Weekend Picks: Robbin Thompson Tribute, Son Little, Doug Tuttle, Firefall, Hail! Cassius Neptune, Goldrush Does Beach Boys, KINGS

Neo-garage psychedelicist Doug Tuttle is at Strange Matter on Wednesday night. It's $8 to get in. Doors open at 9. Benjamin Shepherd, Samantha Pearl and Moonlight Beachclub open. You might dig Doug if you like his old band, Mmoss, Moby Grape, Neil Young or The Byrds. Here's Doug in 2015:



Classic smooth country rockers Firefall are at The Tin Pan Thursday night. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8. Tix are $50 advance, $55 at the door. You may know their big hits "Just Remember I Love You" and "You Are the Woman". Here's "Mexico":

Goldrush does the Beach Boys (that sounds kind of dirty) at Savory Grain on Friday night. It's free to get in and there will be drink specials too! Goldrush will do a set of original tunes and then Beach Boys for the rest of the night. Early reports say they won't be playing "Kokomo" which I am thankful for. I had a bad retail job when I got out of college and that was the first song on one of the three video tapes we had to play. It's a bad song that brings up bad memories. And the Beach Boys have so many fantastic songs. Like this one. And hopefully Goldrush will have the matching outfits with the pants pulled up above their belly buttons:

Over at Cary St. Cafe Friday night, Hail! Cassius Neptune, out of Ashland, NC, will headline with Butcher Brown opening, a great double bill. It's $8 to get in and starts at 10 PM. Here's HCN's preview video for the tour:



Sunday at The National, there is a tribute concert to the late Robbin Thompson featuring the Robbin Thompson Band and special guest artists and friends. Doors open at 2, show starts at 3. Tix are $25 - $45. And in case you are wondering, friend of Robbin and band mate in Steel Mill, Bruce Springsteen, doesn't have a concert Sunday, but may be between Rochester NY (where he plays Saturday) and St. Paul, MN (where he plays on Monday). So it's possible. Even if Bruce doesn't show, it will be a great and moving show with lots of the fantastic artists that Robbin touched over the years. Here's the Robbin Thompson Band in 1981 in Hampton:



Strange Matter features soul/R&B/blues man, Son Little, on Sunday night. Some of you may have caught him at Friday Cheers last year. Tix are $10 advance, $12 day of show. Doors open at 8 and Future Prospect and Ritual Magick open. Son will be opening for Leon Bridges in March. He'll also be at the Sasquatch Music Festival in May and the Mountain Jam Festival in June. Here's a 12 minute session Son did when he was in France.



Bandito's has another FREE Sunday night show with soul/jazz band KINGS and Lady God. Things get under way with doors at 9 PM and show at 10. Here's KINGS at Balliceaux in November:



That'll do it. I'll see you out somewhere this weekend.  I'll leave you with a song I love from the 90's, "6 Underground" from Sneaker Pimps:



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Dan Baird & Homemade Sin, No BS! Brass Band, Manzara, Pop.1280

Dan Baird led one of my favorite, and one of the funnest, bands of the 80's, The Georgia Satellites. Dan is still rocking, now with his band Homemade Sin and they'll be at Capital Ale House Downtown to kick off your weekend on Thursday night. Tix are $12 advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with opener Fire Childe. Here's Dan & Homemade Sin the other night in Decatur GA:



Saturday, Hardywood busts out the Bourbon Barleywine and the Walpurgisnacht with a release party that starts at 2. As usual, it don't cost nothin' to get in and there will be yummy food trucks to fill your belly. Music starts at 4:30 with Landis Wine (Beat-driven electronic pop and improvisation), Gull (guitar/percussion hybrid street muse), BIG NO (Dark pop band), Ghastly City Sleep from NYC (Drifting from epic, atmospheric post-rock through monumental textures of piano and blistering brass) and Manzara (post expanse driven kraut psych metal rock). Here's Manzara at Sound of Music Studios last year:



Saturday night at 10, No BS! Brass Band takes the stage (the floor?) at Balliceaux. This is a small venue so get there early if you want to get in. It'll cost you $10. No opener. Here's the band doing "Brass Scene Kids":

Sunday night at Bandito's, a FREE show starts at 9 with alternative/indie/noise rock bands Zooanzoo, Toxic Moxie,  Pop. 1280 and Buck Gooter, Here's Pop. 1280 in NYC last year (language NSFW):



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! If you haven't seen it yet, here's the new OK Go video that they filmed in zero gravity. Another video win for OK Go!



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Donna The Buffalo, Butcher Brown, No BS! Brass Band, Dismal Swamp Lords

You can start your weekend with a FREE show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Funk/jazz band Butcher Brown will be playing as part of Friday Art & Wine. The event runs from 6 - 8 PM. BB has been in the studio recently so perhaps they'll be working out some of those new tunes live on Friday night. Here's BB performing "Syd" at SXSW this year:



No BS! Brass Band takes over The Broadberry for a Saturday night get down throw down. Tix are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. No opener is listed. This show is a warm-up for their appearance at NYC Winter JazzFest which takes place Jan. 13 - 17. Here's the new video for No BS' "3 AM Bounce":

Folk rock band Donna The Buffalo is at Capital Ale House Downtown Sunday night. Tix are $15 in advance, $17 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. The Tide Rose will open. DTB is playing at my favorite place in Key West, The Green Parrot, tonight. Wish I was there! Here's their set at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton the other night:

Also Sunday night, a FREE show at Bandito's with Red Necromancer, Dismal Swamp Lords and The Hellhounds. It starts at 9. This should be a good way to avoid those Sunday night blues by listening to some swamp/punk/blues/rock.

That's it! There's been a lot of talk about the Guns N' Roses reunion this week. They'll be playing Coachella this year and possibly touring. Early rumors are that if they tour. tickets will cost $200+ and that's for stadium shows. Here's their full set from The Ritz in NYC back in 1988, when they were the most dangerous band in the world, you could see them in a club and it only cost you $13.50 to see them.



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Agent Orange, Earth, The Good Life, Publicist UK, Ttotals, Murphy's Kids

The weekend starts Thursday night with a FREE show at Bandito's featuring Agent Orange, one of the first surf punk bands who rose out of the late 70's - early 80's Orange County, CA punk rock scene. Opening up will be Chrome Daddy Disco and Dismal Swamp Lords. The Dismal Swamp Lords are making their own RVA brand of garage surf music and their new EP is a fine start. Things get under way at 9 PM. Here's one I used to play on my college radio show, oh so long ago. Enjoy the picture of the original MTV VJs too.



Over at Gallery 5 Thursday night, it's Publicist UK, Dalek, and Petrichor. Publicist UK plays dark tinged, indie rock. They just released their debut album, "Forgive Yourself". Dalek is critically acclaimed underground, electronic hip-hop. Petrichor plays "rose-tinted techno". Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Here's Publicist UK's "Away":



At The Camel Friday night, punk/reggae/ska/psychedelic band Murphy's Kids will headline a show that also features Neighborhood Friendly (ska/punk) and Fool's Errand (gypsy Americana). Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. It's $8 in advance, $10 at the door.  Here's Murphy's Kids in Fredericksburg in July:



Friday night at Strange Matter, indie pop rockers The Good Life are in town for a show. Big Harp will open the show with doors opening at 8 and the show starting at 9. Tix are $12 in advance, $14 at the door. The Good Life's new album is called "Everybody's Coming Down". Here's their brand spanking new video from that album. "The Troubadour's Green Room". Cool song, cool video.



Stick around Strange Matter for Sunday's show with prog-metal band, Earth. These guys aren't just about playing fast, they can build slow, textured, trippy songs that sometimes top the 10 minute mark. Holy Sons and Lugweight open the show. Doors open at 8, music starts at 9. Tix are $13 in advance, $15 day of show. Here's Earth's latest album, "Primitive and Deadly":



Let's stick with Strange Matter as we begin the new month on Tuesday with Ttotals (outer blues two piece out of Nashville), Lady God (RVA's own slink band. You'll know it when you hear it.), White Kyle (out of Austin) and Manzara (psych metal rock). Doors open at 9, show starts shortly thereafter. It's' $7 to get in. Here's the Ttotals "Let the Light In":



Have a great weekend! I'll see you at the Agent Orange show! I'll leave you with the Foo Fighters continuing to be awesome as they "Rick Rolled" the heinous Westboro Baptist Church the other day.



Tony Jordan

Weekend Picks: Bobby Bare Jr, Atmosphere, John Butler Trio, Real Friends, Black Girls, Bio Ritmo, Diamond Center, Trongone Band

Midwest underground rap group Atmosphere is at The National Friday night. Doors are at 7 and that's when the show starts with openers Prof, Dem Atlas and DJ Fundo. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Here's Atmosphere's "Arthur's Song" (not a Christopher Cross remake!)(language NSFW):

Great local band show at The Broadberry Friday night with Black Girls, Octopus Jones (they're actually from Raleigh), Sleepwalkers  and Big Fifty. Doors open at 8, music starts at 9 it's $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Here's Sleepwalkers "Prey and Pressure" in August:

More local music at The Camel on Friday with Bio Ritmo. Though based in Richmond, it's hard to call them local as they have played their salsa music all over the world. So we'll call them our local international band. Doors open at 9 and it's $7 to get in. These guys are getting big as evidenced by their appearance on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts last month:

Australian jam band John Butler Trio are here Sunday at The National, Monica Heldal opens. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8, tix are $25 in advance, $28 at the door. These guys headline festivals in Australia so you know they can bring it live. If you want a preview of their show, you can catch Friday's show live on a webcast on Yahoo Live HERE. Here's their latest video "Spring to Come" with some really cool animation:



At Bandito's, The Diamond Center bring their heavy psychedelia to your Sunday night. Talked to Kyle from Diamond Center after their great show at Hardywood on Saturday night. He said some new Diamond Center is on the way for the new year so we'll be looking forward to that. It's FREE to get in. Music starts at 10 PM with Heavy Midgets. To add to the fun, there will be $1 PBRs. Here's Heavy Midgets and their "House of Cats" at Strange Matter last year:



Tuesday at The Camel, alt-country/rock artist Bobby Bare Jr. (yes, he's the son of that Bobby Bare and they recently did a show together in Nashville) performs with his band Young Criminals" Starvation League. Doors will open at 7. The Camel's new web site is still being built so the cost and openers aren't up yet, but check their web site and/or Facebook page as it gets closer to Tuesday. You'll probably did BBJR if you like Drive-By Truckers, Jim James, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams, Grateful Dead or Todd Snider (who he recently opened for). Here's a four song set BBJR recently did on KEXP:

Chicago pop punkers Real Friends are at The Broadberry Thursday (11/20). It's $15 to get in, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Neck Deep, Cruel Hand and Have Mercy. Here's Real Friends' "Late Night in My Car" (some language NSFW):



Trongone Band play their next to last show at Cary St. Cafe on Thursday (11/20). Show starts at 10 PM and there is no cover. Here they are at The Camel in July:



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Earth Day, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Conspirator, Southern Belles,

If you are kicking around this afternoon (Friday) with nothin' to do or can get out of work early, People's Blues of Richmond will be playing the "End The War on Drugs" rally (I'm guessing for FREE) at Monroe Park at 5 PM. This may be some type of 420 celebration, which could add a certain haze to the rally. Here's PBR back in 2011 playing a benefit show at Cullen's Cove doing "Time of Need/Satisfied":



Friday night at The Republic and Wednesday night at Cary St. Cafe, check out Southern Belles with their country funk jam rock doing covers of The Band, Phish, Grateful Dead, and The Beatles among others. I've seen these guys a couple times over the last few weeks and they can really bring it. A lot of fun and bring your boogie shoes. And both shows are FREE. At the Friday night show, the band will play three sets including one set where they cover the Grateful Dead's epic album, "Workingman's Dead" in it's entirety. And they can pull it off.

No BS! Brass Band will be at The Camel on Friday night. No BS will be playing some new tunes from their upcoming album "RVA All Day". Cover is $7 and the show starts at 9 with the James River High School Jazz Band so get out their early and support the kids. Here's No BS! doing "Jackpot":



On Saturday, you can celebrate Mother Earth at the Richmond Earth Day Festival in the Manchester section of town. Lots of activities for the kids, beer and wine for adults, a Flood Wall climb and zip line, and of course some music. Here is the band lineup:

12:20 – 1 p.m. Rattlemouth

 1:15 – 2 p.m. Os Magrelos

 2:15 – 3 p.m. The Trillions

 3:15 – 4 p.m. Noah-O

 4:15 – 5 p.m. Against Grace

 5:15 – 6 p.m. Long Arms

 6:15 – 7 p.m. The Diamond Center

On Sunday, from noon to 6:30 PM, Bandito's Burrito Lounge will be celebrating their 15th Anniversary by partying outside in their parking lot with Milkstains, Chrome Daddy Disco and Bio Ritmo. The kids can enjoy a moon bounce while you enjoy a beer. 

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones will bring their unique brand of music to U of R's Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music for two shows on Sunday at 3 PM and 7:30 PM. Tix range from $10 to $36 depending on who you are. HERE is the article from Thursday's Times-Dispatch about Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. The band won another Grammy this year for Best Instrumental Composition for "Life in Eleven" from their latest album, "Rocket Science". Here is a selection from their show on April 10 at Rose State College in OK:

Sunday night, Conspirator featuring members of Disco Biscuits bring their electronic jam band sound to Kingdom. Tix are $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Show starts at 9 with no opener. Here's a big chunk of music from Conspirator from 10/1/2011 in Fort Lauderdale:



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan