Weekend Picks: New Year's Eve Shows, Infamous Stringdusters, Dark Star Orchestra, Yarn, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Locust Honey, Miramar

It's a big weekend with lots of shows and New Year's Eve!

Dark Star Orchestra, the Grateful Dead tribute band, trucks into The National for two shows on Wednesday and Thursday. Tix are $25 advance, $30 day of show. The doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and there is no opener. DSO will play two sets, as always. Here's DSO in C'ville in November:



Wednesday night at The Broadberry, former Richmond electro jam band Former Champions get together for a reunion show. Doors open at 8, show starts at 8:30, Kenneka Cook opens and DJ Phil Dice will spin between sets. Tix are $8 advance, $10 day of show. Here's a set from Former Champions in 2014:

Americana band Yarn hits the stage at The Broadberry Thursday night. Dalton Dash will open the show at 9, doors open at 8. Tix are $15. Their album "This Is The Year" recently came in at number 46 on the Americana Music Association's Radio Albums of 2016. From that album, here's "Carolina Heart":



For a good happy hour show on Friday, head to Hardywood for Locust Honey and The Atkinsons. The tap room opens at 4 and The Atkinsons kick off the music at 6. It's FREE to get in. Here's the press blurb on Locust Honey:

As Locust Honey, Chloe Edmonstone and Meredith Watson bring their experience in Old-Time, Bluegrass, and Pre-War Blues to both their original material and the traditional songs and tunes of the American Southeast. With a rotating instrumentation of fiddles, open-back and resonator banjos, acoustic and resonator guitars, they set an emphasis on lively arrangements that showcase their signature vintage vocal harmonies. Joined by John Miller, (The Fox Hunt, The Hackensaw Boys,) on upright bass, they have been touring the US, UK and Ireland since 2012.

 Here's Locust Honey in July:

Jam band Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are at The Broadberry Friday night. PPPP will be playing at Lockn' Festival in 2017 so you can get a sneak preview on a smaller stage Friday. Tix are $14 advance, $16 day of show, doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with Elm opening. They've been known to throw Star Wars references, lyrically and musically, into their sets, so here's hoping they'll do a little tribute to Carrie Fisher aka Princess Leia at the show. Here's PPPP playing in September:



Miramar (w/members of Bio Ritmo) bring some Latin flavor playing Puerto Rican boleros (joined by a string quartet!) to Gallery5 Friday evening. Tix are $8 advance, $10 at the door, Doors open at 8, music starts at 9 with openers Yeni Nostalji and Armando Muñoz. Miramar has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered and here they are performing at The Kennedy Center in July:

Bluegrass/newgrass band The Infamous Stringdusters do two nights at The National, Friday and New Year's Eve. Friday's show has tix are $18 advance, $23 day of show, doors at 7, show at 8 with opener Jon Stickley Trio. NYE tix are $28 advance, $33 day of show, same times with opener Billy Strings. The Stringdusters got to collaborate like Ryan Adams and this lineup at Lockn' with Phil Lesh, Jon Fishman & Page McConnell (from Phish), Joe Russo, and Anders Osborne.



You can kick off New Year's Eve with your kids at Noon Year's Eve at noon on Saturday at Lamplighter Coffee Roaster's Addison St. location. No BS! Brass Band will provide the music. Lamplighter will provide the free cocoa. The ball will drop. There will be much rejoicing.

If you prefer a proper NYE show with No BS! Brass Band, they will be at Vagabond on NYE. Tix are $40 (including late night buffet and champagne toast) or $75 (includes the aforementioned and a 4 course prix fixe dinner). The doors open at 9 and a special guest will open. Here's No BS! at Plan 9 last month doing a Michael Jackson favorite:

The Taters ring in NYE at The County Seat Restaurant in Powhatan. The show starts at 8. It's $10 to get in and reservations are recommended. Here's The Taters on VA This Morning a few months ago:

The Shack Band and Jackass Flats are at The Camel for NYE. They'll get together at some point to form the Shackass Flats Band to pay tribute to rock icons we lost in 2016. Tix are $25 advance, $30 day of show and that includes champagne toast and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are going fast so don't sleep on this if you want to go. Here's one from The Shack Band:

The Broadberry will feature yacht rock tribute band Three Sheets to the Wind on NYE. Tix are $40 advance, $50 day of show and $75 VIP. Every attendee gets a free live CD from Three Sheets. Need something to get you ready for the show? Watch the hilarious 12 part Yacht Rock series. They are only 5 minutes each. There's a story behind every song. And it's a NSFW story. Here's episode 1, the story behind "What a Fool Believes":

Elana Lisa & The Hot Mess bring their swing/jazz/blues to The Tin Pan for NYE. Doors open at 7 and the show starts at 8:15. Tix are $27.50 and includes champagne toast. You can also get dinner reservations for a prix fixe menu. Here's the band earlier this year:

If you want some Grateful Dead for NYE, head to Iron Horse Restaurant in Ashland for Long Strange Night. They'll mix in some originals, some Beatles and some blues too. Things get underway at 9 and no cover is listed. Here's the band doing "Cold Rain & Snow" this summer:



That'll do it! Maybe I'll see you at the Stringdusters show on Friday night! Have a Happy New Year and good riddance to 2016. We lost too many good people this year and Carrie Fisher today was the last straw. Here's the Princess Leia theme from STAR WARS EPISODE IV "A New Hope" (1977).
Composed by John Williams and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. May the Force be with you.



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Trongone Band, The Congress, Antero, Fear of Music

Not much going on this weekend due to Christmas and all. But rest up for next week, because that will be a hot one.

Thursday night, Richmond reggae band Antero reunites for a show at The Broadberry. Tix are $10, doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with openers King Easy and Burning Fire. Antero will be bringing back some songs they haven't played in many years, and will share the stage with some old school and first time special guests. Here's Antero in 2015:



Friday night at The Broadberry get your Talking Heads on with Fear of Music (Talking Heads tribute band). Josh Small & Easy Company open the show at 9, Doors open at 10. $10 advance, $15 day of show. This is a holiday bash so perhaps the band will play such Talking Heads Christmas classics as "Psycho Santa", "Once in the Christmastime", "Decorate the House", and "This Must Be The Place (For the Office Christmas Party. I Think We Put Our Coats Over There.)". For your viewing pleasure, here is the complete "Stop Making Sense":



Friday night at The Camel, The Congress throws their third annual Christmas Eve Eve show. Russell Lacy opens at 9. Doors at 8. Tix are $12 advance, $15 day of show. Special guest friends will sit in throughout the night with the band. Here they are doing "Oh Babe" at the Broadberry in September:

Monday & Tuesday night The Trongone Band comes Home for the Holidays at The Broadberry. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 both nights. Tix for Monday night are $10 advance, $18 day of show, Tuesday night tix are $10 advance, $12 at the door. Both nights will feature Ron Holloway on sax and special guest TBA. South Hill Banks opens both nights. Guitarist Andrew Trongone recently sat in with Anders Osborne and his band in NYC. Here's Trongone Band playing their original, "Anne Marie" last month:



That will do it until next week. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Boxing Day/St. Stephen's Day! Here's one from the late Sharon Jones' Christmas album, "It's a Holiday Soul Party" which came out last year:



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Hamaganza, Skalidays, Carbon Leaf, Phantogram, Clair Morgan, No BS! Brass Band, Bush League, Blind & Dirty

This is a very busy weekend. Lots of local bands doing benefits and getting a last gig in before the holiday season. So you can rock out and do good at the same time.

You can do happy hour (or happy four hours) at Hardywood on Friday night starting at 4 PM. The music will start at 6 PM with Clair Morgan, Young Rapids (”..a spectacular rainbow of sound.. orchestration constantly diverts to new forks in the road..”-Spin (“Melt” premiere)) and Hot Reader (Richmond-based four-piece plying the psychic craft with audacious licks and a reverence for classic pop songwriting.). The show ends at 10 so you can still get home early and get some sleep for Christmas shopping the next day. The bands are collecting canned goods to be donated to FeedMore so bring some goodies with you especially since it's FREE to get in. USA TODAY named Clair Morgan's album "New Lions and The Not-Good Night" to their 50 best of 2016 list. Here's Clair Morgan's "How to Set Your Bed on Fire":



No BS! Brass Band is at Broadberry  Friday night collecting canned goods for FeedMore. Admission is $10 advance, $15 Day Of Show or $8 advance with canned goods, $10 Day Of Show with canned goods. The doors open at 8 and the music gets under way at 9 with Luray. They will also be releasing the NO BS! CREAM ALE brewed in collaboration with Three Notch'd Brewery, RVA Mag, The Broadberry, and No BS! For every beer poured, $1 will be donated to FEEDmore. So drink up and Uber or cab home. Here's No BS! at Plan 9 Records (a fine place to find a gift for your favorite music lover or music blogger):



Grateful Dead tribute band Blind and Dirty play Cary St. Cafe Friday night. $5 to get in and it starts at 10. This will be Blind and Dirty's last show of 2016 so if you're a fan, get out and catch it. Here they are performing "The Other One" last month in Williamsburg with Lamb of God's Mark Morton on guitar.



Carbon Leaf does their annual home for the holidays show at The National Saturday night. Tix are $17 advance, $20 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with the Will Overman Band. Here's "The Friendship Song" which the kids, and those of you with kids, may know from the "Curious George 2" soundtrack:



The annual "Hamaganza" Benefit for The Food Bank"Feed More"!! Hams for the Hamless!!!" takes place at The Camel on Saturday night. Doors open at 8:30, the extravaganza (it's more than just a show) starts at 9:30. Featuring this years Host "Dirty" Dean Owen, T.V.'s Danny P., Local Heart Throb Corey Axt, The Dangerous Herschel Stratego, Noah Scalin and The League of Space Pirates, Atom Eve Eclipse,the very sexy Maximum Zero , Jonathon "The Juggler", The Hamaganza House Band, Donnie "Dirt Woman" Corker (of course),and many more. Admission is $10.00 or a Ham!! No Spam excepted!! ALL proceeds go to Feed More!! You never know what or who you will see at this event. A mix of music, bawdy comedy, local celebrities and quasi-celebrities and and other talents, it's always weird and often entertaining. And if you can't make it to "Star Wars: Rogue One" this weekend, League of Space Pirates is the next best thing.



The Broadberry hosts Skalidays with Murphy's Kids, Imaginary Sons, Space Koi, Signal Fire, and JACKMOVE. Doors open at 8, show starts at 8:30, $10 advance, $15 day of show. Proceeds from the show will benefit the James River Association. Here's Murphy's Kids:

Blues band The Bush League play their last gig of 2016 at Lakeside's Sonny's Bar & Grill on Saturday night. Show starts at 8:30. No cover charge is listed. Here's the band playing "Manish Boy" at The Camel in October:



Sunday, trip-hop alternative indie electronic dream-pop rock band Phantogram are at The National. Tix are $24.50 advance, $28 day of show, doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with opener Foreign Air. Phantogram is out supporting their new album, "Three". Here's Phantogram playing in NYC recently:



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! Here's a new Christmas song from RVA's Natalie Prass and she's getting her dance groove on:



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Reverend Horton Heat, Sad13, Thievery Corporation, Local Natives, Futurebirds, Turkuaz, Punk for Presents

There's thieves in the temple tonight. Well, actually it's lush electronica world music band Thievery Corporation at The National on Thursday night. Tix are $39.50, $43 day of show, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener The ReMINDers. You'll probably hear some tracks from Thievery Corporations new album, "The Temple of I&I" which is set for release on 2/10/17. Here's their 30 minute performance on KEXP in October. Love how the first song mixes bossa nova beats with a sitar.



At The National on Friday, it's a psychobilly freakout with Reverend Horton Heat, Nashville Pussy, Unknown Hinson, and Lucky Tubb & the Modern Day Troubadours. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30, tix are $19.50 advance, $23 day of show. Here's part of the press blurb on Reverend Horton Heat:

Seeing Reverend Horton Heat live is a transformative experience. Flames come off the guitars. Heat singes your skin. There’s nothing like the primal tribal rock & roll transfiguration of a Reverend Horton Heat show. Jim becomes a slicked-back 1950’s rock & roll shaman channeling Screamin’ Jay Hawkins through Buddy Holly, while Jimbo incinerates the Stand-Up Bass like Jerry Lee Lewis on steroids. And then there are the “Heatettes”. Those foxy rockabilly chicks dressed in poodle-skirts and cowboy boots dreamily dancing the night away. It’s like being magically transported into a Teen Exploitation picture from the 1950’s that’s currently taking place in the future.

Listening to the Reverend Horton Heat is tantamount to injecting pure musical nitrous into the hot-rod engine of your heart. The Reverend’s commandants are simple. Rock hard, drive fast, and live true. And no band on this, or any other, planet rocks harder, drives faster, or lives truer than the Reverend Horton Heat. These “itinerant preachers” actually practice what they preach. They live their lives by the Gospel of Rock & Roll.

Here's a sexy little video from the Reverend, "Let Me Teach You How to Eat":

Strange Matter brings you the dreamy Americana of Futurebirds, The Trillions and Camp Howard on Friday night. Doors open at 8, music starts at 9, $10 advance, $12 day of show. Futurebirds recently released part 1 of a 2 EP series called Portico, named after the repurposed Baptist church outside of their hometown of Athens GA where they recorded the EPs. And that sentence right there goes a long way toward describing their sound, steeped in Southern roots and repurposed by the college town and music of Athens. Here they are playing "Bad Man" at Pickathon 2016:



If you want to give for the holiday while you rock the f**k out, head to Punks for Presents: Night 1 at Wonderland Saturday night. All of the proceeds from the events go directly to the Childrens Hospital of Richmond. There will be tons of raffle prizes at each show! And for music on Night 1, you've got  ZOMBIE X-MAS (preforming the best of Rob Zombie and White Zombie) along with ELVZIG (preforming Danzig) and CELTIC FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (preforming Celtic Frost). It all starts at 9 PM, tix are $10 at the door and $8 if you bring a canned good. Here's my fav White Zombie song:



Sad13 is the poppy side project of Speedy Ortiz's Sadie Dupuis and she'll be at Strange Matter Sunday night. Vagabon, Emily Reo, and Told Slant. It's $10 to get in. Sad13's debut album is called "Slugger" and it's getting fine reviews including one from The Skinny who said the album was full of, " Nuanced, thoughtful discussions broadcast with power and volume". Here's "Get a Yes" from "Slugger":



Monday at The National, ethereal indie pop/rockers Local Natives will perform along with Brice Woodall. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30. Tix are $23 advance, $26 day of show. Local Natives is already getting spots on some of the big festivals next year including Hangout, Primavera (in Barcelona), and they just got back from an international tour that included Istanbul, Copenhagen, Berlin & Stockholm. I love this song Local Natives did back in 2010, "Sun Hands":

The funky double bill of Turkuaz and The New Mastersounds is at Broadberry Tuesday night. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9, tix are $20 advance, $22 at the door. This promises to be a fun show and be prepared to dance. Here they are at Lockn' fest in August. I unfortunately missed them because I think they played early one day and I was still shaking off the night before. But I may have to make up for it by catching them at The Broadberry.



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! Here's the new one from the Rolling Stones:



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Alejandro Escovedo, J Roddy Walston & the Business, Crushed Out, Mothers, Southern Belles, Big Mama Shakes

The weekend starts Thursday with Americana/roots rock singer/songwriter Alejandro Escovedo at The Tin Pan. Doors are at 6, show is at 8, no opener is listed. Tix are $45 advance, $50 at the door. He's recording an episode of Austin City Limits (ACL) as I write this on Wednesday night. And he is a perfect representative for ACL. He grew up in San Antonio and then California. He's got brothers who were in Santana and his niece is Sheila E. He joined a punk band in SF called The Nuns who opened for the infamous last Sex Pistols show at Winterland. Moved to Austin in the early '80s and joined roots rock band, The True Believers. Then he struck out on his own and earned such distinctions as No Depression magazine’s Artist of the Decade Award in 1998 and the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Performing in 2006. I saw him about 2 years ago at Capital Ale House and it was a fantastic show musically and lyrically. Here he is last month as a trio, one an original, the other, his tribute to Bowie.






Soul Rock/ Southern Americana band Big Mama Shakes does the final show in their First Thursday residency at The Camel on, well, Thursday. Doors open at 8, show starts at 8:30 with openers Ladies Drink Free and Isaac Friend & Father Figure. Just $7 to get in. Here's Big Mama Shakes at one of the First Fridays earlier this year:

Psychedelic rockers The Southern Belles are also closing their First Friday residence at The Camel on, well, Friday. It's $10 to get in, $12 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with openers The Band Piano. After 48 First Fridays at The Camel, there will be a lot guests stopping in to celebrate the last one including:-Original Bass Player Zach Hudgins of Red Light Rodeo

-Original Drummer Raphael Katchinoff of The Congress and Milkstains
-Slide guitarist Stephen Kuester of Jackass Flats, featured on both of our studio albums
-Andrew Rapisarda of Mekong Express & The Get Fresh Horns
-and perhaps our most supportive and dedicated friend and fan, who led us through years of development and growth, Ben Butterworth of Captain Grandpa

Here's a taste of the Belles a few weeks ago at The Pour House in Charleston SC:



Saturday at Hardywood, they release their delicious Christmas Morning stout at 1 PM. The Richmond Craft Mafia has their indie holiday craft show Handmade Holiday show from noon until 7 PM (noon to 5 PM on Sunday). And the music starts at 5:30 with Lobo Marino (drone-vibing world-fused folk music), Great American Canyon Band (Alternative Rock; Soft -> Loud -> Soft -> Loud.), and finally, Mikrowaves (based out of Richmond, VA, combine explosive grooves and trance-like rhythms with cathartic melody). Here's Mikrowaves at Hardywood on July 4. I may have been there. It's all a blur.

The National hosts the pulsing rock and roll of J Roddy Walston and the Business Saturday night. Tix are $18 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with The Quaker City Night Hawks. J Roddy and the Business will be joined by special guests, Sleepwalkers, for a Christmas-themed encore, in addition to playing some new, unreleased material fresh from the studio. The band recently had their music featured on the Cinemax series, "Quarry". Here's "Goodnight Baby" from the show:



NOTE: THE JOSH RITTER PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO FEB. 11. ACCORDING TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM JON GUNTER, MODLIN CENTER MARKETING DIRECTOR, RITTER HAS POSTPONED THE CONCERT ON DOCTOR'S ORDERS BECAUSE OF AN UNSPECIFIED ILLNESS. CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE MODLIN CENTER FOR MORE DETAILS.
Folk musician Josh Ritter is at Modlin Center for the Arts Saturday. The show starts at 7:30. Tix range from $10 to $40 depending on who you are, though it will be $40 for most of us. Lowland Hum open the show. Here's the press blurb on Josh:

“...he sets out to carry a world of ideas on a few basic chords... there is no limit to the depth and ambition of his songs.” –The New York Times

Josh Ritter, one of the “Top 100 Living Songwriters” (Paste Magazine), returns to the Modlin Center in support of his eighth full-length album, sermon on the rocks, which NPR Music calls “gorgeous and glorious.” In 2011, Ritter’s debut novel, “Bright’s Passage,” became a New York Times best-seller, and Stephen King wrote that Ritter’s work “shines with a compressed lyricism that recalls Ray Bradbury in his prime...This is the work of a gifted novelist.”

 Here's Josh performing live at Jack White's Third Man Studios in August:

It's Christmas with The Taters! It sounds like a Christmas Special on RFD-TV but it's really a live Christmas special at The Tin Pan on Saturday night. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8, no opener. Tix are $15 advance, $20 at the door. Here they are last year playing Elton John's "Step Into Christmas":

Rock & Roll, Surf, Proto-Punk, Country Blues duo Crushed Out will groove at Strange Matter Saturday. The show starts at 9 and it costs money to get in. The Strange Matter site doesn't say how much. The You Go Girls (love the name), Dadmobile, and Death Birds Surf Club open. This should be a fun show. Here's Crushed Out's latest video "Out of the Blue":

The Bush League do their 4th Annual Give Back Food Drive show at Poe's Pub on Saturday to benefit Feedmore. $5 at the door for entry and if you bring a canned food item, the band will give you a discount off of The Bush League merchandise. Show starts at 9:30. The band may play some new music and they may have Twinkies too. Here's the band at the Hull Street Festival last month:



Indie rockers Mothers are at Strange Matter Sunday. Doors open at 8 with openers Night Idea and Blush Face. Tix are $8 advance, $10 day of show. Here's a 30 minute set from Mothers on Audiotree in September 2015:



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! I'll leave you with this one from The Wild Reeds. I have been in love with this song over the last week. I'm a sucker for female three-part harmonies and I love the way this song builds.



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Maxwell, Mary J Blige, Joe Bonamassa, Keller Williams, Jorma Kaunkonen, PBR, No BS!, Big Mama Shakes

It's Thanksgiving weekend so the weekend starts on Wednesday!

Maxwell & Mary J Blige bring the smooth R&B to Richmond Coliseum Wednesday night. The show starts at 7 PM with Ro James opening. Tix range from $23 to $148. Here's Mary J's new video, "Thick of It":



Over at the Altria Theater Wednesday night, blues guitar hero Joe Bonamassa will rock your face with a band that includes Anton Fig (drummer, from Dave Letterman's Late Night Orchestra) and Reese Wynans (piano & Hammond organ from Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble). The show starts at 8 and no opener is listed. Tix range from $81 - $127. Joe is a true "guitar nerd" with a Facebook page filled with pics of classic and antique guitars. If you consider yourself a guitar nerd too, check it out with the link up there. Here's Joe and the band with Beth Hart joining them on vocals for a slow burner called "I'll Take Care of You":

It's a great bill of local bands at The National Friday night with People's Blues of Richmond, No BS! Brass Band, and Big Mama Shakes. This high-energy show is going to blow the roof off the place! If you don't know these bands, this is a great chance to see three of the best that Richmond has to offer in one grand show. And if you do know them, you know how good this will be. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8, tix are $15 advance, $18 day of show. Here's PBR doing a four song set in the Sixthman offices in October. Sixthman is the company that runs all those different music themed cruises.

Saturday night at The National, it's Keller Williams with an all-star bluegrass band he put together specifically for this show known as Keller Williams' Thanksforgrassgiving. Tix are $23, doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with the bluegrass band that plays 80's hits, Love Canon. Keller's band includes Jeff Austin (formerly of Yonder Mountain String Band) on mandolin, Danton Boller (KWahtro) on bass, Nicky Sanders (Steep Canyon Rangers) on fiddle and Jay Starling (Love Canon) on dobro. Here's Keller playing some bluegrass with the Travelin' McCoury's in 2013. But it's definitely not a traditional bluegrass song.



Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen is at The Tin Pan Sunday night. Doors open at 5, show starts at 7 and there is no opener. Tix are $65 advance, $70 at the door. Here's a full Jorma show from 1979:



That'll do it. If I was in town this weekend, I'd be at the PBR and the Keller Williams show at The National. But I'll be heading to NJ for Thanksgiving with Mom and my 30th high school reunion. In honor of my reunion, here's the number 3 song on 11/26/1984. This song was written by Prince who had the #2 song, "Purple Rain".



Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Rock to End Alzheimer's, Souper Bowl III, Mash Notes fundraiser, Cracker, The Naked & Famous, The Good Life, Steep Canyon Rangers, Charles Walker Band

The weekend starts on Thursday at The Tin Pan with the soul/funk of Charles Walker Band. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8, tix are $12 advance, $15 at the door. Their positive, upbeat and definitely danceable groove will definitely help you shake off any blues you've got. Here's the band performing "Damn" in June:

On Friday night, Gallery5 hosts a fundraiser for the pet project of WRIR DJ Paul Ivey, putting together a CD of new Richmond bands/musicians covering old Richmond bands/musicians. "Mash Notes vol. 1" will see a digital and physical release sometime in mid 2017. And for just $5 you get to see performances by four of the bands participating in the project. The doors open at 7 and the music starts at 8 with Get in the Car, Antiphons, Various Eggs and Julie Storey (of Doll Baby). Now check out this cool psychedelic video from Get in the Car, "Tamam Shud":



Over at The National Friday, alternative synth pop band The Naked And Famous pull into town for a show. Tix are $24.50 advance, $28 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers xylo and Chain Gang of 1974 and make sure you get in early to see them too. TNAF are out on tour promoting their new album, "Simple Forms". From that album, here's the lyric video for "Last Forever":

It's Rock to End Alzheimer's at The Broadberry Friday. This event benefits the Greater Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and features four great bands: Big Mama Shakes, Brighter the Moon, Venus Guytrap, and 808. Doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8, tix are $10 and you can get VIP tix for $20. Here's Big Mama Shakes doing "Henhouse":

Bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers is at Modlin Center for the Arts Friday night. The show starts at 7:30 and no opener is listed. Tix range from $10 - $40 depending on your demographic, though for most of us adults, it will be $40. There aren't many tickets left for the show so don't sleep on it if you want to go. The Rangers will be playing at the big Americana festival at the Coachella site in April called Stagecoach. The band often collaborate with Steve Martin. Here's a very funny song and video they did together called "Jubilation Day":

Another benefit for another great cause on Saturday afternoon. Souper Bowl III features soup samples from 14 Richmond restaurants and music from four bands: Yesterday & Tomorrow, The Taters, Steve Bassett, and Indecision. All proceeds benefit Max's Positive Vibe Cafe food service training program for people with disabilities. Adults get in for a donation of $15, kids 12 & under $5. It will run from 12:30 to 4:30. Can't find a listing of which band is on when, but it's fine music whenever you go. Here's The Taters performing "I Put a Spell On You" at their recent Halloween show at Tin Pan:



Saturday night at The Broadberry, Cracker is back in town. Tix are $20 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9, and there is no opener. Last time they were in town, the show sold out, so be aware if you are thinking of going. Here's Cracker on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien show in 1993:



Indie rockers The Good Life are at Strange Matter Sunday night. Field Mouse & Jake Bellows open the show. Doors open at 8. Tix are $12 advance, $15 day of show. This is The Good Life:



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! I may see you out somewhere. I may not. I just don't know. It was a great show with Drive-By Truckers last week at The National. Here's their latest video, "Surrender Under Protest":



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Drive-By Truckers, Damien Jurado, Tegan & Sara, Ted Leo, True Widow, Ingrid Michaelson, Missy Raines & the New Hip, Concert of Light, Skydog

Formerly folky, now full on pop, sister duo Tegan & Sara come to The National Wednesday night. Tix are $24.50 advance, $28 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 and make sure you get in early to see Torres. From their 2012 album, "Heartthrob", here's Tegan & Sara's "Closer":



At Strange Matter Wednesday night, Ted Leo is doing a solo show. This is the start of a brief solo tour and he hasn't played in a couple months so he should be raring to go. You might dig Ted's punk/folk rock if you like The Clash, Thin Lizzy, The Jam, Billy Bragg, or Jack White. Tix are $13 advance, $15 day of show, doors open at 8 and Outer Spaces and Sundials open. Here's Ted with his long time band, The Pharmacists, from their 2010 album, "The Brutalist Bricks", here's "The Mighty Sparrow":



The big event for the weekend, at least for this guy, starts on Thursday. Two big shows at The National  for one of my all-time favorite bands, Drive-By Truckers. You can go Thursday, Friday or both. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 both nights with Kyle Craft opening. Tix are $23 advance, $28 day of show. Their new album, "American Band" is one of their best-selling albums ever and also their most political. While they always had some politics in their songs, they were usually told through stories of people, either contemporaries or from the past. But in this album, it's out front more than ever, especially on this moving song, "What It Means":



Psychedelic indie singer/songwriter Damien Jurado is at Strange Matter Thursday night. If you are going to the show, head to the Events page for the show on Facebook and vote for which older song you want Damien to play. Tix are $13 advance, $15 day of show. Doors open at 8 and Doug Keith and Julie Karr open. From Damien's 2012 album, "Maraqopa", this is "Museum of Flight":



The Allman Brothers Band tribute band, Skydog, has a show Friday night at The Broadberry. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 and it doesn't look like there is an opener. Tix are $10 in advance, $12 day of show and in honor of Veterans Day, it's $8 for veterans. Here's the Allman Brothers Band in 1998 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 3rd Annual Music Masters tribute concert honoring Robert Johnson doing "Come On In My Kitchen":

There's a concert to benefit wounded service members and their families at The Beacon Theatre in Hopewell Friday. Concert of Light will feature Sportsbar Rockstar, Craig Gerdes, Mudbone, Jill Kinsey and more (check out the poser up there). Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:15. Tix are $15 advance, $20 day of show. Here's Sportsbar Rockstar cutting the cake:

True Widow play Strange Matter Friday night. From their bio: "TRUE WIDOW craft patient, rounded music that calls to mind images of foggy dawns and parched fields. Formed in November 2007, TRUE WIDOW released their self-titled debut a year later and immediately caught the ears of the underground. At its core, the music of TRUE WIDOW is powered by the driving, guitar-dense aspects of shoegaze and stoner rock and the heavy, low-moving evocations of ambient music." Tix are $10 advance, $12 day of show. Doors open at 9 and Mary Lattimore and Keep open. From True Widow's new album, "Avvolgere", this is "F.W.T.S: L.T.M.":



Americana artist Missy Raines and the New Hip are at The Tin Pan Saturday night. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8 and no opener is listed. Tix are $12 advance, $15 at the door. Here's their press blurb:

With a voice described as “smoky and seductive”, 7-Time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Bass Player of the Year Missy Raines is heading east with new band members and a fresh sound. Missy Raines & The New Hip covers broad territory, ranging from bluegrass virtuosity to ambient Americana-esque lushness over a jazz-tinged landscape. The compass is set by Raines, planted right in the center of the stage, directing with her upright bass every bit as much as she plays it. With Jake Stargel on guitar and vocals, David Benedict on mandolin and vocals, and Cody Martin on percussion, the New Hip’s new sounds are lush with a thick groove and infectious melodies. When they play, you feel it - immediately. 

Here they are performing "So Good":



Folk/pop singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson is at The National Saturday. Tix are $24.50 advance, $28 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. AJR open. Here's Ingrid performing "Ghost":



That'll do it! I'll see you at the Drive-By Truckers show on Thursday night. I'll leave you with a classic track from Todd Rundgren.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night TV Pick: Jim James

Jim James of My Morning Jacket is on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (NBC, 11:35 PM). Jim's new album "Eternally Even" comes out tomorrow and it's getting good reviews so far. Here's "State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)" from 2013:



Here's Mitski performing with Jon Batiste & Stay Human on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert a few weeks ago.

Weekend Picks: Dweezil Zappa, Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett, Animal Collective, Sorority Noise, DJ Williams, Southern Belles, Big Mama Shakes, Life On Mars, Funky Monks

The weekend kicks off with two members of Little Feat at The Tin Pan. Guitarists Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett take the stage to play some Feat classics and some choice covers. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8 and no opener is listed. Tix are $30 advance, $35 at the door. Here's a set they did in Woodstock in April.



Big Mama Shakes continue their First Thursday residency at The Camel. It's $7 to get in. Doors open at 8, show starts at 8:30 with openers These Wild Plains and Colin & Caroline. Here's Big Mama performing "Places" live on the Audio Barre podcast a couple weeks ago.



Weird (and I mean that in a good way) experimental psychedelic electronica pop band Animal Collective is at The National Friday night. Tix are $24.50 advance, $28 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with opener Actress. From their 2007 album, "Strawberry Jam", this is "Peacebone":

RVA psychedelic band The Southern Belles  play their penultimate First Friday show at The Camel Friday. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with opener The Groove Orient. Tix are $10 advance, $12 at the door. The Belles did a session at the Relix Magazine office last month. Here it is:



Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band, Funky Monks, will be at Cary St. Cafe Friday night. Show starts at 10 and it's $5 to get in. Here's one of the Peppers greatest songs, "Californication":

More tributeness Saturday night at Vagabond as they celebrate their one year anniversary with David Bowie tribute band, Life on Mars. Show starts at 10, and it's $10 to get in. The band will do an acoustic set and an electric set so get there on time. Here's the original video for "Space Oddity" with a different arrangement than the version you know. It's also good to know Major Tom had some babes with him.

Dweezil Zappa is at The National on Sunday night. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 and no opener is listed. Tix are $25 for reserved balcony and $19.50 for GA floor in advance. All tix are $25 day of show. You may have heard about the terrible rift among the Zappa kids regarding Dweezil playing Frank's tunes and merchandising. Dweezil is appropriately calling this the "Dweezil Zappa plays whatever the F@%K he wants!" show, subtitled "The Cease & Desist Tour". I know Dweezil has been keeping Frank's music alive, playing it live for the past 11 years now and hopefully he'll never stop. HERE'S a blog Dweezil wrote when the tour was just about to start last month if you want to know more. Here's Dweezil and band back when they were allowed to call themselves Zappa Plays Zappa doing "Camarillo Brillo".

Party punk alt-rock band Sorority Noise is at Strange Matter Sunday night. Tix are $12 advance, $14 day of show. Doors open at 7 and Free Throw and Ratboys open. Here's the press blurb:

Indie quartet SORORITY NOISE was formed in 2013 by singer/guitarist Cameron Boucher, who also fronts New Hampshire-based screamo group Old Gray. Looking for an outlet for some of his newer material, he enlisted Old Gray drummer Charlie Singer, along with Prawn bassist Ryan McKenna and second guitarist Adam Ackerman, to form Sorority Noise in Hartford, Connecticut. After a handful of early releases, including a cassette EP and digital single, Boucher and his bandmates delivered their debut LP, Forgettable, in early 2014. Fusing bits of emo and pop-punk with melodic indie rock, the band eventually caught the attention of respected East Coast indie Top Shelf Records. Released in June of 2015, Joy Departed, their follow-up album -- and debut for Top Shelf -- took a more diverse and introspective approach. It was followed by a national tour with Motion City Soundtrack. 2016 saw both the release of a new Sorority Noise EP, It Kindly Stopped for Me, as well as the reissue of their debut album, Forgettable, via Broken World Media. 

Here's "Using":



DJ Williams is back in town to celebrate his 35th birthday with a Dirty Thirty...Five party at the Broadberry Sunday. Doors at 8, show at 9, no opener listed. $10 advance, $12 at the door. Here's DJ jamming at The Mint (wherever that is) earlier this month. Sweet horn section.



That'll do it. I'll see you at Funky Monks and maybe Dweezil Zappa. I'm running out of $ but Dweezil may be worth it. Speaking of Zappa, here's Frank doing "Yo Mama":



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: WRIR Monster Mashquerade, Anthony Hamilton, Milk Carton Kids, Trongone Band, Imaginary Sons, The Taters, Bush League, The Atkinsons, Life On Mars, Fear of Music

Boo! It's Halloween weekend, which now seems to mean lots of tribute bands and lots of band putting on "musical costumes" and playing a bunch of songs from another band. There's some original stuff happening too and we'll get to all of it, so let's begin. Enter if you dare!

If you're looking for something for happy hour on Friday, head to The Camel for Blues & Brews with The Bush League. It don't cost nothin' to get in and it goes from 5 - 8. You know, happy three hours. This will be Wynton's (the drummer ) birthday so be sure to buy him a drink and/or say Happy Birthday. Here's the band at Big Bugg's Island Blues Bash.



Over at Modlin Center for the Arts. folk duo The Milk Carton Kids take the stage. Tix range from $14 - $28, but for most of us will be $28. Show starts at 7:30 with special guest Vance Gilbert. The Milk Carton Kids "offer up a signature blend of flat-picking and tight harmony that earned them a 2015 Grammy® nomination in the Best American Roots Performance category and a 2013 nomination for Best Folk Album" (from the press blurb). The band was recently part of the Lampedusa Tour For Refugees to raise money to support educational programs for refugees around the world. They were joined by Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller and others. Not bad company to be in. Here they are at the show in Boulder performing Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here". Fantastic harmonies.

Psychedelic rockers Imaginary Sons are throwing a Halloween party at The Camel Friday night. The band says "This month's Halloween party show will be to raise public awareness about the mutant gator infestation and the threat of impending gatorization of our neighborhoods and families." Truly the greatest threat to our times. Tix are $6 advance, $8 day of show. My Darling Fury, Secret Nudist Friends, and Doctor Collins open. Here's Imaginary Sons in Blacksburg in 2015:



Talking Head tribute band Fear of Music are at Broadberry Friday. Doors at 8, show starts at 9, no opener is listed. There will be costume prizes so bring them on. Here's Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere":

RVA Americana band The Atkinsons are at 7 Hills Seafood & Brewing Company Saturday evening (7 - 10 PM don't pay attention to the time on the poster, 7-10, really). Here's the band doing "Lyin' and Honesty" at The Tin Pan in February.

Speaking of the Tin Pan, The Taters  throw their Halloween Party there Saturday night starting at 8. There will be lots of fun songs from their Halloween album, "Don't Scream", and you can, of course, wear your costume. Here's "Haunted House" from their 2013 Halloween show:

WRIR's Monster Mashquerade at The Camel not only has three kick ass bands and a rockin' DJ, but your donation helps fuel RVA's independent radio station, WRIR. You get in with a $5-10 donation to WRIR. Wear your costumes as there will be prized for Best Mask and Best Costume. The doors open at 8:30. And as for music. You get Dazeases (who will also premiere her new music video), the sci-fi rock of League of Space Pirates and Pete Curry (electro/sega/synthwave/darkwave/punk/soul/surf/lo-fi/pop). WRIR DJ Jamie Lay will be spinning in between sets. Here's a clip from when Dazeases stopped by the studios of ODU. You can listen to the whole thing, which includes interview and studio tracks, or skip to the live performance at 14:18:

At The Broadberry Saturday, The Trongone Band put on their musical costume and present RVA Woman: A Tribute to The Doors. There will be prizes for best costume. They'll do an original set (and you might hear some new songs from the album they are working on) and then a set of Doors music. Hope they play this one.



Smooth soul man Anthony Hamilton is at the Altria Theater Sunday with Lalah Hathaway and Eric Benet opening. The show starts at 7:30 and tix range from $27 - $87. Here's Anthony's latest video, Ever Seen Heaven:

On Halloween proper (Monday night) David Bowie tribute band Life on Mars will be at The Camel and the powerful, soulful and beautiful Sam Reed and her band will be Cosmic Blues and cover Janis Joplin. Tix are $8 advance, $10 day of show. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. Here's Life on Mars doing a great version of a song from Bowie's last album, "Lazarus":



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! I'll leave you with this one from Bruce Springsteen.



Tony Jordan

Late Night TV Pick: Mitski

Indie/alternative/pop/rock singer Mitski is on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert tonight at 11:35 PM (CBS). Mitski recently won Best Songwriter in the Village Voice Best of 2016. From her 2014 album, "Bury Me At Makeout Creek", here's "Townie":



From a couple weeks ago, here's Foals on Last Call with Carson Daly:

Weekend Picks: English Beat, The Mavericks, Pennywise, Lydell Williams, Mark Roebuck, Bush League, Big Payback

Head back to the 80's to start your weekend with one of the most danceable bands of that time, ska band English Beat. They are at The National Thursday night. Tix are $19.50 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with 808 featuring members of Fighting Gravity. The opener is going to do an entire set of Fighting Gravity songs for those of you who were fans of that RVA band from back in the day. Don't expect just the oldies from English Beat. They've been making new music and will have an album coming out in the spring. I'll play my favorite song from them here, "Save It For Later". Pete Townshend of The Who used to play this song on his solo gigs and would often introduce it by saying, "I bet you wonder what this song is about" or something to that effect. I met Pete at a meet and greet after his solo show in 1993 and I asked him what it was about. He told me one of the band members told him it was about getting a blow job and not wanting to come. So I got to talk with Pete Townshend for a minute and we talked about bj songs by English Beat. Still not sure if that was a missed opportunity. But now you'll never hear this song the same way again.



The Big Payback: A Tribute to James Brown are having a 10th anniversary party and you're invited. It goes down at The Broadberry on Friday night. Tix are $10 advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with openers Dead 27's who will be celebrating the release of their new album. Hope Big Payback plays this one. I don't think I've seen them do it before.



Blues band The Bush League is at Sonny's Bar and Grill in Lakeside Friday night. Starts at 8:30 and I think it's FREE to get in. The Bush League will be part of the International Blues Challenge in January on Beale Street in Memphis. Good luck, guys! Here they are at 7 Hills Brewing Co a few weeks ago ripping into Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain":



Americana country rock Tex-Mex rockabilly band The Mavericks are at The National Saturday. Tix are $43 and $38 for reserved in the balcony and $33 for GA on the floor. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and no opener is listed. They've got a new live album out, "All Night Live Vol. 1". Perhaps they'll be recording Vol. 2 Saturday night. This is gonna be one fun Saturday night party. And as crazy as it seems, they may even do a Pink Floyd cover. But here's an original. This is "Dance The Night Away" from 1998:

RVA soul singer Lydell Williams will be live in concert Saturday at TASTE at Infuzion. Tix are $20. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with special guest Deli Rowe. Lydell's new single is "Groove Your Body" and here he is on CBS6 performing the song:

There's a CD Release Party at Sound of Music Studios Saturday night for folk/Americana artist Mark Roebuck. Hazleton & Mike Koehler open the show which starts at 8. It's $10 to get in and it's BYOB. Mark and his band will be playing "Gratitude" and a bunch of other tunes from the new album "The World All Within". From that new album, here's "One More Fall":

So-Cal Punk band Pennywise rocks The National Sunday night. Tix are $23 advance, $26 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with openers Strung Out, Unwritten Law, and Runaway Kids. Pennywise will play their classic 1995 album, "About Time" in it's entirety along with other Pennywise favorites. From "About Time", here's "Same Old Story":

That'll do it. I'll see you somewhere this weekend. I'll leave you with Rick James frolicking in a hot tub while wearing a speedo.



Have a great weekend! Hopefully as good as Rick.

Tony Jordan