Late Night Pick: Lykke Li

For the second night in a row, we feature a performer with the initials LL. Check out Swedish singer/sonwriter/pop/alternative/indie/electronic artist Lykke Li on tonight's repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, 11:35 PM). She'll perform her song "No One Ever Loved" and "No Rest for the Wicked". You might dig Lykke if you like Feist, Peter Bjorn and John, Lana Del Rey, Lorde, or Robyn Hitchcock. From 2011, this is Lykke's "I Follow Rivers":



Here's Lyle Lovett and his Large Band doing another one of my favorites, "That's Right (You're Not From Texas)":

Late Night Pick: Lyle Lovett

Americana/alt-country artist Lyle Lovett will be on a repeat of Conan tonight at 11 PM on TBS. Lyle and his Large Band will be playing here in Richmond on August 21 and he always puts on a great show. Should be even more memorable because they'll be playing in Maymont. Here's Lyle doing one of my favorites, "If I Had a Boat":

Weekend Picks: Carbon Leaf's Ragtime Carnival, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Stone Soul Picnic, Broad Appetit, Diarrhea Planet, Gretchen Peters, Head & The Heart, Lucius, Foxy Shazam

Another big summer weekend for music. On Friday & Saturday at Pocohontas State Park, local boys Carbon Leaf throw their Ragtime Carnival festival. Gates open at 4 PM on Friday and 11:30 AM on Saturday. General Admission without camping will run you $28.50 for each day with a 2 day ticket available for $45. If you want to camp, 1 day GA is $47.50, 2 day GA is $65. You can check out the lineup above and check out the schedule HERE. Note that every band except Carbon Leaf is only playing one day, so if you want to see someone in particular make sure you check the schedule. Here's Carbon Leaf doing "The Boxer" live and acoustic:



Friday Cheers has boisterous roots rockers J. Roddy Walston & The Business headlining this week. They'll come on around 8 and opener Kopecky Family Band (folk/pop) will start at 6:30. Below is the video for their latest single "Same Days" but if you have a chance, check out the web site for the song HERE for a unique viewing experience:



 A rocking band with a crappy name (pun intended), Diarrhea Planet, is at Strange Matter Friday. Doors open at 9 and it's $8 to get in. Heavy Midgets, Teen Death, and Oxidants open. Here's a video that's weird and disturbing and that's why I love it along with the fact that the song is catchy as hell. "Babyhead" from Diarrhea Planet:



Over at The Camel Friday night, it's our local but internationally renowned salsa band, Bio Ritmo. Show will start at 10 PM, tix are $10, $7 if you are a student. Goldrush will open. Here's Bio Ritmo's latest, "La Via" from their album "Puerta Del Sur". The video features a number of RVA locations, including one of my favorite restaurants, Kuba Kuba.

On Saturday, the Stone Soul Picnic goes down at Richmond International Raceway Amphitheater with rap and R&B stars from the aughts and the 90's. Tickets range from $50 to $65. The show gets underway at noon. You can check out the lineup above including headliners Keyshia Cole, Ty Dolla $ign, and 50 Cent (who had one of the worst first ball throws in major league history this week). Here's Keyshia Cole's "Heaven Sent". I like the still they've chosen below for the video. Yowza!



At Hardywood Craft Brewery Saturday, it's gonna rock with Richmond classic bands RPG, Kepone and Diamond Center. The food trucks will be out, there will be great beer and the show starts at 6 PM sharp. Here's RPG with "Lose It":



Ashland Coffee & Tea has twice-Grammy nominated, CMA Song of the Year winner (for "Independence Day") artist, Gretchen Peters. Here's the press blurb on Gretchen: "She has accumulated accolades as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Etta James, Trisha Yearwood, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill. Her latest album, Hello Cruel World, described by NPR’s All Things Considered as “the album of her career”, appeared in numerous Best of 2012 lists including No Depression, AllMusic.com and Performing Songwriter. Of her music, the Associated Press said, “this is not jukebox music – the stuff that exists to fill in the pauses in conversation. This IS the conversation.” The show starts at 8 and it's $15 in advance, $20 of show. Gretchen will also be doing an afternoon songwriting workshop. For info on that, click HERE. Here's Gretchen doing "Saint Francis":


Sunday, the annual food event Broad Appetit takes place on W Broad St between Henry and Adams from 11 AM to 6 PM. The best restaurants in town bust out $3 plates so you can sample to your hearts content with VA wine and beer to drink and music too. Check out the web site there for the music schedule.

Monday & Tuesday night, The Head & The Heart take over The National with Lucius opening. Get there early to see Lucius because they are quite good. Doors open at 7 and show starts at 8 both nights.Tix are $30 in advance, $35 day of show. The Head & The Heart is really on the rise. Their headlining show at Red Rocks in CO in August is almost sold out. They are playing Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Bumpershoot and Austin City Limits Fest so they may be outgrowing The National soon. Here's their cool animated video for "Summertime" just in time for Summer time.


Over the top. Maniacal. Boisterous. Campy. Playful. All could describe the fun rock n' roll of Foxy Shazam. Horns, Queen-like vocals, piano, classic rock guitar solos, they throw it all in the mix. They'll be at Canal Club on Tuesday night. Doors open at 7, tix are $15, Larry and His Flask open. You can download their latest album, "Gonzo", for FREE HERE. From 2012, here's "I Like It" and I do:


Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend is on a repeat of the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (11:35 PM, NBC). Vampire Weekend will be in Charlottesville at NTelos Pavilion on June 10. Here's their first single from their debut album back in 2008, "A-Punk":



Here's Jamestown Revival doing "Golden Age" on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson the other night:

Late Night Pick: Jamestown Revival

Americana band Jamestown Revival will be on a new episode (the only late night show with a new episode tonight) of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (12:35 AM, CBS). You might dig Jamestown Revival if you like Shovels & Rope, The Avett Brothers, or The Lumineers. Here they are doing "Fur Coat Blues" live and explaining the genesis of the song:

Late Night Pick: Tinariwen

On Last Call with Carson Daly tonight (NBC, 1:35 AM), Tinariwen, a band of West African Taureg refugees who play what they call "desert blues", will perform. The music is rhythmic and hypnotic. Here's the latest single from their album, "EMMAAR". The song is called "chaghaybou".



Here's Veruca Salt doing "Seether" on last night's Conan:



Here's The Ghost of A Saber Tooth Tiger performing "Poor Paul Getty" on Conan on 5/19 with a giant, dancing ear.

Weekend Picks: Avers, Young Widows, Helms Alee, Chatham County Line, Particle, Rocketts Red Glare, Black Girls, No BS! Brass Band

This weekend is very front loaded, with Sunday and Monday given over to barbecues, fireworks and, of course, tributes to our fallen soldiers. Be sure to give some time this weekend to remembering those who gave their lives so we could have the freedoms that we do. Here's one for them, a video of WWII archival footage set to Drive-By Truckers, "Sands of Iwo Jima".



DJ Williams Projekt has two shows this week, before DJ heads out on tour playing guitar for Karl Denson's Tiny Universe (who will play Pocohontas Park later this summer). You can catch DJ and the band Thursday night at The Camel. It's $10 to get in, doors open at 7 and Tauk will open. Their second show is at The Broadberry on Tuesday night. The show starts at 8 with opener Mama Like. It's $7 to get in. Here's the Projekt's show at The Broadberry on May 13. Prepare to get funkified.

Thursday night at Strange Matter, Kentucky noise-rock post-punk band Young Widows will be happy to rock your face off. Helms Alee (from Seattle) and Hex Machine (RVA) will open. Doors open at 9, show starts at 10, tix are $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Young Widows new album, Easy Pain, was released last week and is getting fantastic reviews. Here's Young Widows'  performing Easy Pain in it's entireity in January:

Friday night looks like the big night if you want to go out. Start with Friday Cheers Local Music Night. It looks to be an absoutely gorgeous evening to hang out on Brown's Island and listen to some of the best that Richmond has to offer. It's only $5 to get in. Things get underway at 6:30 with The Green Boys (bluegrass/folk/honky-tonk/Americana). Todd Herrington's Things are next. He's the bass player with DJ Williams Projekt (he's all over the place this week!), Mekong Express, and Big Payback, so I'm betting on something funky and danceable here. Finally, it's Richmond's band of the moment, Avers. I saw them a couple months ago at The Camel and have had their heavy psychedelic rock album, Empty Light", on ever since. They'll come on at 8. They've been hitting Philly & DC and are starting to gain some regional buzz. Check them out now and say you saw them when.... Here they are at Johnny Brenda's in Philly in January:



At Canal Club Friday night, Particle is back! Particle, one of the first bands I saw to really dive into the jamtronica thing and do it well, were gaining some momentum nationally in the mid-aughts when a series of personnell changes seemed to halt the band in it's tracks. We'll see if they can get back to the prominence they once had and Friday night will be a good chance to see if they've still got it. And who knew there was a Particle/Shaq connection! Particle keyboardist Steve Molitz will be doing the soundtrack for a new video game, "Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn". Perhaps Steve will tell some cool Shaq stories on Friday. Mekong Express (is Todd Herrington playing again?!?) & the Get Fresh Horns, DJ Phil Dice and Agent will open. Doors open at 8 and it's $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Here's their full show at the Aura Music Festival earlier this year:



At The Camel Friday night, it's No BS! Brass Band. Doors open at 8, show start at 9, it's $10 to get in, Murphy's Kids and Those Manic Seas open. It was recently announced that No BS will be opening Lockn' Festival in Arrington VA in September. As in the first band on stage on the first day, the ones to get the whole party started. Hopefully, they'll hang out and sit in with some of the other bands that night (The Wood Brothers, The Revivalists, Bob Weir & Ratdog, and String Cheese Incident). I'll be there right up front when they start to represent for the RVA. Here's their full show at the opening of The Broadberry in April:

At Balliceaux Friday, it's the disco party funk of Black Girls. Show starts at 10:30 and it's $5 to get in. This will be Black Girls last show in Richmond for a while because they are hitting the road in June. Here's their video for "Soul Tornado" filmed at 17th St. Farmer's Market, the Canal Walk, and more:



Saturday at Ashland Coffee & Tea, bluegrass/Americana band Chatham County Line will take the stage around 8 PM. Tix are $20 in advance, $23 at the door. Their new album, Tightrope, was released 5/20. Here's "Tightrope of Love" from that album:



At Crossroads RVA (3600 Forest Hill Ave), blues band Bush League will stip down to just guitar, bass and vocals. Note that despite being well known for coffee & ice cream, Crossroads also serves beer and wine. Because you gotta have a little booze with your blues. Here's a little taste with band member Sleepy Eyed Jay and Chicago Slim doing "Boogie Chillun":



Sunday night, celebrate Memorial Day down at Rocketts Landing with Rocketts Red Glare. It's FREE and starts at 5:30 with music from Colin Healy and then the Kings of Swing at 6:30. But we are really going for the fireworks which will start at 9 and should look great with the Richmond skyline in the background. There will be some great food trucks down there, a special play area for the kids and beer & wine sales for the adults. As if that all wasn't good enough, it benefits Connor's Heroes, a great cause.

Looking ahead to Tuesday night, you check out Flesh Mountain Boys (hootenanny/bluegrass/Americana) at Cary St. Cafe. Show starts at 10 PM with opener Danny Plotnik. It's FREE to get in. Here they are at Cary St. back in September:



Here's Paul McCartney & Wings. Because I've been grooving on the "Wings Over America" CD for the last two months. It was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. And because the "Venus & Mars > Rockshow > Jet" show opener is one of the coolest openers in history.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Tonight in RVA: The Wailers, Rusted Root, PAWS; Late Night Pick: Veruca Salt

The Innsbrook season starts tonight (OK, maybe it started earlier, but not with anyone interesting) with The Wailers and Rusted Root. This may be the best show at Innsbrook this year as they trot out their usual calendar of mostly pop country acts that all sound alike and bands that haven't done anything interesting in 20 - 40 years. How did this concert series get voted the Best in Richmond in the latest Style? For tonight's show, gates open at 5 PM and Rusted Root will take the stage at 6:20. Saw Rusted Root on Brown's Island a few years ago and they put on real good show and they are still out there making new music and not resting on their laurels. Saw the Wailers a few years ago and they were good too, with the singer finding his own groove and not trying to be a Bob Marley imitator. Both bands will make you dance and you gotta like that. Tickets are $15 for GA lawn. Gold Circle ranges from $24 to $79(!) depending if you want Reserved, Preferred or Platinum. (This Gold Circle crap is another reason I'm not a fan of Innsbrook.) Here's Rusted Root doing "Monkey Pants":



Over at Strange Matter, it's an all ages early show with doors opening at 5 PM, show starting at 6 and they'll be done by 9 (cover $8) for garage punk band PAWS, Postitive No and Herro Sugar. Here's the press blurb for PAWS:

The band formed in the ashes of a briefly (but passionately) lived “Violent Femme-esque”, Glasgow based band called “A Copenhagen Hope”. After the departure of one of it’s founding members (Nick Anderson) the remaining three friends (Phillip Taylor, Josh Swinney and Matthew Scott) formed PAWS.

After their first show in 2010 opening for Dum Dum Girls in Glasgow on a sold out bill, the band began to establish a strong presence in Glasgow and the surrounding areas by playing almost weekly at times. The trio self recorded and released the majority of their early writings on a small bedroom run cassette tape label that Phillip had started called Cath Records. As well as those releases, the band released their debut 7” vinyl in 2011 on Edinburgh Based indie label Gerry Loves Records. In the beggining of 2012 PAWS signed with Brighton/Brooklyn based FatCat Records. Their first release for the label was their “Misled Youth EP” in May of that year. In October their debut full length album “Cokefloat!” was released. The LP was recorded by ex Test Icicle, Rory Attwell on the boat/studio “Lightship95” docked in London’s Trinity Buoy Wharf.

A relentless touring schedule throughout their first three years has seen PAWS tour the UK, Europe, USA and gather a strong and loyal fan base wherever they go. The band have toured with Japandroids, Bleached, We Are Scientists, The Cribs and have also previously been invited to open shows for The Breeders, Fucked Up, Mates Of State, No Age, Wavves, Ty Segall and many others. Spin Magazine placed the band in at number four on their “Top 50 Best Acts at SXSW Festival 2013”

In spring 2013 Matthew departed from the band to pursue other interests and Ryan Drever (No Island/Garden Of Elks) was added to complete the PAWS puzzle.

2014 will see the release of their sophomore album for FatCat Records which will be recorded in New York.

Here's a short performance PAWS did on KEXP last November:


A band that PAWS probably like, classic 90's grunge band, Veruca Salt, will be on Conan tonight on TBS at 11 PM. The original members of VS are back together and they release a couple new tunes on a Record Store Day EP last month. They start a tour in June that brings them to Black Cat in DC on 7/21. This was their biggest hit, from 1994, this is "Seether":

Late Night Pick: The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger

Tonight, check out the neo-psychedelic band, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, led by Sean Lennon and his significant other, Charlotte Kemp Muhl. I saw them open for Flaming Lips at The National a couple years ago and thought they were very good. Definitely worth your while to check out something new from their latest album, "Midnight Sun", which is getting great reviews. They'll be on Conan tonight at 11 PM on TBS. They will have a mystery special guest joining their performance tonight. Here's their video for "Moth to a Flame":



Here's Elbow performing on the Tonight Show on Friday night:

Hangout Festival webcast; Late Night Pick: Elbow

You can watch the Hangout Festival webcast this weekend, live from the beach in Gulf Shores, AL. The webcast is being run by MTV, who can't get anything music related right anymore. The webcast is running smoothly but I can't find a schedule past today's schedule and the act on now, Ingrid Michaelson, isn't even on the schedule. That being said, every year I think how much I would like to go this festival and hang out on the beach listening to great music. Today's schedule has Dawes (4:55), The 1975 (6:15), Queens of the Stone Age (YES! 8:30) and STS 9 (10). Playing over the rest of the weekend but not guaranteed to be on the webcast: Black Keys (got my tix today for their show on 12/6 at Richmond Coliseum), The Killers, Outkast, Jack Johnson, Avett Brothers, Modest Mouse, Flaming Lips (will Miley Cyrus show up with them?), Amos Lee, Conor Oberst, Tegan & Sara (everything is awesome!), Fitz & The Tantrums, Gary Clark Jr., Los Lobos and more.

Tonight on Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:35 PM), watch English alt-pop-rockers, Elbow. They'll do their new single "New York Morning". They've sold out most of their North American tour. Here they are filing "Grounds for Divorce":

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

Late Night Pick: I Am the Avalanche

Pop-punk band from NY, I Am the Avalanche, will be on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight (NBC, 1:35 AM). Their new album, Wolverines, is getting great reviews. Here's the bands video for "Brooklyn Dodgers" from 2011:



Here's an internet exclusive from The Black Keys on Colbert Report last night doing the title track from their new album, "Turn Blue". Don't forget that tickets go on sale Friday at 10 AM for the The Black Keys at Richmond Coliseum on 12/6.

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Late Night Pick: The Black Keys

The Black Keys will be on Colbert Report tonight on Comedy Central at 11:31 PM (no kidding, it says 11:31 PM on the Comedy Central schedule). You'll hear a song off of their new album, Turn Blue, which getting their usual good reviews. You'll also be able to decide if you want to buy tickets to their upcoming show at Richmond Colisuem on December 6. St. Vincent will open. Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 16 at 10 AM through Ticketmaster. They will be at the reasonable price (at least for stadium shows) of $35 - $65. I'll be on the computer on Friday trying to get some good seats. Here's The Black Keys, "Tighten Up":



Here's Neil Young & Jack White on last night's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon explaining what a Voice-O-Graph Machine is:


And here's Neil performing "Since I Met You" on the show:

Late Night Pick: Neil Young & Jack White

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is one not to be missed tonight. Neil Young and Jack White will perform together (hopefully more than once) in what should be a feedback filled, bluesy blowout. As an added bonus, my favorite comedian (currently) Louis CK is the other guest. Neil and Jack will record the song they do and press it to vinyl right then and there on the show. If you're wondering why these two are playing together, Jack helps out on two songs on Neil's latest covers album, A Letter Home, and Neil used Jack's Voice-O-Graph booth to record the album (check the link to the album info to find out what the heck a Voice-O-Graph is). Here's Neil doing "Needle of Death" from that album:



Here's tUnE-yArDs performing "Water Fountain" on the Tonight Show on Friday:

Late Night Pick: tUnE-yArDs

On the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:35 AM), check out the crazed rhythms of tUnE-yArDs. tUnE-yArDs is the music project of Merrill Garbus and her third and latest album, "Nikki Nack" is getting great reviews like the first two. Here's "Bizness" from tUnE-yArDs second album:



Here's Rodrigo y Gabriela on last night's Conan:

Weekend Picks: Lord Huron, Jamey Johnson, Rockn' for Lockn' 2, Chromeo, Blood Red Shoes, Balloon Fest, Beer Fest, Fear of Music

The weekend begins, as all weekends in May & June, with Friday Cheers on Brown's Island. This week it's alt-indie-folk-rock band, Lord Huron. You'll dig these guys if you like Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Jake Bugg, Bon Iver, or Crosby, Stills & Nash or just great vocal harmonies over dreamy, folk rock. Lord Huron will be on at 8. Local band, The Northerners, will open at 6:30. Lord Huron will be hitting many of the big festivals this summer including High Sierra, Summer Meltdown, RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest (in GB), Mo Pop Festival, Shaky Knees (on Saturday), and Forecastle. Here's their latest video, "Ends of the Earth" featuring some really cool animation:



Down in Pocahontas Park this weekend it's the Country Music Campout. You can get tickets for both Saturday or Sunday or just pick one day or the other. Two day tickets run $40 - $80. Friday features Dustin Lynch, Frankie Ballard, and Chris Stapleton (tix run $20 - $40, show starts at 5:45). Saturday is Jamey Johnson, Charlie Worsham and Chris Hennesse (tix run $25 - $40, show starts at 4:40). Jamey Johnson is the real deal. You won't hear songs about sitting on the tailgate of his pickup truck, drinking beer by the river with a girl like 90% of pop country these days. This dude writes songs in the classic country tradition about booze, drugs, jail, hookers, and losing everything you've got. That's why you don't hear him on country radio and why you should listen to him. Check out this tune, "High Cost of Living":



Friday night at the RVA Theater (formerly known as Epic Theater, formerly known as Hat Factory, formerly know as Toad's Place), the second round of the battle of bands known as Rockn' to Lockn' goes down. The ultimate winner gets to play at the Lockn' Festival this September. This round features Downbeat Switch, Seth Stainback and Roosterfoot, The Trongone Band, and Horsehead. Show starts at 8, it's $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Expect mucho jamming.

At Meadow Event Park up in Doswell, VA Saturday, it's the Mid-Atlantic Balloon Fest. I don't mean party balloons or nitrous balloons (calm down, hippies) but big-ass hot-air balloons. It'll run Saturday & Sunday from 6 AM to 9 PM Saturday and 6 AM to 5 PM Sunday. Tix are $15 for adults and $5 for kids. Besides the 20 hot-air balloons, there will be live music, arts & crafts, wine tasting, food, craft beers and a kid's area.

Also on Saturday, you've got the 4th Annual Virginia Hops & Barley Festival where 288 meets Huguenot Rd. It'll go from 1 PM to 8 PM. There will be lots of craft beer (duh), food and live music. Taster tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Non-taster tickets are $10.

UK alt-punk rock duo Blood Red Shoes will rip it up at Strange Matter Saturday night along with Radkey and Imaginary Sons. Doors open at 9 and it's $10 to get in. BRS will be at a ton of major festivals in Europe this summer and they hit Richmond as they begin to dip their toe into the USofA. Here's their latest video, "Speech Coma". Warning: don't watch this video while you are eating lunch. It's kind of gross.



If you are a mom and you like the Talking Heads, then head to Forest Hill Park on Sunday evening for a FREE performance from Talking Heads tribute band, Fear of Music. I can't recall any Heads songs about mothers, but if there is one, Fear of Music will find it and play it. Or they'll just play "Drugs" which really rocked the last time I saw them. Because moms sometimes need drugs to get through their day. Remember "Mother's Little Helper"? The show will start at 6. Here's the Talking Heads doing "Drugs" with Adrien Belew in 1980 in Rome: (sorry can't embed, go HERE. It's worth it.).

Tuesday night at The National, it's the campy, fun, 80's-ish, electronic dance music of Chromeo. The show starts at 8 and it looks like it's just Chromeo so get there on time. Tix are $22 in advance, $27 at the door. You might dig Chromeo if you like Prince, Zapp, Cameo, Rick James, Giorgio Moroder, Daft Punk, LCD or Soundsystem. Here's Chromeo's 'Jealous (I Ain't With It)". If you are reading this at work or Friday, save this one for 4:30 PM and you'll be ready to dance out of work right to happy hour.

Have a great weekend! See you at Cheers!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Rodrigo y Gabriela

Tonight on Conan (TBS, 11 PM), the Latin guitar stylings of Rodrigo y Gabriela will be a fitting end to this first sultry day of spring. They're our promoting their new album "9 Dead Alive". Here's their version of tune from a little band called Led Zeppelin:

Late Night Pick: Chuck E. Weiss

LA roots rock, singer/songwriter (and subject of Rickie Lee Jones' "Chuck E.'s in Love", for those of you old enough to remember that one) Chuck E. Weiss will be on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight (NBC, 1:35 AM). Chuck E. has a new album out, "Red Beans and Weiss" that is getting great reviews and was executive produced by his friends, Johnny Depp and Tom Waits. Here's Chuck E. performing in 1988:

Late Night Pick: Cerebral Ballzy

Brooklyn punk rockers Cerebral Ballzy make their US TV debut on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight (NBC, 1:35 AM). You'll dig these guys if you like 80's punk like Black Flag, Bad Brains, Circle Jerks and Minor Threat. Here's their ode to that dreaded subway dilemman, "Insufficient Fare":



Here's the two tunes Future Islands did last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

Late Night Pick: Future Islands

Tonight on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, 11:35 PM), it's new wave inspired/alternative/indie band, Future Islands. Here's a full show from Future Islands. The show was streamed live on NPR on May 1. These guys are starting to pick up a good buzz so check them out now.

Friday Cheers, Vintage Trouble, Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers, Rob Zombie, Conspirator, People's Blues of Richmond, Southern Belles, Hot Seats

Friday Cheers is here again! And there was much rejoicing in River City. Yes, RVA's favorite music series is back for another two months. It looks like the weather will be beautiful and dry. We kick things off with a little something for everyone and $10 to get you on the island. Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers get the show started at 6:30 with rootsy, bluesy rock n' roll that will appeal to fans of Fleetwood Mac, Black Crowes, Tedeschi/Trucks Band, and Grace Potter. Here's a taste from Lincoln Hall in Chicago in September of last year:



Vintage Trouble hit the stage around 8 and they bring the soul & blues like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett & Led Zeppelin but with an updated twist that fans of Black Keys, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and Black Joe Lewis will dig. Here's "Run Like the River" from their debut album, "The Bomb Shelter Sessions":



If Cheers isn't your cup of beer, you can head to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery for the old-time music of Hot Seats. That'll run from 5:30 to around 9 and it's free to get in. The Hot Seats are going international this summer with a tour of the UK including Scotland (if they are still in the UK) in late July/early August. Here's the slightly smaller version of the band, the Hot Seats Short Band as they refer to it, at the Richmond Folk Festival last year:



Wanna keep the party rolling after Cheers? Then I hope you like jam bands because that's the place to be on Friday night. Jamtronica bands rule at the Canal Club with Conspriator, Manic Focus, The Former Champions and The Polychrons. Doors open at 7 and it's $20 to get in. If you can't make it to the show, you can listen to it on the interwebs or on your phone via Phoncert. Here's Conspirator at the Aura Music Festival last year:

Over at The Camel, Richmond's country-funk jam band, Southern Belles, are back in town for their monthly First Friday gig. Supatight  from Raleigh NC will open. It's $7 to get in. Here's the Belles doing "Every Little Thing" at the Some Kind of Jam 9 Festival in Schuykill Haven PA last weekend:



If you have AXS TV, please invite me over this weekend to watch the New Orleans Jazz Fest, as Comcast doesn't carry the channel. They are all Jazz Fest all weekend including performances from Alabama Shakes, Irma Thomas, Anders Osborne, Marcia Ball, Phish, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Theresa Andersson, John Fogerty, Arcade Fire, The Radiators (they're back! at least for Jazz Fest), Dumpstaphunk, Santana, String Cheese Incident, Jason Isbell, Galactic, Robert Plant and more. Really invite me over. I'll bring the beer and other stuff. We'll totally rock out.

After we watch AXS TV all day, we'll be ready to get out to some music not on a video screen, so we'll head to The Camel for People's Blues of Richmond, who are returning from their tour of the South including a stop at SXSW. KO & Company and Jordan Tarrant will open. McArthur Lighting will have the psychedelic light show going so smoke 'em or drop 'em if you got 'em. It's $8 to get in and doors open at 8. Here they are doing "Cocaine" (that's the name of the song, it's not a video of them snorting coke and it's not the Clapton/JJ Cale song) at SXSW:



Sunday night, all you godly folk shouldl stay far away from The National where Rob Zombie brings his psychosexual, phatasmahorrordelic rock show to town. I also hope you ungodly folk got your tickets already because it's sold out. But perhaps your buddy has one. If you are going, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Disco Death Rock. Here's Rob's early band, White Zombie, with "Thunder Kiss '65":


Have a great weekend! See you at Cheers, maybe PBR and at your house if you have AXS TV!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Midlake

Tonight on Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35 AM, NBC) is a band I really dig that goes by the name Midlake. From their sound, you might think they've been around since 1970 and were part of the English folk rock scene and produced by Alan Parsons. But they actually started in 2000 and hail from Denton, TX. Here's a 20 minute set they did on KEXP in December 2013:



Here's The Both (Aimee Mann & Ted Leo) performing "Milwaukee" on last night's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: