Avett Brothers, Jackson Browne, Killers, Sara Watkins, Future Islands, Clutch, Iceage, Michael Franti

This is an incredibly busy week for music. Don't know if it's due to some bands crisscrossing Richmond on their way to Gathering of the Vibes festival in CT, AllGood Fest in WV and/or Firefly Fest in Dover DE, or just dumb luck.

The Avett Brothers bring their Americana music to Innsbrook on Friday night. General Admission tix in advance are $30 and $35 at the gate. Gates open at 6 and the show opens with Jessica Lee Mayfield. The Avett Brothers have a new album, "The Carpenter" coming out on September 11 so you might hear some new songs from that. You can preview the track "Live and Die" (along with a bunch of new music from other bands) from the album HERE. And here's the Avett Brothers doing "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" live:
 

The Killers will be at The National on Friday night but that show has been sold out for a long time now. If you want to head down anyway, doors open at 8, show starts at 9 and there is no opener listed, so get in on time. Since it's so hot, I thought you might want to think of Christmas, so here are The Killers doing "Cowboy Christmas Ball":



Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jackson Browne comes to the Carpenter Theatre on Friday night. Tickets run from $70 to $76. Show starts at 8 with opener Sara Watkins, who played at Friday Cheers earlier this year and was quite good. Jackson will be playing solo on acoustic guitar and piano, though Sara may join him on the fiddle. Here's Jackson at last year's Glastonbury Festival doing "I'm Alive":



On the local front Friday night, funky country jam band Southern Belles will be at the reopened Republic. The show starts at 8. The Belles will close the night out. The opening band is The Good Birds.

Barstool Heroes will bring their outlaw country cover tunes (think Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash) to Cary St. Cafe on Friday night. Cover charge is $5.

On Saturday, Schneck-A-Palooza goes down at Garage Mahal in Mechanicsville. It'll run from noon until 1 AM with a ton of local bands. Here is the lineup:
Noon-Wake of the Flood
1PM -Crossroad Voodoo
2PM -Marionette
3PM -Secret Agent T
4PM -Weeping Molly
5PM -The Vendors
6PM -Workhorse Blue
7PM -The Atkinsons
8PM -Barstool Heroes
9PM -Reverend D-Ray and the Shockers
10PM- Octane Saints
11PM Peoples Blues of Richmond
12AM The Blackout Shift


Donations will be taken to benefit the local SPCA.


At Strange Matter on Saturday night, heavy psychedelic band Diamond Center will provide the soundtrack for your trip. Cover charge is TBA. Show starts at 9 PM with Canary Oh Canary, Ttotals (from Nashville) and Creepoid (from Philly). The bad news is that Diamond Center says this will be their last show of 2012. The good news is that's because they'll be working on a new full length album.


Electro-pop band Future Islands will be at The Camel on Saturday night. Tix are $11 in advance, $13 at the door. Show starts at 9 with Marionette and Dope Body. Here's Future Islands' song "Tin Man":


Sunday, Music in the Park at Forest Hill Park presents a free show from local ska band 808. Show starts at 5:30 and this is an all ages, FREE event. 808 recently opened up for seminal ska band English Beat.

Funky, alt-metal band Clutch will be at The National on Sunday night. Tix are $18 in advance, $22 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Lionize & Prong. You might dig Clutch if you like Led Zeppelin, Faith No More, Alice in Chains, Black Sabbath, Melvins, Soundgarden, Primus, or Tool. Here's Clutch doing "Electric Worry":



How you feeelin'! Michael Franti & Spearhead will be in town Wednesday night at The National to ask you that many times (trust me). Their show is always an upbeat, love fest and I mean that in the best way. You'll leave feeling happy and tired from bouncing and dancing. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with Nic Cowan opening. This is one of my favorite Michael Franti songs, "Never Too Late". I put this one on one of the mixes I make with and for my kids.


Danish punk group Iceage will be at Strange Matter on Wednesday night. Tix are $10. Show starts at 9 with  Zaloa, Unholy Thoughts, Lost Tribe and Double Negative.

Also on Wednesday night, Southern Belles will be at Cary St. Cafe. Show starts at 10 PM and there is no cover.

Here's your special bonus video just because I found myself singing it today. Love the harmonies! This is The Jayhawks, "Blue":


That'll do it until next week. Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan