M83, Minus the Bear, Ian Anderson, Adam Ant, Southern Belles

A pretty good weekend shaping up musically. You can start at The Camel on Friday night with No BS! Brass Band. The show will start at 9 PM with opener Rattlemouth. It's $7 to get in.

Electronica artist M83 hits up The National on Saturday night. Tix are $27.50 in advance, $30 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with opener Sun Airway. You might dig M83 if you like Air, Brian Eno, Kate Bush, Pink Floyd, Simple Minds, Talk Talk, Tangerine Dream or Tears for Fears. Here is a fan made video using time-lapse photography of LA set to M83's "Echoes of Mine":



Electrified country funk jam band, Southern Belles, will celebrate the release of their new CD, "Sharp as a Knife", with a show at The Camel. Doors open at 8, music starts at 10 with opener The Shack Band. It's $7 to get in or you can pay $10 to get in and get a copy of the new CD. The band will be augmented by a horn section and pedal steel guitarist, Stephen Kuester, so this should be a pretty killer show. The band played on CBS 6's "Virginia This Morning" on Monday. Here's the video:


Grateful Dead cover band, King Solomon's Marbles, will be at Cary St. Cafe on Saturday. They'll start at 10 PM and it's $7 to get in.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull performs the concept albums "Thick as a Brick" and "Thick as a Brick, pt. 2" in their entirety at the Carpenter Theatre on Sunday night. BTW, I heard the Fresh Beat Band did a kick-ass show Thursday night at the Carpenter Theatre. Though I think they haven't been the same since the original Marina left. Anyway back to Ian Anderson, this will be a theatrical production with video and additional musicians augmenting Ian's regular touring band. Note that this will not be a Jethro Tull greatest hits show. Doors will open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30. No opening band is listed so don't be late. Tix run $59.50 and $75. Here they are playing a track from "Thick as a Brick 2" called "Banker Bets, Banker Wins":



Seattle indie pop band Minus the Bear will be at The National on Sunday night. Tix are $20 in advance, $23 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Caspian and Cursive. Here's Minus the Bear performing "Diamond Lightning" at a session for website Last.fm. I really like this song:



And here is Minus the Bear doing "Steel and Blood" at the same session:



80's new wave heartthrob, Adam Ant, will be at The National on Tuesday night. Tix are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Brothers of Brazil. Here's Adam with "Goody Two Shoes":



I'm outta here! Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Andrew Bird, Billy Corgan

Tonight on Last Call with Carson Daly, indie singer/songwriter Andrew Bird will entertain you. Also, on the show is Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan. Andrew has a new album coming out on October 30, "Hands of Glory", and you can stream a track called "Three White Horses" HERE. He'll probably perform a track or two from the new album tonight on Last Call. Last Call is on NBC at 1:35 AM.

Late Night Pick: Regina Spektor

Tonight on Last Call with Carson Daly, alternative singer/songwriter Regina Spektor performs. Regina performed a set at LA radio station KCRW this morning. Here it is:

Late Night Pick: David Byrne & St. Vincent

If you missed it a few weeks ago, you can catch the repeat of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon with David Byrne & St. Vincent performing a selection from their album, "Love This Giant". Late Night is on NBC at 12:35 AM. If you can't stay up that late and don't have a DVR, you can see their performances from the show HERE.

Skydog at ScucciFest in Bon Air, Farm Aid webcast, Late Night Pick: Bobby Womack w/Damon Albarn & Richard Russell

Soul legend Bobby Womack will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight on NBC at 12:35 AM. Bobby's latest album, "The Bravest Man In The Universe" was co-produced by Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) and Richard Russell and they'll be on the show to help Bobby out.

Skydog, the Allman Brothers tribute band, will play at ScucciFest (a benefit to fight lung cancer) tomorrow. Skydog will be on from 5 to 6:30. Other bands playing include Grease Trigger and The Big Payback (James Brown tribute). The whole thing will run from 3 PM - 9 PM. Adults pay $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Kids ages 6 - 13 are $5. Kids 5 and under are free. The fest will be at America Legion: Post 354, 13200 Robious Rd, Midlothian,VA 23113.


Farm Aid 2012 from Hershey, PA will be webcast on Saturday night from 8PM - 11 PM. You can watch it HERE. Not sure who they will be showing on the webcast but acts over the course of the day include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Kenny Chesney, Jack Johnson, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Jamey Johnson, ALO, and others.

Leon Russell, Antibalas, Frontier Ruckus, Black Girls, Barstool Heroes, Poston Brown Project, King Solomon's Marbles

A couple local bands to start your weekend on Friday. Black Girls will be at The Speakeasy. This is their first show at this new venue. It'll be 5 bucks to get in. Show will start at 10 with the wonderfully named Motha' Goose and the Funky Ducks. Needless to say, there will be much gettin' down and gettin' groovy and this show.

Barstool Heroes bring their outlaw country covers to the Cary St. Cafe Friday night after their triumphant opening gig for Robert Earl Keen a few weeks ago. Festivities get under way at 10 PM. There is a $5 cover. Here's a little bit of their show at The National:

Saturday at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Poston Brown Project will play classic rock covers from The Grateful Dead, The Band, The Rolling Stones and others. Grab a tasty beverage and enjoy the music from 5 PM - 8 PM and it's FREE. Here's Poston Brown Project playing "Friend of the Devil" at Ashland Coffee & Tea last year:


Sunday, piano legend Leon Russell will be at The National. Tix range from $20 - $50. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener The Last Bison. Leon was a big deal in the 70's for both his solo work and his work backing up people like Joe Cocker, Ike & Tina Turner, The Byrds, and George Harrison. He largely disappeared from the public eye until Elton John brought him back to do an album with him, "The Union". Here's Leon back in '71 doing "A Song For You":

Tuesday night at Cary St. Cafe, Grateful Dead cover band King Solomon's Marbles will get all trippy on your ass. Show starts at 10 and there is no cover. Here they are doing "Row Jimmy" last month at Cary St. Cafe:


Wednesday night, afrobeat band Antibalas will be at Capital Ale House downtown. Doors open at 8, show begins at 9 with a "special guest". Tix are $13 in advance, $15 day of show. Chris Bopst had a nice interview with them in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch which you can read HERE. You can not help but move to this music. Here they are at WFUV (a great station, btw, check them out on the interwebs) doing "Dirty Money":

Also on Wednesday night, Americana band Frontier Ruckus will be at The Camel. Cover charge is $7. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with the River City Band. Here's Frontier Ruckus doing "Silverfishes" a week ago:

I wanna hang with Horton this weekend:



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Tonight: Galactic & PBR @ The National, Three Sheets to the Wind, Late Night Pick: Frank Turner

New Orleans funk band,Galactic, plays at The National tonight. Tix are $20 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with local heroes, People's Blues of Richmond. Corey Glover of Living Colour will be on vocals with Galactic. I thought he sounded great with the band when I saw them at RiverRock this summer. Some long-term Galactic fans were a bit put off by the vocals, depending on how they liked Corey in the first place and whether they just wanted the old, instrumental Galactic. Here's Galactic last year in Brooklyn doing "Goin' Down Slowly":


Also tonight at Republic, yacht rock cover band Three Sheets to the Wind will perform for your smooth rockin' pleasure. It's FREE to get in and the show starts at 9:30. Since tonight's show is dedicated to "Danger Zone", here is the band Calexico doing a cover of Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" and making it into a ominous, southwestern acoustic thing. Very good!


Calexico covers Kenny Loggins 

Tonight's Late Night Pick is Frank Turner on Conan. Conan is on TBS at 11 PM and then repeated at 1 AM. Frank Turner is an alternative singer/songwriter you might dig if you like Bruce Springsteen, Rocky Votolato, Billy Bragg, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, Neil Young or Nick Drake.

Late Night Pick: Afghan Whigs

Tonight, one of the most acclaimed alternative bands of the 90's, The Afghan Whigs, bring their reunited selves to Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC at midnight. Greg Dulli discusses the reunion of The Afghan Whigs in this article in NYC's Newsday.

Late Night Pick: Flying Lotus, Band of Skulls

Experimental techno artist Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison) will be on repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly tonight at 1:35 AM on NBC. Punk blues band Band of Skulls will also be on the show. Flying Lotus has a new album, "Until the Quiet Comes" coming out on October 1. Here's a short film with music from the album. Warning: it contains some graphic images:

Late Night Pick: Lianne La Havas

British singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas will appear on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson tonight at 12:35 AM on CBS. Lianne's debut album, "Is Your Love Big Enough?" has been nominated for top British music award, the Mercury Prize, for album of the year.

Late Night Pick: The Walkmen

Indie rock band, The Walkmen, will be on Conan on TBS tonight at 11 PM and then repeated at 1 AM. As a child of the 80's, and as someone who still mistakenly calls his iPod a Walkman on occassion, I appreciate their name.

Beach House, Sean Rowe, Kris Delmhorst, Turbo Fruits, Garbage, Yardbirds, Zoso

Thursday night, neo-psychedelic band Beach House comes to The National. Tix are $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Dustin Wong. This will be Beach House's first time in Richmond, which is odd because they hail from Baltimore. But, welcome Beach House! You'll probably dig these guys if you like Nico & Velvet Underground, Mazzy Star, Cat Power, Cocteau Twins, PJ Harvey or Yo La Tengo. Here's Beach House doing "Lazuli":


At Ashland Coffee & Tea on Thursday night, it's singer-songwriters Kris Delmhorst and Sean Rowe. Tix are $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Show will start at 8 with Sean Rowe opening. Kris Delmhorst has won the Boston Music Awards Outstanding Singer/Songwriter Award twice. Get there early to see Sean Rowe who has been influenced by John Lee Hooker, Wilson Pickett, Muddy Waters, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Van Morrison and Leonard Cohen. Here's Kris Delmhorst doing "Down To The Wire" in May:

And here's Sean Rowe doing "Downwind":

No BS! Brass Band will be at Balliceaux on Thursday night. Show starts at 10 PM and it's $3 to get in.

You can rock like it's 1979 at Pocohontas State Park on Friday night with Foreigner. General Admission tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate, and it's $40 in advance for Gold Circle tix. Gate opens at 6, show starts at 6:30 with a TBA band. Mick Jones (the sole original member) of Foreigner was recently interviewed by the Time website as the band as seen a resurgence in interest since their songs were featured in movies like "Magic Mike" and "Rock of Ages". You can read the interview HERE. Here's Foreigner back in the day with "I Want to Know What Love Is":



Garbage comes to The National on Friday night. Tix are $25. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener White Mystery. Here's the latest from Garbage "Big Bright World":



Psychedelic garage punk blues band, Turbo Fruits, will be Strange Matter on Friday night. Tix are $7, doors open at 9, show starts at 10 with openers The Milkstains and Super Vacations. Turbo Fruits new album, "Butter", just came out on Tuesday. Here's some Turbo Fruits playing live in Austin in May:



Saturday, you can enjoy brews and blues at Pocahontas State Park with the Virginia Hops & Harvest Fest featuring The Yardbirds (drummer Jim McCarty is the only member who was in the band in their heyday of '63 - '68 who is currently in the band) and Led Zep cover band, Zoso. General Admission is $12.50 in advance, $15 at the gate and then craft beer tastings will be $1 each. Gates open at noon, music starts at 1:30, Yardbirds come on at 6 PM and Zoso starts at 8. Here's The Yardbirds from back in '67 when Jimmy Page was in the band:



Susan Greenbaum will be kickin' it solo on Wednesday night at Ashland Coffee & Tea. Show starts at 7, tix are $5.

Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Slightly Stoopid

Reggae-ska-pop band Slightly Stoopid will be on Jimmy Kimmel tonight on ABC at midnight. Slightly Stoopid is promoting their latest album, "Top of the World".

Late Night Pick: Thee Oh Seas

Tonight, garage punk band Thee Oh Sees are on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly. Last Call is on NBC at 1:35 AM. Thee Oh Sees will be here in Richmond at Strange Matter on Friday, 9/21.

Late Night Pick: David Byrne & St. Vincent

Tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, former Talking Heads front man, David Byrne, teams up with former member of Polyphonic Spree, Annie Clark aka St. Vincent to perform a track from their new album together, "Love This Giant". Here's David and Annie discussing the making of the album:

Late Night Pick: Lee Fields & The Expressions

Tonight, on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly, get down with retro-soul/funk artist Lee Fields & The Expressions. Lee's been around since the late 60's so he's got the soul in his roots and he's got the young band, The Expressions, backing him up and giving him some new soul swing.

Late Night Pick: The Heavy

Tonight, we'll check in with the insane Craig Ferguson on the The Late Late Show as he brings British soul rock band The Heavy on as his musical guest. The Heavy is the band that does that song, "How You Like Me Now?" which you've seen on many a commercial. On the show tonight, you can check out what they are doing now as they play a track from their new album, "The Glorious Dead".  Late Late Show is on CBS at 12:35 AM.

Zammuto, Kendrick Lamar, Perpetual Groove, Ana Egge, Sons of Bill, White Hills, Del McCoury Band

Fall is here and the busy music weekends begin. This one starts on Thursday with jam band Perpetual Groove at The National. Tix are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with opener Tauk.

Thursday at The Camel, experimental techno artist Zammuto will perform. Tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 8:30 with opener Marionette. Here's Zammuto performing "The Shape of Things To Come" in NYC in April:



Also on Thursday night, People's Blues Of Richmond will play at The Republic. The show will start at 10 and it's FREE. The band is threatening to play all Neil Diamond tunes. You'll have to attend to see if they are putting us on or not. If they play "Sweet Caroline", feel free to throw things at them. OK, don't do that. OK, maybe just throw soft things at them. Here's most of their set from Garage Mahal in Mechanicsville in July. Do not fear their shirtlessness and man-boobs:



Friday night, Americana singer-songwriter Ana Egge and her band will be at Ashland Coffee & Tea. Tix are $10 in advance, $15 day of show. Show starts at 8 with opener Parlor Soldiers. Here's the little press blurb about Ana from the AC&T web site: "Saskatchewan-born, Brooklyn-based folk troubadour Ana Egge isn’t your run-of-the-mill alternative-country singer. Using unique production and rock-based chord progressions, Egge has made a name for herself as a Gillian Welch figure with a rocker attitude. Ana’s newest album, Bad Blood was released August 23, 2011 via Ammal records. The 12-song set was produced by Steve Earle and recorded at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. Bad Blood was mixed and mastered by Ray Kennedy (Earle and Kennedy’s production partnership includes the Grammy winning Lucinda Williams album Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, the Ron Sexsmith favorite Blue Boy, and many more. Steve Earle stated, “Ana Egge’s songs are low and lonesome, big square-stare noir ballads which she plays on a guitar she built with her own two hands and sings like she’s telling us her deepest, darkest secrets.” Here's Ana's video for her song "Hole In Your Halo":



Friday night at The Camel, Black Girls will boogie down. It's $6 to get in. Start time is 9 PM with opener Dr. Millionaire.

Saturday night finds a big rap show at The National with Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock. Tix are $31 in advance, $36 at the door. Doors open at 8 and show starts at 9. Kendrick is getting big, collaborating with fan Lady Gaga on a tune that will be out soon, and hanging out with Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Dr. Dre. Here is Kendrick's latest, "Swimming Pools (Drank)":



Americana/roots rock band from Charlottesville, Sons of Bill, will be at the Capital Ale House downtown on Saturday night. Tix are $10. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with Carl Anderson. If you want to check out Sons of Bill's recent 4 song Daytrotter session (including a REM cover), click HERE.  Here's Sons of Bill's new song "Siren Song":

On Saturday night at Strange Matter, check out space rock band White Hills. Tix are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Doors are gonna open at 8, show starts at 9 with openers Caves Caverns, Odonis Odonis, and James Wallace & the Naked Light. Be sure to get in early to see buzz band Odonis Odonis. Here's Odonis Odonis doing "New World":

And here is White Hills' latest, "I Write a Thousand Letters":


White Hills - I Write a Thousand Letters from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.

Local jam band, Former Champions, will be at The Camel on Saturday night. It's $7 to get in. Show starts at 9 PM with opener Funk Art. Here's Former Champions performing "16th Hour" at The Camel in December of last year:



On Saturday night at Cary St. Cafe, Americana band The Atkinsons will play starting at 9:30 with opener Eric Hunter and the Distractions. Cover charge, if any, should be minimal.

Bluegrass great Del McCoury and his band come to the Modlin Center of the Arts at University of Richmond on Sunday night. Tix range from $10 to $38 depending on your demographic. Get in early to see opener Chatham County Line who start the show at 7:30. Here's the press blurb from the Modlin site: "For 50 years, Del McCoury’s music has defined authenticity for hard-core bluegrass fans. A direct musical descendant of the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, and armed with a musical open-mindedness, McCoury has parlayed the traditional sounds of the genre to a much broader audience by way of unconventional collaborations including Phish and country rocker Steve Earle, among others. The Del McCoury Band has won 31 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards and a Grammy® for Best Bluegrass Album." Here they are doing my favorite Richard Thompson song, "1952 Vincent Black Lightning":


If you are old enough to remember when MTV actually played music and actually mattered, HERE are the 36 greatest MTV Video Music Awards performances. They are still having the VMAs which is interesting because I think MTV maybe plays videos for about 2 hours a day now, if that.

Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Bombay Bicycle Club

Tonight on Last Call with Carson Daly, go for a ride with the British alt-rock band, Bombay Bicycle Club. Last Call is on NBC at 1:35 AM.

Late Night Pick: Bob Mould

We're baaaaaack! Summer is over. Well, not astronomically, but you know what I mean. The kids went back to school today. I am back at work. Here's hoping for a good fall and fall is usually good for music.

The late night shows are all back and new this week. We'll start the week off with alt-rock founding father Bob Mould on the Late Show with David Letterman. You can stream Bob' latest album, "Silver Age", at Rolling Stone by clicking HERE.