RVA Shows You Must See This Week: January 22 – January 28
FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, January 25, 7 PM
Benjamin Shepherd, Cal Folger Day, Julie Storey & Friends @ Gallery 5 – $12 in advance, $15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
I’m writing this at 8:30 PM on Monday night. I had the day off today, so nothing distracted me from finding out that a white South African oligarch did a Nazi salute, or that my gender is officially outlawed (pending legal action, of course — if anyone hears about a lawsuit I can sign onto, let me know). Washington DC is a shitshow right now, at least if you ask me, but here in Richmond, things felt kinda sedate tonight. No one was rude to me when I was out today; I suppose to most people, I’m just another middle-aged lady with a history they know nothing about. Richmond singer-songwriter Benjamin Shepherd is a cis dude, but aside from that, he’s not too different from me — just a guy who might be in line behind you at the convenience store, buying a drink before he gets back on the road. He plays old-school folk music about regular everyday life, and he’s got a down-to-earth presentation that might let him slide right below your radar. But he’s worth a second listen, because just like Bob Dylan, whose early work is clearly an inspiration to him, he writes deceptively simple songs that take dead aim at some of the toughest, most important topics a person can address in today’s world.
This Saturday night, Benjamin Shepherd is headlining a show at Gallery 5, which will celebrate the fresh release of his fourth album, Near Future. This rather minimal production is mainly focused on Benjamin’s voice and acoustic guitar, with only occasional piano or percussion to add depth. At times, it focuses on soft, sweet melodies about home and connection, while at other times things are more pointed and political, as on album opener “So Far To Go” (which feels extremely apropos this week of all weeks). Throughout, he shows us all his skills with quiet grace, enrapturing listeners with a variety of different styles that always display his sure-footed approach to classic folk sounds. All of this should come through loud and clear when he hits the stage at Gallery 5 this Saturday night. Expect to hear plenty of great tunes from Near Future, which is solid as a rock throughout its running order; plus maybe some classics from his earlier days mixed in. It won’t be the heaviest set you’ve ever heard — at least, not in terms of volume — but it’s sure to hit you very powerfully.
The evening will also feature a set from Baltimore/Ireland-based folk musician and educator Cal Folger Day, whose music varies significantly from release to release but has its roots in a variety of folk forms from both the United States and the British Isles. Recent releases include 2022’s Piece-Dye, an album structured around lyrics drawn from an interview with a great-aunt who worked in the textile industry, and the just-released Gráinne, a music/video interpretation of an ancient Irish myth. Gráinne drifts into some strange electronic directions that demonstrate just how far the boundaries of folk music can stretch, and makes clear how interesting and original Cal Folger Day can be. Expect the unexpected from this one. The show will open with a set from Julie Storey & Friends, which will find the Doll Baby frontwoman pulling together some musical compatriots to do a set. What sort of material will be included, I really can’t say — Julie is known for her twangy indie-punk tunes these days, but she’s also been a folk-ish solo artist in the past, and at one point fronted an old-time combo called Haints In The Holler. Will this set sound like any one of those things? Something else entirely? I can’t say, but I can say that it’ll be great. Julie’s just too talented for it to turn out any other way.
Wednesday, January 22, 7 PM
North By North, Velvet Ruin, Xed Out, Apologizer @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Pickings get slim during the quiet parts of the week sometimes, but as long as The Camel is still in operation here in our fair city, we’ll always have a place to go. This Wednesday, they’re proving it by presenting the latest jaunt through town by Chicago indie duo North By North — always a delight — on a night when there’s almost nothing else going on in terms of Richmond live music. Didn’t they use to call this place an oasis? Proven true yet again. (If I’m remembering that slogan wrong don’t @ me, it’s a tough week.) North By North may only consist of two people, but they manage to keep their sound thick and powerful, adding layers of keyboards, guitars, and vocals over a driving beat. On their most recent single, “Baby’s On Fire” (no, it’s NOT an Eno cover), they conjure the spirit of classic Elvis Costello albums from the late 70s. A little bit punk, a little bit new wave, a whole lot of power-pop catchiness and rock n’ roll energy. When these two hit The Camel stage tonight, it’s sure to be a blast — one that’ll chase away the bitterness of our extremely cold winter.
Three rad indie bands from right here in Richmond will join North By North on the Camel’s stage tonight. The first of those, Velvet Ruin, are relatively new to the city, having begun playing shows just a bit over six months ago. Their debut single, “Time’s Tether,” shows them to be a hypnotic gothic pop ensemble with some moody postpunk roots, and make me intrigued to hear a full set from them. If you haven’t yet either, this is the ideal time to do so. As for Xed Out, they’ve got the sort of driving power-pop rhythms and energetic UK-style postpunk guitar sound that The Chameleons had at their most energetic, and their hooky choruses are incredibly infectious, so if you dig it when bands like The Cure or Echo And The Bunnymen decide to get up and dance around the room, these guys are going to hit the spot for you in a big way. Apologizer is the newest of these combos, and they bring together some talented local solo performers with two members of the illustrious Rikki Rakki to crank out some killer indie tunes, the precise dimensions of which will have to remain a mystery until they hit the stage (which is to say, I haven’t heard them yet). Should be a rad night on the whole — and we owe it all to The Camel. Salute!
Thursday, January 23, 8 PM
Book Of Wyrms, Solace, Hagstone @ Bandito’s – $10
This Thursday night, it’s time to wallow in the sludge over at Bandito’s. Richmond stoner-doom survivors Book Of Wyrms will be headlining a show full of rich, powerful metal grooves, and it’s sure to keep you banging your head all night. These folks have switched things up a couple of times in recent memory, from the improvised, ambient “Sodapop Glacier” to the recent Illa Styles remix of their track “Hollergoblin,” which features fierce rhymes over some incredible riffs. That said, their latest single, “Storm Warning,” shows that they’ve still got the golden touch when it comes to psychedelic doom metal foreboding — definitely the appropriate soundtrack for the dawn of a truly gloomy era in the United States. Don’t think too hard about that for this one night, though; just come to Bandito’s, order some tacos, and rock out. As always, don’t headbang too hard right after eating; mom warned you about getting back in the pool too soon after lunch for a reason.
Solace is also on this bill, and if anything I am burying the lede to only bring them up in the second paragraph, as this New Jersey powerhouse has quite the formidable history. Evolving out of 90s-era grunge-metal legends Godspeed (whose 1994 LP Ride was an underrated classic), this stoner sludge ensemble is not exactly prolific; latest album The Brink came out five or so years ago, but considering that their last one before that was released in 2010, they remain on expected pace — that pace being slow. Who can complain about a sludge band being slow workers, though? Isn’t that what we want from a group who capture the spirit of Pentagram, early Clutch, and Saint Vitus? I think so — and rest assured, this band will bring tones of all of those influences to bear when they hit the stage, as well as some decidedly doomy Bloodrock/Deep Purple vibes. Gotta love it. The evening will kick off with a performance from biker-rock enthusiasts Hagstone, who have connections to groups like Serqet and Asylum but dish out some fiery hard rock that reminds me more of Judas Priest or The Runaways than any of their previous projects. Expect some heavy rockin’ at this one — it’s sure to be a treat.
Friday, January 24, 7 PM
Reid Anderson’s Slow Reactors @ Spacebomb Studios – $30 (order tickets HERE)
I was not expecting to come across a show like this anytime soon, but once I did, I knew I had to get the word out. This performance by Reid Anderson’s Slow Reactors is being held at Spacebomb Studios, a venue that doesn’t often bring us live musical performances — so you know it’s something special. Indeed, if you recognize the name Reid Anderson, you probably don’t need me to tell you anything more, but on the off chance that you don’t, allow me to explain. Anderson is the bassist for The Bad Plus, a boundary-pushing jazz quartet that grabbed attention outside of the jazz world for their fascinating covers of pop and metal tunes that you’d never expect to hear in these contexts — sort of like an avant-garde version of No BS! Brass Band. I know, I know, I’m oversimplifying it. The point is that Anderson is a core member of this fascinating experimental jazz combo, and you can expect him to take that pioneering musical spirit with him into any new project he sets up.
Having said that, I’m not quite sure what we’re all in for with Slow Reactors. This is a trio in which Anderson puts aside his traditional bass gear in favor of synths and drum machines, while improvisational jazz guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi and classically trained violinist Kristina Priceman fill out the lineup with an entirely different sort of instrumental palette than Anderson has previously practiced within. He apparently put together this ensemble in order to bring his love affair with electronic music’s possibilities to the live stage amid a group of talented collaborators — certainly an intriguing concept. Again, I can’t really guess what this will all add up to. However, considering Anderson’s own formidable pedigree and the fact that Belisle-Chi and Priceman have significant resumes of their own, I’m sure the result will be fascinating for anyone who appreciates seeing how far truly talented players can take things both within and beyond the borders of the jazz world.
Saturday, January 25, 7 PM
Marc Bravo, Monea, Payda1OTW, JayProb @ RVA Boombox – $15 (order tickets HERE)
This is just one reporter’s opinion, but lately it’s seemed like the boundaries between hip-hop, R&B, and soul have become much more permeable than they once were. Specifically, I notice a lot of people these days who approach their music from the world of hip hop, and present themselves as rappers, but, when you hear their music, sound much more like R&B singers — even if the backing tracks still feel more like hip-hop than anything else. Marc Bravo has a bit of that going on, in a manner that reminds me of Rod Wave, though while Rod Wave always feels like he’s heading in an almost emo-folk direction, Marc Bravo seems to be much closer to classic soul and R&B sounds. His two most recent projects, 2023’s Lifeiscrazy and last year’s but It’s Beautiful, tie together conceptually and sonically with smooth tunes and thought-provoking lyrics. Both are hypnotic, intriguing listens.
I’m not sure where his next project will take us, but we’ll all find out together when we hit RVA Boombox this Saturday night. At this show, Bravo will be premiering his new album with a live performance of the entire thing, which is sure to take his artistry to the next level and blow everyone’s mind. You certainly won’t want to miss that, and the fact that he’s bringing along up-and-coming Richmond singer Monea for a set of her own certainly adds to the greatness of this Saturday night Boombox bill. The moon may be waning at the moment, but Monea will bring that full moon energy that drives her smooth, sensuous music to the stage and enrapture us all. Get ready. Sets by Payda1OTW and JayProb will offer sounds I’m less familiar with, but certainly should warm up the room and get everyone stoked for what’s to come. You know you want to be there.
Sunday, January 26, 7 PM
The Wayward, Merciful Zero, Exit The Beast @ Gallery 5 – $10 in advance, $15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Noise-rockers take note: this show will feature plenty of that chaotic stop-start energy that all your back-in-the-day faves brought to the party. Think Breadwinner, Hammerhead, Don Caballero… all that shit we used to jam to 30 years ago, the likes of which we never thought we’d see again. The Wayward are bringing that sort of sound once again, in perhaps even more chaotic fashion, and they’re somehow doing it with only two members. The sound is heavy, thick, and full of quirky syncopation and unexpected changes to keep you guessing. That being said, if you want to ignore all the musical unpredictability and just headbang straight on through, The Wayward will certainly give you plenty of opportunities to do just that. Featuring members of Carrion and Multicult, this Baltimore duo are well equipped to shred like crazy, and they’ll definitely stir up a potentially sedate Sunday night in the middle of winter. God knows we all need more of that.
Richmond’s own Merciful Zero are also on hand for this one, bringing plenty of their heavy rock n’ roll energy to the stage for the express purpose of blowing everyone away. Known for their memorable live sets and killer grunge-metal riffage, this group has stomp and swagger to spare, and if you haven’t caught on to what they’re about, you’ve definitely been delinquent. Get back on the right path to Richmond hard-rock nirvana by making it out to catch this killer performance. You’ll be glad you did. The evening will get rolling with some classic 70s-style heavy metal thunder from Exit The Beast, whose latest album, Nocturnal Awakening, is full of horror-film themes paired with riffs that conjure thoughts of Motorhead and makeup-era KISS. Ya gotta love it. Come get your freakin’ rock on at this one.
Monday, January 27, 7 PM
Chris Sclafani: Blues Revue @ Reveler Experiences – $10 (order tickets HERE)
Is it me or is this the coldest winter this city’s seen in years? If it was going to happen this way, this was definitely the year for it: like Billy Shakespeare said, now is the winter of our discontent (I know, Shakespeare fans — quoting only that part of the line takes it totally out of context. Just let me have this one). We’re going to have to keep our bones and our souls warm throughout these difficult times if we want to make it through to see sunny days come again. With all that in mind, here’s a suggestion to warm up a cold Monday night: head on over to Reveler Experiences, where saxophonist Chris Sclafani will be leading a Blues Revue that’ll give us all his unique twist on the classic art form known as the blues.
If you’re wondering who Chris Sclafani is and why you should care, I have a long list of reasons for you: a veteran of legendary Richmond groups like Afro-Zen Allstars, The Flavor Project, Evolution of the Groove, and Brunswick, he’s not only a powerful musician but a composer of some renown. With his eclectic resume, seeing what he’ll bring to his conception of the blues is sure to be a fascinating experience. He’ll be joined by several other leading talents of the Richmond jazz scene, including trumpeter Sam Koff, guitarist Freddy Lau, keyboardist Nelson Valentine, and more. Expect a bit of jazz, funk, and soul to end up stirred into the musical mix here, as Chris Sclafani and co. take a tour of a curated selection of classic blues standards given their own unique twist. It’s sure to put warmth in your heart and a fire in your belly.
Tuesday, January 28, 7:30 PM
Prabir Trio @ Shockoe Sessions Live – $15 (order tickets HERE)
What can I say about the musical force of nature that is Prabir Mehta that I haven’t said before? I’m not sure. Besides, by now I would think anyone who has paid any attention to Richmond music anytime in the past quarter-century is thoroughly familiar with his work. Beginning all the way back there in the late 90s with Murfreesboro, continuing on through his stint leading Prabir & The Substitutes, his incredible work with Goldrush, and the tribute acts he’s been associated with around town (most famously Full Moon Fever), he’s sure to have crossed your radar at some point. The man’s always had a flawless sense for 60s-style power-pop mixed with symphonic and classical vibes, and with his latest project, Prabir Trio (which has somehow grown into a four-piece without losing that name), he’s found ways to integrate the traditional sounds of his ancestral home, India, into the entirely modern pop/indie/rock sensibility he’s crafted over many years.
All of these things have made Prabir and his trio — which features Kenneka Cook, Jeremy Flax, and Kelli Strawbridge; all talented musicians in their own right — one of the most intriguing acts on the local scene today. What’s wonderful about their upcoming Shockoe Sessions Live appearance is that it will give them a chance to truly stretch out, and show us all the full breadth of what they can do. They’ve got a strong body of work to draw from, and plenty of catchy tunes to enrapture us all. This should be a delightful example of them doing exactly that — and even if you aren’t able to make it down to Shockoe bottom on a dark winter Tuesday, you’ll still be able to catch it all on YouTube as the session streams right into your home. That being said — don’t be a stick in the mud. While we have some freedom of movement left in this country, take yourself out into the evening and join the Prabir Trio for a set of killer power-pop tunes at Shockoe Sessions Live. It’ll help you forget all your sorrows… at least for a little while.
Email me if you’ve got any tips for me about upcoming shows (that take place after the week this column covers -– this week’s column has obviously already been written): rvamustseeshows@gmail.com
Please consider supporting my Patreon, where I’m documenting my progress on two different novels and (sometimes) writing about music of all types. patreon.com/marilyndrewnecci