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

Broadberry Grand Opening, Chili Cook Off, The Coathangers, Local H, Del McCoury Band, Hypercolor, Dopapod, Legend 20th Anniversary, Record Store Day

Thursday night, the newest venue in Richmond, The Broadberry, has it's first of two Grand Opening shows. It'll have 24 beers on tap and go-go dancing platforms. Ladies, wear your tassles. The first night brings the RVA funk with No BS! Brass Band, Black Girls and Goldrush. Doors open at 8 and it's $10 to get in. The second Grand Opening event is on Saturday night with the best of RVA jamtronica and Former Champions, The Polychrons and Silo Effect. Again, the doors open at 8, and it's $10 to get in. I'll be going for free thanks to winning a little Facebook contest and I thank The Broadberry for that. I'm looking forward to seeing the place and I'm sure I'll be spending a lot of time there in the future. Buy tickets for these shows now as they are looking like sell-outs because everyone wants to see the new place. Here's Former Champions at The National in March 2013:



Friday, down at the Beacon Theatre in Hopewell, reigning king of bluesgass, Del McCoury and his Band will take the stage. DelFest is happening again Memorial Day weekend in Cumberland MD with Del McCoury Band, String Cheese Incident, Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, Bela Fleck, The Travelin' McCourys and more. Here's a fun video with Del McCoury Band riding down Esplanade in New Orleans in a horse-drawn carriage and playing some fine music:



In town on Friday, alternative indie pop post-grunge rockers Local H are at the Canal Club with The Vacant Stairs and Red States. Doors open at 7:30, tix are $12 in advance, $14 at the door. You may like Local H if you like Sponge, Foo Fighters, Third Eye Blind, Everclear, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, or the Pixies. Here's Local H getting crazy covering Lorde's "Team":



It's Record Store Day on Saturday so celebrate your local independent record store by heading to Plan 9 and buying one of the special Record Store Day releases on vinyl or CD  from one of your favorite artists. There will also be music at Plan 9 with WRIR DJs from 10 AM - 2 PM, Eric Hunter & The Distractions at 2 PM, The Orewlls at 3:30 PM, and The Skaters at 5 PM. Here's The Orwells having fun on the Weezer Cruise this year:



At Richmond International Raceway Saturday it's the XL102 Chili Cook Off with a great lineup including Seether (7 PM), Panic At The Disco (5:30 PM), A Day to Remember (4 PM), The Hold Steady (2:30 PM), Kongos (1:30 PM), and The Orwells (12:35 PM before they head to Plan 9), Fun Size (11:45 AM) & Strongbow (11 AM). Gates open at 10:30 AM and it goes until 8. Tix are $18 in advance and $40 at the gate. If you are looking to prioritize your band watching, in order of my preference, check out The Orwells, A Day to Remember, The Hold Steady, Panic! at The Disco, Kongos, then Seether. Here's A Day to Remember's "Right Back At It Again":



It's Legend Brewery's 20th Anniversary Party at Legend Brewery on Saturday from 2 PM - 8 PM. It's $10 to get in, but only $12 to get in and get an all you can eat wristband. Mmmmm, all you can eat. There will be live music from The Remnants, Wayne Reynolds, Slack Family Band, and Black Girls. Bring the kids because there will be a kids area with face painting, balloon sculptures and special 2% beer for the kids (just kidding about the beer, though they would sleep well that night what with the playing outdoors and the alcohol). And they'll have their new Bourbon Barrel Imperial Brown Ale.

At The Camel Saturday night, see Hypercolor (were they named after the Hypercolor shirts of the 80s?), James Wallace & the Naked Light and The Trillions. Show starts at 9 and it's 7 bucks to get in. This is the release party for Hypercolor's new EP. Here's their excellent new song, "100 Hands". I've only listened to this song 3 times today and I'm already in love with it.



Tuesday night, alternative/indie/garage/punk band, The Coathangers are at Strange Matter. Doors open at 9, show starts at 10 with openers The Audacity, The Nervous Ticks, The Ar-Kaics and DJ Santa Claud spinning between sets. It's $10 to get in. Here's The Coathangers video for "Follow Me". That may or may not be The Coathangers in the video. I'll let you decide.



Over at Canal Club on Tuesday, jamtronica band Dopapod takes the stage to melt your face. Doors open at 8 and The Shack Band opens. Tix are $7 in advance, $10 at the door. Dopapod jammed with Papadosio at Papadosio's 8th anniversary show. Here it is:


I took the latest BuzzFeed Quiz, "What Music Era Do You Belong To?". I got Laurel Canyon in the Late '60's/Early '70's. Not a bad place to be, but too mellow for me I think. If you want to take the quiz for yourself, go HERE.

Have a great weekend! See you at Legend Brewery and The Broadberry on Saturday!

Tony Jordan