RVA Shows You Must See This Week: May 7 – May 13
FEATURED SHOW
Saturday, May 10, 8 PM
Human Worm, Deathcat, Bucko, Cyber Twin @ The Camel – $10 in advance, $15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Here’s a show that really captures the zeitgeist of Richmond music circa 2025 — a celebration of the debut LP by big-time buzz band Human Worm. Over their year and a half or so of existence, this trio has captured a lot of attention around town from the indie kids in the know as well as folks who just love great music of all kinds. They’ve used their unusual lineup configuration — a trio featuring guitar, bass, and synth/drum machine — to create a sound that mixes dirty, noisy guitars and lo-fi drum machine beats with gorgeous multi-part vocal harmonies and woozy synth melodies. The result is both unsettling and lovely, and has an extremly hypnotic effect. If you’ve caught on to what they’re doing, you surely know what I mean.
Things are about to reach the next level for Human Worm, though — and not just because they’re releasing their debut album. With this performance, they will officially expand their lineup to a quartet, thanks to the addition of Bernadette from local postpunkers Tentative Decisions on drums. While the programmed beats have always been a distinctive element of the Human Worm mix, the increased punk quotient Bernadette’s playing is sure to add will take things in an intriguing new direction as well as allowing for a thicker, heavier sound — if that is indeed the direction Human Worm decide to go. Regardless, between the arrival of their debut LP and the debut of a new musical approach, this is definitely a performance fans of the band will not want to miss.
And really, there’s a lot of other great stuff to hear on this lineup as well. Deathcat grabbed my attention early on with their 90s-style grunge-punk approach, and have only gotten better over the last few months. Their just-released new single, “All I Wanted,” shows their more heartfelt side, but still has a great punk edge to it. Really, this is a solid description of their sound as a whole, and if that kind of thing thrills you as much as it thrills me, you’ll definitely get a kick out of this trio’s set. Bucko are another relatively new Richmond group with a fair bit of hype behind them, and if you dig bands at the intersection of indie tunefulness and twangy undercurrents, you’re sure to fall just as much in love with them as many other Richmonders have so far. The evening will kick off with a set from Cyber Twin, who are actually a quartet, and who mix punk, garage, and power pop into a blender and come out with a particularly delicious musical smoothie. Or something like that. Jump into this one with both feet.
Wednesday, May 7, 7 PM
Murphy’s Law, Total Chaos, Fit Check @ Cobra Cabana – $18 in advance, $20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Here’s one that’ll both delight the old-school hardcore punk lifers and totally baffle the kids who immediately wrote off hardcore as an intense, angry, overly serious musical genre. Murphy’s Law have been around for over 40 years, and are universally beloved within the hardcore scene for their catchy, upbeat tunes full of speed and energy — and also for the fact that they’ve written so many classic goofball anthems about getting high and doing silly shit. If you’re looking for a hardcore band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously and is willing to write songs with totally goofy premises, then these guys should be your first stop. And don’t worry about feeling looked down upon by straight edge puritans, either — the band responsible for classics like “Attack Of The Killer Beers” and “Panty Raid,” whose most beloved LP is 1989’s Back With A Bong, is more than ready to party with you. And of course, they’ll give you plenty of mosh-pit anthems to run around excitedly in a circle to — much like a legendary Richmond band who actually came along after them and clearly took a lot of influence from them. That’s right, folks — Murphy’s Law are pretty much what you’d get if GWAR were humans from New York instead of alien maniacs who crash-landed in Antarctica.
As for Total Chaos, they don’t quite have as lengthy and storied a history as Murphy’s Law, but they definitely come close. This California punk band started out playing fast, angry tunes that showed a significant influence from classic 80s UK hardcore punk — bands like GBH and Broken Bones. Since those days, they’ve integrated a bit more melody, but their most recent LP, 2023’s Mind Warfare, proves that they’ve still got plenty of grit and snarl in their sound — they’re definitely a lot closer to Discharge than they are to Rancid. Their powerful political lyrics show that they’re a bit more serious than tourmates Murphy’s Law, but honestly, if you get a big kick out of fist-pumping shout-along anthems and noisy punk guitars, you’re going to have a blast with both of these bands. Angry Richmond hardcore combo Fit Check kicks this one off with some proper ragers that’ll get the pit started early. This one will be a blast.
Thursday, May 8, 8 PM
Right Chipper, Fight Cloud, Soft Catch @ Gallery 5 – $10 in advance, $12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
This will certainly be a fun Thursday night, especially if you can appreciate unorthodox melodies. DC’s Right Chipper are a relatively new band, with only an EP and a few singles to their name thus far, but their recent work makes clear that they have a fully developed sense of melody. What’s more, they like keeping those melodies from falling into predictable patterns, which makes them an exciting, unpredictable lesson. There’s been a pretty solid tradition of bands from Richmond with similar sounds in recent years, so folks who’ve appreciated local groups like Houdan the Mystic, Night Idea, and Colin Phils will probably find a lot to dig about what Right Chipper is up to.
Indeed, I imagine a lot of those folks will already be planning to come to this show due to the inclusion of Fight Cloud as one of the local openers on this bill. This long-running Richmond quartet has been dispensing beautiful math-rock melodies full of hypnotic guitar leads and choruses that somehow get stuck in your head despite their complexity for over a decade now, and their latest LP, Ritual Disaster, shows that they’ve lost none of their delightful charm in the process. As a longtime fan, I have to tell you that if you haven’t caught on to what Fight Cloud have to offer by now, you owe it to yourself not to waste another single second in doing so. Come to this show, and what’s more, show up on time, because you’ll want to make sure you hear Soft Catch as well. These Richmonders have a bit more straight-up emo in their sound, with less of the twinkly guitar leads than the other two bands on this bill. That said, they’re definitely on a similar wavelength, and their heavy yet beautiful melodies are sure to delight all comers. Catch ’em all.
Friday, May 9, 9 PM
The Black Lodge Ball, feat. Ships In the Night, NO:IR, Solemn Shapes, Bobby Metronome, Xris Smack @ Fallout – $15 in advance, $20 day of show (order tickets HERE)
It’s our second LP release celebration of the week, but this one is doing the work to stand out from the crowd by acting as an evening-long tribute to the recently deceased film legend, David Lynch. It’s no surprise that Virginia goth-electro-industrial band Ships In the Night would have a strong attachment to the director and his creative work — their music has always had major Twin Peaks vibes, and that’s certainly true of their latest LP, Protection Spells. The dark and moody yet catchy and danceable tunes on this album feature some memorable choruses, which are particularly affecting when delivered in the angelic voice of Ships In the Night frontwoman Alethea Leventhal. It’s clear that the gothic-industrial world recognizes Ships In The Night’s brilliance; Protection Spells is out from the venerable Metropolis Records, who have previously released work by legendary groups like KMFDM, Clan Of Xymox, and the Legendary Pink Dots.
Now, do folks outside the goth-industrial world know what this band has to offer? I’m not sure, but if anyone reading this still doesn’t know what Ships In the Night are all about, this Friday night gig that takes you into the world of the Black Lodge from right there on the dance floor at Fallout will be the perfect chance to really immerse yourself. It’s an experience worth having, and one that’s highly likely to make you a fan for life. Ships In The Night will be joined on this trip through David Lynch’s darkest worlds by New York dark electro-pop ensemble NO:IR, whose work will simultaneously please the EBM kids and the New Romantics. North Carolina synth technicians Solemn Shapes will thrill the folks who wear black polished leather boots on the dance floor and scowl when they’re happy. With DJ sets from Bobby Metronome and Xris Smack to round out the evening, this will be a lovely evening for the folks who love surreal gothic horror and dark industrial glamour. If you’re not already one of them, I assure you, you will be after this.
Saturday, May 10, 7 PM
Space Cowboy Prom, feat. Mackenzie Roark & The Hotpants, Ionna, Sweet Touch, Jaguardini, Exact Same Speed @ Gallery 5 – $15 in advance, $20 at the door (order tickets HERE)
Anyone else out there have the phrase “space cowboy” kinda ruined for them by the Steve Miller Band? Maybe I’m in the minority on that one, but if you do know what I mean, you should definitely head to Gallery 5 this Saturday night, because the Space Cowboy Prom happening at that venue is all but guaranteed to redeem the phrase for you (and lord knows it deserves to be redeemed). I’m not sure whether this evening will feel more like a trip through the universe or a sojourn in the Old West, but maybe a combination of the two is most appropriate. The contrast between the two artists at the top of this bill is definitely illustrative: in this corner, we’ve got Mackenzie Roark and the Hotpants, delivering a set of Mackenzie’s brilliantly messy alt-country anthems for the beautifully doomed. In that corner, we have the futuristic space-synth glitter-pop sounds of Ionna, whose recent singles feel like the soundtrack for the next great spacefaring sci-fi epic we’ll all be queueing up at the multiplex for in three years.
So there you go — space sonics and cowboy twang, all tied up together. As for the “prom” part, I recommend not taking that too seriously; when I was in high school, they wouldn’t let you go to prom at all if you didn’t have a date (and you best believe it had to be a hetero pairing, too). Gallery 5 isn’t as concerned about all that, but they do suggest that you feel free to delve into the theme and “get weird with it.” Apparently a Prom King and Queen will actually be crowned, though (and this is just me talking here, but) you don’t have to take that any more seriously than you feel like taking it. What you should take seriously is the delightful variety of sounds on offer at this show. Not just the ones I’ve already mentioned, but also: Sweet Touch’s sexy-robot space-funk, Jaguardini’s catchy gothic synth-pop, and New York-based dream-pop crew Exact Same Speed. This will be a delightful evening, and more than enough to get the opening lines of “The Joker” out of your head (at least for one night).
Sunday, May 11, 6 PM
Boston Manor, Spaced, Farmer’s Wife, Ellis @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $25 (order tickets HERE)
It’s always interesting to hear a traditionally American music style in the hands of a British band. It’s what gave us quite a few bands who pushed music forward over the years, from the Rolling Stones to The Clash. And even when it isn’t as obviously groundbreaking as those bands were, there’s always an intriguing, unexpected element thrown into the mix that makes everything cooler and more fun. That’s definitely true of Boston Manor, who despite their name actually hail from the UK city of Blackpool. Their take on emotional post-hardcore mixes flavors from Hum, The Deftones, and Quicksand together with an undefinable yet nonetheless significant change in worldview. The result is a mix of heavy, passionate, and melodic musical flavors that is delightful to hear and has real staying power.
Indeed, Boston Manor are currently touring in support of their fifth album, 2024’s Sundiver, and its driving, assured sound and many catchy tracks makes it likely their best work yet. Not all that many British bands playing post-hardcore are able to break into this US-dominated scene, but if anyone from the UK deserves to get through to fans this side of the pond, it’s definitely Boston Manor. They come to Richmond in the company of outright hardcore ensemble Spaced, whose recent EP This Is All We Ever Get is a short-but-sweet slab of brilliance that proves these folks will add all the speed and intensity to this bill that you could ever want. Austin-based combo Farmer’s Wife have a heavy, grungy sound and a sense of humor about being from a super-conservative state that shows through in the title of their first single, “Greg Abbott’s Maxi Pad.” Don’t get me wrong, this band isn’t just out here to have fun — their sound is seriously memorable and seriously heavy. But you’ll definitely smile on occasion during their set as well. Opener Ellis will get things going with some moody, emotional indie-pop that should definitely catch the attention of anyone who digs Richmond’s own Frames. This one’s gonna have a lot of different vibes over the course of the evening, but all of them are great.
Monday, May 12, 6 PM
Chris Whiteman Quartet feat. John Toomey @ Reveler Experiences – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Monday night is a good night for chilling out. We’ve made it through the weekend, and the first day back at work is always more than enough to wring out our souls and make all of us feel limp and flat. But what might be most rejuvenating on a night like that is exactly what this show offers: a chance to sit at a table at a small jazz club, eating antipasto appetizers, drinking wine (or in my case, diet soda), and listening to some lovely relaxing jazz sounds from local folks who go overlooked way too often in discussions of the wider Richmond musical scene. Folks like jazz guitarist Chris Whiteman, for example, who may not have a lot of recorded material out in the world but has done a lot of impressive things over the course of his career, from touring with more well-known performers like Veronica Swift and Wyatt Michael to teaching a variety of popular online classes and running a great YouTube guitar tutorial channel.
Whiteman loves classic jazz sounds, and will be bringing that old-school approach to his set leading a quartet of talented musicians in their own right. Of the other members of the band, pianist John Toomey is probably the best known, having toured the world with jazz vocalist Renee Marie, written original scores for foreign films, and played on albums with a variety of jazz luminaries including Virginia-based trumpet legend John D’Earth. Rounded out by Randall Pharr on bass and Aaron Binder on drums, this quartet will surely delight all comers with some lovely guitar-based jazz sounds to soothe your soul and help you head home with a smile on your face. The perfect end to a day of the week that is all too rarely anywhere close to perfect. Who could ask for anything more?
Tuesday, May 13, 8:30 PM
Soul Blind, Suntitle, Day Aches @ The Camel – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Here’s an exciting way to wrap up a week’s worth of shows. I’ve been a big fan of Soul Blind since right after the pandemic, when they came through town in the company of Drug Church and One Step Closer. I actually wrote about them back then, when this column was still appearing elsewhere on the internet, and have written about them here at the Auricular a couple times as well. However, I never have enough room to spill as much ink about this band as they truly deserve. At least, not until now! This headlining set should be the perfect opportunity for Richmond folks who haven’t noticed what this band has to offer in the past to finally wake up to how great Soul Blind is. Their guitar-heavy post-hardcore sound should definitely make a strong impression on anyone who appreciates bands like Superheaven. However, there’s a 90s alternative feel mixed into their whole vibe that reminds me at times of staying up late to watch 120 Minutes on MTV on Sunday nights when I was in high school.
I certainly will never be one for advocating that “it was better back in my day” or whatever dumb crap like that that people my age are prone to say. However, it’s good to see some of the few things that were nice about the era in which I grew up being repurposed and brought forward in time to delight those of us fortunate enough to still be here to enjoy them. Soul Blind definitely does this on their debut LP, Feel It All Around, mingling the aforementioned post-hardcore vibes with moments that recall the best of bands like Soundgarden, Dinosaur Jr, and even Candlebox (their first LP ruled, I don’t care what anyone tells you). A similar sort of thing could actually be said about Richmond-based support act Suntitle, though these guys definitely have a more emo-style vocal approach that brings in a different type of melody. As for openers Day Aches, they’ll kick the evening off with their own killer vision of post-hardcore, one that brings in strong melodies and driving hooks that’ll get this evening started on a delightful note. This one’s gonna rule from beginning to end.
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
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