Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Monday, Monday


(MySpace photo)

I'm kind of sorry I didn't stop in The Boot on Monday night to sample a set by Ki:Theory. Frankly, the name threw me off a little. I thought they were some fuzzy-headed, hippie jam band. But after listening to a few tracks on Ki:Theory's MySpace page, I can tell that I had them -- or maybe I should say him -- pegged wrong. Tracks "Holiday Heart" and "Kiss With Fists" match strong, Coldplay-like vocals with electronic beats and experimental samples sort of like what you might hear from the Postal Service. It seems that Ki:Theory is essentially Joel Burleson of Richmond, though he performs with a full band. Burleson has done remixes of tracks by UNKLE and Queens of the Stone Age, so that gives you some idea where his head's at. This weekend Ki:Theory heads out for a national tour with South and The Silver State. Hope they come back to Norfolk soon.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Memorial


(Pictured: The late Bryan Harvey)

Another note from the belated observations department:

As you may have heard by now, The Drive-By Truckers' newest album kicks off with a track inspired by the horrific murders of House of Freaks member Bryan Harvey, his wife and daughters. Well, I finally got around to hearing the tune and I was not disappointed. Given the subject matter, the tune could have been maudlin. Thankfully, it's not. While I'm still not in love with the Truckers, this tune, "Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife" is giving me reason to reconsider them.
Richmond's House of Freaks, of course, were duo that sent ripples through the national underground back in the 1980s and early 1990s.
To read an article about the Drive-By Truckers' album "Brighter Than Creations Dark," go here. To read Rolling Stone magazine's story about the Harvey murders, go here.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

(belated) MACRoCk Report


(Photo of Shapiro by Allen Clark)

I've never been to MACRoCk (the cutesy-pie name for the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference) but I can tell it's a great place to catch up-and-coming bands. The festival takes place in Harrisonburg, Virginia, each April (except for 2007, but that's another story). This year's festival included sets by well-known indie bands Elf Power, Mock Orange, but I gather the thrust of the 2008 event came from local and regional acts.

Richmond bands playing the fest included Antlers, Snack Truck, Government Warning, Cloak/Dagger and Devine Profitz. Harrisonburg's own Shaprio also played and Virginia Beach blogger Drew Worden felt the band gave one of the festival's best performances.

"Shapiro stole the show for the evening, in my opinion," he wrote at his blog, linesthroughlines. I've seen them probably 8 times since their inception, but not live in about a year. They've grown up. They dominated. This band is going to be huge. I texted Dan during the performance: 'Just kill me now.' I'd have been happy.' "

Worden also reported that Nashville's Brooke Waggoner gave a performance that was a festival highlight.

In case you're wondering, Hampton Roads was represented at this year's MACRoCk. The wonderful Mas Y Mas was on the bill, as were the Super Vacations, who I've yet to hear. The Great White Jenkins -- which is sort of a Richmond/Hampton Roads band, also was scheduled to rock at MACRoCk.

Read a set of interviews with festival participants here.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Sweet Lou



(Photo by Reuters, 2006)

Lou Reed doesn't do "Heroin" anymore, but he does throw in a long, minimalist "Sweet Jane" just to please the Velvet Underground fanatics.
Tonight at The NorVa, Reed played a somewhat subdued, but at times heartfelt set. Opinions among my friends were mixed about the show, but I loved it. I went in not expecting too much since I haven't been thrilled by his recent records. But a restrained Reed turned out to be in the house Friday and the show was all the better for it. For me, highlights were "Satellite of Love" from 1972's "Transformer," the fun and frivolous "I'm Sticking With You" (a VU nugget used on the "Juno" soundtrack), and a sweet, gentle "Guardian Angel" from 2003's album "The Raven" featuring Reed melodies set to Edgar Allan Poe lyrics.
The one encore, "Perfect Day" was also a winner.
Reed's band was remarkable in its balance of chops and taste. Guitarist Steve Hunter -- who played on Reed's "Rock 'n' Roll Animal" live album from the 1970s -- is a monster ax man, but Lou kept him on a short leash. Or maybe he kept himself. In any case, his few eruptions of lead guitar wanking were few and appropriately timed. Bassist Rob Wasserman also added a lot to the tunes without ever overdoing it.
Overall, it was an unusually calm Friday night, but one, if you asked me, befitting a legend.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

New Sensations



(Photo of Special Ed and the Shortbus from MySpace)

Style Weekly in Richmond just published its 2008 Music Issue, and from what I've read online, it's a good one. The issue includes short features on a bunch of worthy bands: Special Ed and the Shortbus, David Shultz and the Skyline, RPG, Josh Small and Liza Kate, Hot Chicken, Pennyshaker, The Gaskets, Duchess of York, Divine Profitz, Fight the Big Bull, Tulsa Drone, The DJ Williams Projekt and Emily Easterly. Several of the articles are paired with slideshows featuring images of the bands and music. It all looks good and makes me wish Portfolio would try something similar here in the 757.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Dominion Dogs


It looks like Philadelphia's wonderful Dr. Dog will be back on Virginia soil in June. Brooklyn Vegan tells us that the band will play something called Friday Cheers in Richmond June 6. I'm guessing this is one of those outdoor afterwork parties. Another reason to spend some time in the state capital. Supposedly the Dr. Dog boys will have a new disc out July 22. It's to be called "Fate." Can't wait.
Coincidentally, I just read an interview with Lou Reed (who is playing The NorVa on Friday) where he named Dr. Dog as one of a handful of new bands he likes.

Monday, April 21, 2008

A Funk Farewell



The New York Times reported over the weekend that Robert Reed, keyboard player for the legendary go-go band Trouble Funk, died recently in Arlington. The story reported a fact that I did not know: Reed was a Newport News native.

Here's part of the Times' story:

"Mr. Reed, whose stage name was Syke Dyke, toyed with his keyboards to create flashy electronic noises that could resemble science-fiction sound effects. Tony Fisher, Mr. Reed’s childhood friend who was called Big Tony, played bass and acted as the “talker,” sing-speaking repetitive, call-and-response phrases to whip up both band (“Hey, fellas, do you want to take time out to get close to the ladies?”) and crowd (“Get on up!”).

Early on Trouble Funk was adopted by tastemaking D.J.’s like Afrika Bambaataa, who played its records alongside rap and electronic tracks. The group worked with ’80s rap stars like Kurtis Blow, and certain Trouble Funk songs have become among the most sampled sounds in hip-hop history, used by LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Boogie Down Productions and Will Smith, among many others."

Read the full story here.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

No Sleep 'Til Richmond



One of Virginia's top hip-hop voices, Skillz, is touring in Europe right now. He's sharing his experiences -- and traveling tips -- at a new blog. Visit him here to learn what it's like bringing fresh rhymes and funky beats to Old Country audiences. Skillz doesn't go into much detail about his shows, but he does offer insight into life on the road.
At his MySpace page, Skillz says he's completed a new album which will be titled "Million Dollar Payback." If you like street-smart hip-hop, watch for it.

Friday, April 18, 2008

I (heart) Record Stores


Saturday is Record Store Day across this great land of ours. I plan on celebrating by spending some cash at Plan 9 Music in Williamsburg -- and possibly some at Fantasy in Newport News and some more at Skinnies in Norfolk. I realize that these are businesses and that they don't need charity. We live in a capitalist society and it's survival of the fittest. But recent events -- including the demise of Relative Theory in Norfolk and the shocking death of Schoolkids Records in Chapel Hill, N.C. -- have made me more deeply appreciate the record store -- particularly the mom-and-pop variety.
I've learned about music in record stores. I can remember Steve Aiken, singer for a punk band called A Number of Things, recommending "Let It Be" the Replacements record, to me in Schoolkids 20-some years ago. That LP has brought me endless joy. More recently, I stumbled on a Handsome Family CD in Relative Theory and picked it up partly based on a sassy Post-It note attached to the disc. Now, the Handsome Family are one of my favorite bands -- right along with The Replacements.
But I've also made friends in record stores. One afternoon about 10 years ago, my pal and fellow Ramones fanatic Johnny Coe and I cemented our friendship with a conversation at The Band Box in Williamsburg -- another shop that's gone.
I guess the world won't stop turning if record stores go the way of the wooly mammoth. But a piece of community will be gone and I'm not sure that 10,000 MP3 blogs will be able to fill the void.
So ... Let's go shopping!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

New Wave Days


(Album cover photo courtesy of Kelly Miltier)

Up to now, the 1960s rock scene in Hampton Roads was in some ways better documented that what happened here in the 1980s. It's strange, but some of the music recorded by local bands in the era just before CDs evaporated and hasn't be researched and reissued with the care of that from the garage/psychedelic era. Kelly Miltier and Pete Desnoyers are trying to change that. Miltier, who played bass in a group called the X-Raves, and his long-time friend Desnoyers are trying to organize a reunion of musicians and fans from the early punk and new wave scenes in the 1979-1985 era. They are also making a film documentary about the scene and a book of photographs from the era. It's all in the early stages, but Miltier -- who lives in Virginia Beach -- insists that lots of folks are getting excited and contributing to the project. "This thing hasn't just grown legs, it's sprouted wings and is flapping around," he told me. If you have music, photos, fliers or other memorabilia from that era, contact him at kelly@emc-co.com. "All media loaned will be digitized and a copy of it plus the originals will be returned promptly," Kelly promises.
They've already got some great stuff, including a copy of the 1980 Tidewater new wave compilation called "No Room to Dance" which featured songs from The X-Raves, The Noise, Rock Bottom, The Naros, Citizen 23, and Tango Storm. The scene apparently was centered not at clubs on Hampton Boulevard, but at the Taj Mahal and at the oceanfront. "My only hope is that somehow each band may benefit from this effort," Doug Keefer, who produced the LP, wrote in the original liner notes, "and that you, the listener, will enjoy it, and that the 'Taj' is remembered as the new wave club where it all began in Tidewater."

Monday, April 14, 2008

Planning for Bastards


(Photo by Cricket Powell)

June's a long way off -- and so is Richmond if you're a lazy, busy, driving-averse person like me. But a cruise up I-64 to see Doug Cheatwood's band The Bastards of Fate should be a worthwhile exercise in time and gasoline consumption. I keep hearing good things about the B.O.F. from friends of mine. And I like the songs I've heard from the band so far. So, I'm officially marking June 7 (conveniently a Saturday) on my calendar. That's when Cheatwood's hard-to-categorize band is playing a place called Nara Sushi -- oddly enough, the only show listed on the band's MySpace page. Sounds like the band is coming off a fairly successful tour with Illbotz. So maybe they're due some rest.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

More Emotionalism



I've been away from my Toggle Switch post for about a week while I was in Mississippi doing work for Habitat for Humanity. I'm glad to be back home, but I've got some catching up to do. So, for tonight, I'll just remind you that the wild, wonderful Avett Brothers will be back for a third performance at the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk on June 19 (a Thursday night). If you've missed the Avetts previously, consider picking up a ticket. These guys are fine songwriters and fantastic performers who put on a show that rampages in all the right places.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Children Again


(Photo by Patty M. McDonald)

This blog is intended to be a chronicle of Virginia music, not a diary of my life. But tonight, I'm reporting about one of my own musical exploits.
In Carrboro, N.C. this afternoon, Billy Warden and the Floating Children -- of which I am a proud founding member -- reunited for the band's first public gig in close to 20 years. The occasion was something of a sad one, a farewell to Schoolkids Records, a Chapel Hill institution. Schoolkids was a great store -- and one that has strong ties to The Floating Children.
Our short setlist featured "Butt," "Doy" "Electric Southern Boys" and "Underwear." I played guitar. Billy's brother Christopher Warden sat in on drums. Billy sang.
The show was a blast for me. It was great being back on stage with my man Billy Warden -- still a great showman despite a long, long break from performing.
Looking out at the crowd (which wasn't huge, we played a 6 p.m. slot opening the event) I saw lots of smiles.
I hope this is only the first of a series of reunion shows. I hope next time we'll have more of the band on stage together.


"Cosmic rock star, eating cheese balls in your big black car, attending orgies on the planet Mars, Cosmic rock star, how I wonder what you are ..." -- from "Cosmic Rock Star" by Billy Warden and the Floating Children.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Dive in


Apparently, it's the season for new rock clubs. Here's some news that comes courtesy of the The Rats:

"OK folks heres the deal!!! We have a chance to have a new venue in Norfolk!!! This place will remind you of old Friar Tucks. In fact it is the perfect dive. There is plenty of parking, a dance floor, the cheapest drinks in town. It is in an area where we won’t be bothered by the man. Rylo will be kicking things off.
If we show and make it happen they will be having regular shows for original rock and roll bands with good pay!!! Come on out April 23!!!!!

Please repost this.
Thanks (The Rats)"

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Good News in Bad Newz


Matt "Uglyography" Thomas told me about a new venue in downtown Newport News called Liberty IV, so I did some poking around on the Internet and, lo and behold, just as Matt said, something pretty exciting is happening down on Washington Avenue. Some very enthusiastic folks are working hard to create a DIY space, mostly for punk and hardcore shows. This all makes perfect sense to me. Afterall, CBGBs started in an all-but-abandoned part of Manhattan. Why shouldn't punks and other misfits take over a corner of downtown Newport News? I'm wishing these guys all the luck in the world. They have a great idea and they obviously have lots of gumption. Let's hope they're savvy enough to make this thing work. Judging from posts and fliers I've seen, it looks like the action starts this weekend.