Sounds of RVA

poster by Jack Oliver

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:24:32 -0400

poster by Jack Oliver

Starfish Prime @ Sounds of RVA Showcase @ Bogart’s,...

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:08:24 -0400

Starfish Prime @ Sounds of RVA Showcase @ Bogart’s, 5-18-13

Starfish Prime closed out the night last Saturday at the Sounds of RVA Showcase at Bogart’s. They were loud, kinetic and frenetic. While they played without their bassist, they still filled the airspace with rock for days. Check out the set yourself recorded by Chris Larson. Thanks, Chris! Stay tuned for the middle band of the evening, Zac Hryciak and the Jungle Beat, whose recording needed a little special attention.

Close Talker - “Mop Water” Stay Sweet Records is...

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:48:52 -0400

Close Talker - “Mop Water”

Stay Sweet Records is about to release Close Talker’s new self-titled debut LP, and they let us take a sneak listen to this track called “Mop Water.” Melodic and Weezer-era punk goodness fill this track, and the off-kilter harmonies sound wonderfully sour. We can’t wait for the rest of the album!

Boxwave @ Sounds of RVA Showcase @ Bogart’s, 5-18-13 We...

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:09:12 -0400

Boxwave @ Sounds of RVA Showcase @ Bogart’s, 5-18-13

We had our first showcase this past Saturday, and Boxwave opened the evening. Not only was blood drawn, but the funk quotient reached dangerous levels. Check out the video below as well as the audio from the set, recorded by Chris Larson.

Celtic Panda - Bamboo Grooves RVA’s reggae rat pack Celtic...

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:21:48 -0400

Celtic Panda - Bamboo Grooves

RVA’s reggae rat pack Celtic Panda has just released an album of 7 funk and reggae improvisational live basement tracks. The band is part of the Blue Lotus Collective which includes The Banduras, Solace Sovay, The Foresters, Captain Captain, Recluse Raccoon, The Manifestivus, Clifton Gibbons, and The Willie Nelson Experience (not the country singer/guitarist) among others.

Listen to “Hajimemashite,” a chilled-out wavering of organs and guitars in its initial two minutes. Then the organ gets a little more fierce and more in the foreground, and the drums get nasty. The mostly instrumental nature of the band opens itself into convenient jamming, and the variety of tones they are getting with their guitars and keys keeps the listener engaged. “40 Oz Bounce” takes the listener somewhere jammy for 6+ minutes of funky licks and displays the comfort the band members have with each other during extemporization.

RIYL: Grateful Dead, Ulu, The Shack Band, The Southern Belles

Check out Celtic Panda on Saturday, 5/25 @ The Canal Club along with Romanesco, JV Thrusting Squad, Gallo Vera, and Friends of the Family. Check out more show dates here.

photo by Inga Schunn

photo by PJ Sykes No BS Brass Band - “RVA All...

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:55:01 -0400

photo by PJ Sykes

No BS Brass Band - “RVA All Day”

Win tickets to this week’s Friday Cheers at Brown’s Island -

RVA Music Night with No BS Brass Band, Former Champions, and Murphy’s Kids!

Enter by e-mailing soundsofrva@gmail.com by 12 noon on Thursday. Winners will be announced that day.

Don’t miss a chance to see 3 awesome Richmond bands for free!

Check out the other two bands appearing:

photo by James E.F. Young, Richmondimage.net

Former Champions (opening for Lotus at The National, 3/16/13):

photo by Soul Phire Photography

Murphy’s Kids:

Learn how to put a song on itunes at ReverbNation.com

Everyone Dies In The End - Demo Post-rock professionals Everyone...

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:50:48 -0400

Everyone Dies In The End - Demo

Post-rock professionals Everyone Dies In The End are stepping up as a fresh band with a brand-new demo. The demo is actually a recording from a practice, and it looks like the band will be releasing more albums like this in the future. Featuring members of bands like Lord By Fire and My War, EDITE plays instrumental post-rock tracks that are at some points ambient while building in anticipation. Check out “Who Are You, Whom I So Faintly Hear” which is not only grammatically correct but also sometimes sparse and other times explosive.

Check out Everyone Dies in the End’s first show on Friday, 5/24 @ Strange Matter with Swells (Denver) and 1TBA. Early show. 5 pm doors, all ages, $5.

ALSO catch them at the Sounds of RVA Showcase @ Bogart’s on July 20 with Sea of Storms and Time Machines. 9 pm doors, 21+, $5.

RIYL: Explosions in the Sky, Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Shy, Low, and Fight Cloud

Photo

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:31:33 -0400

thecheatsmovement: RVA ALL DAY! NO BS! BRASS BAND RELEASED...

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:02:23 -0400

thecheatsmovement:

RVA ALL DAY! NO BS! BRASS BAND RELEASED THEIR NEW ALBUM LAST NIGHT

It was a capacity crowd at Balliceaux last night for the Richmond release of RVA ALL DAY. The…

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Road Kill Roy - “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince...

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:54:00 -0400

Road Kill Roy - “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince cover)

The dudes from Road Kill Roy recorded a recent practice session which involved the entire song “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The band did a great job on it, wethinks. When Sinead O’Connor released a version of this song, it was unauthorized and Prince was pissed. He had written it for a young protege he wanted to bang, so he pretty much beat up Sinead. Maybe Prince will let these guys slide since they won’t be making $$ with it.

One side note: the lead guitarist of Road Kill Roy is none other than sweet music blog You Hear That’s Davy Jones (not THAT Davy Jones).

Road Kill Roy will be releasing a new EP immanently.

Inland Ocean - s/t Inland Ocean is a new folk band featuring...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:14:32 -0400

Inland Ocean - s/t

Inland Ocean is a new folk band featuring singer/songwriter Chris Tait. He has just released an album of six tracks which look like they are split into two different sides. Does this mean this album is on vinyl? We’ll have to see. The soft strumming and distant echoing oohs really create a gentle set of songs. Additional vocals are by Inga Schunn. Check out “Summer Blood” which has cymbals mimicking tides and Tait recalls M. Ward or Bonnie “Prince” Billy.

Catch Inland Ocean on 6/1 @ The Gene Pool with Celtic Panda, Romesco, JV Thrusting Squad, Captain Captain, and Imaginary Sons.

RIYL:The Low Branches, Jonathan Vassar

photo by Inga Schunn

Volture - “On the Edge” Metal-heads of Richmond and...

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:21:00 -0400

Volture - “On the Edge”

Metal-heads of Richmond and beyond, Volture has returned to the scene with a new singer and upcoming album. They leaked a track from the full length album, coming out on High Roller Records in September.

Brent Hubbard decided to stop touring and left the band amicably, so the band found a replacement in Jack Bauer. No, I’m not talking about Kiefer Sutherland’s character in 24, which is also coming back. Although I will admit I had hoped the band had somehow summoned the fictitious character and were fighting terrorists while performing some badass metal riffs with Kiefer’s falsetto ablaze.

This track is of the caliber we have come to expect from the heavy hitters, and we almost can’t tell that Brent even left. Not only does Jack kick ass, but he’s pretty dreamy, too. That’s right, metal dudes can be dreamy. We hate to bring up another television show to describe this guy, but this is even cooler than Sons of Anarchy.

EDIT: Volture will be @ Strange Matter on 7/5 with Cauldron, Devil’s Hand, and Salvacion.

My Old Ways - “Logic” (video by Amy Patton) Get your...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:15:32 -0400

My Old Ways - “Logic” (video by Amy Patton)

Get your cowboy boots on and apply some “Logic.” Alt-country band My Old Ways created a video near the end of 2012. The band is also celebrating being chosen to perform at Floyd Fest this year! Featuring members of Positive No, David Shultz and the Skyline, and the Palaminos, the country crooners have enough pedal steel to satisfy the most demanding steel enthusiast.

Come out to The Listening Room on 5/21 (Tuesday) with Prabir Mehta and The Mohawk Lodge.

BANDS, Musicians, etc.: Do you play a special guitar or bass? A...

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:25:01 -0400

BANDS, Musicians, etc.:

Do you play a special guitar or bass? A 12-string, baritone guitar, 7-string, fretless, etc.? Did you customize your own instrument? Does your instrument have a story?

We want to hear about it! Hit us up here or e-mail soundsofrva@gmail.com and tell us about your baby!

The above photograph is the “franken-tar” in which Jay Lindsey (Bearstorm, The Hotdamns) drilled holes for springs. The guitar was used at Sound of Music Studios for several sessions including The Hotdamns and White Laces.

Hypercolor - Magda (preview) Hypercolor has released a four-song...

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:06:57 -0400

Hypercolor - Magda (preview)

Hypercolor has released a four-song preview EP. Led by Alexandra Spalding (Austin Thomas, The Razorektors) on 12-string guitar, banjo, and vocals, the band plays an assortment of experimental folk, lush pop moments, and garage rock. Spalding’s vocals are reminiscent of The Cowboy Junkies or chilled-out Joan Jett. The band also features Adrian Olsen (Montrose Recording, Tarrant), Keith Paul (bass, Guise, Dumb Waiter, Dirty Banners), Hugo Haggie and Cre Moore (drums, Lightfields, Dirty Banners).

Check out “Told You Once” for Southern Culture on the Skids-style attitude, distorted, sultry female vocals, and dissonant guitars. “Sparrow” finishes off the album on a sullen, whispered note. This band truly has versatility. We look forward to hearing the band hone their sound.

Come out to Hypercolor on Sunday, 5/19 @ Gallery 5 with RVA’s Silversmiths and Brooklyn’s Annie & the Beekeepers (Americana).

photo by Coldon Martin

photo by Tom Applegate

Sounds Of RVA Presents: On The Horizon, May 2013 | RVA Magazine | Richmond, VA

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:10:40 -0400

Sounds Of RVA Presents: On The Horizon, May 2013 | RVA Magazine | Richmond, VA:

If you have a second, read this month’s column and stop by Bogart’s on Saturday (5/18) @ 9:00 pm doors, music @ 10 sharp).

Get there early for throwing sacks of beans at wooden targets. The weather will hopefully be nice!

Brother Rutherford - Take Root The drummer from Houdan the...

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:01:25 -0400

Brother Rutherford - Take Root

The drummer from Houdan the Mystic, Ethan Johnstone, has a fairly new solo album out under the name Brother Rutherford. Another album released by The Subterranea Collective, Take Root is a beautiful earthen pastorale combining the best of progressive chamber pop and electronic effects. Johnstone provides the elements of classical music and mathy post-rock and his sound almost sounds like a harpsichord. Johnstone’s 12-string guitar is played beautifully against what sounds like a bowed cello.

Check out “Gnome Time Prison,” which begins with some spoken far-off words a la Weezer. The drums step in and the beats Johnstone kicks amidst his complicated yet repetitive treble are just rocking enough. “They’re idiots!” is a phrase that gets manipulated and distorted as the delay keeps running. Very psychedelic.

relapserecords: Rotten Sound will hit the US and Canada...

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:23:00 -0400

relapserecords:

Rotten Sound will hit the US and Canada starting May 9!

Rotten Sound (Finland grindcore) will hit Strange Matter on Sunday, 5/26 with Total Control (Aus), Suppression, and Occultist. 5 pm, all ages, $10.

Rotten Sound - Species at War:

Species At War by Rotten Sound

RIYL: Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer

Also, Total Control is killing it right now, so take advantage while you can. The band just released a split with Thee Oh Sees, so they’re no joke. Here is a clip from a live set in 2011:

James Wallace and the Naked Light - “To the...

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:36:05 -0400

James Wallace and the Naked Light - “To the River”

Nashville/RVA band James Wallace and the Naked Light has released another new video. This one, directed and shot by Paul Greenhouse, is a one-shot video taken from the reflection of someone’s eye. Wallace sits and plays within the pupil of this large eye. Looking this closely at the eye also reveals some mascara clumps.

The song is a gentle folk track with Paul Simon similarities. The twang asserts itself “before the fire rains from above.”

Lightfields - “Goo Goo Muck” (The Cramps...

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:35:51 -0400

Lightfields - “Goo Goo Muck” (The Cramps cover)

Lightfields has released a fun cover song that they recorded way back in 2009. These guys know how to do it up! This track was engineered at Sound of Music Studios four drummers ago.

Don’t miss Lightfields’ next show, 6/7 @ Gallery 5 with Paul Ivey, Isle of Rhodes, and Robes of Alchemy (ex-Sacred Teachers, Invisible Friends).