Black Girls - “Club Bangin’”
Black Girls have made an acoustic video for their song “Club Bangin.” Andrew @ RVA Mag posted this video before we did, but we’re reposting. In the video the band stands around the mausoleum in Hollywood Cemetery. The lighting is pretty cool with the sunshine background. The band uses the acoustics to its advantage. Enjoy.
Looks like Black Girls’ next show date is 11/2 @ The Camel.
Black Girls is playing right now on WNRN Charlottesville - Those of us in Richmond can listen on 103.1 FM!
Don’t forget their vinyl release show tomorrow (2/24) @ Kingdom!
REVIEW - Black Girls - Hell Dragon
Black Girls - Hell Dragon (Worthless Junk), January 2012
Black Girls has been wooing Richmond left and right lately with their new release, Hell Dragon, on Worthless Junk Records. As buoyant as Elton John, these tracks have enough show biz and signature sounds to outflair a Friday’s employee. And while the record feels like a fun time hanging out with a group of (very talented and humble) musician friends, the presentation doesn’t get sloppy. They also avoid sounding like studio newbs who want to use every little trick and additional instrumentation as possible. That can eat up a lot of studio time.
Recorded mostly at Minimum Wage Studios with the dashing Lance Koehler at the helm, the album boasts very extensive track listing details. Those extensive notes however made it a little more difficult to extract the actual info. I say maybe leave that stuff off for your first few records until you get your sea legs. The same goes for a few studio outtakes. The Beatles’ outtakes are cool and interesting but that’s because they’re the BEATLES. Since it was just an outro (on track “Club Bangin’”), though, I just pressed next track. These points are nit-picky because there’s nothing else negative I can say about the disc. The nine tracks are a feel-good, party down listen. You know if you put this puppy on the ol’ stereo a good number of hot ladies will suddenly start dancing at your behest.
“South Carolina” is such an infectious track, and it’s even more intriguing that the song doesn’t even mention SC until a good 3 and a half minutes into it. Singer Drew Gillihan shares songwriting and arranging duties with drummer Stephen Adam Farris IV. They switch up the sound of their songs, keeping it interesting and the listener involved. For instance, “Country Song” has moments of brutal guitar licks by Fletcher Babb that turn into a slower, drawn-out chorus with background vocals adding atmosphere and 60s charm. Gillihan’s falsetto is on-point. Although, I’m not sure that I believe him when he explains where he wants to go when he dies. He’s so young, what could he know about his dying wishes? Another nit-pick.
“Get Off,” the last track of the album, was recorded by Bryan Walthall (frmr. Bay of Pigs) at Sound of Music Studios. The song is very reminiscent of The Rascals’ “Groovin’ on a Sunday Afternoon.” Gillihan really “gets off” with semi-yodels croons, and yelps, and the chorus-centric arrangement really lends itself to some good call-and-response moments.
7.5 out of 10
February 3, 2012
PS Don’t forget Black Girls’ show TONIGHT (2/3) @ The Camel &
Feb 24 @ Kingdom vinyl release!
Let Magnolia Jackson Pickett Burnside take you on a tour of RVA’s newest (revamped) music venue, The Hippodrome Theater, or the Hipp. The Hipp is the new home of Ritz and Revelry, a vaudevillian event series.
Go for one of their Happy Hours and/or go to the 2nd CD Release party for Black Girls, Feb. 7 with:
No BS Brass Band
White Laces
Arches
Coming later this week: Black Girls, Hell Dragon review!
Black Girls - “Low”
Merry Christmas from Black Girls! As a special treat to fans, they have released another sneak preview from their upcoming album. Enjoy!
Don’t forget to spend your NYE with Black Girls @ Balliceaux (FREE!)
Black Girls - “St. Simon”, “Broadway” and “Get Off”
Can’t wait until Christmas for new Black Girls? The band has generously released three songs to whet their fans appetites for their new album, Hell Dragon. The Girls (who are really guys) will be pretty busy over the next month or two promoting the new disc. Catch them Sunday 12/11 @ The Tobacco Company and New Year’s Eve 12/31 @ Balliceaux (both events are FREE!). They will have two release shows: 1/14 @ The Camel for their CD pressing
2/17 @ The Hippodrome for their vinyl release.
Black Girls - “So Sorry” 10/31/2011 @ The Canal Club
Black Girls just announced their “Roasted Toasted Deep-Fried Southern Tour Winter 2012” starting January 2012:
Also keep your eyes and ears peeled for Black Girls record release @ The Hippodrome Theater! featuring No BS!, White Laces, and Arches. More extensive post to follow!
After Nasa - “Amadeus”
Sweat it out with After Nasa (pictured just below) in their new video featuring classic 80s workouts The single is from their recently-released self-titled EP.
THEN go to their show Sun 11/20:
THE Richmond Music Review @ The Tobacco Company
Featuring:
After Nasa (RVA 80s, post-jam)
Black Girls
(RVA lounge rock, RIYL Modest Mouse)
Proverbial (RVA reggae/funk, pictured below)
Downbeat Switch (RVA jam/funk)
If you are like me, you are wondering if it’s actually true that the Tobacco Company will host several sweet bands that attract a different crowd than their regular clubbers. But the restaurant/venue has been switching things up lately in addition to hiring DJ Frankie Makeout every Friday and Saturday. Every Sunday TTC hosts a different live music act, so check it out. Best part?
The show is FREE. $2 burgers.
“The Richmond Music Review is a non competitive show case. It is an anti-battle of the bands. This night is about four great RVA bands coming together and providing you a night of amazing music.”
