Skydog, The Story So Far, Rock Lotto, Nighthawks, Former Champions, Southern Belles

We'll start our weekend at Capital Ale House Downtown for Allman Brothers tribute band, Skydog. Doors open at 9:30, show starts at 10. Tix are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. The band does a fine job recreating the classic Allman Brothers sound. If you can't catch them in Richmond Friday or you live closer to DC, you can catch them in Leesburg on Saturday night. If you like the Allman Brothers or think you should, check these guys out. Here's a short video that combines interviews with rehearsal footage:



And for a slightly different take on the Allman Brothers, here's Frank Zappa doing "Whipping Post":

Over at The Canal Club, it's the local jamtronica band, Former Champions, along with DJ Phil Dice and Digipossum. Doors open at 9 PM and it's $7 to get in. The Former Champs are billing this as "Startin' Somethin'" as in the Michael Jackson song as they'll be doing their take on MJ's music all night long. Here's a taste of the Champions from a video that was promoting their gig on 11/5 at Cary St. Cafe.



"Do you fell lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" Then head down to Rock Lotto at Strange Matter on Saturday night. What is Rock Lotto? Strange Matter assembled 40 musicians three weeks ago. They threw everyone's name into a hat and did a random draw forming 8 bands of 5 members each. The bands were given the 3 weeks to come up with a 10 - 20 minute set and you can see and hear the results on Saturday night starting at 7 PM. This is a benefit for WRIR and the Central VA Food Bank so you can get in with $10 or $5 and at least 2 cans of food.

THE BANDS (last to first/headliner to opener):

SARL CAGAN

WHIMSICAL ASS FASHION

WINKLE

INFECTED CEMETERY

GHOST BITCH

JERK BOOTH

SKULL THEATRE

DICK WOLFE

I don't have a video for this so here is Frank Zappa doing "Stairway to Heaven". Got to see this the one and only time I saw Zappa and remember being surprised and laughing when the horn section kicks in. Great stuff! Wish the video was better quality but the sound quality is pretty good.

On Sunday night, catch renowned blues band The Nighthawks at Lulu's. The show will start at 7 PM, tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Here they are doing the classic, "Mannish Boy".

Wednesday night at Kingdom, pop punk band with a good buzz, The Story So Far, checks in. Also playing will be Stick To Your Guns, Such Gold, Rotting Out, and Souvenirs. Doors will open at 6 PM and it's $16 to get in. Here's their latest single, "Empty Space":



If you would rather do the funky, Americana, jam band thing on Wednesday night, go to Cary St. Cafe for The Southern Belles. Show starts around 10 and it's FREE to get in. After the show at Cary St., they head down to NC for shows in Asheville (Friday) and Winston-Salem (Saturday). Here's the Belles entire show from The Camel on 11/1. They open with a tune you might recognize.


Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Crime In Stereo, Bio Ritmo, Robbin Thompson, Oregon Hill Funk All-Stars

Will have to be another shorty this week. I intended to do it last night, but fell asleep with my son and woke up bleary-eyed at 11:30 and not willing to start a long blog at that late time. I've been really tired this week. Don't know if its the weather. (I checked the National Weather Service today. It's rained 21 of the last 42 days. And it's probably been cloudy with no rain for another 7 days.) My back hasn't been helping much either but my chiropractor helped fix that last night. (Thanks, Dr. Anna!) Anyway, enough of my griping. Let's get to the music!

Punk/new wave band Crime in Stereo make a rare appearance at The Camel on Saturday night. It's $12 in advance, $14 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers In Between, Averman & Springtime. Wear your moshing shoes. Here's Crime In Stereo doing "I Am Everything I Am Not":



If you prefer your music a bit folkier, check out Robbin Thompson at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Saturday night. Robbin has a new CD out, "A Real Fine Day", in fact, this show is the release party. You'll hear lots of stuff from the new album plus older faves. Show starts at 8, tix are $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Here's Robbin with his band at The National in January doing "Brite Eyes":

If you prefer your music salsa-ier, go see Bio Ritmo at Lulu's on Saturday night. I believe this is the last area show before they head over to Europe to play a bunch of dates and festivals. You can listen to Bio Ritmo's brand new single, "Picaresca", HERE. And if if doesn't get you moving within the first 15 seconds, you are probably dead. Show will start at 9 PM.

If you need some groovin' on a Sunday afternoon, head to The Camel for their Funky Brunch with Oregon Hill Funk All-Stars. It'll run from 2 PM - 5 PM and it's FREE to get in.

Hope that'll get you through the weekend. Have a good one! Something tells me The Alarm would really like this weather.


Tony Jordan

Lotus, Pinback, Wale, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Nighthawks, The Atkinsons

St. Patty's Weekend! Dance a jig, wear green and party until you puke green beer. Much music this weekend.

Jamtronica band Lotus headlines two nights at The National on Friday and Saturday night. Tix are $22 in advance, $25 at the door, or you can buy a two day pass for $40. Doors open at 8 and the show starts at 9 each night. Friday night, the opener is The Werks, Saturday night, Richmond's own Former Champions opens. Both shows are getting close to sold out so get your tix now. Here's Lotus doing "Kodiak" live at Red Rocks:



If you are more Mr. Natural than rave guy, head to the Capital Ale House on Friday night to see Larry Keel and Natural Bridge. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. Tix are $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Last time they played at Capital Ale House they sold out so get your tix early. They recently played NPR's Mountain Stage Radio Show with Asleep at the Wheel and others. The show will be broadcast on May 3. Here they are playing a few days ago at Jewish Mother in VA Beach:



Saturday, Shamrock the Block goes down in Shockoe Bottom around the Farmer's Market area. This has become a huge event with more than 30,000 attending last year. It'll run from noon to 6. It's free to attend, there will be food and beer to buy, and bands playing all day. Click HERE for the band lineup.

That night at the Canal Club, indie pop band Pinback will perform. Doors open at 8, tix are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. No opener is listed on the Facebook event page for this one, but you might want to check the Canal Club site later. The site is down as I type this. They'll be playing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on March 19. Here's their video for the fine song "Proceed to Memory" from their latest album, "Information Retrieved":



Sunday night, blues greats The Nighthawks will be at Lulu's. The show will start around 7 and it's $15 to get in. Here's a taste of their show in Rockville MD on 2/23:



Underground rapper Wale will be at The National on Sunday night. Tix are $32.50 in advance, $40 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. No opener is listed on The National's site. You might like Wale is you like Gorillaz, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Jay-Z, Outkast, DJ Kool, or Chuck Brown. Here's Wale's "Street Runner" (language NSFW):



Over at Capital Ale House on St. Pat's Day, it's a full day of FREE music with Donnybrooks Band from 3 PM to 6 PM, then The Atkinsons from 7 PM to midnight with St. Andrews Legion Pipe & Drums making appearances throughout the day. The Atkinsons are an Americana band but they say they've got some Irish tunes ready for the show. Here's The Atkinsons playing at the 2012 Watermelon Fest:



The tenth best video of 2012 according to Paste Magazine is this sad little animated video from Wilco for "Sunloathe":



Have a great St. Patrick's Day!

Tony Jordan

Bio Ritmo, Bush League, Southern Belles, NO BS! Brass Band

This is a good weekend to find your new favorite local band. We start on Friday night at Lulu's  with Latin music from Bio Ritmo. The show will start at 9, first set starts at 10, second set starts at 11:30. It's $8 to get in and this is a benefit for VACLAA (Virginia Center for Latin American Art) which is celebrating their first anniversary. Here's Bio Ritmo playing at Balliceaux on 12/21/12:



Also on Friday night, NO BS! Brass Band will be at The Camel. Show starts at 9:30 and it's $7 to get in. Here's NO BS doing "Meat Wagon" on 12/14/12:


Saturday night, it's a full-on blues show at The Canal Club with The Bush League. Doors will open at 5:30 and The UnXpected, Mike Lucci Band & Andrew Alli and The Last Night's Blues Band will open. The Bush League recently hit #21 on Amazon's Blues Rock category with their new album, "Can of Gas and a Match". Here they are in 2011 at the Jewish Mother in VA Beach:



Wednesday night at Cary St. Cafe, The Southern Belles will get you dancin' with their funky, jam rock. Show starts at 10 and there is no cover. They play a nice mix of originals and covers. Here they are doing The Band's "Across The Great Divide" at The Camel on 9/29/12:


Here's Paste Magazine's fourth best video of 2012 which feature Jack White being kidnapped by a bunch of bad ass kids in "Sixteen Saltines". There's nothing like getting some cool tattoos when you are 10. And watch out for that blue kid. He's a bad mother....

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

Nighthawks parts, Cosmic Charlie, Cross Canadian Ragweed

Hey there! Hope you've all been having fun playing with David Lee Roth.

This is a good weekend if you are a Nighthawks fan. For those that don't know, the Nighthawks are a great blues and roots rock bar band (and I don't say that perjoratively because a good bar band is hard to find. Just ask Phil about the band he saw at Poe's last weekend.) that's been around for 30 years and have achieved a cult following in the mid-Atlantic. While the Nighthawks themselves aren't playing in the area, pieces of them are.

Drummer Pete Ragusa will be playing with the January Allstars at Shenanigan's Pub in the Northside. The show starts at 8:30 and the January Allstars are made up of Catfish Hodge, Tom Principato, Tommy Lepson, Pete Ragusa & Steve Wolf. Then on Sunday night, Nighthawks vocalist and harp player Mark Wenner plays with local Richmond bluesman Terry Garland and his trio at Lulu's in Shockoe Bottom. That is according to the Nighthawks web site. I can't get confirmation on the Lulu's web site so call Lulu's in advance to confirm.

If you have made a fiscal decision to pass on The Dead due to their high ticket prices but still need your Grateful Dead music fix, Cosmic Charlie will be at The Canal Club on Friday night. The show starts at 9:30 and you'll get two sets of music for the low, low price of $10.

Cross Canadian Ragweed will be playing at Toad's Place on Sunday night. Doors open at 7 PM, tix are $18 and this is an all ages show. Local Americana band The Atkinsons will be opening so be sure to get there early. You'll dig Cross Canadian Ragweed if you like Drive-By Truckers, Alejandro Escovedo, or other alt-country acts. Here is a video for their song "Carneyman":


Virginia Coalition will be at the Capital Ale House Music Hall on Saturday night. Doors open at 9 and tix are $15. I saw them a few years ago at Friday Cheers and thought they were OK. I'd heard they were better when they were a four piece band. But its been a few years so they may be worth another try. Their latest album, Home This Year, got a great review (4.5 stars out of 5) on the AllMusic web site.
Here's what they Ale House site says about them:
"Virginia Coalition's live show is a larger-than-life party that has helped the band garner a rabid fan base who affectionately call them “VACO.” It was also Virginia Coalition's extraordinary live show that got them signed to New York City based label bluhammock music. Based on a tip from a friend, the founders of the label came to a show to check them out. "Then they came back a second time, then they kept coming back until we got signed. That's pretty much how everything has happened for us. " Ottinger said. "All the success VACO has is due to people passing the word around and saying good things." Word of mouth is how they sold 60,000 records and it's how they won the 2003 Washington Post Reader's Choice Award for Best Local Band in 2003."

And if you feel like freezing in DC Sunday (starting at 2 PM) or perhaps just watching it on HBO (7 - 9 PM), the Inaugaral Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial will feature a few folks you may have heard of: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington.

Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan