Scene Recap: Richmond Brave, Out Of Your Head, The Gherkins

Published February 10, 2023

There’s a ton of great outlets, organizations, and individuals covering the music scene in Richmond. So many that it might be hard to keep up to date on all of them. We’ll try and collect some great articles, coverage, and news bits we’ve read each week here at The Auricular.

• The Newlin Music Prize announces its 2023 shortlist on Monday. I’ll have a lot more to say after the official announcement, but definitely keep an eye out for the list. (Newlin link here.)

• Davy Jones profiled Richmond/New York label Out Of Your Head Records for Style Weekly. Their upcoming concert series at Artspace is definitely something you want to see. (Article link here.)

• Zach Kirby penned this great piece over at theMSQshop on the new Richmond Brave album by Noah-O and Big No. Those two are doing a contest right now in conjunction with their billboard (!!!) in the city so check that out too after you read the article & listen to the record, hopefully for the second or third time! (Article link here.)

• Drop what you’re doing right now and go watch Hotspit on Shockoe Sessions Live from this past Tuesday. I was lucky enough to be in the audience for that show and it was absolutely incredible. The band just dropped their new EP, Memory Of A Mirror Image, this past weekend and I’ve had it on repeat all week. The band’s linktree can point you to your preferred streaming platform (click here). Listen to it, fall in love with it, and then be like me and text everyone in your phone about it. I also caught the band at Gallery5 for their release show which was equally great (shout-out Lance Bangs and Twin Drugs), but since there’s nothing but social media videos to share from that set, I highly recommend you check out their performance at In Your Ear. Make sure you’re keeping up with what Shockoe Sessions Live has in store each week too. Their next concert/livestream features Radio B who is one of the most vital and prolific voices in Richmond’s hip-hop scene. Trust, trust, trust me when I say you do not want to miss it! (YouTube link here.)

• River City Sounds added two new people to their team recently and the first episode with them on it features the dreamy garage act Charm Offensive. Check it out sooner than later and make sure to catch Charm Offensive around town when you can. You won’t be disappointed. (Spotify link here.)

• The Mattison Network is set to drop the first episode of The Rap Class on Wednesday, February 22nd. You can go to YouTube now and sign up for notifications so you know when it goes live. First episode is with Dyfferant, a true force in today’s local hip-hop scene. (YouTube link here.)

• HearRVA is busy at work on the second season of Liner Notes. Make sure to check out their Instagram for some behind the scenes shots as they continue production, but also make sure you’re heading over there to see their weekly curated lists of new releases. (Instagram link here.)

• Hey, it’s 68 today! Hey, it’s going to be cloudy and cold Saturday or Sunday. Oh well — nothing like live music to warm up the soul, huh? The amazing RestlessRVA duo will have a nice weekend schedule to post over on their Instagram so make sure to follow that. (Instagram link here.) For a curated list of the whole week, the astounding Marilyn Drew Necci has her detailed show column available here at The Auricular each and every Wednesday so don’t miss that! (Article link here.)

• Time to wrap it up with a local song and this week’s pick is from a band that deserves to be in your listening rotation: The Gherkins. Chris Scharling and Martin Scott make up this group and their record from last year, Doctors And Other Wizards Are Forbidden, is a twisty collection of fun, memorable rock tracks. There are several great songs I could choose here, from “Wishing Well” to “End Of Summer,” but I think I’ll go with the bluesy-garage stomp “Frequency,” which opens up the album. This is one of those songs that you love to stumble upon. Maybe you hear it on a random playlist. Maybe you hear it on the radio after you turn on the car. It raises your eyebrows, excites your ear, and instantly makes you want to hear more from the band. Tense, dynamic, and a little peculiar, it’s a great showcase of The Gherkin’s impressive sound. Enjoy it below and I’ll catch you all next week.