Thursday, May 7, 2009

Friday Cheers: JGB, City Slickers Bluegrass Fest, Snoop Dogg

Friday Cheers kicks off its season on Friday night with JGB (that's Jerry Garcia Band) featuring Melvin Seals. JGB is the band that used to back up Jerry Garcia on his side solo project. It always kind of irked me that they would call themselves JGB when there was no longer a JG. In fact, they are even less of the Jerry Garcia Band than before as only two of the six current members (including Melvin Seals) were in the Jerry Garcia Band. I think I saw them once or twice at a festival and I don't really remember them so they didn't affect me much one way or the other. However, since Friday Cheers is FREE and since I am dying to get out of the house after a week of rain and enjoy some beers down by the rivah, I'm going to look at this as a very good cover band with very good musicians playing some very good songs and not get all wrapped up in the name thing. The show opens at 6 PM with opening act The Spaceheaters.

Here's JGB doing The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" last year at Magnoliafest with some tasty organ by Melvin Seals:




Saturday there are a couple small festivals here in Richmond. The Strawberry Street Festival celebrates its 30th Anniversary. This takes place at 2300 Hanover Avenue in Richmond from noon until 4:30 and benefits the William Fox Elementary School PTA. This will be a good one for the kids and Cashmere Jungle Lords will be playing a set at 2:45.

The River City Beer Fest will be going on outside of Bandito's at 2905 Patterson Ave in Richmond and will run from 1 - 7 PM. From the beer lineup on the poster it looks like they'll have some pretty good microbrews represented. Music will be provided by Powder Keg, Big Boss Combo, Gorgeous, Bart Chucker Band & Build A Band.

If you wanted to walk between the two festivals its only a 12 minute walk. So you could entertain the kids at the Strawberry St. fest and then walk them over to the Beer Fest so you could quaff a few brews.

Also Saturday afternoon is the City Slickers Bluegrass Festival at the Science Museum of VA. Gates open at 2:30, show starts at 3 and tix are $15 in advance, $20 day of show. The show will feature Seldom Scene, The Grascals, Sierra Hull, and Page Wilson with Reckless Abandon.

Monday night, smoke 'em if you got 'em 'cause Snoop Dogg is coming to The National. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with "a special guest", and tix are $35. Here's one of Snoop's greatest songs that'll help get you ready for the weekend, "Gin & Juice".




Tuesday at The National, Gavin Rossdale (formerly of Bush and the lucky man who gets to sleep with Gwen Stefani) comes to town. Doors open at 7 and show starts at 8. Tix are $23.

Wednesday at The National, The Shins play. Doors open at 7 and show starts at 8 with opener The Delta Spirit. Tix are $35. You'll dig The Shins if you like bands like Spoon, Death Cab for Cutie, Feist, Arcade Fire, The Byrds, Donovan, XTC, Badfinger, Nick Drake, or The Beach Boys.

Here's the video for The Shins, "Sleeping Lessons":


Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

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