Late Night Pick: Royksopp & Robyn

Northern European electronic dance music giants Royksopp (no matter how many times I double check that, I still think I'm spelling that wrong) & Robyn have teamed up and you can hear the results of that collabortion on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight on ABC at 11:35 PM. Last night they did a sold out show at the Hollywood Bowl. Here's a song they did together back in 2010 called "None of Dem":



Here's Chance the Rapper doing "Chain Smoker" on the repeat of the Arsenio Hall Show on Friday:



That'll be it for me until July14. I'm outta here on vacation. See you then.

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Chance the Rapper

We go all the way back to December (cool off by thinking about December) for a repeat of the Arsenio Hall Show with alternative rap artist, Chance the Rapper. Arsenio is on here in Richmond at 11 PM on WUPV. He's playing a bunch of festival in Europe and America (like Lollapalooza) this summer. Chance and his father recently teamed up to combat gun violence in Chicago. You can read about that HERE. Here's his latest video, "Everybody's Something". (Lyrics NSFW)



Here's Spoon peforming "Rent I Pay" and "Rainy Taxi" on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night.




Over the weekend, set this playlist on random and see what pops up:

Late Night Pick: Spoon

Indie rock stalwarts Spoon will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight (11:35 PM, ABC). Spoon will be at the NorVa in Norfolk on 9/6, but no Richmond date. They're out promoting their new album, "They Want My Soul". Here's Spoon's "Everything Hits at Once":


Here's Hurray for the Riff Raff on last night's Late Show with David Letterman:

Weekend Picks: Neko Case, Laura Veirs, People's Blues of Richmond, Avers, Sleepwalkers, Chris Smither, JJ Grey & Mofro, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Debo Band, Bio Ritmo

Thursday night, I know a lot of people who will be going to the JJ Grey & Mofro show with Karl Denson's Tiny Universe (featuring Richmond's own DJ Williams on guitar) at Pocohontas Live at Pocohontas State Park. I unfortunately will not be able to attend, but it should be a fantastic show, even though I won't be there (ego alert!). The gates will open at 5:30, Karl Denson will hit the stage around 6. Don't miss 'em. GA tix are $16.50 in advance, $20 at the door. Gold Circle GA seating is $30. Gold Circle Reserved is $35. Platinum Circle Reserved with Massage, Hot Tub, Free Drinks, a Golden Ticket and the legal right to pee on those in GA while you spend the night on your phone texting all your friends to tell them you are in Platinum Circle while not paying attention to the band  is $500. Here's JJ Grey hanging out with some other cool dudes: Luther Dickenson (N Mississippi All-Stars, Black Crowes), Marc Broussard, & Anders Osborne in a collective called The Southern Soul Assembly.



And here's JJ Grey & Mofro along with some other artists on an hour long show called "WoodSongs" which appears to be on PBS in Kentucky:



If you can't get South of Richmond for some blues on Thursday, head North of Richmond for some blues that night with Chris Smither at Ashland Coffee & Tea. Tix are $20 in advance, $23 day of show. Show starts at 8 with opener Russell Lacy. Here's Chris playing "What It Might Have Been":



Hard to believe we've reached the last Friday Cheers of the season but they'll be going out with a bang with acclaimed indie/pop artist, Neko Case. It'll be $10 to get in. Neko comes on at 8, but get there early to hear singer/songwriter Laura Veirs who comes on at 6:30. You can also catch Laura earlier in the day at Plan 9 in Carytown where she'll do a lunch time show at 12:30 PM. Here's Neko with "Don't Forget Me":



And here's Laura Veirs doing "July Flame", an appropriate song as we are about to enter July.



And here's another one from Laura that popped up on my iPod this AM. I really like this one.

Get your yacht rock on Friday night at the Beacon Theatre in Hopewell with Little River Band. Doors open at 6 and the opener is TBA. GA is $21.50 advance, $25 at the door. Orchestra Reserved is $36.50 advance, $40 at the door. Here's one that I used to have on an old K-Tel cassette that is long lost to the ages:

The Broadberry has an absolutely killer lineup of local bands on Friday night. This features the best of Richmond's psychedelic hard rock scene with People's Blues of Richmond, Avers and Sleepwalkers. All the bands are great and if haven't seen them, this is a great chance to see all three in one show. And this will be the first night for all the bands at The Broadberry. Hope they like it. It's an all ages show, so you can bring your 7 year old kid, but only if they like to RAWK! It's $10 to get in and doors open at 8. I hope they don't start the Sleepwalkers until I can get there from Cheers because I'd really like to see them again, but I don't think I'll be so lucky. I feel like any of these bands could bust out of our little scene and go national, so this is really one not to be missed. Here's PBR doing "GB" at the Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton on 4/19:


If jamtronica is more your scene, Former Champions will be at The Camel on Friday. Doors open at 9, it's $7 to get in and Commonwealth will open the show. Here they are playing a recent party:



Saturday night, Ethiopian pop band by way of Boston, Debo Band, will be at The Broadberry. From their press blurb: "Debo Band is a 11-member group led by Ethiopian-American saxophonist Danny Mekonnen and fronted by charismatic vocalist Bruck Tesfaye. Since their inception in 2006, the band has won raves for their groundbreaking take on Ethiopian pop music, which incorporates traditional scales and vocal styles, alongside American soul and funk rhythms, and instrumentation reminiscent of Eastern European brass bands. Debo have toured Ethiopia twice, appearing at both the Ethiopian Music Festival in Addis Ababa and Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, the largest music festival in East Africa. In North America, they've shared stages with Gogol Bordello, Amadou & Mariam, Antibalas, The Family Stone, and Ethiopian great Tilahun Gessesse. Recent and upcoming performances include the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Bumbershoot, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, The Kennedy Center, Montreal Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and South by Southwest. Their self-titled debut for Sub Pop / Next Ambiance was produced by Thomas "Tommy T" Gobena of Gogol Bordello and features album art by critically-renowned painter Julie Mehretu." It's $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Doors open at 8 and DJ Peri and DJ Felty will provide additional music. Here's Debo Band peforming for KEXP in Seattle:

More world music on Sunday, when Richmond salsa sensations Bio Ritmo celebrate the release of their latest album, "Puerta Del Sur" at The Broadberry. They'll do two sets, one at 8 and one at 10. This band has become a world-renowned salsa band with gigs all around the globe. Here's "La Muralla" live:

That'll do it. Have a great weekend! I'll leave you with one of my favorite songs. It gives me goosebumps every time he hits the chorus. This is Jason Isbell with "Danko/Manuel". Can't wait to see Jason at The National in August a few weeks before I see his former band, Drive-By Truckers, at Lockn' Festival.



Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Hurray for the Riff Raff

Folk/Blues/Rock/Alternative/Indie band, Hurray for the Riff Raff (aka singer/songwriter Alynda Lee Segarra), is on Late Show with David Letterman tonight on CBS at 11:35 PM. They are out of New Orleans, which is always a good sign. Here's a 35 minute performance they did outside in their home town.



Here's the Phish doing "The Line" on Letterman last night:



And if you missed their hour-long "Live on Letterman" performance last night, it's still available to watch HERE.

Late Night Pick: Phish; Phish live webcast at 8 PM

Phishy, Phishy, Phishy, Phish. Tonight, you can find the Phish twice. They'll be doing a Live at Letterman webcast HERE at 8 PM. Those usually last about an hour but it's Phish so it could go for three. Then, at 11:35 PM (though it was taped before the Live at Letterman show), Phish will be on Late Show with David Letterman proper on CBS. They are out promoting their just released new album, Fuego, which was produced by Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Lou Reed and more). And if that's not enough Phish for you, you can also get a free download of 11 live tracks from Phish's vault with LiveBait Vol. 10 which you can download HERE. And if you still can't get enough Phish, tickets are still available for their shows at nTelos Pavilion in Portsmouth on July 29 & 30. Here's "Steam" from their 12/28/13 show at Madison Square Garden:



And here's not one, not two, but three songs that St. Paul and the Broken Bones did the other night on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

Late Night Pick: St. Paul & The Broken Bones

From Friday Cheers to Jimmy Kimmel Live! Last Friday's opener at Cheers, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, will be on Jimmy Kimmel tonight at 11:35 on ABC. The band put on an incredible, electrifying performance at Friday Cheers. Lead singer Paul Janeway is poised to take his place among the great soul singers like Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin and Van Morrison. The instrumentalists were fantastic behind Paul and they are truly all together as a band and not just Paul and a backing band. If you missed them at Cheers and want to see what you missed, or just want more (as I do), check them out tonight. Here's a clip from Cheers, "Sugar Dyed":


Here's Robbie Fulks doing "Where I Fell" on Last Call with Carson Daly.

Weekend Additional Pick: World Cup Outdoor Viewing Party w/Southern Belles

The Richmond Kickers are throwing a World Cup Outdoor Viewing Party this Sunday from 11:30 AM to 8 PM at 1 W Grace St at the intersection of West Grace & Foushee Street. It's FREE to get in and there will be food trucks & beer trucks along with the largest, outdoor, high-def, LED screen in the RVA. The USA vs. Portugal match starts at 6 PM and the Belgium vs. Russia and Korea Republic vs. Algeria games will precede that. As if all that weren't enought, Southern Belles will provide the tunes throughout the day. See you down there. U-S-A! U-S-A!

Late Night Pick: Robbie Fulks

We'll turn to a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC, 1:35 AM) from March tonight to check out alt-country singer/songwriter Robbie Fulks. You might dig Robbie if you like Dwight Yoakam, Alejandro Escovedo, Lyle Lovett, Hank Williams, The Byrds, Steve Earle, Gram Parsons, Arlo Guthrie or Elvis Costello. Here's Robbie's "She Took a Lot of Pills and Died":



Here's the two songs Young Fathers performed on last night Jimmy Kimmel Live:

St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Houndmouth, Jackass Flats benefit, Tweens, Lust for Youth, Jukebox the Ghost, Jake Bugg, Band of Horses, A Great Big World, Uncorked & Tapped

The weekend starts with Seattle indie rockers Band of Horses checking into The National for a show that starts at 8 (doors open at 7) with openers Susto. You might dig Band of Horses if you like Kings of Leon, The National, Ray LaMontagne, My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver, Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Modest Mouse, Neil Young, or R.E.M. Here's Band of Horses doing "For Annabelle" in Nashville last month:

At Strange Matter Thursday, Tweens will play their catchy garage punk pop for you, if you let them. It's $8 to get in, this is an 18+ show, doors open at 9, music starts at 10 with openers Big Air, Christi, and Cross Eyed. Here's a little number off of their self-titled debut album called "Forever":



Get to Friday Cheers early this week so you don't miss opener St. Paul & The Broken Bones. They'll start at 6:30. If you like some good ol' soul music, this band is for you. Don't be fooled. The lead singer, Paul Janeway, may look like your accountant but wait until you hear him sing with this swinging band. And they have a horn section, and I love a good horn section. Paste Magazine chose them as the #1 band to know at the just completed Bonnaroo festival. They won't disappoint. Here's their 20 minute set at KEXP in Seattle. You'll be hooked by the end of the first song.



They'll be followed by Americana band Houndmouth at 8. These guys (and gal) play it loose and fun with a little twang. Just to let you know where they are coming from they've been known to do covers of John Prine, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Funkadelic. So you'll get two kick-ass bands for just $5. What a bah-gahn! Here's Houndmouth's "Casino (Bad Things)"

At The Broadberry Friday night, it's a benefit concert for Robbie Wells with Americana/bluegrass band Jackass Flats, Farm Vegas (jam band rock and their first show in almost a year) and Southern Belles. Robbie Wells is a lifelong musician and the father of Corey & Jesse Wells, band members in Jackass Flats. Their dad is undergoing treatment for his second bout of prostate cancer and the funds raised at this show will go toward his medical bills. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. Here's Jackass Flats back in March at Capital Ale House:



Friday night, The National has piano led pop/rock bands A Great Big World, Jukebox the Ghost & Greg Holden. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Make sure you get in early to see Jukebox the Ghost. Here's one from A Great Big World, "Say Something" which guests Christina Aguilara:



And here's a summery little number called "Somebody" from Jukebox the Ghost:



If you like beer and wine (and it you are reading this blog, I know you do) head to the Richmond.com Uncorked and Tapped Festival at the Bon Secours Washington Redsking Training Center, where you can drink way too much and puke on the field RGIII and Tom Brady will play on this year. OK, it's probably not that kind of party. But it is the kind of party with 5 VA wineries, 5 local breweries, 10 food carts, and samples of wine, beer and food pairing with your admission price ($15 in advance, $20 at the door). Slack Family Bluegrass Band will provide the music. It'll run from 11 AM to 5 PM on Saturday. Here's the band at Legend Brewery a couple weeks ago:



Get your 70's prog rock on with Kansas at The Beacon Theatre in Hopewell Saturday night. Doors will open at 6 with opener tba. Tix are $45.50 in advance, $50 at the door for Lower Level Reserved and $21.50 in advance, $25 at the door for GA Balcony seating. In case you were wondering 3 of the 6 members from the original version of the band are with the current version (Phil Ehart on drums, Rich Williams on guitar, and Steve Walsh on keys and vocals). Here they are doing "Carry On Wayward Son" back in 1976:



He's only 20 but he's already had two acclaimed albums, been the latest in a long line of "New Dylan's", won "Best New Act" in Britain's Q Magazine Awards, and been nominated for a bunch of other awards in GB, including the coveted Mercury Prize for "Album of the Year" for "Jake Bugg". And in fact, Jake Bugg is his name and, in fact, he'll be at The National on Saturday night. Tix are $20 in advance, $23 at the door, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener The Silver Palms. Here's Jake doing his latest single "Messed Up Kids" at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend Festival a few weeks ago in Glasgow:



Long running blues band, The Nighthawks, will be having a CD Release party for their new album "444" at Capital Ale House downtown on Sunday. Doors open at 5, show starts at 6, it's $15 to get in, $10 if you are a member of the River City Blues Society. Here's the band playing in Rockville MD on 5/25/14 and sounding great:



At Strange Matter Sunday, electronic indie pop band Lust for Youth will perform with openers Appetite, Lost Tribe and Daggering. Show starts at 9, it's $10 to get in and this is an 18+ show. Here's Lust for Youth's "Armida" from their album "International":



Tuesday night at Cary St. Cafe, Talking Heads tribute band Fear of Music will take the stage. But only after Richmond's newest tribute band, Diamone Heist, a tribute to Neil Diamond goes on at 10 PM.  It's FREE to get in. Here's Talking Heads doing "Love for Sale":



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Young Fathers

No, this isn't the companion show to "16 & Pregnant". This is the alternative rap/soul/pop/R&B band from Edinburgh, Scotland, Young Fathers. They'll be on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight on ABC at 11:35 PM. Here's the set they recently played on KEXP:

Late Night Pick: LP

Check out Adult Alternative/Pop/Rock/Indie/Singer/Songwriter LP on tonight's Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS at 12:35 AM. You might dig LP if you like Feist, Florence & the Machine, Joan Jett, The Runaways, or Pat Benatar. Here's LP with "Into The Wild" from a couple years ago:



Here's another upcoming female artist. This is Kacey Musgraves on last Thursday's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon doing "The Trailer Song":


And here's a web exclusive with Kacey doing "Keep It To Yourself":

Late Night Pick: Kacey Musgraves

Country artist Kacey Musgraves had a much acclaimed debut album in "Same Trailer Different Park" and has been riding high ever since with an appearance on the Grammy Awards and a recent CMT Crossroads show with Katy Perry (which premieres on CMT Friday at 10 PM). You can check her out on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:35 PM). And if you think she's all pop, she's got street cred (or would it be prarie cred for country music?), as she's currently on tour with Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss. Here's her big hit, "Follow Your Arrow":



Here's Janelle Monae doing a Bowie classic on Late Show with David Letterman last night:

Weekend Picks: Lake Street Dive, Funky Meters, John Prine, Diamond Center, Robert Earl Keen, Time Jumpers, Black Girls, Susan Greenbaum

Thursday night, up and coming pop/jazz/blues band, Lake Street Dive, comes to The National. If you caught them at Cheers last year, you could tell that was the last time you would see this band for $5. The sultry singing of Rachael Price leads a band that can create diverse sounds and really swings. Tix are $18 in advance, $21 at the door. Doors open at 7 and show starts at 8 with opener Sun Parade. They are hitting a lot of festivals this summer and getting a lot of buzz. This is also the very first show of their summer tour, so they should be fired up and ready to go. Look for me. I'll be there. Here's the band doing "Stop Your Crying" last month:



If Lake Street Dive wasn't here in town tomorrow night, I would be taking the short ride down to Hopewell to see one of my favorite songwriters, Robert Earl Keen, at the Beacon Theatre. Doors will open at 6, show should start around 6:30 with an opener TBA. Tix are $25 in advance, $30 at door (General Admission Balcony); $40 advance, $45 door (Reserved Orchestra); and $80 (Orchestra Pit). Robert Earl will be playing the Austin City Limits 40th Anniversary show (to be broadcast in October) on June 26 with Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr., Jeff Bridges & Sheryl Crow. Not a bad lineup! Here's REK and his band with "Amarillo Highway" in 2007 at the Ryman Auditorium:



Friday evening is the first of the last three Friday Cheers of the year and starts the run I've been waiting for. Next week, St. Paul & the Broken Bones will be there and the week after that is Neko Case, but this week it's the legendary Funky Meters. This band invented New Orleans Funk in the 70's and they are still out kickin' it today They backed up Dr. John, Robert Palmer, Lee Dorsey, and Allen Touissant, as well as cranking out their own music. Original members Art Neville on keys (because every New Orleans band must have a Neville) and George Porter Jr. (the bass and soul of the band) are there, along with Brian Stoltz (gtr) and Russell Batiste, who have been with the band since 1994 and 1989 respectively. Brown's Island will be shaking with a funky party and it kicks off at 6:30 with local band Mekong Express & The Get Fresh Horns, an all-star band of some of Richmond's best musicians, who can bring the funk of their own, so get there early. I'll see you at this show too. Here's the Funky Meters in Denver in Febuary with "Hey Pocky Way" (a song the Grateful Dead covered) into "Cabbage Alley".



The Beacon Theatre in Hopewell has another good show on Friday night with The Time Jumpers, a big Western swing band, featuring Vince Gill, Dawn Sears, Kenny Sears, and Ranger Doug Green. Doors open at 6, showtime is 7:30 with an opener TBA. Tix are $36.50 advance, $40 at the door (Balcony General Admission, and $55.50 advance, $60 at the door (Orchestra Reserved). They recently taped a show for "Bluegrass Underground", a great show on PBS where great bluegrass bands play inside Cumberland Caverns in TN. So it's bluegrass played underground. That's right, you got it. It's a great show so set those DVRs. Here's their video from 2 years ago for "On the Outskirts of Town":

If you are looking for a fun family festival on Saturday, head to the first Build a Better Block Church Hill, taking place in Church Hill surprisingly enough, on 25th St between P & Carrington Streets. Things actually start Friday night from 5 - 9 PM, then pick up again Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM. Music-wise, NO BS! Brass Band will be onstage at 25th & Venable from 10:30 AM to noon and Chkn Grease will be on the same stage from 1 PM to 2 PM. There will be lost of other stuff going on, so just click that little linky up there to check it out.

Folk legend John Prine is at the Carpenter Theater on Saturday with Carlene Carter opening. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Tix are $49.50. Rolling Stone recently polled it's readers on what was the saddest song of all time and John's "Sam Stone" made the list. Now, he doesn't play all sad songs as you'll see if you watch this episode of "Sessions at West 54th":



Black Girls are at The Camel Saturday night with Tiny Victories, Family & Friends Band, and Sons of Hippies. Black Girls are back from a two week East Coast tour so they'll be ready to party with the hometown crowd. Doors open at 9 and it's $7 to get in. Here's Black Girls at the Broadberry a couple months ago:



Susan Greenbaum will be up at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Saturday. It's $12 to get in and the show starts at 8. Here's Susan at Ashland Coffee & Tea a couple weeks ago doing the bluesy "When Will You Learn?" along with a fine imitation of her grandmother.



At the Broadberry Saturday, you can get 4 bands in a jam band showcase for just $10 with The Mantras, Spiritual Rez, Trongone Band and Dreadlock Robot. Here's The Mantras "Asterisk" live in Roanoke:

The show at Gallery 5 on Sunday starts early (6 PM) but that's just so they have more time to blow your mind. Diamond Center headlines a show with Ancient Sky and Father Sunflower & The Rays opening. To further open up your mind's eye, projections will be provided by Lord Candy Dish and soundscapes will be constructed by Revolt of the Apes. It's just $6 to get in. Here's Diamond Center at Strange Matter in 2012:



We'll see you out at Lake Street Dive and the Funky Meters! Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Janelle Monae

The exciting, science fiction, funk-soul of Janelle Monae will be on Late Show with David Letterman (Christopher Walken, too!) on CBS at 11:35 PM. Janelle is one of those artists that I can't believe has not played Richmond. She would be perfect to see at The National. If you want a taste of Janelle's influences, check out her "WondaMix" on Spotify. Here's "Tightrope" from her 2010 album, "Archandroid". Beware! This video has been know to induce spontaneous dancing.



Here's Jack White doing the title track from his new album, "Lazaretto" on Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Monday night. It rocks, as usual, in a funky way.



And here's a bonus peformance of "Just One Drink":

Late Night Pick: Jack White

Jack White will be on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (NBC, 11:35 AM). Jack's highly anticipated new album, "Lazaretto", comes out tomorrow so I'm sure he'll be playing something from that. Jack will be touring the UK, Scotland, and Europe in the fall and headlining Newport Folk Festival this year in July. Let's go back to Jack's White Stripes days for "Icky Thump":



Here's Ray LaMontagne on the Late Night with David Letterman show that repeated last Friday night:

Late Night Pick: Ray LaMontagne

Alternative/Folk/Singer/Songwriter Ray LaMontagne is on a repeat of Late Show with David Letterman tonight on CBS (11:35 PM). Ray will be at Floyd Fest in Floyd VA on July 27. Here's Ray live on the BBC in 2008 doing "Shelter":



Here's Damon Albarn doing "Lonely Press Play" last night on Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:

Late Night Pick: Damon Albarn

Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) will be on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (NBC, 11:35 PM). Here's the first single and title track from the album Damon is out supporting. This is called "Everyday Robots":



Here's Bob Mould on last night's Conan doing "I Don't Know You Anymore":

Weekly Picks: Futurebirds, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, Future, Gold Bears, The Naked and Famous, Skrillex, Southern Belles, Carytown Beer Festival, Richmond Bacon Festival

We start with a great webcast this weekend from Mountain Jam in Hunter NY. This webcast will start Thursday at 8 PM, and then continue Friday through Sunday starting at noon each of those days. You can see it HERE for FREE. Thursday, you've got Dark Star Orchestra (8 PM) and Umphrey's McGee (10:30 PM). Friday highlights include Robert Randolph & The Family Band (2:30), Avett Brothers (6:15), & Bob Weir & Ratdog (9). Saturday highlights are Jeff Tweedy of Wilco (2:30), Tedeschi Trucks Band (6:45) and Gov't Mule (who will be at Innsbrook in August, they'll be on the webcast at 8:45 PM). Sunday, you've got Anders Osborne (12:45), Treetop Flyers (1:45), Chris Robinson Brotherhood (2:30), Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (3:45), Michael Franti & Spearhead (4:30), Lucius (6), and things close out with the Allman Brothers Band (7) as they start their farewell tour.

Here in the real world, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis will be at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Thursday night. Show starts at 8 and it's $18 in advance, $23 day of show. Here's the press blurb on them:

“I don’t know if it was ever some big idea,” says Kelly Willis with a musical laugh. “It’s just something we’ve always sort of done. Our Christmas shows were always so fun, and obviously we’ve always been part of each other’s records. But we’re also our own people. We’ve always been very careful about not losing sight of that. We didn’t want to get lost in a duo because we are so different, and we’ve each worked so hard to establish our own careers.”

The thing about chemistry, though, is it can’t be denied. To hear them sing together is to understand opposite attraction, spontaneous combustion and a whole lotta life lived together. Robison and Willis—two decades in—know the way the other leans almost without talking.

For all their differences musically—Willlis explains, “I’m more rockabilly/60s, and he’s got that ‘70s Texas songwriter thing”—they’re both artists deeply rooted in the hard country, yet deeply progressive music scene that’s Texas post-Bob Wills. A place long on big emotions, serious Saturday nights, long necks, roadhouses, big hair, roughnecks and tender hearted women, Texas’ Robison and Willis bridge the gaps and build a refuge for the Venus/Mars continuum that is men and women high on hormones and short on guilt, not to mention the craggy aftermath of same.

They also follow in the tradition of couples making kinetic music of all stripes. Not just Johnny and June and Tammy and George, Waylon and Jesse or even Conway and Loretta, but also X’s roots-steeped punks John Doe and Exene Cervenka. That merging of songs and life, knowing and dreaming adds depth and frenzy to the music.

Here they are doing "Border Radio" at the 2013 Americana Awards:



Friday Cheers has a great double bill for just $5. Spirit Family Reunion will take the stage first at 6:30. Futurebirds come on at 8.Spirit Family Reunion specialize in foot-stompin' Americana. Futurebirds play psychedelic country rock in the vein of My Morning Jacket and Crazy Horse. Here's Futurebirds playing "Stranger":



If rap is more your speed, head to Creative Nation aka RVA Thearte aka Hat Factory aka Toad's Place. This place needs to settle on freakin' name. It's very confusing and there is no one web site to go to, to figure out what the hell is going on there. Not a good way to run things. Anyway, the Honest Tour checks into that venue at 140 Virginia St on the canal at 7 PM on Friday. That features rappers Future, Rico Love, Q.U.E. and Young Money Yawn. Tickets are $37.50. Here's Future's "Turn on the Lights" from 2012:



Southern Belles hit up The Camel for their regular First Friday show. The Heritage will open the show at 10 PM and it's $7 to get in. Here's the Belleslast show at The Camel on 5/2:



On Saturday, the 2nd Annual Carytown Beer Festival takes place in.......The Diamond. Fooled you there, didn't I? They had a huge crowd for last year's festival in Carytown and Richmond wouldn't let them shut down Cary St. for this year's fest, so they had to move it. It will start at noon and go until 6. There will be lots of craft beers. Tix are $25 or $50 for VIP which gets you entry an hour early and access to a designated VIP tent.

At vinyl record store Steady Sounds on Saturday afternoon, you can check out a free show from noise-pop band Gold Bears. The show starts at 3 with RVA band Hoax Hunters. You might dig Gold Bears if you like The Smiths, The Ramones, and Syd Barrett. Here's Gold Bears "So Natural":



Do you like bacon? I mean do you reeeeeeeaaaalllly like bacon? Then, brave the crowds and head to the 17th Street Farmers Market Sunday for the Richmond Bacon Festival. The event runs from 11 AM to 5 PM. There will be bacon, beer, bacon, cider, bacon, live music, bacon, wine, bacon, crafts, bacon, a children's area, bacon, bacon and bacon. A word of warning. Last year 15,000 people showed up for this thing (never underestimate the power of bacon) and lines were long. They may have made some adjustments for the crowds this year but be ready for some waiting.

There will be no lines at Forest Hill Park Sunday evening for their monthly Music in the Park series. This week they'll feature the string-picking, Appalachian, progressive bluegrass music of Many Nights Ahead out of the Shenandoah Valley. The show gets under way at 6 and it's FREE and very family friendly. Here they are performing "Looks Can Be Deceiving" in what looks to be someone's dorm room:



The Naked and Famous will be The National Sunday night. That's the name of the band not a bunch of naked, famous people hanging out. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener White Sea. They come all the way from New Zealand where the greatest bands come from. You might dig them if you like Metric, Sleigh Bells, Architecture in Helsinki, Bastille, or Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Here they are at Coachella this year doing "Young Blood":



Monday night, Skrillex and his Mothership will take over Brown's Island. Expect ecstatic dancing, heavy beats, intense lights and video and sounds like your old modem connecting to the internet. Tix are $49.50. Doors open at 4:30 (the show will end at 10 PM so drop that molly early) and the openers are Dillon Francis, What So Not and Milo & Otis (I have a fantasy that the real Milo & Otis will be kickin' it on the turntables). Here's the teaser video for the tour:



That'll do it. Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Bob Mould; Bob Weir w/Ratdog & Friends free webcast tonight

Indie Rock legend Bob Mould has an acclaimed new album out ("Beauty & Ruin") that has cracked into iTunes top 40 and he'll be doing a tune from it on tonight's Conan (TBS, 11 PM). Bob really does some cool videos and here's "The Descent" in which Bob loses his job and goes back to nature:



and here's another favorite where Bob and the band celebrate their first "Take the Kids to Work Day" but it doesn't work out too well for one band member.



Here's Twin Shadow doing "To the Top" on last night's Conan:



Tonight at 8:30 PM, you can watch a free webcast celebrating the 10th Anniversary of get-out-the-vote non-profit, HeadCount, and also the kickoff for Mountain Jam Festival which takes place this weekend (free webcast for that too!). The webcast will have Bob Weir & Ratdog joined by guests Eric Krasno (Lettuce, SOULIVE), Marc Brownstein (The Disco Biscuits, Conspirator), Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey’s McGee), Ryan Zoidis & Eric Bloom (Lettuce Horns), and more to be announced. You can watch that HERE.

Late Night Pick: Twin Shadow

Tonight, see pop/rock/alternative/indie/electronic/dance (i.e. a little bit of everything) artist, Twin Shadow, on Conan at 11 PM on TBS. Twin Shadow, the stage name of George Lewis Jr, will be performing at a bunch of big festivals this summer including the Leeds Festival and Reading Festival (both in the UK) and Bumbershoot in Seattle. Here's "Five Seconds":



Here's Miranda Lambert doing "Automatic" on last night's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:

Late Night Pick: Miranda Lambert

Americana/country singer Miranda Lambert seems to be popping up everywhere over the last few days as she promotes her new album, "Platinum", which comes out tomorrow. She'll be on the Tonight Show starrring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:35 PM) tonight so you can check out if all the fuss is worthwhile. Hre previous albums got great reviews and you can stream 8 songs off of "Platinum" HERE. And here's "Kerosene" from 2009:



Here's Lykke Li doing "No Rest for the Wicked" on Jimmy Kimmel Live:



And her she is doing "No One Ever Loved" on the same show: