Weekend Festivals, Kylesa, Crystal Stilts, Cold War Kids, Minus the Bear

This Saturday looks like one of the busiest party days of the year and the last big weekend for outdoor festivals. We'll get started with the Boulevard Pumpkin Festival taking place on Boulevard between W. Marshall and W Leigh streets. It'll run from noon until 6 PM. There will be craft beer, local food, pumpkin games, a costume contest, wine, a kids zone and five bands playing. You can park for free at The Diamond. Here's the music lineup:

Noon-1 p.m.: Smiile 

1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m.: The Big Payback: A Tribute to James Brown

2:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.: Beast Wellington

3:45 p.m.- 4:45 p.m.: James Justin & Co.

5 p.m.- 6 p.m.: People's Blues of Richmond

Just off the Boulevard, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery will be celebrating their 2nd anniversary from 2 - 9 PM. There will of course be beer, a number of food trucks will be there to fill your belly, there will be music from The Greenhearts and a special showing of the Godzilla film, "Destroy All Monsters" with a live original soundtrack by Goldrush.

Over in Carytown, the 9th Annual Zombie Walk starts at 2:30 on the sidewalk in front of Kroger and the living corpses will drag their bodies down to the Byrd Theater and back to Kroger. The event benefits the American Cancer Society and it's FREE to hang out and watch. If you want to be in the Zombie Walk, click the link up there for rules.

If you are north of the city, the Slash Cottage Bluegrass and American Festival will be at Center of the Universe Brewery in Ashland. It'll run from 3 PM until 9 PM and it's FREE to get in.The band lineup is:

- George Turnman

- Old Virginia Bluegrass Band

- Matt Jones and the Bobs

- Shooting Creek

- Willis River

At The National on Saturday night, soulful, bluesy indie rockers Cold War Kids will perform. Tix are $20 in advance, $23 at the door, doors open at 7 and show starts at 8 with PAPA. You might dig Cold War Kids if you like The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Drive-By Truckers, My Morning Jacket, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Replacements, The Pixies, Radiohead, Tom Waits, Jeff Buckley, The Pogues, Velvet Underground, or The Band. Here's "Tuxedos" from their latest album, "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts":

On Sunday, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden hosts Goblins & Gourds. Cost to get in is the usual price of admission and it takes place in the Children's Garden, with all sorts of fun for kids young and old. There will also be a concert by the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra. They play indigenous gourds and are pretty cool to see. They'll be playing throughout the day. Here's a little taste of their show at the Catawba Farm Fest in 2012:



You can celebrate Squirreloween at The Diamond with Nutzy, Parker Pig and the Flying Squirrels on Sunday from 2 PM to 6 PM. The event is FREE and open to all. They've added a Halloween Carnival this year out on the field which will benefit FeedRVA. Kids can trick or treat throughout The Diamond, play games and the band The Hit List will keep things rockin'. For the adults, there will be a beer garden in The Diamond Tailgate Zone on the 1st base side.

Sunday night at Strange Matter, it's a pretty strong alternative metal show headlined by Kylesa, and openers Acrassicauda (from Iraq!), Pinkish Black, Sierra and Unscared. Doors open at 7, music starts at 7:30 and it's $15 to get in. Caught in the Carousel recently reviewed Kylesa & Sierra's show in Milwaukee and said "The torch has been passed – Kylesa is now the greatest rock and roll band in the United States." I don't know if I'd go that far, but they do rock. Here they are at the Southwest Terror Fest a few days ago.



Tuesday night, if you're not going to see Pearl Jam at John Paul Jones Arena like me (gloating!), you can catch psychedelic, noise pop band Crystal Stilts at Strange Matter. Tix are $10 in advance, $12 day of show, doors open at 9, show starts at 10 with openers Zachary Cale, Warren Hixson, and DJ Marty Violence. Time Out Chicago reviewed Crystal Stilts Chicago show and said, "Playing in front of colorful abstractions projected onto a tattered white sheet at Empty Bottle last night, the Brooklyn psych outfit—touring on its third LP, Nature Noir—brought to mind, at different points, everyone from the Doors to the Velvet Underground to Joy Division." Here's "Star Crawl" from Crystal Stilts new album, "Nature Noir":



Tuesday night at The National, smart indie rock band Minus the Bear will perform. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers INVSN and Slow Bird. If you want a preview of their show, check out their Livestream acoustic session and interview at 2 PM ET on Friday, 10/25. Here they are doing "Steel and Blood":


Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Infamous Stringdusters, DJ Williams Projekt, Black Girls, Big Payback

This is going to be a quick blog about what's going on this weekend because:

1. It's the weekend before July 4 and there isn't a whole lot going on musically
2. Since I got back from my vacation, I've been really busy at work and home and tired, too. Looks like I need a vacation from my vacation! But I'm hopeful that between the weekend and a lot of people taking off from work next week, that I can catch up and right the ship.

Tonight it's the last Friday Cheers of the summer (a tear rolls slowly down my face) and it should be a fine night (if there is no rain) for sitting by the river and listening to the newgrass/bluegrass sounds of The Infamous Stringdusters. It's $10 to get in. The show starts at 6:30 with opener James Justin & Co. The Stringdusters will come on around 8. Tonight will be a little preview for the Stringdusters as they'll do an "American Rivers Tour" in August going to some of the great river towns in the Western part of the US. They like to book their tours around fun things to do to keep touring fresh for them. Perhaps you'll see them out on the river this afternoon. Here's the Stringdusters doing "Rockets":

Some quick local heroes to note:

Tonight at Capital Ale House, DJ Williams Projekt celebrate their 10th Anniversary with Black Girls opening and perhaps some special guests. Doors open at 9:30, show starts at 10. $12 to get in.

Saturday evening, Black Girls will headline an early show with James Brown tribute band, The Big Payback, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Each band will play two alternating sets with Big Payback staring first around 6 PM. Doesn't look like there is any charge to get in. Black Girls finished the first round of demos for their upcoming album and will be heading into the studio next week to record.

That'll be it. Hope to get back on track next week. Have a great weekend and I'll see you at Cheers!

Tony Jordan

Lone Bellow, Joy Formidable, IO Echo, Skydog, Luray, Beer & Wine fests

We begin the weekend with Friday Cheers, this week with The Lone Bellow (8 PM 6:30 PM) and Radical Face (6:30 PM 8 PM). It's $5 to get in. Nice article on the folksy, Americana sound (with 3 part harmonies) of The Lone Bellow in today's Times-Dispatch. The Lone Bellow played at Strange Matter about a month ago and when they sang "Happy Birthday" to band member Kanene, well, something went awry. Her dad made the save but at the expense of his suede jacket. Hopefully, the band paid for the dry cleaning.



On a more musical note, here is Lone Bellow's latest video (just released yesterday) for "Bleeding Out":



Saturday is just cccrrrrraaaaazzzzyyyy with stuff to do. I can't recall a day that was more jam packed with events and bands.

If your kids (or you) like trains, you can head to either the Ashland/Hanover Visitor Center or Richmond's Staples Mill station to celebrate National Train Day. It'll run from 11 AM to 4 PM. There will be giveaways and activities at either place.

Beer or wine? Take your pick. There is a festival for whatever your libation desire might be.

Down at Historic Malvern in Midlothian, the 3rd Annual Virginia Hops & Barley Festival takes place from 1 PM to 8 PM. There will be 30 VA craft beers to sample. Tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. Your admission gets you unlimited beer tastings. Here's the band lineup:

1:00-2:00 Triad

2:20-3:20 Jackass Flats

3:40-4:40 Southern Tide

5:00-6:15 The Atkinsons

6:35-8:00pm The Wrest w/Pat O'Brien

Out at Innsbrook Pavilion, winos, oops, sorry, oenophiles, can participate in the Central Virginia Wine Festival. That'll run from noon until 6 PM. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate and that gets you free wine tastings from all 16 wineries. Music will be provided by:

12:30 PM - 2 PM - School of Rock Short Pump

2:30 PM - 4 PM - 44 Diesel

4:30 PM - 6 PM - Big Enough

River City Blues Society of Virginia is throwing a party at Pocahontas State Park on Saturday and you are all invited. Parkfest Blues goes from 2 PM - 10 PM. Tickets are $45 at the gate and a portion of the net proceeds will benefit Special Olympics.  They don't have the schedule up on the website, but I believe this is the running order from where they have them on their home page:

1. Andrew Ali and Last Night's Blues Band
2. The Mike Lucci Band
3. Albert Castiglia (2012 Blues Music Awards (BMA) nominee)
4. The Nighthawks (2011 BMA Acoustic Album of the Year, though they will probably be rocking you electric)
5. Mikey Junior

If you are into really old music, and I mean music played on 78s, head to Steady Sounds Saturday afternoon from 3 PM to 4 PM where Grammy Award winning archivist/collector/producer Chris King will playing music from his collection of rare 78 rpm records. This will be the first time he has ever played some of these rare records in public. He'll also be displaying his collection of R. Crumb artwork from the covers of his compilations.

Starting at 4 PM at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, it's the One Can Benefit Concert which will benefit Children, Incorporated, an "organization providing long-term assistance to underprivileged children in the United States and in 22 other countries. Working through established orphanages, schools and community centers, they help bring children out of poverty through sponsorship and other programs." It's free to get in and a portion of the proceeds from all food and beverage purchases goes to the charity. There is also a VIP Hour from 3 to 4 for $25 that gets you a private beer tour and heavy hors d'oeuvres. The band schedule is:

4:00pm - The Trongone Band

5:45pm - Beast Wellington

7:30pm - The New Belgians

At 8 PM at The National, alternative pop rockers The Joy Formidable will perform. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers IO Echo and Fort Lean. Make sure you get there early to see the atmospheric synth pop of IO Echo who have a good buzz around them. Joy Formidable is playing a bunch of festivals this summer including Austin City Limits, Bumbershoot, Forecastle, and Firefly (close by in Dover, DE). If you want to try to see them for free at The National, send an email to tixswin@gmail.com by 12 Noon Friday May 10th with the SUBJECT - JOY MUSIC.  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 Friday afternoon by 5pm ! That comes from an email from The National so its the real deal. Here they are doing "Little Blimp":
 

Over at The Camel at 9 PM on Saturday, folksy Americana band Luray will appear along with Low Branches and Nick Coward & The Last Battle. Show starts at 9 and it's $5 to get in. Here they are playing "What Becomes":

Last but not least on Saturday, Allman Brothers tribute band, Skydog, will be at Capital Ale House. Doors will open at 8, show starts at 9, tix are $7 in advance, $10 day of show. Here they are doing "Statesboro Blues":



Before we leave, HERE are 9 Reasons George Harrison was the funniest Beatle. If you haven't seen the magnificent document on George Harrison, Living In the Material World, do so immediately.

I'll see you at Friday Cheers and then Skydog on Saturday. Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Hamaganza, Ghost of Pop, Battle of the Jams, Black Girls, Barstool Heroes, Former Champions

Lots of local bands this week doing charity shows for the season. You gotta appreciate that. These bands don't make a whole lot of $ for themselves but they still find the time to give back to their community.

The annual Hamaganza event is on Friday and Saturday of this weekend. Tonight they'll be at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and tomorrow at Lulu's in Shockoe Bottom. Both nights kick off at 8:30 and admission is a $10 donation or a ham (thus the name). Tonight's event will be hosted by Gene Cox from channel 8 news. This event is like a talent show on acid. You never know what you'll see: jugglers, whistlers, bands comedians, poetry but you know it'll be weird.

Friday night at The Canal Club, it's the "Camp Barefoot Music & Arts Festival Battle of the Jams" featuring James Brown tribute band The Big Payback, Silo Effect and People's Blues of Richmond. Doors open at 8 and it's $10 to get in. Here's People's Blues doing "Tighten Up" at the Jewish Mother in Norfolk in September:

Tonight at The Camel, Black Girls will perform with Herro Sugar and Motha' Goose and the Funky Ducks opening. Show starts at 10 PM and it's $6 to get in. This'll be Black Girls last show in Richmond for a while so they can work on getting a new album out.

Saturday, if you want some yummy beer, go to the Holdiay Cheer & Beer Classic out at Meadow Event Park in Doswell. It will be indoors (though the weather is supposed to be pretty nice but who knew?), it's free to get in and you can buy tasting tickets for $1 each. There will be live music, shopping and beers from 25 craft breweries including 15 from VA. It'll run from noon until 7 PM.

Saturday at Gallery 5, it's the Ghost of Pop 8 show. It's only $5 to get in and proceeds go to the organization Home Again who provide shelter and services for homeless folks. Performing will be Goldrush, Andrew Leahy & The Homestead, The Trillions, My Old Ways and Herro Sugar. Show starts at 8.

Outlaw country band Barstool Heroes will be at McCook's Grill in Lakeside on Saturday night at 8. Here's a little taste of the band from a recent show:


Tuesday night at Cary St. Cafe, jam band Former Champions will play. Show starts at 10 and there is no cover. Here's the band playing in Winston-Salem in September:



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Drive-By Truckers, A Place to Bury Strangers, Hospitality, Man Overboard, STS9

Looks like a pretty good weekend for music beginning with two shows from my beloved Drive-By Truckers at The National on Friday and Saturday night. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 both nights with J Roddy Walston and the Business opening. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. I've waxed poetic about DBT a million times now. All I can say is that if you are ready for a kick-ass rock n' roll show, get yourself to The National this weekend. I'll be there for the Saturday night blowout. (BTW, if you like the artwork above, that's done by Richmonder Wes Freed, who does all of the artwork for DBT going back for over a decade.) Here's DBT doing their fantastic song about growing up loving rock music, "Let There Be Rock" (some language NSFW). Three guitar rock n' roll glory at it's best.:



If you are home this weekend, check out the Voodoo Experience music festival webcast HERE. There is no schedule posted for the webcast but bands playing the festival include Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Metallica, Jack White, Skrillex, The Avett Brothers, Justice, Bootsy Collins, Gary Clark Jr., George Porter, Die Antwoord, Thomas Dolby, Anders Osborne, Toots & the Maytals, Dave Stewart, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Treme Brass Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Coheed & Cambria, Marcia Ball, and more. The fest starts at noon Eastern time Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, if you want a spooky good time, check out the Carytown Zombie Walk. No music but lots of the undead wandering through Carytown starting at 2 PM. They'll mosey from the Kroger down to the Byrd Theater and back.

People's Blues of Richmond will be at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery as part of Hardywood's First Anniversary party on Saturday. The festivities start at 2 PM and will go until 9 PM. PBR will play from 6 PM until the end. The Threeo play from 2 PM - 3:30 PM and River City Band play from 3:45 - 5:45. Here's PBR doing "Leaves Die" (some language NSFW. It's just a NSFW video kind of night.):



Noise pop band A Place to Bury Strangers will be at Strange Matter on Saturday night along with like-minded bands Bleeding Rainbow and Canary Oh Canary. Doors open at 9, show starts at 10. Tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. APTBS just got back from touring Russia so be sure to ask them about that. Here's their song "You Are the One":



If you are in the mood for some Halloween holiday music, check out Black Sabbath cover band, Brown Sabbath, at Republic on Saturday night. No info on the Republic site or Brown Sabbath's Facebook page about when this will start, but figure around 10 and figure a few dollars cover charge, at most. Here's the band playing "Wicked World" at The National a few years back:



Indie-pop band Hospitality will be at Strange Matter Sunday. Doors open at 6 for this all ages show and the music starts at 7 with openers Herro Sugar, The Garbers and Teen. Check out the article in Style Weekly HERE for a little more info on Hospitality and their charming pop music. Here's a little ditty from Hospitality called "Friends of Friends". The video stars Alia Shwkat of the once and future show, "Arrested Development":



Tuesday night, jam band STS9 will be The National. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Kap10 Harris. Conscious Alliance is hosting a food drive at the show and it you bring 20 cans of food to donate, you'll get a free poster and do some good. Here's STS9 doing "Vapors":



Emo-pop band from NJ, Man Overboard, will be at Kingdom on Tuesday night. Doors will open at 5:30 and there are sure to be some openers but right now they are TBA. Tix are only $10. Here they are doing "Love Your Friends, Die Laughing":



Have a great weekend! See you at the Drive-By Truckers show on Saturday night!

Tony Jordan

70th Birthday Jerry Garcia Tribute, Delbert McClinton, Black Girls, No BS! Brass Band, Watermelon Fest

Friday night, check out Black Girls with Andrew Leahey & the Homestead and Goldrush at The Camel. Show starts at 9:30 and cover charge is $6.

On the interwebs on Friday, it's the 70th Birthday Tribute to Jerry Garcia on a live FREE webcast from TRI Studios.  This will start at 9:30 Eastern time. Luke Wilson will emcee and performers include Bob Weir, Willie Nelson's son Lukas Nelson, Joe Russo and Jeff Chimenti from Furthur, Mike Gordon of Phish, Paul Simon's son Harper Simon, psychedelic folk musician Jonathan Wilson and Bay Area singer-songwriter Cass McCombs.

Also on the web the whole weekend, Lollapalooza from Chicago. The webcast will start at 2:30 Eastern time Friday through Sunday on YouTube HERE. Performers include Michael Kiwanuka, Dr. Dog, Head & The Heart, The Shins, Dawes, The Black Keys, Jeff the Brotherhood, Alabama Shakes, Fun., The Weeknd,  Tune-Yards, Bloc Party, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Trampled by Turtles, White Rabbits, Gary Clark Jr., Franz Ferdinand, Gaslight Anthem, Florence & The Machine, Jack White and more.

If you like beer, and if you are reading this blog, I assume you do, the Hardywood Hop Harvest Fest will go down on Saturday at Hardywood Brewery. That'll start at 2 and No BS! Brass Band will come on around 3:30.

Delbert McClinton has his make up date on Saturday for a show that was rained out earlier this summer. The show is at Powhatan Courthouse. Gate opens at 6, music starts at 6:30. It's general admission and tix are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the gate. Here's Delbert back in 1990 doing "I'm Gonna Miss You":



DJ Williams Projekt will be at Tobacco Company on Saturday night. Show starts at 9:30 and there is no cover charge. Here's DJ Williams Projekt playing TONIGHT, August 1 at Cafe Diem:



Sunday, it's the annual Carytown Watermelon Fest. Go complain about how hot it is and eat lots of watermelon. It'll run from 10 AM to 6 PM. There's stuff for the kids, some bands will play and you can get adult beverages at the bars. Enjoy!

Sunday night at The Hippodrome, you can catch the aforementioned band No BS! Brass Band, Black Girls along with Tungs, some DJs playing in between sets and a light show. It's $5 to get in and the show starts at 7 PM.

At Bandito's on Sunday night, local punk legends BEEX will play with garage rockers Lonely Teardrops. Show starts at 9 and I don't think there is a cover charge.

Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan