Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Weekend Picks: Sam Lewis, Helms Alee, Bill Kirchen, Porches, Anthony Green, People's Blues of Richmond, Three Sheets to the Wind

Head out on Wednesday to see up and coming alt-country musician Sam Lewis at The Broadberry. Tix are $10 advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with opener Angelica Garcia. I saw Sam at the Tin Pan a couple months ago and he put on a great show. What was exciting to me, the audience and Sam and his band was when he said they were going to play some new stuff that was in sort of a new direction, perhaps a little more soul infused into the music. That new stuff got the biggest ovation of the night, causing Sam to say, "Well, I guess that's a good direction to be going in." This guy could be the next Sturgill Simpson or Chris Stapleton (who Sam has recently been opening for and is a friend and admirer of Sam). No Depression magazine compared him to “the musical spirit of Leon Russell and maybe Al Green, after a weekend with Willie and Waylon in Dripping Springs, TX.” From a couple years ago, here's Sam doing "Some People":




Thursday night, People's Blues of Richmond returns to the RVA for a show at The Broadberry. Tix are $12 advance, $15 day of show. Doors at 8, show starts at 9 with openers Stop Light Observations and Seawhorse. This is the first date of their Fall Tour which will take them to PA, MD, AR, TX, CA, CO, NE, WI, OH, NY, OK, MO, IL, WI and IA. Whew! The rest of the country should hold on because they are about to be injected with the PBR sound. Here's "Gone Gone Gone" from their new album "Quit or Die":



At The Tin Pan Friday night, great honky tonk/blues guitarist Bill Kirchen will perform with keyboardist Austin de Lone for a party to celebrate the release of their new album together, "Transatlanticana". Tix are $20 advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8, no opener is listed. Here's the press blurb on their duo:
Bill Kirchen and Austin de Lone team up for a hands-across-the-Atlantic collection with their new studio album, Transatlanticana, out on August 26, 2016 on Red House Records. This long-overdue release unites the pioneers of two major musical movements: Kirchen co-founded the original “Americana” band, Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, and his trademark Telecaster licks drove their hit “Hot Rod Lincoln” into the Top 10 in 1972. De Lone dropped out of Harvard to start Eggs Over Easy, moving to London and recording with Jimi Hendrix’s producer/manager and The Animals’ bass player Chas Chandler in 1970. The Eggs are the progenitors of British pub rock, the first link in the chain to punk rock, new wave and beyond. Backed by both their all-star British and American bands, Transatlanticana finds Kirchen and de Lone trading songwriting credits and lead vocals on this soulful and rocking collection. They kick it off with the timely “Hounds of the Bakersfield,” a tribute to the late Merle Haggard and the Bakersfield, CA sound.
Kirchen and de Lone cut the album in Austin and London, capturing on disc the best of their 30-year collaboration. Kirchen is Austin-based; de Lone is in the San Francisco Bay Area, but both artists have longtime ties with the UK scene: Kirchen has toured as a guitarist with Nick Lowe and put out three albums on UK label Proper Records; de Lone has toured as keyboard player for Lowe and Elvis Costello and put out his first solo album on UK label Demon Records. 
They first collaborated in the mid-1970s, writing together as The Moonlighters: “We sent Nick Lowe a bunch of songs for Rockpile, but unbeknownst to us they had decided to break up,” Kirchen says. What de Lone got back was a letter from Lowe that began, “Dear hero o’ mine. There’s not many of us left…” Lowe then offered to produce them in London, and the resulting Moonlighters album, Rush Hour, came out in 1983 on the Edsel label. Since then, Bill and Austin have teamed up with with Lowe and Costello many times: de Lone has worked with Lowe, Paul Carrack and Costello on several tours and Kirchen held the guitar chair for Lowe’s critically acclaimed Impossible Bird disc and tour. In 2008, Costello borrowed the title cut from Kirchen’s album Hammer Of The Honky-Tonk Gods for his band name at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco featuring de Lone, Kirchen, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welsh and Jim Lauderdale. 
The songs of Transatlanticana represent the core elements of Americana music – R&B, country, rock and even a gospel track. Butch Hancock duets his song “Oxblood” with Kirchen. It’s a meaty slice of Texas boogie recorded with the Austin contingent. “I guess they used to color concrete with ox blood; I thought it was just an old shoe polish color” says Kirchen.
Spirited and served up with wit and humor, Transatlanticana is a gem –- a ringside seat to these transatlantic sessions by a group of like-minded, top-of-their-game players enjoying each other’s musical company. For tour dates and more info go to www.billkirchen.com.
 Here's Bill performing with The Twangbangers in 2007:




Three Sheets to the Wind does their yacht rock thang at The Broadberry on Friday night. Tix run from $12 to $40, doors open at 8, show starts at 9, no opener, just two long sets of yacht rock from TSTTW. They are getting political at this show, with an alternative political party, The White Pants Party. So wear your white pants and party like it's 1979. Here they are doing "Ride Like the Wind":



Sludge metal/noise rock/shoegaze/alternative/indie/experimental band Helms Alee are at Strange Matter  on Friday. Doors open at 9, it's $10 to get in. Polyon and Manzara open. Helms Alee recently wrapped up a tour with The Melvins. Here's Helms Alee a couple years ago on KEXP:




Dark electronic indie pop band Porches is at Strange Matter Monday. Tix are $13 advance, $15 day of show, doors open at 7. Japanese Breakfast and Rivergazer open. Here's the video for "Black Dress" from their new EP, "Water".




Philly Indie/rock/folk singer-songwriter Anthony Green is at The Canal Club Tuesday night (9/6). Tix are $17.50 advance, $20 day of show, doors open at 7:30, Secret Space and Heat Thunder open. Anthony has a new album, "Pixie Green" out. You may also know Anthony from the other bands he has been in. He is currently the lead singer of Circa Survive along with having a solo career. He was previously in the bands Saosin, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Audience of One, Jeer at Rome, High and Driving, and Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer. From that album, here's "You'll Be Fine":



That's it. I'll see you at the Sam Lewis show.  I don't know if I'll have time to do a full Lockn' Festival recap, but My Morning Jacket put on an absolutely amazing show on Saturday night. But there's no good video of the show yet. Phish was also excellent, especially on Friday night so here's the full set. I especially like the Free and Wolfman's Brother in the first set and the a cappella Space Oddity to close that set. The second set run of Punch You In The Eye > Blaze On > Fuego > Ghost > Bathtub Gin was pretty special too.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Monday, August 22, 2016

Weekend Picks: Dwight Yoakam, Blues Traveler, Richmond Roots Fest, DJ Williams Farewell Show, No BS! Brass Band, Imaginary Sons

I'll be rockin' at Lockn' this weekend, but there is some good stuff in town too. FYI, follow WRIR's Twitter feed this weekend, especially on Friday. I'll be tweeting from Lockn'.

If you can't make the jam band heaven that is Lockn', you can get your jam band fix with Blues Traveler Wednesday at Innsbrook. The Wallflowers and Howie Day will open the show. Gates open at 5, music begins around 6. Tix range from $20 - $99. This show will be Blues Traveler harmonica player and lead singer John Popper's first show back after having surgery for collapsed disks in his neck. He says he is now "2 inches taller and lost 10 lbs." His voice came back on the 18th so he should be good to go for the show. Give him a big welcome back when he takes the stage. Here's one from way back in the day, "But Anyway":




Friday night, Imaginary Sons, Manzara, Shagwuf and The Wimps will rock The Camel. Doors at 8, show at 9, $8 advance, $10 day of show. Imaginary Sons will do a show at The Camel every fourth Friday of the month until the end of 2016. Here they are performing at last year's Gottafest in Milford VA:




The Richmond Roots Festival goes down at Hardywood on Saturday from 2 to 10 PM. The Roots Fest celebrates world and American roots music. It's FREE to get in. They'll have food trucks and yummy beer. Here's the lineup:
2:15 - Yeni Nostalji - Vintage Inspired Turkish Pop from Amerika
3:15 - Zion #5 Dub Squad - Crucial dub
4:15 - Andrew Alli and The Mainline - Reminiscent of traditional Mississippi and Chicago style blues and strikes a chord in everyone!
5:15 - Araya Woldemichael Ethio-Jazz Quartet - Merging R&B and jazz with traditional Ethiopian songcraft
6:30 - Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang - A potent mind meld of off-kilter polyrhythmic folk tunes and high-octane psychedelia
7:45 - Black Masala - an irresistible dance groove packed with funk, gypsy-punk and soul
DJ Graybeard [WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Independent Radio] spins between sets!
Here's Black Masala performing "Oh No What Can I Do":



You can go from the brass of Black Masala to the brass of No BS! Brass Band at Broadberry on Saturday night. Tix are $15, doors at 8, show at 9. Night Idea will open. No BS said to get your tix in advance. They are expecting a sell out with the VCU kids back and wanting to get a No BS fix after being away all summer. Here they are performing in front of some place ancient in Sardinia this summer.



Dwight Yoakam and his oh so tight jeans will be at Maymont Sunday evening. Gates open at 5:30, show starts at 6:30. There is an opener TBA. Dwight comes on around 8. Tix are $35 GA, $65 reserved. Dwight's next album will be made of bluegrass reinventions of his biggest hits. Maybe he'll bust out some of those new interpretations Sunday night. Here he is last year on Guitar Center Sessions:



Monday night, it's your last chance to see DJ Williams, at least while he is a RVA resident, before he heads to LA to find fame and fortune. He does get to play Lockn' Fest on Saturday, opening up the day and me and my friends will be right up front. Monday he plays a slightly smaller venue at The Answer Brewpub. DJ will be jamming with a bunch of friends and it should be a fine send off. Hopefully, he won't forget us and will come back often. Show starts at 8 and it don't cost nothin' to get in. Here's DJ Williams Projekt doing Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" earlier this summer.



Have a great weekend! I know I will. Here's a band I'm really excited to see at Lockn'. This is White Denim from their latest album, "Stiff":



Tony Jordan

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Weekend Picks: Gillian Welch, GWAR-B-Q, Old 97's, Hank & Cupcakes, Jackie Lynn, UB40, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Big Mama Shakes, Lydell Williams, Lady God

Wednesday night at Black Iris Gallery, alternative/indie singer/songwriter Jackie Lynn will perform. Doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8 with opener James Jackson Toth. Tix are $6 advance, $10 day of show. Here's "Alien Love" from Jackie's latest album, "Jackie Lynn":



Thursday night at Innsbrook After Hours, it's Toad the Wet Sprocket with Rusted Root and Daisy Ghost-Flower. Gates open at 5, show starts around 6. Tix range from $20 for GA to $174 for a Toad the Wet Sprocket meet & greet package. TWS is one of those rare instances that has had the same four guys in the band for 30 years and going. When I was on commercial rock radio back in the 90's, their jangly, harmonic pop was always refreshing in between the grunge and classic rock. Here's "Walk on the Ocean":



UB40 with original members Ali, Mickey & Astro are at Pocahontas State Park Thursday evening. Gates open at 6, no opener is listed, tix range from $20 for GA to $65 for Gold Circle reserved. The band is resting on their laurels. They're about to start working on a new album. If you want to help fund it and get some cool extra goodies too, click HERE. I know they made it big doing covers reggae style, but I always loved this original. This is "Rat In Mi Kitchen":



Local neo-soul artist Lydell Williams performs at Infuzion Lounge Thursday Friday evening. Doors open at 6:30, and tix are just $12 advance, $15 day of show. There will be some openers tba. Lydell will come on at 7:30 sharp. Lydell has a new album coming out soon called "The Sound of My Melodies" and I'm sure he'll have some selections from that to play on Thursday night. From that album, here's "Don't Go Looking for Love":



Thursday night at The National, alt-country/rock band Old 97's will get you moving. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener American Aquarium. Tix are $20 advance, $25 at the door. Here's how you can have a chance to win free tickets:
Just send an email to tixswin@gmail.com with the SUBJECT - OLD 97s. One e-mail per person. 
Please be sure to include your full name that appears on your ID for entry. Ten winners will be chosen and notified via email Wednesday August 17th by 6 pm!
Here they are on KEXP a couple years ago. This short set starts with a great song about living life in a rock n' roll band called "Longer Than You've Been Alive":



Balliceaux brings you Lady God and Naked Baby on Thursday night. It's just 5 dolla to get in. Show starts at 9:30. Here's Lady God playing "Nothing Is Cool". But they are.




The aliens of Scumdog Planet, better known as GWAR, descend upon Richmond this weekend for the annual metal bacchanalia of GWAR-B-Q. The onslaught begins Friday at The National with the GWAR B4BQ featuring nine bands including Cannibal Corpse, Carnifex, and After the Burial. Doors open at 1, music starts at 2, so take a 1/2 day off of work, flash your boss the devil sign on the way out the door and let the head-banging begin. It's $27.50 in advance, $33 at the door.


The main event, the GWAR-B-Q, is at Hadad's Lake on Saturday. The slaughter begins at 10 AM so you can have your eggs with a side of thrash. GWAR will headline, of course. Other bands include Lamb of God, Against Me!, American Nightmare, EYEHATEGOD, August Burns Red, Dillinger Escape Plan and more. Tix range from $60 to $75. Here's GWAR in '92 with "Gor Gor". As always with GWAR, if you are easily offended, just stay the f**k away.



Big Mama Shakes brings their big bluesy/Americana fun rock n' roll to The Broadberry so you (and your Mama, if she's so inclined) can shake your butt on a Saturday night. If you are a fan of Springsteen or Hold Steady, check these guys out. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Clair Morgan, My Darling Fury, and The Dharma Bombs. It should be a grand delight. Tix are $10 advance, $12 at the door. BMS is promising a new tour announcement, new music and a surprise for RVA folks. Here's BMS doing "The Fighter":




It's a night of danceable rock at The Camel Saturday night with Hank & Cupcakes, Toxic Moxie, Those Manic Seas and Get In The Car. Hank & Cupcakes have jokingly dubbed this the Pregnancy Tour because lead singer Sagit Shir is seven months pregnant. That baby is gonna rock. This band plays dance music with a punk attitude. I predict the crowd, and the band, will be sweaty, exhausted mess by the end of the show, but in a good one. Like when you have sex with the windows open in August. Here's "Kiss Your Face" from their latest album "Cheap Thrill":




The great folk/Americana artist Gillian Welch will be at Maymont Sunday night, an absolutely beautiful setting for her beautiful music. She will, of course, be with long-time musical partner David Rawlings. If you have any doubt about her influence, Paste Magazine listed two of her albums on their recent list of the Top 50 Alt-Country Albums of All Time. Here's "Look At Miss Ohio" and then "Time (The Revelator)". "Time (The Revelator)" is one of my fav songs of all time.





That'll do it. Have a great weekend! I'll leave you with Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd recreating a classic Styx video:



And here's the original for comparison. I think Jimmy and Paul nailed it!



Tony Jordan

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Weekend Picks: Richmond Jazz Fest, Celebrating Sean Hoppe, The Julie Ruin, Sierra Hull, Landlady, Major & The Monbacks, Future Prospect, BJ Kocen, DJ Williams

New wave/indie pop/rock band The Julie Ruin are at The Broadberry Wednesday night. Tix are $20, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and be sure to get there early to see opener PWR BTTM. Here's "I'm Done" from their latest album:



Local musician BJ Kocen has the album release party for his new double album "Searching for Signal / Old Lake" at The Broadberry Thursday night. It's $15 to get in, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and no opener is listed. Here's the press blurb in BJ:
BJ Kocen has been on the music scene for decades now whose work really started to get noticed in the early days of the Ashland Coffee and Tea where he opened for Todd Snider, Hosted and won The Singer Songwriter Showdown, and played many shows there with some of the top musicians in the area. BJ then broke off and founded his own music series hosted at The Barksdale Theatre called "Stretchin" which lasted for five years. His first solo release "The Breaks" was produced by Paul Curreri and gave BJ the lift he needed to keep writing and improving. It took Kocen three years to finish a most ambitious project, "Searching for Signal/ Old Lake." This double album features 20+ musicians and truly is two separate albums packaged together. "Searching for Signal" is a highly arranged studio effort whereas "Old Lake" was recorded live to focus on performance. This massive efforts features the talents of Brad Tucker (The Taters), Jeff Bunn (Funkadelic), Steve Bassett, Jackie Frost and many other of Richmond and Charlottesville's finest. BJ is proud Co-Owner of the glave kocen gallery and has been working with the love of his life Jennifer Glave there for almost ten years.
Here's BJ performing "Old Lake" a few years ago at Ashland Coffee & Tea:




Major and the Monbacks kick off Richmond Jazz Fest (more on that in a minute) weekend with a show at Hardywood during their weekly Food Truck Court. That starts at 5:30 and the band will play from 7 to 8. It's FREE to get in. This is a great chance to catch the band who seem to be expanding every time I check them out, playing in Chicago, WI, NYC, STL, and festivals up and down the East Coast. Here they are last month playing on Music City Roots:



It's Funky Friday in RVA with not one, not two, but three funky shows going on. Decisions, decisions for you funkheads.

Jazz/funk band Future Prospect is having their release party for their album, "The Climb" at The Camel Friday. The album is up to #6 on iTunes Jazz Charts so here's another great RVA band making it's case on the national scene. It's $10 to get in, doors open at 8, show starts at 9 and get there early. This is a great triple bill with Butcher Brown and Vanilla Summit opening. And if you can't make this show, or you want to see them twice, Future Prospect will also be at the VA Museum of Fine Arts for a FREE show Thursday night from 6 - 9 PM. Here they are playing "Closer" earlier this year at The Camel:



The Big Payback pays tribute to the Godfather of Soul and the man who built funk from the ground up, James Brown, at The Broadberry Friday. Tix are $10 advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 and this is another one you'll want to get there early for with Clusterfunk and the lovely and talented Sam Reed opening the show. Here's JB doing "Sex Machine":



Don't know if DJ Williams hasn't left for LA yet or if he's just back for a visit but either way, we'll take it. DJ will be at Cary Street Cafe on Friday night. This one is billed as DJ Williams & Friends and will kick off at 10 PM. It's $7 to get in. DJ gets to host a Jam Room on this year's Jam Cruise with George Porter Jr. of The Funky Meters and Steve Kimock (Phil Lesh, The Other Ones) along with the many musicians who will wander in. Not bad company to keep! Here's DJ Williams Projekt  a couple months ago ripping through "All I Do":



Saturday & Sunday, the Richmond Jazz Festival is at Maymont and they've got another great line up this year. Jazz purists may not be totally pleased but you can't complain much when they are bringing acts like Herbie Hancock, Wyclef Jean, Esperanza Spalding, Vanessa Williams, Diane Schuur, Stephanie Mills, Arrested Development and Buckwheat Zydeco to town and that's just on Saturday. Sunday has The Roots, Al Jarreau and Morris Day & The Time. The festival runs from noon until 10:30 each day. Tix are $85 for a single day or $160 for the weekend. Here's some Esperanza Spalding at this year's Festival de la Guitarra de Córdoba. Her latest album, "Emily's D+Evolution" is being hailed as one of the albums of the year so far:



It will be a bittersweet affair at Broadberry on Saturday as friends and former bandmates of singer/guitarist Sean Hoppe pay tribute to the recently departed musician who blessed the Richmond music scene for many years. Here's the press blurb for the show:
We will open the doors at 4:00 pm and start an Open Mic Jam format and ease into band sets from the bands Hoppe played with: Mothers Little Helpers, The Headstone Circus and King Solomon's Marbles to headline. Fred Hoppe (Sean's Dad) and the family would love to see you and hear the stories of Papa Hoppe, preferably only the good stories :/. Please keep in mind that this is a way to raise money for the expenses that this has caused and all proceeds from the door, auctioned items, and raffle will go to the family. If you can’t make the show and still want to donate, please make check payable to: Fred Hoppe, 11202 Summer Harbor, Chester Va. 23831 Thank you.
Here's Hoppe and King Solomon's Marbles in 2011:



On Saturday, the melodic art rock of Landlady (think Man Man, Pixies or Flaming Lips) will be at Hardywood for a FREE show from 5 - 9 (the tasting room opens at 2). Josh Small and Easy Company open the show. Here's Landlady's "Above My Ground":




The Taters will be at The County Seat Restaurant in Powhatan Saturday night. Looks like a FREE show that will run from 7 - 10 PM. Reservations are recommended.  Here they are performing The Coasters classic "Poison Ivy":




Bluegrass singer/mandolinist/guitarist Sierra Hull is at Capital Ale House Downtown Sunday night. Tix are $18 advance, $20 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Annie Stokes. Is she well respected in the bluegrass community? Well, when you get to play with Bela Fleck and Ralph Stanley, I would say you're doing OK. Ralph was showing his age a bit at the beginning of this video, but just having him on stage with you was an honor for any bluegrass artist.



That'll do it! I'll see you at the Sean Hoppe tribute on Saturday and maybe out at one of the funk fests on Friday. I'll leave you with the Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem show at Outside Lands last weekend. Animal still rocks!



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Weekend Picks: Best Coast, The Shack Up festival, Elvis Depressedly, Motion City Soundtrack, Lady God, Dark Star Orchestra, Rock For Ricky, Diamond Heist, The Kind Eye

Atmospheric Southern California indie pop band Best Coast is at The National Thursday night. Tix are $19.50 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 6 with openers Sunflower Bean and make sure you get in early to see them. Best Coast will be heading out on tour with The Go-Go's soon for the Go-Go's farewell tour. Kind of the past and the future of LA female pop. This is Best Coast's "Our Deal" from 2011 in a video directed by Drew Barrymore:



Dark Star Orchestra is in town (well, Chesterfield, technically) for a show at Pocahontas State Park Thursday evening. Doors open at 5:30. Dark Star Orchestra will start around 6 PM and will play until 10 PM. Tix are $21.50 advance, $25 at the door. If you don't know DSO, they are the biggest and one of the longest lasting Grateful Dead tribute bands. They will often recreate a setlist from a classic Dead show. Here they are playing "Bertha" last year at Frontier Field in Rochester NY:




Friday and Saturday at The Camel and The Broadberry, it's The Shack Band's The Shack Up festival. You can get tickets for both days both venues ($35), both venues just Saturday ($20) or single day one venue ($10 - $20). The full lineup and schedule is in the poster above. It's a whole lot of good bands. Be sure to catch The London Souls. The Shack Band (natch) and Southern Belles (there's a choice to make on Friday night). Here's The Shack Band playing in Charlotte NC in June:




Lo-fi indie rock band Elvis Depressedly plays an early show at Strange Matter Friday night. It's $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Doors open at 5 PM. Teen Suicide, Nicole Dollanganger and Cat Be Damned open. Here's Elvis Depressedly's "Up In the Air":



Classic rock/jam cover band The Kind Eye is at I Don't Know Sports Grille in Chester Friday night. Show starts at 8 and there is no cover. Here they are doing "Crossroads" acoustic:



Saturday at Cary St. Cafe, there is a benefit (Rock for Ricky) to help Ricky Tubbs with his medical bills after suffering a heel fracture. Bands playing include The Taters, ,The Dimmer Twins (Horsehead fellers),Hershel Stratego, Calvin Stewart, The Lucky Stiff's Light, Diamond Heist, and more! It will run from 2 to 6 PM and there is a $5 suggested donation. Here's The Taters doing the reggae classic, "Rivers of Babylon":



Sunday, spend an evening in the park with Neil Diamond. Well, not exactly Neil Diamond, but a Neil Diamond cover band, Diamond Heist, as part of the Music in the Park concert series in Forest Hill Park. Show will run from 6 - 8 PM, it's FREE and quite family friendly. Here they are performing "Cherry Cherry" at Cary St. Cafe a few months ago:



Power poppers Motion City Soundtrack rev into The National Sunday night. Tix are $23 advance, $28 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with openers A Great Big Pile of Leaves and Rozwell Kid. If you've ever wanted to see Motion City Soundtrack you better get to the show. The band are saying this will be their final tour. Here's "True Romance" from their 2012 album, "Go":



Tuesday night, RVA band Lady God call you to worship at their rock n' roll altar Strange Matter Tuesday night. It's $8 to get in. Doors open at 8. Queen of Jeans, Heaters, and The Wimps open. Here's Lady God at The Camel in May:



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! MTV Classic kicked off this week. It used to be VH1 Classic. They will concentrate on '90's MTV which is not classic. We all know the only true classic MTV is '81 - '91 when the original four MTV VJs  were on. But they did kick off MTV Classic by showing the very first hour of MTV, which featured this very prescient first video. And if you are looking for a great and fun book on early MTV and music videos, I highly recommend "I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution".



Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Tony Bennett

Tonight, the always classy Tony Bennett will be on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (11:35 PM, CBS). NBC recently announced that they'll be showing a tribute concert in December to celebrate Tony's 90th b'day with Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Billy Joel, Elton John, Diana Krall, k.d. lang and Rufus Wainwright. Mr. Bennett is a true American treasure. Here's Tony on Elvis Costello's old show, "Spectacle":



Here's Lukas Graham on Conan last week: