their follow-up single, “Before The Lights Go Out,” will have reached the world — it’s currently scheduled for release on February 15. Another hard-rocking alternative-style tune with strong, soulful vocals, this one’s sure to connect with anyone who takes a listen. Give it a spin over the weekend in preparation for seeing Solera at The Camel this Monday night. You’ll be glad you did. Solera will be joined on this gig by two other local crews, the first of which is indie rock trio Siren Wells. These folks lay down some straight-ahead alt-rock grooves that evoke the classic 90s era, adding some great male-female harmony vocals overtop to sweeten the whole thing in the most delightful manner. The second of the two groups opening this one up is called Drunk Mother, and I can tell you very little other than the fact that they feature members of Shagg Carpet and Marshall Family Values, among other local standouts. That alone should be enough to convince you to show up on time for this one. After all, it’s Monday night — what else do you have going on?
Tuesday, February 18, 7 PM
Sister Wife Sex Strike, Doom Scroll, The Great Beforetimes @ The Camel – $20 (order tickets HERE)
OK, I admit it — I picked this show pretty much solely on the strength of the incredible band names on the bill. Sister Wife Sex Strike? Oh yeah, count me in! What do they sound like? Well, luckily for me, once I checked into that, they sounded pretty damn great! Led by a banjo player and a guitar player who go by Sister Pigeon and Sister Moth, respectively, Sister Wife Sex Strike are a folk-punk ensemble with a strong political consciousness and some incredibly catchy tunes that mingle British Isles folk, old-time Appalachian sounds, and classic three-chord punk to create a sound that’s urgent and intense even if it’s being played beside a campfire on a dark night with no power source anywhere within 100 miles. This is a band prepared to survive the apocalypse, and to remind us all what’s important and what matters throughout our hardest times — and we’re definitely going to need plenty of bands like that where we’re going.
Their latest album, Sister Wife Sex Change, features anti-Zionist klezmer tunes, complete with Yiddish lyrics, just in case you doubt their political commitment. But it also features melody-focused introspective tunes about learning to process trauma and uptempo punk anthems about finding community and building better lives together. It all adds up to a galvanizing listen that’ll help fortify us all in the face of the coming darkness. You won’t regret getting a strong shot of Sister Wife Sex Strike straight into your veins at The Camel this Tuesday night. So hey, make sure you’re there! They’ll be joined at this appearance by fellow folk-punkers Doom Scroll, who feature a much more expansive lineup complete with drums, bass, and some speedy ska-punk riffs you’re sure to enjoy. Richmond alt-folk punkers The Great Beforetimes will open things up, and offer a sincere request to come masked up in order to try and protect their immunocompromised members. Remember, just because the pandemic isn’t shuttering clubs all over the country anymore doesn’t mean it’s no longer a threat. We can be conscious of the needs of others and still have lots of fun. Indeed, there’s really no other way forward at this point.
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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