Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Weekend Picks: Riverrock, Mary Gauthier, Seahaven, Titus Andronicus, Neon Trees, Bluegrass & Brews, Good Day in RVA

The big event this weekend is Dominion Riverrock with three days of music and extreme sports (and hopefully no vodka bottle thrown at anyone). It's FREE the whole weekend and runs from 5 - 9:30 PM on Friday, 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM on Saturday and 11 AM to 5 PM on Sunday. The kids (and dad, too) always dig the Ultimate Air Dogs competition and the freestyle bikes. There's also a number of races (running and mountain biking) for those of you athletically inclined, slacklining for you to try and to watch the pros, kayaking, bouldering, and yoga too. The dogs get the kids there, but dad's going for the music. HERE'S the full music schedule. Highlights include experimental bluegrass band Infamous Stringdusters (7:30 Friday), People's Blues of Richmond (3:30 Saturday), The London Souls (6:15 PM Saturday), and reggae Hasidic rapper Matisyahu (7:45 PM Saturday). Here's some Infamous Stringdusters doing a Grateful Dead classic in Vegas:



Americana singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier will be at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Friday. Show starts at 8, tix are $17 in advance, $20 at the door. Here's' a short set form Mary on WUWF FM:



It's Bluegrass & Brews Saturday at AlterNatives at 3320 W Cary St. This is a benefit to raise awareness and funds, which will be used to build safe, fuel-efficient stoves for the people living in the Guatemalan Highlands. Safe, fuel-efficient stoves there help save lives, prevent illnesses, reduce deforestation/carbon emissions, and help lead to empowering women of that area. It'll run from 11 AM to 11 PM behind AlterNatives, Plan 9 and a few other stores in Carytown (check the schedule to see where). While it's free, you'll hopefully donate some money to the cause. Bands include Red Light Rodeo, Yankee Dixie, Sturgeon City, Cutch Tuttle & Hound Dog Hill, Clay Spokes, Relacksachian, The Heat Run, The Inflatables, and a number of other bands, including a special, secret performance from one of Richmond's finest bluegrass bands. Here's Red Light Rodeo with "Aces & Eights":




Hardywood has declared Saturday a Good Day in RVA. This'll be a FREE festival from 2 PM to 10 PM featuring Richmond's creative community with crafts, face painting, food carts and a bunch o' bands including The Trillions, Navi, Heavy Midgets, Houdan the Mystic, The Snowy Owls, Dumb Waiter, Hot Dolphin, Night Idea, Clair Morgan, Josh Small and Andrew Alli, Dave Watkins, Sleepwalkers, Lightfields and The Green Boys. Here's The Trillions with I.C.C.B.:



At Strange Matter Saturday, punk/emo/alternative/indie rock band Seahaven will headline. This is an early (doors open at 5) show for all ages. It's $12 bucks to get in. Adventures & Foxing open. Here's Seahaven's new video for "Silhouette (Latin Skin)". I dig this tune and it's cool, dreamy, summery feel like that feeling you get when you've been sitting on the beach all day and it's 6:30 and you've got a good beer buzz and the waves are becoming more hypnotic and the breeze is really starting to cool you off and you're trying to head back to the house for a shower and dinner but you feel too good to get up:



After their afternoon shows at Dominion Riverrock on Saturday, The Congress & People's Blues of Richmond will head to Broadberry for a gig. Doors open at 8, it's an all ages show, tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. The Congress play good ol' blues/country based rock n' roll. Here's their show from Nedfest in Nederland CO in August 2013:



NJ Punk/indie band Titus Andronicus will be at Strange Matter Sunday. Doors open at 6, it's $12 to get in and this is an all ages show. Baked & Verma will open. Here's Titus Andronicus with "Still Life With Hot Deuce & Silver Platter":



Tuesday night, pop rockers Neon Trees are at The National. Tix are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with openers Smallpoolls and Nightmare & The Cat. Here's Neon Trees' "First Things First":



Springsteen has been doing some crazy covers lately. Now he's doing Van Halen tunes but with Tom Morello tapping the frets, it's not so crazy. Might as well jump.



Have a great weekend! See you at Riverrock!

Tony Jordan

No comments:

Post a Comment