Weekend Picks: Coathangers, Surfer Blood, Rockn' For Lockn', Lydell Williams, Erin & The Wildfire, The Taters, Suggesting Rhythm

The road to Lockn' begins Friday night at The Broadberry when the Rockn' for Lockn' competition takes place to see who will represent Richmond in the finals. The finalist winner gets to play the big Lockn' stage in August. The bands in this round are Big Mama Shakes, The Atkinsons, Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos (out of Memphis Norfolk), and Mighty Joshua. If you have a favorite, head out to support them. If you don't, head out because you're going to see great music from all the bands and you can vote with no bias. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. $10 to get in.

Grateful Dead tribute band Suggesting Rhythm is at Steam Bell Beer Works Saturday evening from 7 - 10. Don't cost nothin' to get in. Maybe they'll play something like this:



The Taters are over at The County Seat Restaurant in Powhatan Saturday night. Show runs from 7 to 10. Looks like it's FREE but reservations are recommended. Here's The Taters at The Tin Pan last week doing a soul classic:

Neo-soulman Lydell Williams does a show at 150North Restaurant & Lounge Saturday night. Doors at 8. Showtime at 10 PM. You can reserve a seat for $5 or a booth for $40 and there will be an additional cover charge at the door. Lydell has a new album out "The Sound of My Melodies". Here's some music from the new album. This one's called "Soul Tie":

A former Rockn' for Lockn' winner will be at Cary St. Cafe on Saturday night. Erin & the Wildfire bring the soulful rock heat with Schooley Mountain Band kicking things off at 10 PM. Doors open at 9 and just $7 to get in. And this is a NO PANTS DANCE! "Booty shorts, granny panties, boxers, briefs- all perfectly acceptable forms of not pants. You are welcome to wear your pants to the show and remove them upon arrival." Because nothing welcomes the Easter Bunny like a bunch of hippies dancing with no pants on. Here's Erin & The Wildfire four months ago at The Southern in C'Ville:

Surf/garage/punk band The Coathangers are at The Camel Sunday night. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. $15 to get in. The Smirks and VV open. The Coathangers are out promoting their Parasite EP which comes out 6/30/17. Here they are playing "Captain's Dead" for Daytrotter last week. Language NSFW.

Indie/pop/psych rock band Surfer Blood are at Strange Matter Sunday night. Tix are $13 advance, $15 day of show. Doors open at 8, Lazyeyes and The Trillions open. Here's Surfer Blood doing an acoustic version of "Frozen" from their new album "Snowdonia":



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! J. Geils, guitarist and namesake of the J. Geils Band, passed away today. "Blow Your Face Out" by the band is one of my favorite live albums and a guaranteed party starter. Here's the band in their prime, with "Must of Got Lost":



Tony Jordan