Late Night Pick: Charlie Watts

Tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts will be sitting in with The Roots. Don't know how much screen time they'll give him, whether he'll play a song or we'll just have to him on the breaks in and out of the show but it should be worth checking out. Late Night is on NBC at 12:35 AM.

Brandi Carlile, Trampled By Turtles, RVA Noise Fest, Fireworks on the James, More Fireworks!

Two good shows to choose from tonight. Brandi Carlile comes to Groovin in the Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden tonight. Gates open at 5:30, show starts around 6 with a national act opening, The Lumineers. General Admission Lawn- $25 in advance (Children 9 and under admitted free), General Reserve Seating- $45. Stephen Stills recently gave Brandi some props on an interview on CBS This Morning. Here's her latest video, "That Wasn't Me", starring Kris Kristofferson:




Also tonight at the final Friday Cheers of the season :-( , newgrass band Trampled by Turtles will perform for your pleasure. Tix are $10. Tonight, Cheers will be honoring Ralph White, who was the caretaker of the James River Park System until he passed away [UPDATE: Ralph is not dead! Reports of his death were greatly exaggerated. He's just retiring. So say hello to him tonight and tell him you're glad he's not dead. Sorry, Ralph.]and tonight's show will benefit the James River Park System. The show gets underway at 6:30 with opener Goldrush. TBT is quite the road warriors right now, with lot of their own shows, folk festivals, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits fest and a tour of the UK and Ireland coming up over the next few months. Looks like they are really working it and starting to take off. Here's TBT's latest video, "Alone":


If you like your music a little (OK, a lot) louder, check out the RVA Noise Fest going on this weekend at Strange Matter. It'll go down both Saturday and Sunday. Doors open at 5 PM and music starts at 6 PM. The show will feature 10 - 20 minute sets from a whole buncha bands. Check the link above for the full listing of show times. It'll get weird, noisy, psychedelic and experimental.

Tuesday night, July 3, RVA Fireworks on the James will happen on Brown's Island. The island opens at 6, entertainment from the Richmond Youth Symphony Orchestra, SPARC and Richmond Ballet's Music In Motion, starts at 7:30 (was heavy on the show tunes last year) and the fireworks launch from Belle Isle and Lee Bridge around 9:30. Was a really good fireworks show last year. It's all FREE and you can go HERE for more info.

For info on fireworks all over Virginia, go HERE.

See you down at Friday Cheers and at the fireworks on Brown's Island (I love the island!). Have a safe and happy Independence Day!  I'll leave you with this thought which is NSFW.



Tony Jordan

Umphrey's McGee, Late Night Pick: Brandi Carlile

Tonight, jam band Umphrey's McGee headline at Groovin' in the Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Gates open at 5:30, show starts around 6 and it's just Umphrey's so get there on time. Tix are $20. Here's Umphrey's performing "2nd Self" in May. Watch out for some bad words at the end of the video after the music ends.


Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is Brandi Carlile on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:35 AM on CBS. Brandi will be at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden tomorrow night for a show. More on that in tonight's blog covering the weekend's activities.

Late Night Pick: Big K.R.I.T.

Tonight, rapper Big K.R.I.T. will be on Conan on TBS at 11 PM along with Russell Brand. If the power is back on at my house, I will be able to watch or DVR it. Otherwise, it's another night of reading, dinner by candlelight, watching DVDs on the portable DVD player (at least the kids picked Simpsons last night and not Alvin & The Chipmunks) and bed by 10. At least I get a good night's sleep and the weather has been cooperative.

Late Night Pick: Alabama Shakes

Fresh off a great (though short) show at Friday Cheers last Friday, Alabama Shakes will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight on NBC at 12:35 AM. Also on the show is the always crazy Charlie Sheen. You can get some free music featuring Alabama Shakes, Alberta Cross, Lucero, Caitlin Rose, SOJA, Mariachi El Bronx, My Morning Jacket, Umphrey's McGee, Primus and others by downloading the FREE ATO Records Spring Sampler.

Late Night Pick: Bomba Estereo

Let's get global tonight with a band that blends traditional Colombian music with electro (funky electronica). That band would be Bomba Estereo and they will be on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight at 1:35 AM on NBC.

Alabama Shakes, Hot Tuna, Three Sheets to the Wind, Southern Belles, Orion Music Fest webcast

Tonight, provided the thunderstorms hold off, Alabama Shakes will be at Friday Cheers. Show starts at 6:30 with opener Robert Ellis and it's only $5 to get in. Way back when the Cheers lineup was announced, this was the one I circled on my virtual calendar as the one to see. This band is up and rising, which is always the best time to see a band, with stories in the media and a huge buzz around them. Their contemporary, hard, Southern blues (think Allman Brothers, Drive-By Truckers, Janis Joplin, Gov't Mule) seems to be striking a chord. Here they are performing "Be Mine" at Bonnaroo a couple weeks ago. Don't miss this one.


Saturday and Sunday, there will be a webcast from Metallica's Orion Festival in Atlantic City. You will find it HERE.  It will start at 5:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, Metallica will perform "The Black Album" (the one with Enter Sandman) in it's entireity. Sunday, they'll do the album"Ride the Lightning" all the way through. Also on the webcast, Modest Mouse, The Gaslight Anthem, Best Coast, Eric Church, Arctic Monkeys and more. They don't have an official schedule up yet, so tune in tomorrow and they'll probably have one posted by then.

A bunch of old SF hippies bring their brand of psychedelic electric (yes, they are playing electric) blues to The National on Monday night. Hot Tuna (featuring Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy of Jefferson Airplane) will perform. Tix are $25 for reserved in the balcony and $20 for general admission on the floor. Doors open at 7, and the show starts at 8 with jam band guitar virtuoso, Steve Kimock (Other Ones, Phil Lesh and Friends), who will surely join the Tuna later. Hot Tuna's latest album "Steady As She Goes" was named to Jamband News' "Top 10 albums of 2011". Here's Hot Tuna back in 1970 doing "Hesitation Blues" acoustic:



Wednesday night, it's 80's for the Ladies night at Innsbrook with Yacht Rock cover bands Three Sheets to the Wind and Love Canon. Gates open at 6. Ladies and children 10 and under will get in free to general admission. For the guys, it's $5 for GA in advance, $10 at the gate. You can also get Platinum Seating for $25 that gets you Gold Circle seating and admission to the VIP tent for complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres.

Also on Wednesday, jam-groove band, Southern Belles will be at Cary St. Cafe starting at 10. It's FREE!

Have a great weekend! Pray to the weather gods to hold off on the thunderstorms until after Cheers tonight. See you down at Brown's Island!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: M83

Indie electronic band M83 will be on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight on NBC at 1:35 AM. M83 will be at The National on September 29 so get a sneak preview tonight.

Late Night Pick: Walk the Moon

Tonight, check out Cincinnati's indie dance rockers Walk the Moon on Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35 PM on CBS. Their latest single was picked as one of Esquire Magazine's "11 Songs a man should be listening to this week" so they got that going for them.

Late Night Pick: Fiona Apple

Tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Fiona Apple will bring her unique musical talents to perform. Late Night is on at 12:30 AM on NBC. Fiona's latest album, "The Idler Wheel Is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do" (yes, that's the full title and it's still shorter than the title of the "When the Pawn..etc." album) is getting some of the best reviews for a new album in a long time with a score of 96 out of 100 on Metacritic.

Late Night Pick: Milow

Tonight, Belgian singer/songwriter Milow will be on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35 AM on NBC. Check him out just to hear what a Belgian singer/songwriter sounds like. He's supposed to be pretty good too.

Dawes, Patterson Hood, Puscifer, Yeasayer, Los Campesinos!, Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Wailers

A busy weekend ahead starting with Dawes & Sara Watkins at Friday Cheers. Friday Cheers goes down at Brown's Island starting at 6:30 PM. It'll cost you just $5 to get in. This week, one of the few weeks when a national act is the opener with former member of Nickel Creek, Sara Watkins. HERE is the link to the article about her in Thursday's Times-Dispatch. Critically acclaimed Dawes is the headliner. Here's the press release from Dawes: "A self-described "American rock 'n' roll band," Dawes represent everything pure and true about that fundamental delineation, four talented friends making music together, fueled by a shared belief in the power of their songs. With Nothing Is Wrong, the Los Angeles-based band – singer/guitarist Goldsmith, his brother Griffin on drums, keyboardist Tay Strathairn, and bassist Wylie Gelber – continue to master their blend of singer/songwriter reflection with folk, country, and AOR-inspired arrangements, all ringing guitars, soaring harmonies, and heartfelt melodies. After spending much of the past two years on tour, songs like "Coming Back To A Man" and "Time Spent In Los Angeles" have a restless, unsettled quality evocative of life lived on the road. A collection of songs that expertly builds upon the template laid by 2009's extraordinary debut, North Hills, Nothing Is Wrong sees Dawes displaying staggering growth and evolution while still manifesting their distinctive, unforgettable voice.

Along with critical approbation and an ever-growing fan following, Dawes has earned admiration from many of their greatest heroes. Benmont Tench of The Heartbreakers joined the band on organ on both North Hills and Nothing Is Wrong, while the new album's "Fire Away" sees guest vocals from Jackson Browne, who has since invited the band to both support and back him on a European tour. In addition, after Goldsmith contributed vocals to Robbie Robertson's star-studded new How To Become Clairvoyant, the legendary guitarist/songwriter asked Dawes to serve as his backing combo for a number of promotional performances, sensing in them the character of a true band, a tight knit unit who know how to work together and instinctively play off each other's individual gifts.

"The most promising purveyors of new-school country folk...so authentically vintage." – Rolling Stone

"They've fashioned an identity of their own, it feels current and authentic, yet steeped in tradition." - Jackson Browne Men's Journal Dec 2011"

And here is Dawes doing one of my latest favorite songs, "Time Spent in Los Angeles":

Drive-By Truckers front man, Patterson Hood, will play at the newly renovated Virginia Room at the John Marshall Hotel on Friday night. The show starts at 8 and tix are $20 or $35 for VIP. Not many shows for Drive-By Truckers this year, as they are taking some well deserved time off, so this may be all we get from DBT this year. Patterson's songs capture a Southern working-man vibe sprinkled with some Southern Gothic. He's got a new record coming out soon so you'll hear some new songs too. Here's some performance/interview from NPR's "Mountain Stage". If you go to the video on YouTube, you'll find links to the audio of the whole show.



No BS! Brass Band will be at The Camel Friday night. Show will start at 9 and it's $7 to get in. Planet Hunting Methods will start the show.

People's Blues of Richmond will be at the Tobacco Company Friday. It's FREE to get in and the show starts at 9:30. You can download some free PBR music HERE.

Saturday, you can head to Belle Island and enjoy nature along with some unplugged music at the Power Plant on the island at the Summer Solstice Power Jam 2012. It'll run from 1 PM to 7 PM and click the old link there to see what time the bands are playing. There will be 11 bands playing.

Sunday, Skydog, the Allman Brothers tribute band will be doing a free show at Forest Hill Park from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Monday, the band with the name that sounds slightly dirty and Maynard James Keenan's (Tool's lead singer) side project, Puscifer, will be at The National. It's $35 for reserved seats in the balcony, $30 for general admission on the floor. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Carina Round will open. Here's Puscifer doing "Telling Ghosts":


Tuesday night at The National, indie rockers Yeasayer will be perform. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and make sure you get in early in time to see opener Delicate Steve. This is the first show of Yeasayer's Fragrant World Tour so they should be raring to go. I don't know if this is an official video for this song as it's dubbed an "Official Vignette" on YouTube but it's official and it's got some cool vids to watch while you listen to Yeasayer's "Henrietta":



Tuesday and Wednesday night in Portsmouth VA, Phish comes back to one of the smaller venues they play. I'll be there Wednesday night so if you're going, say hello when you see me! The shows are sold out but you can watch them on your computer/Internet device because the band is doing a webcast of both shows. You can buy one or both shows. Details are HERE.

Here at home on Wednesday night, the non-Spanish band with the Spanish name, Los Campesinos!, will play at The National. Tix are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Yellow Ostrich. Los Campesinos are a pop-rock with a touch of punk who you may like if you like Arctic Monkeys, The Smiths, Violent Femmes, or Yo La Tengo. Here they are on Letterman in January doing a song I really dig, "By Your Hand":



Thursday night (6/21), The Wailers return to the area for a show at Pocahontas State Park. Tix are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the gate and kids 10 and under are free. There is also a $5 fee per car when you enter the park. Gates open at 6, show starts at 6:30 with opener giLL.

Americana legend Ray Wylie Hubbard will be at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Thursday (6/21). Tix are $25 in advance, $30 day of show. Show starts at 8 PM with The Honeycutters. I love Ray's sense of humor as evidenced on songs like "Choctaw Bingo" and this one, "Snake Farm" (it just sounds nasty):

Also, Thursday (6/21) you can check out No BS! Brass Band at Balliceaux. Show starts at 10 PM and it's FREE.

Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Jonathan Richman, Jeff The Brotherhood, Temptations, Late Night Pick: Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald

Tonight, alt-rock/new wave pioneer (with The Modern Lovers) Jonathan Richman comes to The Camel. Doors are at 8, show starts at 9, tix are $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Here's Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers, "Pablo Picasso":


Also, tonight at Strange Matter, noise pop band Jeff The Brotherhood will perform. It's $10 to get in. Doors open at 9, the show starts at 9:30 with openers Heavy Cream & Palindrone. Jeff the Brotherhood's new album, "Hypnotic Nights" will be out July 17 so I'm sure you'll hear some cuts from that. Here's "Bummer"from their last album:


Down in Powhatan tonight, The Temptations bring that Motown sound as part of the Powhatan Live series at Powhatan Courthouse. Gates open at 6, show starts at 6:30. Tix are $20 at the gate. If you are wondering how many of The Temps are left from their prime years, that would be one and that would be Otis Williams, who has been with the band since 1958 when they were known as The Distants. Here's The Temptations doing "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" in 1966. Awesome dance moves!


Tonight's Late Night Pick is the Dukes of September Rhythm Revue which is led by Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Boz Scaggs, and Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers). They'll be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC at 12:35 AM. Doesn't look like the Dukes will be hitting up Richmond this year on what is becoming an annual summer tour, but you can catch them in Vienna VA at Wolf Trap.

More on the rest of the weekend tonight!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Gregg Allman

Gregg Allman continues to defy death (considering all the drugs and alcohol he took) and continues to shill his autobiography tonight on the Colbert Report on Comedy Central at 11:30 PM.

Late Night Pick: Alejandro Escovedo

Roots rocker and friend of The Boss, Alejandro Escovedo, will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight at 12:35 AM on NBC. AE's new album, "Big Station", is getting the best reviews of his career.

ALO, Vince Gill, Sarah Jarosz, Of Montreal, Diamond Center, The Mirrors, Bonnaroo Webcast

As usual in the months of May & June, we begin our weekend at Friday Cheers on Brown's Island, this week with jam band ALO. It's $5 to get in and the show starts at 6:30 with local band, Former Champions. (If you miss Former Champions here or just want to see more, they'll be at The Camel Saturday night at 9, $8 cover and at Cary St. Cafe on Tuesday night at 10 PM for FREE.) The next night, ALO will be at Bonnaroo (more on that in a second). Here's what some people said about ALO:

• "SXSW 2012 Can't-Miss-Act" – Rolling Stone
• "They can improvise and jam as good as anyone I've ever seen. But they got these songs that really stick in your head as well." – Jack Johnson
• "Each member of ALO could easily be the musical star of their own band, so it's nice to see accomplished musicians like these stick together." – Associated Press
• "A funky blend of '70′s, R&B and jazz, with a whopping dollop of groove." – Keyboard Magazine
• "Little bit of funk, a little bit of pop, a lot of energy and a big dollop of dance-worthy music – that's the recipe that's brought ALO a fan base far and wide." – San Diego Magazine
• "Weaving jazz, blues and funk into a soulful California party blend." – Relix

Here's ALO's latest video, "Speed of Dreams":

I mentioned Bonnaroo earlier and they have a great webcast lined up on YouTube HERE. It will start at 1:30 EDT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and looks like they'll have three channels going for your viewing pleasure. On Friday, check out tuneYards, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Laura Marling, Avett Brothers, Fitz & the Tantrums, Alabama Shakes, St. Vincent, Rodrigo y Gabriela, White Denim and Radiohead (at 11 PM EDT). On Saturday, Charles Bradley, Sam Bush, Dawes,  Red Hot Chili Peppers and Umphrey's McGee. On Sunday, Delta Spirit, Gary Clark Jr., ALO, Trampled By Turtles, Kenny Rogers (?!?), Ben Folds Five, Bon Iver, and Phish (both sets!). Just like being there except you'll be comfortable and there will be no line for the bathroom.

Here in Richmond on Saturday, The Mirrors will be at Current (the restaurant) @ The Hat Factory. Show will start at 8 and it doesn't look like there is a cover. Vega Omega and another band (tba) will open. The Mirrors play 60's style psychedelia and garage rock (think Beatles, Stones, Kinks, early Floyd).



Sunday, it's an early show at Strange Matter with Richmond garage psychedelic band Diamond Center. This will be one of the last four shows they play this year as they are going to take some time off from playing live to record their new album. Doors open at 4, show starts at 5 with openers Psychic Flowers and another band tba. Here's Diamond Center doing their song "Wax & Wane" in Memphis in April:



On Wednesday night, a bluegrass/country show at Groovin' in the Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens with Vince Gill and Sarah Jarosz. Gates open at 5:30, show starts around 6. Tix are $45. You can see Sarah on the YouTube Bonnaroo webcast this weekend. Here's Vince Gill and Sting doing "Whenever You Come Around" from the Crossroads show on CMT:



On the opposite end of the musical spectrum from Vince Gill, experimental, theatrical rock band Of Montreal will be at The National on Wednesday. Tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with opener Chappo. If you want a preview of the show, here they are doing "The Past is a Grotesque Animal". You can check out the full show from DC in April HERE but I couldn't embed it.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Buddy Guy; People's Blues of Richmond @ Republic

Been gone for work for a few days so been a bit lax in getting to the blog. Very busy but got to drive some beautiful roads (Rt. 58) in SW VA. Can't wait to get back down to the Jefferson National Forest sometime and do some hiking or biking instead of just driving through.

Tonight, blues legend Buddy Guy gets the whole show on Tavis Smiley on PBS. Check your local listing for time. They'll talk about Buddy's new memoir, "When I Left Home", and I'm sure Buddy will play a couple tunes.

Richmond's own hard-rocking bluesmen, People's Blues of Richmond, will be tearing it up at The Republic tonight. Show starts at 10 PM. It's FREE for those over 21 and $5 for those 18 - 20.

More to come on the whole weekend tonight!

Friday Cheers is CANCELLED this evening

This hasn't happened in a while. Just glad it was the one I wasn't going to go to.

Friday Cheers is CANCELLED this evening due to projected severe weather this evening between the hours of 7-10 p.m.


Tickets for tonight's Chris Young concert will be honored for ANY show the rest of the Cheers season, through June 29, 2012.

Late Night Pick: Big K.R.I.T.

Tonight, watch rapper Big K.R.I.T. on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC at 12:35 AM. K.R.I.T.'s new album "Live from the Underground" is released on Tuesday.