Style Weekly releases Sounds of Richmond No. 2

Today Style Weekly releases their annual music issue full of the best music found in Richmond. Along with it comes a compilation of the featured bands' music.

Upon seeing the artists featured and listening to the compilation, I've made some observations:

There are some definite shoe-ins (Prabir and the Substitutes, No BS Brass Band) that they'd be stupid not to include.

They jumped on the Mermaid Skeletons bandwagon a year too late.

Hot Lava and the Great White Jenkins finally get some love.

There are - in my opinion - some glaring omissions from this collection. Against Grace, Jonathan Vassar and Now Sleepyhead have been everywhere in the Richmond music scene in the last year and are nowhere to be found here.

I must be the only person in Richmond to not like Cinemasophia.

Some bands that even I haven't heard of before: The Riot Before and A Good Natured Riot

Now before Style's editor calls me out for my snarkiness (t-minus 3... 2... there it is...), I just want to say that the CD is a good taste of what Richmond has to offer. Although I will probably make my own playlist because that's what I do.

The compilation is available for download here. Free CDs are available at events throughout the year and at Style Weekly's offices while supplies last.

Mermaid Skeletons - Happy Bell
Hot Lava - YSFW

Video Games Live at the Landmark Theater, 4/25/09

Saturday night, the Richmond Symphony performed the highly entertianing Video Games Live. Simply out, it's the symphony playing the scores from various video games including Mario, Zelda, Halo, Kingdom Hearts and much more.

But to say it was just that would not do the show any justice. There were videos playing on the screens, characters on stage, a costume contest and interactive segments of Space Invaders and Guitar Hero with audience members. The guy playing Guitar Hero got a 93% rating on the expert mode. Insane.

A definite treat for everyone there.


Castlevania Rock from Video Games Live - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (buy here)

Manchester Orchestra at the National, 4/24/09

New favorite Manchester Orchestra played an elaborate set on Friday that included songs about 50 Cent, religious themes and traces of the Cure and Sigur Ros that were definitely felt throughout the set.

The Only One from Mean Everything To Nothing (buy here)

Also playing were Winston Audio, the Audrey Sessions and fun.

fun definitely did not fit into the lineup. They were too happy and upbeat compared to the other bands' dark and heavy sounds. Still good, but an odd pairing. The keyboardist was very 80s-riffic with her "funglasses," multicolored oversized tshirt and perm.

At Least I'm Not As Sad As I Used To Be

Bea Arthur dies

From the Associated Press:
Beatrice Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star in the hit shows "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" and who won a Tony Award for the musical "Mame," died Saturday. She was 86.

Read the rest here.

Golden Girls Theme

Make way for the Richmond Scene

Two of my favorite things, music (obviously) and Facebook (yes, I'm addicted, don't judge), have been combined into one very awesome social site.

The Richmond Scene is another social networking site to hit the interwebs. It focuses solely on the Richmond music and entertainment community. It operates pretty much the same way Facebook does - make a profile, upload songs and photos, make friends, post events, etc. It's a nice way to stay connected with the music scene and find some new artists as well.

It's still in the beginning stages, so if you're a Richmond artist or band, sign up. It has the potential to be huge.

New single from Evan Voytas - "Getting Higher"

After releasing his debut EP, "Introducing Evan Voytas" last year, Evan Voytas returns to the scene with "The New Dynamic Sound of Evan Voytas." The first single, "Getting Higher," is a definite dance floor number. "The New Dynamic Sound of Evan Voytas" will be released May 5th.

Getting Higher

Plan 9 offers online distribution

This always seemed like a no-brainer for Plan 9. I'm glad they're finally getting involved with online purchasing. I'm sure there will be lots of stuff here that iTunes or Amazon won't even have listed.

From Plan 9's website:

The rumors are true - Plan 9's Think Indie digital download site is almost ready to launch! What does that mean? You'll have access to a world of digital music content, just like those other digital download services only this way, with every download you'll be supporting your favorite physical indie record store. We'll have great exclusive content that you can't get anywhere else, our mp3's are DRM free and will sound better than anything you're used to from a download. Excited yet? So are we. Mark your calendars for May 1 when the site goes live and stay tuned to plan9music.com for more details!

Record Store Day is upon us

Record Store Day is happening tomorrow and the music nerd in me cannot wait.

Plan 9 is linking up with other independently owned record stores to promote awareness of the little guy.

Not only is Plan 9 giving away boatloads of free stuff (free giveaways include vinyl samplers, CD samplers, buttons, magazines and other assorted goodness), there's also exclusive releases made solely for Record Store Day. On top of that, everything in the store is going to be 20% off. Everything. My bank account is already starting to cry.

Bands are doing in-store performances all day including
Hex Machine
No BS Brass Band
Cinemasophia
The Recliners

Last year, I went early, raided the free table, bought a bunch of stuff I didn't need and spent the next week going through the samplers and finding new artists to enjoy. I expect just as much this year.

Stop by your independently owned record store (if you have one near you) and check out all the celbration.

Great Northern - Remind Me Where The Light Is

Great Northern has been under my radar until recently. After spending much of 2007 touring in support of Trading Twilight For Daylight, their new album - Remind Me Where The Light Is which will be released April 28th on Eenie Meenie Records.

"Houses," the first single off the record is more haunting and melodic than their first album. Tracks such as "Fingers," "Snakes" and "33" send shivers down my spine repeatedly.

With a powerful musical score, Great Northern creates a dark world that I'm thrown into and I don't come back to earth until the album ends.

Proud like a parent

I don't usually go around promoting myself (wait, yes I do.. I'm such an attention whore), but I worked on this video piece yesterday and I'm extremely pleased with how it turned out. One of my best so far. Plus, Prabir is awesome.

Loving Logan Lynn

Electro-pop musician Logan Lynn comes to us from Portland (where a surge of new acts are coming from lately) and a delightful new album for us to listen to. It's called From Pillar To Post and is coming out later this year (Fall 2009) on The Dandy Warhols' record label Beat the World.

Electric beats mixed in with some hauntingly beautiful vocals. What's not to like?

Burning Your Glory
Feed Me To The Wolves
from From Pillar to Post, available Fall 2009

Safetysuit at the National, 4/13/09

image from davidblock

A new favorite of mine, Safetysuit performed with The Undeserving and Secondhand Serenade last night at the National.

I've never seen a band perform and blow me away like this before. The intense energy the guys had on stage... the interaction with the crowd... the near flawless sound... and add on the fact that I've been listening to their album on repeat since December (when I saw them perform and bought their album the next day).

Buy Life Left To Go here.

The Undeserving was a nice bonus to watch and I have to add them to my list to keep my eye on.

Prabir and the Substitutes!

Pop rock all around fun band Prabir and the Substitutes played nothing less than a kick ass show at Gallery 5 last night. They boys released their latest CD entitled Hello to a packed audience and turned their awesome-ness factor to 11. Not only did they play new songs from their new album as well as favorites from Five Little Pieces , they also played a few covers including "These Boots Were Made For Walking." To cap off the evening, the boys destroyed their instruments Clash-style during the finale.

Prabir and the Substitutes are on tour supporting Hello. If you get the chance to see them, do yourself a favor. Drop what you are doing and go.

Who's Gonna Love Ya from Hello

311 releases new album, starts tour

Now 311 is a band I haven't heard from in a long while. I remember listening to Transistor non-stop and then I barely heard anything from them. The boys are now about to release their newest album, Uplifter on June 2, produced by the legendary Bob Rock (Metallica, Simple Plan, Veruca Salt).

The first single "Hey You" has a definite 311 feel to it so you know they haven't lost their style.
Hey You

To promote the upcoming album, the boys are gearing up for a spring and summer tour hitting everywhere they can in the US.

311 SPRING TOUR:
4/15 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
4/16 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre
4/18 Iowa City, IA Univ of Iowa Field House
4/19 Wichita, KS The Cotillion
4/21 Knoxville, TN Valarium
4/22 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
4/23 Charleston, SC Music Farm
4/25 Orlando, FL Earth Day Festival
4/26 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
4/29 West Palm Beach, FL Sunfest
4/30 St. Augustine, FL St Augustine Amphitheatre
5/01 Birmingham, AL Crawfish Festival
5/03 Memphis, TN Beale Street Music Fest
5/04 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
5/05 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
5/07 Bossier City, LA Riverdome at Harrah’s Casino
5/08 Orange Beach, AL Amphitheatre at the Wharf
5/12 Austin, TX Music Hall
5/14 Tulsa, OK Cains Ballroom
5/15 Springfield, MO Shrine Mosque

311 SUMMER UNITY TOUR:
6/5 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl
6/7 Eugene, WA Cuthbert Ampitheatre
6/8 Seattle, WA WaMu Theatre
6/11 Salt Lake City, UT Usana Amphitheatre
6/12 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
6/14 Chicago, IL Charter One Pavilion
6/16 Cleveland, OH Time Warner Amphitheatre
6/17 Columbus, OH Lifestyles Communities Pavilion
6/19 Detroit, MI Freedom Hill
6/20 Cincinatti, OH Riverbend Amphitheatre
6/21 Indianapolis, IN The Lawns
6/23 Saratoga, NY SPAC
6/24 Boston, MA Comcast Center
6/25 New York, NY Central Park Summerstage
6/27 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Art Center
6/28 Washington DC Nissan Pavilion
6/30 Philadelphia, PA Penns Landing
7/1 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7/3 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7/4 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre
7/5 Raleigh, NC Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
7/7 St. Louis, MO Verizon Amphitheatre
7/10 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
7/11 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
7/12 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

What the hell is up with Alley Katz?

Alley Katz has been a popular venue in Richmond for quite some time. For the longest time, it was usually the spot for hardcore, punk and alt-rock bands to play. It's sort of a dive, but therein lies the charm of the place.

Now, acts that don't normally fit the established style of Alley Katz are playing shows there. First it was Pete Yorn. Then it was synth-pop group Plushgun. Now it's folk rock duo Birdlips, who I plan on seeing tonight.

I'm not used to seeing happy, melodic acts at a hardcore/punk establishment. Alley Katz, are you okay? Is this one of the signs of the Apocolypse? Or have Birdlips completely redefined their sound and are now going by Birdlips of Death?

Jonathan Vassar & Speckled Bird at the Camel, 4/8/09

Folk-rock group Jonathan Vassar and the Speckled Bird brought their country rooted acoustic rock to the Camel last night for a (surprisingly) packed house. Every time I see these guys at the Camel, the crowd is usually around 10-12 people. Last night, there were much more than that. I'm glad people are finally noticing how talented they are.

New member Josh Quarles, on clarinet and bass, compliments the group quite well. He brings a new dimension to the simplistic sounds of Speckled Bird. Quite possible one of the best performances of theirs I've seen lately.

Now Sleepyhead and The Winter Session played as well. Both worth checking out.

Neko Case at the National, 4/6/09

You know it's going to be a good show when the place is packed before the opener even goes on.

I had only heard a handful of Neko Case's songs., but I liked what had heard and was told she puts on an amazing show.

Crooked Fingers were already playing when I finally entered the National. Watching them was like watching a symphony of dark. My favorite by far was "Phony Revolutions," which sounded a lot like the Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da."

Crooked Fingers - Phony Revolutions from Forfeit/Fortune
(buy here)

Neko took the stage to a thunderous applause and performed (under a giant owl, no less) her plethora of material which included songs from her latest album Middle Cyclone, including my new favorite song "People Got a Lotta Nerve."

Neko Case - People Got A Lotta Nerve from Middle Cyclone
(buy here)

Despite some mic feedback problems, Neko and the band were able to keep everyone entertained the entire evening. The band kept on playing like it was no problem - although they did have to hold their hands to their ears a few times.

All in all, a good show. I'm now listening to Neko Case regularly.

Patrick Pleau infects my ears with French pop

French Canadian Patrick Pleau is hitting the scene with his infectious, dancy pop style. His latest release Hype-Moi is all in French, so translating what these songs mean is out of the question for me. But the beats and melodies keep me coming back for more.

Antigenie
Cimetiere Lunaire
Bocalophobe
from Hype-Moi, buy it here.

Missing MACRoCk

One of the best things about going to school at JMU was the annual MACRoCk festival.

MACRoCk, or the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference, is an annual celebration of college radio and the independent music community run by student volunteers at college radio station WXJM.

Basically, this means the campus was swarmed with independent musicians, record labels and indie kids. The best part was that all the frat boys and skinny blonde girls vanished from the campus for the weekend. It was like living in Bizarro World.

When I was in school, I would go and enjoy all these bands I had never heard of before. I remember seeing +/- and Mates of State before anybody else knew who they were.

In its 12th year now, MACRoCk has boasted such names as Dashboard Confessional, Dismemberment Plan, The Faint, Fugazi, Matt Pond PA, Saves the Day, The Walkmen and many more.

This year, I am unable to go. Mainly because I don't want want to drive the long distance to get there and there's a lot going on here too. But the thing that sucks is that a lot of RVA bands are going to be in it this year.

Jonathan Vassar and the Speckled Bird, Zac Hryciak and the Jungle Beat, the Great White Jenkins, Josh Small and Snack Truck are just some of the names on the list.

Figures. The one time I know a lot bands playing and I can't go.

Black Kids and Mates of State at the National, 4/2/09

A lovely time was had by all at the National theater last night. Hipsters and concersative concertgoers alike joined together to experience a night a great music.

Sunbears were the opener, who I unfortunately missed and regretted after listening to their songs. They're on my list to make sure to check out.

Most of the people there were there to see Black Kids. And understandably so. Black Kids made the place shake with their upbeat rock anthems like "Hit the Heartbrakes" and "Listen to Your Body Tonight."

Mates of State bought a pleasant surprise during their performance. I saw Mates of State 4 years ago at a tiny venue before they got big. They were terrible. Their sound was chaotic and they seemed to not know what they were doing. I am very glad that they have refined their live show and sound into something that is incredible.

Not to mention the giant illuminated paper lanterns almost fell on them during the show and they still played on.

New release from Death Cab for Cutie - "The Open Door EP"

The Boys in Death Cab For Cutie have some new material for us rabid fans to enjoy with The Open Door Door EP, a nice short collection of what Death Cab does best - rock.

Little Bribes
buy the EP here

Listening 100% to 80/20 Rule

This has been on the backburner for some time and I've been meaning to write about The 80/20 Rule. Hailing from Sweden (as with many many great musicians), each band member brings their own styles(ranging from grindcore, metal, electronica and indierock) and mixes it all together for a truly unique sound.

The first full-length album Northeast was just released on March 30th and the band will be playing live throughout 2009.

Song For A Future Car Commerical
Lovestory for the Century (Part V)
from Northeast, which you can buy here