RVA Shows You Must See This Week: February 26 – March 4
FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, March 1, 7 PM
Strawberry Moon (top photo credit: Miranda Jean), Shagwuf, Slot, Wrong Worshippers @ Gallery 5 – $10 (order tickets HERE)
One lovely thing about doing local music journalism for over a decade at this point is that I’ve gotten the chance to watch a lot of artists from Richmond grow from their very first shows and releases into some of the best musicians you can find anywhere. Strawberry Moon is another wonderful example of this process, starting out as a loose-knit cluster of musicians gathered around band founder Katie Bowles — which sometimes sounded quite minimalist but always had some great indie-pop ideas — into a full band with an alternative rock sound full of chunky guitars and super-catchy choruses. Coming into their own on 2022’s Habitual Creatures, they took it to the next level with 2023 EP My Offering. Since then, they’ve expanded to a five-piece, and at this show, they’ll be celebrating the release of that lineup’s first recorded effort, a five-song EP entitled Smoon (which will be premiering in full on The Auricular tomorrow, so watch this space!). It’s kind of a surprise to find myself saying this, but the songs from Smoon that have been released in advance show that Strawberry Moon are still getting better with every passing year; there’s no denying that this is the catchiest, most powerful collection of tunes they’ve released yet.
You can enjoy a golden opportunity to bask in the brilliance of the latest Strawberry Moon lineup — and the continuation of their fruitful relationship with excellent local label Sockhead Records — at this Gallery 5 show, but that’s not the only wonderful thing about it, by any means. The second of many: that Shagwuf are playing this show as well. This veteran rock n’ roll trio from up C-ville/H-burg way have been rocking the entire mid-Atlantic (and beyond) for at least a decade now, and they’re yet another example of a band that somehow just [clap] keeps [clap] getting [clap] better [clap]! As if their latest LP, Tres Animales (which I’m still hoping is a ZZ Top reference), wasn’t incredible enough, they just followed it up with an incredibly catchy new single, “Prison Song,” which features some boldly confrontational lyrics opposing America’s prison-industrial complex and a killer guest appearance by rapper Whyse Legion. Shagwuf stays winning, and so do you when you go see them as often as possible. As veterans of Shagwuf live shows know, they’re not only great players but an energetic live band that always brings the fun. Get stoked, y’all.
We still aren’t done with the amazing reasons to go to this show, folks! For starters, we haven’t even talked about the out-of-town group on this bill. I am referring, of course, to Baltimore duo Slot, who pair snotty, snarky vocals with rumbling bass and pounding programmed beats for maximum postpunk noise velocity. If you ever wondered what would happen if Philadelphia art-punk trio Northern Liberties merged with UK ragers Lambrini Girls, Slot’s set at this show will give you at least one version of an answer to that question — and it’s an answer you’ll be more than satisfied with. Last but certainly not least, we’ve got another guitarless vocal-bass-drum duo in the person of youthful Richmond rippers Wrong Worshippers, who continue to stretch the boundaries of their intriguing sonic mix of driving rock n’ roll riffs and catchy alt-indie melodies. With these folks kicking off the evening’s festivities, you will definitely need to show up promptly. You can’t afford to miss any of these excellent groups.
Wednesday, February 26, 7 PM
The Band FEEL, The Retrograde, Dusty Rug @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Watching the millennial generation reach full adulthood has been interesting for me as a girl who’s about half a decade too old to be part of that generation myself. In some ways, they remind me of my generation of early-90s post-Nirvana punks who eventually settled down and found stable middle-class lives; like my generation, the tattoos obviously stuck around, but that didn’t stop us from moving back toward the mainstream in a variety of ways. And just like all the kids I used to see at basement hardcore shows eventually got really into more palatable sounds like alt-country and doom metal (which is surprisingly kid-friendly if you avoid the bands with screamy vocals), the millennials have recently settled into their own version of grown-folks music — and a lot of times, it sounds a lot like the 70s rock records my aging-boomer parents tended to throw on the turntable when I was growing up in the mid-80s.
Take this show’s headliners, The Band FEEL, for example. Their recently released self-titled EP is full of the same swinging distorted-guitar boogie riffs that are all over records by classic 70s bands like Faces, the Rolling Stones, Bad Company, and Aerosmith, as well as more modern groups like Kings Of Leon or White Denim. These Missouri boys put a bit of a Southern spin on it, despite their geographic origins, and it’s a welcome one even if you’re not from Virginia originally, since it helps inject some classic soul vibes into the proceedings. At the end of the day, though, it’s really just no-frills rock n’ roll that’ll thrill everybody pulling up to Richmond Music Hall on a Wednesday night hoping to get one of the delicious craft brews they’ve got on tap next door at Capital Ale House. And honestly, if you want the opinion of a washed-up middle-aged lady like myself, I’d say it’s a significant step up from what my own generation was listening to when they were the age the millennials are now. The Band FEEL are joined on this bill by Floridians The Retrograde, who share a similar musical raison d’etre. And the evening will start with a set from Dusty Rug, who recently emigrated to Richmond from the high-desert plains of Flagstaff, AZ, and have brought with them some proper throwback Queens of the Stone Age-style riffage, only with a bit more psychedelia mixed in. Gotta love that.
Thursday, February 27, 7 PM
Destructo Disk, Soft No, Swerves, Possum Den @ Bandito’s – $15
If it feels like we were just talking about Destructo Disk a couple of blurbs ago, well, that’s because we were, kinda. Destructo Disk operate the aforementioned killer local label Sockhead Records, on which they most recently released an EP entitled It’s Really About The Friends We Made Along The Way… As has become the norm for Destructo Disk releases, it gathers together a lovely serving of this band’s incredible rock anthems, which mix punk, power pop, and alt/indie sounds together into a potent brew with an extra 5-hour-energy shot of creative brilliance stirred in. No wonder these folks have become super-important to the Richmond scene in the post-quarantine era. With their formidable combination of musical chops, songwriting skills, and boundless amounts of scene support, it would be hard to imagine them NOT becoming one of the city’s most crucial bands.
For this gig, they’re also joining up with some touring bands from a more northeasterly direction — a collaboration facilitated by always-on-point local promoter Rival Booking. Philadelphians Soft No are similar to Destructo Disk in their melodic prowess, though these folks crank down the sheer energy in favor of a warm blanket of shoegaze-style fuzz. The combination is soothing and pleasurable, but blissed-out listeners will nonetheless find plenty of reasons to bang their heads and rock the hell out. Soft No are bringing fellow Philly natives Swerves with them, and this quartet simultaneously leans into the bouncy riff energy and the indie-pop melody of it all, coming out with a sound that reminds me more than anything of legendary K Records indie-twee legends Tiger Trap. Both of these touring groups are essential listening, and you definitely won’t want to miss them. That said, local openers Possum Den are also crucial, bringing a heavy yet quirky noise-rock energy to the evening that you’ll definitely want to get down with. Get ready to rock, everyone.
Friday, February 28, 8 PM
Sarah Hanahan, Mike Hawkins Trio @ Reveler Experiences – $25 (order tickets HERE)
I know I talk a lot in this column about going out to see live music on a nightly basis, and catching all the crucial new acts, and all that, but the truth is, I’m an aging lady and I work really hard, so I don’t actually get out nearly as often as I’d like to. I’ve got my ways of compensating for the amount of nights on which, by 8 pm, I’m too exhausted to get off my couch. Specifically, I watch live music on YouTube. Call me disloyal to the local scene if you want, but my wife and I regularly make a point of tuning into the frequent livestreams from Smalls Jazz Club in New York City, where they always seem to have incredible talents laying down some amazing sounds onstage. It was on the Smalls Jazz Club livestream, just last weekend, where I first heard Sarah Hanahan, who I found to be an incredibly talented young saxophonist with a clear love for classic hard bop sounds and a creative approach to her instrument. Only a couple of days later, I was putting together this column and saw that she’s playing here in Richmond this Friday night. If anything, it felt like a sign — one that read “WRITE ABOUT THIS SHOW” in all caps.
So here I am, telling y’all all about Sarah Hanahan. Having checked out her recently released debut album, Among Giants, I can tell you that she’s just as incredible in the studio as she is live. And the jazz world as a whole has taken notice — she was recently named by NPR’s Jazz Night In America as one of five “Youngbloods” under 30 who are revolutionizing the genre. So yeah, I guess you could say Sarah Hanahan is kind of a big deal. And this Friday night, she’ll be joining the Mike Hawkins Trio at Reveler. The evening will begin with a set from the trio, which joins bassist extraordinaire Michael Hawkins with fellow local legend Dr. Weldon Hill on piano and globetrotting drummer Billy Williams. Then Sarah Hanahan will join the trio for a unique quartet performance that you’re definitely not gonna want to miss. Richmond jazz heads take note — this chance to see such a world-class talent in such an intimate setting doesn’t come around very often. Take advantage of this opportunity.
Saturday, March 1, 7 PM
Immortal Technique, Poison Pen, DJ Static, BlackLiq, Reppa Ton, Ed Da Realist @ Ember Music Hall – $30-50 (order tickets HERE)
I haven’t talked about them that often since they got started, but it nonetheless can’t be denied: Ember Music Hall has come to play an important role in the Richmond music scene since they opened a year or two ago. Mostly they focus on electronic artists, which I admit isn’t always top of mind for me. But lately they’ve started to bring some legendary hip hop musicians through town, and if what they’re hoping for is some increased attention from this column, let me tell ya — this is how to do it. The latest highly talented hip hop veteran to come through at Ember is the one and only Immortal Technique, who is equally known for his incredible lyrical skills and his highly political rhymes. He doesn’t just talk a good game, either — he’s put significant effort into causes like immigrant rights, working with international human-rights organizations, and delivering food to low-income residents of New York City during the pandemic lockdowns.
He’s also remained staunchly independent in his musical efforts, which has seemingly combined with his at times controversial political stances to result in him not getting very much music out over the past decade or so. That being said, his excellent 2022 single “Civil War,” which featured Brother Ali, Killer Mike, and Chuck D, showed that his skills haven’t diminished in the slightest bit since his last full-length album, 2011’s The Martyr. For Richmond hip hop heads to get a super-rare chance to see him perform live is the kind of treat that doesn’t come along too often; everyone would definitely be well advised to take advantage of this opportunity. In addition to the performance by Immortal Technique, the evening will also feature appearances by some of the most talented local hip hop MCs this city has to offer. BlackLiq is of course one of our most decorated veterans of the Richmond rhyme game, and while he’s been putting more time into his metallic hardcore band, Armagideon Time, recently, his set will definitely be a potent reminder to us all that he’s still got an unmatched flow and tons of killer tracks. Fellow Richmonder Reppa Ton also has a long history of laying down powerful rhymes and getting the party started in a big way, so you can be assured that he’ll make sure the whole place gets hype when he hits the stage. Ultra-prolific Richmond MC Ed Da Realist will round out the bill with his energetic flow and urgent rhymes backed by soulful grooves that are sure to keep everybody dancing. Add all this together and you’ve got a recipe for one of the best hip hop shows this city’s seen in a good while. Don’t miss this one.
Sunday, March 2, 6:30 PM
Golden Fest (Part Two): A Benefit for Justin Golden, feat. The Hot Seats, Jonathan Paige Brown Jr., Brady Heck, John Bradberry, Dalton Dash @ Final Gravity – $20 (order tickets HERE)
It hasn’t been too long since we discussed the unfortunate plight of local blues guitarist, local mainstay, and all-around great guy Justin Golden, who has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. You can tell this city sincerely loves Justin, because a ton of people from our independent musical community have come together to organize a variety of fundraisers to make sure Justin isn’t crushed by the overwhelming medical debt he’s sure to incur as a result of the struggle he’s in. The previous fundraiser at Gallery 5 was a huge success, and right on its heels comes this more acoustically focused get-together on a Sunday evening over in Lakeside, at Final Gravity Brewing. There’ll be a variety of amazing things going on besides the music; for example, RVA Wood-Fired Pizza will be there cooking up some delicious pies, and there’ll also be a raffle of goods and services donated by community members, with all of the proceeds going straight to the Justin Golden benefit fund. And of course on top of all that, Final Gravity will have plenty of excellent craft brews on tap for your quaffing pleasure.
And then there’s the music, which will definitely be the highlight of the evening. The Hot Seats are at the top of the bill, as well they should be — this Richmond bluegrass troupe has been dishing out the classic acoustic sounds here in the river city for quite a long time, and have been amazing the entire time. They’re always worth seeing, and when you throw in the importance of the cause, this show is downright essential. As for the other artists on the bill, Jonathan Paige Brown Jr. is relatively new to the game but has generated quite the buzz since he started making his name in the Richmond music scene. He recently released his first single ever, “Divine,” and it’s an incredible emotionally-driven folk tune that’s bound to melt your heart. He’ll have plenty more where that came from during his Final Gravity set, too — you can count on that. You might know Brady Heck for his role as guitarist in Holy Roller, but he’s also got plenty of great solo tunes, generally of the classic country persuasion. He’ll give us a lovely smorgasbord of those tunes on this occasion, and we’re all sure to be better for it. Long-running Radford-born, Richmond-based bluegrass crew Dalton Dash will also be on hand to give us some upbeat acoustic jams to two-step along with. And Richmond guitarist John Bradberry, best known for his work with Faceship, Jackass Flats, and others, will round things out with a solo set that could go in a variety of different directions — but is sure to be great no matter which way it shakes out.
Monday, March 3, 6:30 PM
Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy, Dave Hill @ The National – $34.50 (order tickets HERE)
I wouldn’t have predicted that this was ever a thing we’d see in the world, but here it is, and believe it or not, it’s actually awesome. Let me explain: Michael Shannon, the vocalist in this project, is best known for his work as an actor, generally playing dark/semi-scary characters (Kim Fowley in The Runaways, Nelson Van Alden in Boardwalk Empire, Elvis Presley in Elvis & Nixon, etc). That said, he is a veteran musician, having previously sang in Chicago indie band Corporal. His chief collaborator on this project is Jason Narducy, an Illinois-based journeyman indie rocker who, in addition to leading his own bands, Verbow and Split Single, has played with Bob Mould, Superchunk, and Sunny Day Real Estate, among others. Shannon and Narducy started doing annual shows performing the music of REM a decade ago, but things kicked into a higher gear in 2024, when they toured in celebration of the 40th anniversary of REM’s debut album, Murmur, playing the classic LP in its entirety, along with other REM classics.
OK, I hear what you’re saying. “So this is really just an REM tribute band?” Well, yeah, kinda. But hey, REM certainly aren’t around to play these songs anymore, and it isn’t as if this is just some guys who started a tribute to their favorite band so they can play at sports bars on Saturday nights. This incarnation of Shannon & Narducy’s REM tribute act features some incredible additional members, including keyboardist Vijay Tellis-Nayak (best known for his work with jazz fusion quartet Kick The Cat), guitarist Dag Juhlin (of Poi Dog Pondering and Sunshine Boys, among others), bassist John Stirratt (a founding member of Wilco, who has also played in Narducy’s band, Split Single), and drummer Jon Wurster (of Superchunk, The Mountain Goats, The Best Show, and more — he’s also played with Narducy in Split Single and Bob Mould’s band). So yeah, this is a high-powered collection of indie-rock talents! If REM themselves aren’t available, this sextet is surely the next best thing. Musician and comedian Dave Hill, who hosts the Maximum Fun network podcast The Dave Hill Goodtime Hour, will be opening this one up, but Shannon, Narducy, and friends are definitely the reason for the season. Be there — and say hey if you see me.
Tuesday, March 4, 7 PM
ASkySoBlack, Polarview, Shiv @ The Camel – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Richmond-based promoter Love Tiger Connection doesn’t do a ton of shows lately, and if anything that makes me even more excited when I see one of their distinctive show flyers flash across my timeline. These folks definitely have their finger on the pulse where the current underground post-hardcore scene is concerned, and since I love that style of music, I always want to check out anyone they’re bringing through town — especially if I haven’t heard of them before. ASkySoBlack is that exact sort of band — a relatively new post-hardcore combo that had never made it onto my radar before Love Tiger Connection brought them to my attention — so I was excited to check out their brand new debut LP, Touch Heaven. Sure enough, it hits all the right notes; mixing driving alt-rock riffage with the low-end guitar crunch of classic Hum and Sunny Day Real Estate material, these folks call to mind fellow Pennsylvanians Superheaven, but also carry hints of angsty emo-pop-punk (like The Story So Far at their moodiest) and glittering UK-style postpunk (there are definite hints of the Chameleons in the guitar sound).
Regardless of how moody or melodic things get, it’s clear from the driving riffs and hard-hitting breakdowns that this band has retained plenty of the hardcore influence that keeps post-hardcore bands from drifting over a fine line and into plain ol’ alternative rock. Therefore I am confident that their live show will bring volume and energy, in the best possible way. As for Baltimore post-hardcore combo Polarview, who are also on this bill, their sound is a bit more Nirvana-influenced, but still definitely carrying plenty of the guitar crunch and driving riffage that makes this genre so essential. Openers Shiv are definitely the heaviest band on this bill, bringing highly distorted guitar riffs and sludgy tempos that feel like what you’d get if Hum went doom metal — though they mix in strong, melodic vocals that add a powerful contrast and sweeten the pot considerably. Ultimately, every band on this bill is essential even if you aren’t super-duper stoked about post-hardcore the way I am. Who knows? Maybe this show will convert you. One of us! One of us!
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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