Supporting music in Richmond since 2000 - "Hello, my love, I heard a kiss from you / Red magic satin playing near, too / All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn't shine / Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind / In the garden, I see, west purple shower bells and tea / Orange birds and river cousins dressed in green / Pretty music, I hear, so happy and loud / Blue flowers echo from a cherry cloud" - The Brothers Johnson, “Strawberry Letter 23”
Weezer has a new album coming out tomorrow and they'll be playing "King of the World" from it tonight on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:35 AM). Sean "Diddy" Combs will also be on the show. Can anyone tell me why that guy is still around? He hasn't done anything in 15 years. Here's the Weez doing "Islands in the Sun" from way back in 2004:
Michael Stipe and his awesome beard showed up on The Tonight Show the other night and did a Bowie song. You can watch the David Bowie tribute show Michael and a bunch of other artists will perform at on Friday HERE.
Thursday night, pop punkers from Philly, The Wonder Years, pop in to perform at The National. Tix are $20 advance, $23 at the door, doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7 with three openers: letlive., Microwave, and Tiny Moving Parts. Here's Wonder Years' latest single (language NSFW):
Hardywood Foolery is released on Saturday at, appropriately enough, Hardywood. Foolery is an Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels that packs a 14% ABV punch so be ready to Uber home. Kegs are tapped at 2, live music starts at 5 with Grace Vonderkuhn (Dreamy psych and garage rock aesthetics with a sharp pop sensibility, from Wilmington, DE), The Green Hearts (power chords, catchy melodies, sweet harmonies, brainworms, etc.) and Long Arms (indiepunkrockcountryfolktwangpop like Big Star, Replacements, Gaslight Anthem, The Hold Steady). Here's Long Arms back on April 2015 at Hardywood:
Head to Hardywood again on Sunday for the Burrito Riders League. The tasting room opens at noon, band goes from 3 to 6. Burrito Riders League is "Composed of members of Andy Vaughan and the Driveline and Paulo Franco and the Rateros, and reckons to the 1970's country rock of Pure Prairie League, Poco, NRPS and The Band, with a little Southern rock and all things Gram Parsons." Should be the perfect soundtrack for kicking back under the spring sun with a cold beer. Here they are playing at Legend Brewery in January:
That'll do it. It's a slow week, the calm before the fun storm of spring tours and outdoor shows begins. I'll leave you with the crazy, psychedelic video from Big Grams. This is not the kiddies for sooooo many reasons. Have a great weekend! I hope it's nothing like this video.
Michael Stipe, former lead singer for R.E.M., will be making what I believe is his first solo appearance on a late night show, tonight on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:35 PM). No, I'm not counting the one line he sang on the last Colbert Report. Michael also has a kick-ass beard to show off. Here's one Michael did with his old band:
Country singer-songwriter Margo Price is on Conan tonight (TBS, 11 PM) to perform a song from her debut album, Midwest Farmer's Daughter. Margo is on Jack White's label, Third Man Records, and the album is getting great reviews so far. Entertainment Weekly also chose her as one of the 30 best bands they saw at SXSW a couple weeks ago. Here's Margo's "Since You Put Me Down":
Heavy neo-psychedelic band All Them Witches will be on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight (NBC, 1:35 AM). The Nashville band just completed a nearly sold out European tour. Here they are performing "When God Comes Back":
If you couldn't get into the sold out Lake Street Dive show at The National on Saturday, you can catch a free live webcast of their show tonight at the House of Blues in Boston by clicking HERE. The show starts at 9:10 ET.
The weekend starts Thursday with psychedelic art rock band Of Montreal at The Broadberry. Tix are $18 advance, $22 day of show, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and Pillar Point opens. [UPDATE 3/23 9:39 AM - The Broadberry says this show is now SOLD OUT!] There aren't many tickets yet so get them soon if you are getting them. You might dig Of Montreal if you like The Decemberists, REM, Syd Barrett, The Kinks, Beck, or Robyn Hitchcock. Here's the band performing "Empyrean Abattoir" earlier this month:
Classic art rockers Moody Blues are at The Altria Theater Friday night. Tix range from $55 to $90. Show starts at 8 and there is no opener. Here's the press blurb:
The Moody Blues – Justin Hayward (lead guitar, vocals), John Lodge (bass guitar, vocals) and Graeme Edge (drums) – have been at the forefront of the classic rock music scene for almost 50 years, with their multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold albums and singles hitting Billboard at #1, Top 5, Top 10, Top 20 and Top 40. Their illustrious roster of hits include: “Nights In White Satin,” "Tuesday Afternoon," “Ride My See Saw,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Question,” “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)” and “Your Wildest Dreams,” and many more.
The band named the tour “Fly Me High” to mark the 50th Anniversary of Justin Hayward and John Lodge joining Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder as lead guitarist and bassist for the iconic band.
And here's the Moody Blues in 1968 performing "Nights in White Satin":
Goldrush plays tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time, at least in my mind, REM at Savory Grain on Friday night, In the 80's and 90's, every album by the band was met with great anticipation and they provided the soundtrack for my college and post-college years. I'll never forget when I was working at WZZO in Allentown and the single "Drive" came in the mail one Tuesday morning. Before it even went on the air, I grabbed it and threw it in the closest CD player, determined to be the first on Earth, or at least in the Lehigh Valley, to hear it. The song started with a feeling of dread that sucks you in, the violins swirl and lull you into a false sense of well-being and when the electric guitar riff kicked in, I got goosebumps that I still get today. The show starts at 10 when Goldrush does a set of originals followed by REM tunes for the rest of the night. This is a FREE show so you have no excuse not to go. Drink specials too! Here's "Drive" from REM:
And here's Goldrush with "Pale Blue Dot":
Saturday at Capital Ale House Downtown, it's the Virginia Beer and Bluegrass Mini Festival. Doors open at 2, show starts at 2:30, tix are $15 advance, $20 at the door. Here's the lineup:
Hardywood busts out the Bourbon Raspberry Stout with Vanilla (mmmmmmm!) on Saturday and celebrates with music from garage rock n' rollers The Low Counts out of NC. This band will work here. They make me want to drink beer. Festivities start at 2. Music starts at 5. It's FREE to get in. There may be some other bands but if there are, they ain't sayin'. Here's "Keep It Burning" from The Low Counts:
More brewery fun on Saturday as the Bowie tribute band Life on Mars is at Strangeways Brewing as they break out the Martian Spring Bier de Mars. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and it's $10 to get in. Here's Bowie in 1973 singing about "1984" on the 1980 Road Show:
No BS! Brass Band things gets funky because Spring is finally here at The Broadberry Saturday. Tix are $15, doors open at 8, show starts at 9. Planet Hunting Methods opens. Here's the band's full performance for Audiotree a year ago:
Country/Soul/Rock n' Roll band Horsehead is at The Camel Saturday night with New Boss (same as the old boss?) and Prabir opening. Tix are $5 advance, $7 day of show, doors open at 8, show starts at 9. Here's Horsehead's "Casual Dracula":
Tuesday night at Capital Ale House Downtown is the underrated Drivin' N' Cryin'. I recently realized that I had 3 CDs from them that I hadn't listened to since about 1995. I popped them in the old CD player and was reminded what a great band they were/are with their Southern rock/psychedelic/blues mix. Tix are $15 advance, $18 at the door, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Great Peacock. Here's the press blurb:
Celebrating their 30th Anniversary together, Atlanta-based southern hard rock act Drivin’ n Cryin’ was also inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in the Fall of 2015.
In October 1985 Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ played their first show at Atlanta’s famed 688 Club. The band quickly gained attention for its blistering live shows and amassed a rabid fanbase in the fertile soil of the late-1980s music scene in the Southeast. Now 30 years later, founding members Kevn Kinney and Tim Nielsen find themselves enjoying a milestone anniversary for the band, having survived the pressures of fame, a shifting musical landscape, multiple lineup changes, and miles of back roads and highways to arrive here.
With a gold record, 10 full-length albums and a handful of EPs to their credit, the band still refuses to rest on its laurels, adding Jason and the Scorchers axe man, Warner E. Hodges, to the lineup and continuing to tour the United States and Europe to great acclaim. In 2015, a vinyl-only collection of 10 choice cuts from the band’s 4-EP ‘Songs’ series, entitled Best of Songs, was released on Nashville’s Plowboy Records. Comfortable with their past and confident in their future, the band has an arsenal of songs, a full tank of gas, and no plans of stopping any time soon.
And here's "Build a Fire" from 1991:
Have a great weekend! I'll leave you with one more from REM.
St. Patty's Day falls on a Thursday this year, which should be good enough to make it a big party night and there are a couple of big party shows on Thursday night.
Funk/soul/blues/rock band JJ Grey & Mofro will be at The National. Tix are $20 advance, $25 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener David Ramirez. You might dig JJ Grey & Mofro if you like Bill Withers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Van Morrison, or Muddy Waters. Here's the latest single from the band, "Brave Lil' Fighter":
At The Camel, it's a St. Pat's Day Celebration with Butcher Brown and The Big Payback (James Brown tribute). This should get funky enough to make even the most Irish person dance like they are on Soul Train in 1975. Doors open at 8, music starts at 9, tix are $10 advance, $12 day of show. Butcher Brown has achieved international status. They were recently featured in the Japanese magazine, Music Magazine. Here they are in more local climes in C'ville last July:
The oldest (at least as far as I know) and still the best St. Pat's day festival in Richmond, The Church Hill Irish Festival is up on Church Hill (natch) on Saturday (10 AM to 7 PM) and Sunday (10 AM to 6 PM). The band schedule is posted above. There is a $5 donation to get in that benefits a bunch of great local causes. It takes place at 25th St and E Broad St. Lots of good music, good food, good beer & Irish coffee and a large kids' area for the wee lads & lasses to go on all those bouncies.
If you prefer bluegrass to Celtic, you can go to the 7th Annual Richmond Bluegrass Jam at the Cultural Arts Center in Glen Allen on Saturday. 30 bands on 3 stages from noon to midnight. There is no charge but it is HIGHLY suggested that you give them a donation to The Fisher House, which helps military families. HERE is the band schedule.
Alternative/indie/pop rockers MUTEMATH are at The National on Monday night. Tix are $20 advance, $25 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with openers Paper Route. They've been selling out or close to selling out many shows on this tour, they'll be playing the Neon Music Festival in El Paso this summer as well as opening for Twenty-One Pilots on their tour this summer. I would say things are looking up for this band! Here's "Used To" recorded live earlier on this tour:
Richmond Coliseum hosts Spring Fling 2016 with Cage the Elephant, Silversun Pickups, Bear Hands & Foals on Tuesday night. Make sure you get in early to see Foals as they may be the best of them all. Tix run from $29.50 to $39.50. Show starts at 7. Here's one from Cage and one from Foals.
That'll do it. Have a great weekend! I'll leave you with REM doing "Country Feedback", It's time to fill out my bracket!
This looks like the best full weekend for music in a long time. Combine that with a bunch of St. Pat's festivals on Saturday and spring weather, and you have only yourself to blame if you don't have a good time this weekend.
Jam for a cause on Thursday night at The Answer Brewpub. Led by DJ Williams Projekt (who will perform), the Projekt for Progress benefit will raise money for ACE Liberia and The Ann Sandell Independent School. The cost $20 to get in ($15 in advance) and that includes drinks and appetizers. The event runs from 6 PM until 10 PM.
ACE Liberia's vision is to nurture, inspire and support the development of strong citizens that will contribute to the development of strong communities.
The Ann Sandell Independent School is a K through 9th grade community based school for underprivileged youth that might not otherwise benefit from basic education due to limited access to public schools.
Here's DJ Williams Projekt last month at The Broadberry:
On Thursday at Strange Matter, low-fi indie rocker Alex G (out of Philly) will play an early show so you can still get home and get up for work in the AM. The doors open at 7 and music starts shortly thereafter. It's $12 in advance, $14 day of show. Porches and Your Friend open. Here's Alex G's new video for "Mud":
The lovely and talented Bonnie Raitt is at the Carpenter Theatre Thursday night. Very few tickets remain. Tix range from $65 to $99. Show starts at 7:30 with openers The California Honeydrops (not to be confused with the California Raisins). Her new album, "Dig in Deep" is getting great reviews. Here's Bonnie on "The View" the other day. There is a good interview before she performs. If you want to skip right to the performance of "Gypsy in Me" from her new album, skip to about 4:00.
Friday night, I'll be at a show with Southern rockers Blackberry Smoke at The National. Tix are $23 in advance, $28 day of show. Doors open at 7 and show starts at 8 with opener Brother Hawk. Though Blackberry Smoke started in 2000 in Atlanta, the look and sound like they were sharing the stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Marshall Tucker Band in the '70's and that's not a bad thing. These will be one of their last shows on the East Coast for a while so catch 'em now. Or you can catch them at Bike Week in Daytona when they play with Buckcherry. Things could get out of hand at that show. Here's a little acoustic Smoke recorded in January:
If you want to keep your Southern rock vibe going through Saturday, head to The Broadberry Saturday night for Allman Brothers tribute band, Skydog. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9:30, no opener. It's $10 in advance, $12 to get in. They'll be celebrating the 45th anniversary (to the day) of the Allman Brothers Fillmore East concerts so Skydog will perform the same setlist. Here they are doing "Midnight Rider":
There are four St. Pat's day festivals going on Saturday afternoon. Here's some basic info. Music-wise, I didn't recognize any of the bands so I'm assuming they will be cover bands or Celtic music, which should provide fine background music for quaffing green brews, wherever you may go. All are FREE.
Sine Irish Pub throws their St. Pat's Street Party from 10 AM to 3 AM (remember we set the clocks forward at 2 AM, so technically...) in Shockoe Slip
Over in Shockoe Bottom, Rosie Connolly's Pub has their St. Patrick's Street Party. That starts at 11 AM and goes until whenever.
Shamrock the Block takes over The Boulevard from Leigh St. to Broad from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Saturday night at The National, it's Americana dobro artist Jerry Douglas and the Earls of Leicester. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 and no opener is listed. This is a reserved seat show and tix are $30 and $23. Let's keep the Celtic vibe going. Here's Jerry playing "Route Irish":
Things keep rolling Americana style Sunday at Hardywood with Miss Tess & The Talkbacks and The Atkinsons and a lot of great American craft beer. The tasting room opens at 11 AM and the music runs from 2 PM to 6 PM. It's FREE to get in. Here's Miss Tess & The Talkbacks "I Can't Help Myself":
Sunday night at The Camel old school but young guy soul/R&B/blues/rock artist Eli "Paperboy" Reed checks in to move you. Tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Jeremy and the Harlequins, Chris Leggett, DJs Marty Key and Aaron Bushman. Apple Music recently picked his new single, "Hold Out", as one of their "Best of the Week", so here it is. This song really moves so give it a listen.
If New Orleans funk is more your thang, get thee to The Broadberry Sunday night for The Royal Southern Brotherhood with The Seedz opening. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Tix are $15. Royal Southern Brotherhood is led by Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers and The Meters. Here's RSB putting a bluesy spin on the New Orleans classic "Fortune Teller":
Speaking of the blues, one of the great bluesmen of all time, as proven by his recent induction into the Blues Hall of Fame, John Mayall will be at The Tin Pan Sunday night. Tix are $75 advance, $80 at the door. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8. John is still going at 82. He's got a new album out ("Find a Way to Care") and is not slowing down. Here's John in 1988:
Have a great weekend! I will definitely see you at Blackberry Smoke and possibly elsewhere. I'll leave you with some Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. Dan died a few weeks ago and here he is on my old favorite, "The Flip Wilson Show".
Jazz/funk/pop/rock artist Esperanza Spalding will be on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert tonight (11:35 PM, CBS). Her new album, "Emily's D+Evolution" is a concept album built around her muse named Emily and it's getting rave reviews. Here she is in 2009 playing in San Sebastian.
Here's two from Eliot Sumner on Monday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live:
Sting's daughter, Eliot Sumner, will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight (11:35 PM, ABC). It won't sound like The Police. She plays dance/indie/electronic/alternative pop. Her well recieved debut album, "Information", is out now. Here's the title track.
Here's BJ the Chicago Kid on Conan last Thursday night:
Tonight on Conan (11 PM, TBS), R&B singer/songwriter BJ the Chicago Kid will perform. BJ's debut album, "In My Mind", came out last month and it's getting really good reviews. Here's "Church" where BJ debates drinking, doing drugs and having sex tonight vs. going to church in the morning. I debate that all the time. Well, not really. Some NSFW words and sexy images in this one.
Thursday night at Broadberry, it's a great band with a gross name. Diarrhea Planet will be there with Lightfields and Don Babylon opening. Doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8:30. Tix are $12 advance, $15 day of show. These are Diarrhea Planet's interests, as listed on Facebook, "Not totally blowing it, getting our units up, saving lives, shredding til' you're dead, listening to Steely Dan/TEB (Third Eye Blind), sleeping bags, food." Here they are playing "Heatwave":
Friday night, rising Richmond star, Lucy Dacus has her album release party at The Broadberry. Rikki Shay (featuring former members of Black Girls) and Spooky Cool will join in the fun. Doors at 8. show at 9, tix are $8 advance, $10 at the door. She'll be at SXSW in two weeks along with every other band in the Western Hemisphere, but NPR has narrowed it down to 100 bands to hear and Lucy is one of them. To hear the NPR playlist of those 100 bands, click HERE. Here's Lucy at Hardywood in November playing "Troublemaker Doppelganger":
It's a punk rock Saturday night at Strange Matter. Actually Saturday evening as the doors open at 5 and the show will go no later than 9. Who's on the bill? Sheer Mag, Downtown Boys, Christi and Dazeases. Tix are $10 advance, $12 day of show. Here's Sheer Mag's "Fan the Flames":
The great Leon Russell is at The Tin Pan on Sunday night. Tix are $80 in advance, $85 at the door. It may seem a little pricey but remember that this is a very intimate venue that only holds 240 people. Doors open at 5, show starts at 7 with opener Jefferson Grizzard. Here's Leon back in 1980 when he collaborated with New Grass Revival.
Indie new wave pop/rockers Metric are at The National on Tuesday. Tix are $25 advance, $28 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with Joywave opening. You might dig Metric if you dig Liz Phair, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Breeders, Blondie, Sonic Youth, or Missing Persons. Here's Metric's "The Shade":
That'll do it. I'll leave you with this really freaky video from Yeasayer. This is "I Am Chemistry":
AllMusic calls LP a "Powerful, androgynous, genre-defying Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter [who] is part Feist and part Joan Jett." You can find out yourself when she's on Late Night with Seth Meyers tonight (NBC, 12:35 AM). LP has also been compared to Florence + the Machine and Pat Benatar. Here's LP's "Into the Wild" from 2012:
Here's Nada Surf performing "Cold to See Clear" on Monday's Late Night:
