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