RVA Shows You Must See This Week: May 28 – June 3
FEATURED SHOW
The Return of Palm Palm LP Release Extrvaganza
Friday, May 30, 9 PM
Palm Palm, Shagwuf @ The Camel – $20 in advance, $25 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Saturday, May 31, 9 PM
Palm Palm, Community Witch @ The Camel – $20 in advance, $25 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Here’s a pleasant surprise: the return of Palm Palm. I don’t know if anyone saw this coming after these guys suddenly cancelled the release celebration for their debut LP back in summer 2023 to instead go on indefinite hiatus. I for one didn’t have any inside scoop, but I had to assume that a supergroup featuring members of The Southern Belles, The Trillions, and of course the redoubtable J. Roddy Walston of The Business fame had proven too volatile a mix to last longterm, and had exploded permanently and irrevocably (because let’s be real, we all know what “indefinite hiatus” means, especially when it happens right before a band’s album is supposed to come out). For once, though, this sort of decidedly ominous development has proven NOT to be a permanent thing, and this weekend, nearly two years after they cancelled everything and disappeared from the face of the earth, Palm Palm are back! Not only will this dynamic duo of live performances at The Camel mark their first return to the stage since summer 2023, it will also celebrate the long-delayed release of the group’s debut LP, The Natural Anthem.
The celebration may be happening this weekend, but don’t get it twisted — the LP is out now and has been for 10 or so days. So you can jump onto your streaming platform of choice and rock it right now! And while the pre-order for the physical release has ended, the band will have copies at the shows this weekend for sale on glorious double vinyl (with the first Palm Palm EP added to side four as bonus tracks)! So you’ve got no excuse to rock these tunes now and take home some vinyl with you as you depart your Palm Palm show of choice this weekend. What does it sound like, you ask? Well, first of all, it sounds awesome — certainly the best music I’ve heard out of Mr. J. Roddy yet, with flavors of The Business at their heaviest and best, mixed in with a strong helping of funky Southern-rock swing and Zeppelin-style guitar power (no surprise if you ever saw Charlie play with Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepp Replica). Tunes like “Heavy Chops” and “Quarter French (Ooh La La)” could easily be rock radio staples if rock radio existed anymore, and they’ll certainly get you shaking your hips even as you bang your head.
So yeah, in light of all that, it’s hard not to be overjoyed at the unlikely return of Palm Palm. And it’s definitely inadvisable to miss the hijinks that will undoubtedly ensue when these boys storm the stage of The Camel two nights in a row. Each night will feature a different killer opening act, which definitely makes a good argument for attending on both nights, though you could also pick based on which opener you like better — or just go on the first night based on the logic that even one Palm Palm performance might be enough to reduce The Camel to dust and ashes. Considering it’s a venue with a 20-year tradition in this town, though, I think it’s strong enough to withstand even as mighty a dose of rock n’ roll as Palm Palm will dish out on both of these nights. And where picking between opening acts is concerned, you really can’t go wrong — C-ville-based Shagwuf’s hard-hitting punky alt-rock is a known phenomenon throughout the mid-Atlantic region, and never a good idea to miss out on, while Norfolk’s Community Witch lay down some excellently moody psychedelic post-hardcore, as documented on their freshly released debut LP, Glass Chrysalis. Really, it’d be the smartest choice to just go to both of these shows — and to pick up your vinyl copy of The Natural Anthem as soon as merch sales start on night one, because they may just sell out, and that’s not a chance worth taking.
Wednesday, May 28, 7 PM
Max Diaz, The Missing Peace, Followship @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $20.20 (order tickets HERE)
I may come off like a musical expert in these articles, but the truth is that there’s a ton of great music out there that I’ve never heard, or even heard OF. Max Diaz is the latest artist I can add to that long list of “great music I’m somehow just finding out about now,” and I’m just thankful I found out about him right before he plays in Richmond, and not right after. I would have been wild about his music either way, but now I get to share my excitement with all of you! Huzzah. Diaz is a Texas-based musician who cut his teeth on punk rock but also incorporates a variety of other influences, from country twang to surf shred to metal roar. It all comes out with a ton of energy infused into it, resulting in the amazing punk anthems that make up his breakthrough album, 2023’s Metanoia. If you’re into high-velocity punk rock volatility with emphasis on the ROCK elements in the equation, Max Diaz is someone you should definitely check out.
He’ll be taking the stage tonight over at Richmond Music Hall, and things are bound to get loud. If anything, the singles he’s released since Metanoia have been even heavier, more intense, and more punk than his previous work, so it seems safe to say that his performance tonight will take things to a whole new level of wild n’ crazy times. That’ll certainly be a welcome sight to brighten up all of our midweek doldrums (even if we did get Monday off). Diaz will be joined on this show by The Missing Peace, whose heavy shoegaze sound is sure to connect for everyone who loves Fleshwater, Nothing, or even the Deftones. Their latest single, “Tao,” is both heavy as fuck and suffused with beautiful melodies, which hit all the harder for being delivered in such pulverizing fashion. There’ll be plenty more where that came from when they hit the stage tonight, too. Richmond-based technical emo-core whiz kids Followship will open this one up with plenty of beautiful noise of their own. Don’t miss a moment of this one.
Thursday, May 29, 6:30 PM
The Menzingers, Lucero, Queen Of Jeans @ The National – $45.27 (order tickets HERE)
As a dyed-in-the-wool basement punk kid, it’s undeniably weird for me to see bands I loved when I saw them in DIY venues 15 or 20 years ago headlining at the National. I can’t deny it’s well-deserved, and it’s great to know that so many people have come to appreciate the music of excellent bands who were once lucky to play to 300 people in this town. But it does feel weird, in that classic “I’m getting old” sort of way. Fact is, though, I AM getting old. And the Menzingers, who felt like a hot new band to me when I discovered them 15 years ago, are undeniably pop-punk veterans now. So it’s appropriate that they can headline the National these days. And I admit it, I’m glad I can just go up on the balcony and sit in a chair to enjoy their set. These knees and hips aren’t what they used to be.
The Menzingers are every bit as great as they ever were, though. Their melodic punk music always had a brilliant undercurrent of pensive introspection that set them apart from a lot of other bands in their scene, and that’s every bit as true on recent singles like “Hope Is A Dangerous Little Thing” as it was on the unforgettable “I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore” 12 years ago. So yeah, expect the hooks to be just as brilliant, the guitars to be just as sharp, and the lyrics to hit home just as hard as they ever did when you catch The Menzingers at The National Thursday night. And show up on time, because if your musical history is anything like mine, you’ll be excited to catch the openers as well. In particular, Memphis alt-country/twang-punk legends Lucero are bound to be a highlight of the evening. This crew originally broke through on the strength of their evocative barstool sadness, but they’ve progressively integrated more of their punk roots into their sound, and their latest LP, Should’ve Learned By Now, lays out an intriguing blend of twang and stomp that’ll bring back some youthful energy to even the most middle-aged among us. Philadelphia indie-popsters Queen Of Jeans will get the evening started with some truly gorgeous melodies to soothe all of our souls. It’ll only get better from there.
Friday, May 30, 7 PM
Hot Lava, Camo Face, Sweet Touch @ Gallery 5 – $17.85 (order tickets HERE)
Here’s another remarkable return — one that has been foretold for a while but is no less momentous for all that. Hot Lava was an indie-pop quartet making waves on the Richmond scene almost 20 years ago; their 2008 debut LP, Lavalogy, was released by long-running indie label Bar/None Records, best known as the original home of They Might Be Giants and Yo La Tengo. You would have thought that this band and their incredibly enjoyable upbeat alt-pop were headed for the stratosphere. Unfortunately, though, the group fell apart back in 2010. Often mourned by veteran denizens of the Richmond indie scene, Hot Lava delighted many veterans of the local music scene when they returned to action a few years ago. Bandleader Allison Apperson and longtime member Matt Deans remain the constants in the band’s membership, and the two of them recently collaborated with local legends Giustino Riccio (Bio Ritmo) and Russell Lacy (Virginia Moonwalker Studios) to create Hot Lava’s long-awaited second LP, Queen Of Fools.
That LP will be released this Friday, May 30, and on that very night, Hot Lava will take over Gallery 5 to celebrate its release and to unleash the full power of their new lineup, which is now rounded out by John Sizemore (Piranha Rama), Gabe Lopez (The Milkstains), and Brian Wiltz (7th Grade Girl Fight/Book Of Wyrms). The tunes on the new Hot Lava LP show that this band has lost none of their charm and facility with a sugary-sweet pop hook, and they are sure to take the entire city by storm. Get in on the ground floor of this one by heading over to Gallery 5 this Friday night. You’ll also be able to catch a set apiece from two local up-and-comers: first, Camo Face, a bass-drums duo made up of the two talented musicians responsible for the punked-out pop greatness of Sports Bar. Second, Sweet Touch, an electronic duo with a flawless pop sensibility and a saucy wit exemplified by their new single, the ultra-catchy “Horny Robot.” This one will be a dance party from start to finish, so come prepared to have a blast. You won’t be let down.
Saturday, May 31, 7 PM
Radshare Rumble Afterparty, feat. Hellion Child, Disrotter, Stygian Mind, The Lunatics @ Cobra Cabana – $5 suggested donation
Growing up punk in Richmond Virginia over the past quarter-century or so meant you would definitely have a lot of friends who were into bikes. I certainly did — from the Cutthroats and the Slaughterama crowd to the Riders of Brohan and all the fixie racers. I was never much more than a hanger-on of that scene; bikes were mostly just a form of transportation to me, and I had way more fun at the shows and the after-parties associated with that culture than I ever did trying to do anything cool on a bike. Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool bike kid or more of a hanger-on like me, you’re sure to see why Radshare is cool; these folks are working to make youth bike culture safer, bringing helmets and safety equipment and education to kids while raising awareness of things like the importance of mental health and protecting yourself from traumatic brain injury. They’ll be holding their Radshare Rumble on Saturday at Gillies Creek Park, but more important for our purposes is the afterparty taking place at Cobra Cabana. Whether you participate in the rumble or just hang out and watch the festivities, you’re sure to get a big kick out of all the killer music that’ll be on tap for you at the Cabana this fine evening.
Hellion Child are headlining this one, and these absolute rippers have certainly cemented their reputation for flawless thrash power over the past couple of years, recently following up their formidable 2022 debut, Infernal Ascension, with a short-but-sweet slice of metal-thrashing brilliance entitled Beyond the Serpent’s Seal. Full of ripping old-school blackened death riffage, roaring vocal growls, and top-speed drum pounding, it’s an incredible listen that nonetheless only hints at the power this group wields in the live environment. Expect absolute carnage when they take the Cobra Cabana stage. The same could definitely be said for deathgrind slayers Disrotter, who are all about upping the speed and raising the intensity to maximum levels. They’ll have everyone headbanging like mad, and the mosh pit is sure to be a sight to behold as well. Marylanders Stygian Mind will inject a bit of classic power metal vibes into the evening, bringing some old-school Iron Maiden-style energy to the proceedings. And of course, The Lunatics — about whom I know literally nothing — will get the evening started. Based on the name, I imagine their set will get pretty crazy. The same can safely be said about the entire evening — so be ready for some serious shenanigans of a highly metallic nature.
Sunday, June 1, 7 PM
Charged Up Fest Grand Finale concert, feat. Noah-O, Belly Gang Kushington, Chaz French, Big No, Waddie Guapo, Pro Dillinger, O-Z, King Delt, Benny Watts, LBE Hunt, MG X P2P Rixh, SK Da King, TTE, Like A Rock, Kaly Jay, Hosted by Awol Beatz, Sounds by DJ Banga The Dump Off Kid @ The Broadberry – $34.85 (order tickets HERE)
That’s right folks, Charged Up Fest is back for a second year, and it’s fully six days long this time around. As you read this, the first event of this year’s fest, the Charged Up Impact Awards, happened last night. There are a whole bunch of other musical, cultural, and social justice-oriented events happening over the course of the week, and while some of them aren’t really relevant to this column (the community basketball game on Saturday afternoon, the Pop-Up Capsule Release at the Charged Up store on Friday), they’re all pretty damn cool. Musically speaking, there are a few different excellent events involved, from the kickoff concert at Vagabond Thursday night to the Producer’s Cup event at Anytime Beer on Friday night. But if there is one event on this whole list that you simply MUST make it to, it’s this one — the Grand Finale concert, the hip hop event of the season, the grandaddy of them all. Of course Charged Up Entertainment’s founder and leading man, the one and only Noah-O, will be at the top of the bill. We all know he’s what we’re here to see, and his recent output shows that he remains at the top of his game even after over a decade of prolific releases, incredible rhymes and flows, and amazing collaborations with the best producers in the game, both in Richmond and beyond. His latest single, “Dick Fosbury,” finds him teaming up with the one and only Ohbliv for a single track that certainly whets my appetite for a full-length Noah-O/Ohbliv collab. Hopefully it’ll happen at some point, but in the meantime, at the Charged Up Fest Grand Finale, we’re sure to get an incredible performance from one of the all-time greats of the Richmond hip hop scene.
That’s a lot of words, but of course I’m only scratching the surface of what this amazing show has to offer to all the hip hop true believers out there. Something like 15 other performers are on this bill, and a lot of them have real potential to steal the show. Most prominent among those is Atlanta rapper Belly Gang Kushington, who has a dark, soulful sound and a killer flow with major trap vibes. People say he sounds like prime-era Jeezy, but as someone unfamiliar with Jeezy’s music (I know, I know), I just dig how his rhymes are incredibly hard without sacrificing real emotion. If there’s any justice in the world (definitely debatable), this guy will be way bigger in a year or two. All the more reason you should definitely catch him now. DC rapper Chaz French has urgency in his voice but keeps the melodies up front, for a catchy, R&B-infused hip hop vibe. And there are so many more — local mainstays like Big No and O-Z, up-and-coming Virginia artists like TTE and LBE Hunt, killer out-of-towners like Pro Dillinger… so many more I can’t possibly do them all justice. Plus RVA Boombox Wake-Up Show king Awol Beatz hosting, and music by DJ Banga The Dump Off Kid… yeah, it’s gonna be amazing. So get yourself down to the Broadberry for this Sunday night extravaganza, and give thanks that the RVA hip hop scene remains strong and powerful for yet another amazing year.
Tuesday, June 3, 7 PM
Leisure Hour, Cinema Stare, Padfoot, Longsleeves @ The Camel – $16.35 (order tickets HERE)
I suppose this is just a modern phenomenon I should get used to, but I admit it’s still weird to me that a band’s main claim to fame could be that one of their songs went viral on TikTok. Like, I get it — for young people, social media is one of the main tools for music discovery. And as long as the artists involved in the aforementioned social media virality actually have something of substance to offer, I suppose I’ve got nothing to complain about. Having fallen in love with Leisure Hour’s most recent EP, Chicago, as soon as I heard it, I can’t deny that these folks deserve every bit of viral stardom they can get. What’s more, it seems clear from the many videos and pictures I’ve seen online that this Muncie, Indiana-based band totally bring the goods live. If you dig catchy emo that straddles the line between pop-punk and melancholy indie, these guys have got a lot to offer that you’ll totally appreciate. Way too good to play to only a few people on a Tuesday night, so let’s pack out this Tuesday night date at The Camel, shall we?
Especially since Leisure Hour aren’t even the only amazing band on this bill. Fellow out-of-towners Cinema Stare, who come from New Haven, Connecticut, have a similar sound that’s sure to please everyone won over by Leisure Hour while at the same time doing plenty to distinguish themselves from their tourmates. Cinema Stare have alt-rock riffs and an indie-pop sense of flawless melody baked into their fundamentally emo-punk sound, and show off the many distinct possibilities of their particular form of musical alchemy on their killer 2023 debut LP, The Things I Don’t Need. They’ll simultaneously make you smile with their killer pop hooks and bring a tear to your eye with their moving, passionate choruses. Honestly, Leisure Hour and Cinema Stare are both bands I’d recommend you go see even if they were playing by themselves. To get both of them on the same bill is truly a delightful embarrassment of riches. Jangly, twinkly Richmond emo group Padfoot will offer a delightful musical contrast by landing somewhere between 1994! and Braid, while Longlseeves still hits some of the key emo touchstones even as they take things in a decidedly heavier direction. This show has a lot of awesome sounds to offer. Don’t turn away — embrace it.
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 mostly writing fiction these days. I’ve posted five new short stories in the past two weeks — if that interests you, I’d love to have you. patreon.com/marilyndrewnecci
