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Another band, another time: Ten Ten

2009-07-29T08:07:00.002-04:00

Kelly Miltier of the X-Raves fame recently posted a link to this video on Facebook. It caught my attention because Ten Ten used to play in the Triangle area of N.C. when I was in school there. I never got to see them, so this YouTube clip is my first exposure, twenty years after the fact.

Judging from this power ballad, Ten Ten was a melodic hard rock band -- sort of like a Southern version of The Cult.

Re-Offending

2009-07-05T21:51:00.004-04:00

(The Offenders photo from MySpace)

Through the magic of MySpace (yes, some of us still spend time on ye olde MySpace) I learned tonight about The Offenders, a band from the 1980s that -- based on the few tracks I've heard so far -- seem to have been Richmond's answer to the Del Fuegos. That means they were a rootsy New Wave band that took its cues from the blues and R&B in the same way that bands like The Sonics and The Seeds did way back in the 1960s.

The group includes Terry Garland, who I'm familiar with as a fine acoustic blues man.

It looks like the band fizzled after the 1980s, but has been reuniting recently. I saw a Sept. 26 Canal Club date on the group's MySpace page.

Here's the group's posted bio:

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The Offenders were a top local draw in central Virginia in the early 1980s. Terry Garland, Chris Link and Richard Cowles were members of the rock band "Bull" in the late seventies. They met songwriter/singer Bruce Olsen in Richmond during 1978 and became friends with him right from the start. Bruce did a few demo recordings with Chris and Richard in late 1978 and early 1979. The following year, they would become Offenders. In August of 1980, Bruce contacted Chris and Richard who were both currently out of the band scene. They began rehearsing some of Bruces' original tunes. The drinking age was 18, Watch Out..."10 songs and we play in a week!" Instant gradification. Immediate Relief! Knocked Off Of My Feet! Lovin the Time Away! They played a few times and the kids were lovin' it. "Life is good, we're sellin' it!" In October, Terry joined them on guitar and Dr. Payne became their manager and sound man. The Offenders were born. "Pulsate", a song from their 1st studio demo, appeared on XL-102's Statutory Rock album in early 1981. Offenders got a good push from regular radio air play and an increase in their audience was immediately seen. "Going Bananas"and "Hard Times" became regular show spots for The Offenders that summer. They recorded a 12 song album in Philadelphia during the Fall. They built an admirable following in the Richmond and Charlottesville areas during 1981. The Offenders saw a lot of audience excitement as their LP, "The Offenders Record"was issued in the Winter of 1982. They enjoyed large turnouts at their many Virginia College concerts that year and appeared on a Cox Cablevision video production recorded at The Kings Head Inn in Norfolk Virginia. 1982 was a great year for The Offenders and their popularity continued into 1983. Bruce opened a recording studio at The Floodzone in early 1983. Offenders played dates for the remainder of the year and paused after a final show at the Cellar Door in December. Bruce spent most of 1984 working in his studio. At the end of 1984 The Offenders got together and recorded fifteen new originals at Floodzone with the idea of releasing a second LP. The decision was made to play some more dates for the love of it. A second Offenders LP was never released but still the group played a dozen or more shows during the Spring and Summer of '85. They also made a trip to Hollywood in September and appeared on the TV show "Star Search". This marked the end of an era for The Offenders. In 1987, The Offenders played a reunion show at The Floodzone. After that, there was a 19 year absence by this band. In 2006, Bruce, Terry, Chris and Richard got together again after almost 20 years and discussed a renewed Offenders project. Offenders have done four reunion shows since 2007, the latest being February 15, 2009 at Canal Club. Still got room for the Offenders!

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The Name Game

2009-06-14T22:05:00.004-04:00

(The Poly-Opto at The Blue Nile in Harrisonburg/ Hugh Fagan photo)

Thundercock, a rock band from Virginia Beach, is now called The Poly Opto, which means the band has gone from having a terrible name to having one that's just mildly bad.

The band's music is better than either name, though. Tough and aggro, but not brainless. A little jammy, but not too self-indulgent. I'm glad to see they're playing at The NorVa on July 3 with No Fault of Their Own and Oedipius Rex.

Hi Skye

2009-06-02T20:10:00.002-04:00

(MySpace photo of Skye Zentz)

The ukulele-loving songstress Skye Zentz is back in our general vicinity. Or at least she will be June 12 when she's scheduled to play The Boot along with Chris Merritt and SaidTheLion.

Skye has been on some sort of California adventure for the better part of the last 12 months. I haven't connected with her yet to hear some of the stories, but I bet the experiences will make her Boot show all the more entertaining.

Video Clam Jamming

2009-05-22T08:04:00.003-04:00

A few months ago we were concerned about The Half Shell's future as a local music venue. Now, it looks like all is well. I saw the following posted on MySpace yesterday:

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CLAMJAM TV, A Live Local Music Webcast.

Norfolk Entertainment (Norfuckers) & The Half Shell are in the mix of setting up and running an advertising sponsored website dedicated to live performances of local musicians and bands. The half Shell will host a weekly show where a band will be video interviewed, and then 2 songs from their performance will be video recorded and hosted on the website. The performance will also be live audio recorded to be synchronized with the video for quality purposes. We will be hosting 2-3 acts weekly having one of the bands featured on the web cast ( don't worry, if you are a supporting band you will get your featured night as well.) Start letting us know if you or your band is interested. You can contact "Big B" of Norfuckers or myself, Ben, here at the half shell page. Also if you are interested in advertising on the website let us know. This is our effort to spread and support local music, so spread the love and help us out!!

thanks
Ben @ The Half Shell

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Dean's Silent Scream

2009-05-12T23:11:00.002-04:00

"Black Postcards," the new memoir by ex-Galaxie 500 and Luna man Dean Wareham is a terrific read that gives great insights into the sub-pop rock world of the 1980s and 1990s. Wareham seems to be reliable narrator if only because he doesn't mind telling stories that make him less than heroic. The breakup of his marriage is detailed with almost cool detachment. You can tell he feels deeply about it, but the emotion doesn't seem to cloud his description of events.

Here's some of what I learned about Wareham by reading "Black Postcards"

1) He dislikes The Pixies
2) He really likes the drug Ecstasy
3) He really likes The Feelies
4) He really dislikes fans who come up to him after shows and want to talk about what distortion pedals he uses.

Anyone curious about what it would have been like to be on the rock club circuit in both America and Europe back in the '90s should give the book a read. "Black Postcards" makes a fine companion to Jen Trynin's "Everything I'm Cracked Up To Be" which also demystifies the underground rock experience.

OK, so what does "Black Postcards" have to do with music in and around Norfolk? Well, the book does mention Norfolk ... exactly once.

Recalling a gig he played at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia as an opener for Lou Reed, Wareham writes "The Electric Factory was pretty glamorous compared with some of the places Luna had played, like the Jewish Mother in Norfolk, Virginia, or Sudsy's in Cincinnati."

Ah, our fair city besmirched again. But I'm not sure if he really meant the Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach. While there was a Jew Mom in Norfolk for a time, I remember it as a reasonably classy joint.

Asthmatics Attack

2009-04-30T23:30:00.007-04:00

(The Asthmatics/ Toggle Switch photo)

There's nothing more soul soothing than loud, tuneful rock songs played by a tight band that fires them off with spirit and verve.

Case in point, The Asthmatics (previously known as King and Caroline and Volcano Roll), an indie rock trio from Newport News that returned from a prolonged hiatus Thursday night at Marker 20 in Hampton.

My pal Joe Atkinson writes melodies that lodge deep in your cerebral cortex and make themselves at home there. And his lyrics -- on songs such as "Trigger of the Gun," "Button Up Shirt," and "Firecracker" -- effortlessly evade cliche. Why isn't this band a beloved local institution? Drummer problems, lethargy, frustration ... pretty much the usual list of symptoms encountered by bands that play original music in Hampton Roads, even more so on the Peninsula.

The band's long absence from the local live music scene made Thursday's short set all the sweeter.

Viva Les Asthmatics. Here's hoping they'll soon cough at a bar near you.

Webb Center Chaos

2009-04-26T22:54:00.006-04:00

(Ultra Dolphins' Nate Rappole, Toggle Switch)

(Marnie Stern, Toggle Switch)

(Blonde Redhead's Kazu Makino, Toggle Switch)

Saturday's Campus Chaos show at Old Dominion University was predictably strange, but strangely satisfying. I missed several of the bands that played in the afternoon, but caught a good part of the set by Richmond's hard-hitting Ultra Dolphins. Metal, punk and math rock blend together in the Dolphins' sound. They were very aggressive and very tight. Apparently they've been around for years but have played rarely in Hampton Roads. I hope somebody brings them back soon.

Those guys played on the steps of the Webb Center. Inside, The Love Language, a band from North Carolina was a nice surprise. Their carefully-crafted and artfully arranged indie pop was refreshing after the Dolphins' blast of angry energy. While their sound isn't incredibly original, it's lovely. I'll be reading and listening and learning more about these guys.

Marnie Stern was a bit of a disappointment, though. Her Dokken-meets-The Shaggs sound gets mad points for originality, but way too few points for melody. What she's doing is so interesting I was frustrated that her songs weren't just a little more comprehensible. Also, for someone with amazing chops, her performance was surprisingly sloppy.

Blonde Redhead was great. The trio puts out an amazing amount of intoxicating sound. Their film-soundtrack drama was powerful and beautiful and fun to watch. I'm glad I finally got to see this band, which more than lives up to the promise of its recordings.

Thanks, ODU, for assembling such an entertaining day of music.

Record Store Day Dream

2009-04-19T20:50:00.006-04:00

To celebrate Record Store Day, I headed down to Birdland Records in Virginia Beach to spend some money and bag some CDs. Barry Friedman's store has moved a couple of doors down. It's in the same shopping center (Providence Square) but in a smaller space. Barry tells me that his landlord wanted to put an ABC store in his old location. So I suppose I shouldn't be depressed that yet another record store is shrinking. Plan 9 in Williamsburg moved across the street to a smaller location a year or so ago. I know that D.J.'s Music and Video in Norfolk is planning to move into more compact quarters.

The upside is that Plan 9, Birdland and D.J.'s -- along with Skinnies in Norfolk and Fantasy in Newport News -- are still alive in 2009. This time last year, I would have bet that one of those four would be gone. Instead, it's Volume in Virginia Beach that was the victim. I saw the marvelous Sarah Carter there for the first time last year at an in-store performance. I'll miss Volume.

When I walked up to the counter at Birdland on Saturday and set down my selections, the guy at the register (not Barry) wondered why I was buying so much. "Is it your birthday?" he asked.

Here's what I bought:

The Stooges "Funhouse" (double disc special edition)
The Beatles "Love" (for my wife, Patty)
Jill Sobule "California Years"
Buddy and Julie Miller "Written in Chalk"
Animal Collective "Merriweather Post Pavilion"

As a bonus, I got a "Record Store Day" compilation LP including tracks by Glasvegas, Raphael Saadiq, Black Kids and Q-Tip.

Mixed Bag

2009-04-12T22:09:00.004-04:00

(Killbot photo courtesy of MySpace)

Here are some quick thoughts for a Sunday night:

1) Neko Case at The National in Richmond April 6. Case's voice is a wonder. In Richmond last week, it sounded as good -- possibly even better -- than it does on record. While the pace of her show was jerky due to between-song dawdling, her songs, her singing and her excellent band made for a fine night of music. My only other minor complaint was that some feedback problems marred at least one song. Beyond that, I was thrilled by the show. It was my first trip to The National (even though the place has been open about a year). Seeing how much it has to offer, I'm sorry I didn't cruise up to Richmond much earlier. As an aside, I'll point out that Neko is, in fact a Virginian, even though she's lived in many places across the nation and even in Canada. She was born in Alexandria.

2) "Locals Lounge," the radio show hosted by Alfredo Torres, featured Freedom Hawk live in the studio tonight. Great to see Torres still flying the flag for local music by asking one of the area's top hard rock acts to stop by his show. While not every band Torres spins on his show is a favorite, he does hit a home run from time to time. I understand he's even spun "My Brain" by Hampton's Uglyography -- for which he deserves my admiration and yours.

3) Speaking of Uglyography, Matt Thomas' solo project spent last week on a regional tour -- an impressive feat of logistical planning and utter gumption. I'm hoping that the tour pays dividends for Matt, who's been making great music and paying his dues for years -- including many in Hampton's wonderful Outer Loop. Matt's MySpace page includes some blog posts about his tour, which has included stops in Washington, D.C., Chapel Hill, N.C., Charlestown, W.Va., Richmond and Johnson City, Tenn.

I know next to nothing about Johnson City, but it seemed to be one of the highlights of the tour. Matt played with Johnson City's own Killbot, who made quite an impression. Here's an excerpt from Matt's blog:

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After me was another solo act called Killbot. This guy (Daniel is his name) was really off the wall and pulled off some rad stuff. His setup consists of a suitcase. It is a magical suitcase and I'm still not sure exactly what was in it. He performed with his back to the audience for the majority of the time, leaning into this suitcase on a table, and pushing buttons, tweaking stuff, doing something, I don't know what, performing magic. The result was the ultimate in noisy distorted dance music freak out with all sorts of samples and synth sounds and super nasty vocal tones ... it is difficult to describe without a sample of the music. Check out his myspace profile for a taste. To top it off, he jumped around in a quick step troll-like dance, which again, is impossible to explain. I'm not sure if troll-like is the right description, but I do not mean that as an insult, dude! It is the highest compliment.

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Are They Not Men? They are Stimutacs

2009-04-05T20:20:00.003-04:00

(Stimutacs photo from MySpace)

If Toggle Switch really had its act together, it would be reporting on how Virginia bands -- including the delightful Hot Lava -- did at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, a couple of weeks ago. Or, even better, Toggle Switch would report on how this year's edition of MACRoCk event in Harrisonburg. That new-rock celebration just wrapped up this weekend and I'm sure that some juicy news came out of that annual event.

Alas, Toggle Switch doesn't really have its act together. But maybe I'll eventually be able to devote some time to finding out how all that worked out. (Please do send me reports and I'll happily pass them on).

In the meantime, I'm going to write about Stimutacs, a Norfolk band that's worth your attention. Think about Devo with a more lo-fi approach and more metal guitars grinding in the mix, and you're starting to imagine what these guys are cranking out.

While the recordings posted on the band's MySpace page are a bit too crude for their own good, and the singing on all the tracks is a bit sketchy, there's clearly something interesting happening here. They're a band to watch -- which may be why they were signed up as an opening act for the Blonde Redhead-Marnie Stern show happening at ODU on April 25. For ticket info on that show, go here.

Winning Ugly

2009-03-28T22:45:00.005-04:00

(Matt Thomas is Uglyography/Toggle Switch photo)

Uglyography cannot be stopped. It's doing exactly what too few Hampton Roads rock bands ever attempt: A regional tour. Hampton-based mastermind Matt Thomas has continued to refine his one-man-band concept (he performs live vocals, bass and guitar accompanied by pre-recorded tracks), and, based on the set I caught late last year, he's never sounded better.
At the shows listed below, he'll be performing tunes from his fine disc "Love Boat" which was released a few years back and possibly some new blasts of his quirk punk.

Here's the message Matt sent out earlier this week:

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Friends, Family, Fans, and everybody else out there,

I'm super stoked to announce Uglyography's first regional tour. I'll be hitting the road April 4 - 11 on a tour that encompasses 4 states and our nation's capital. If you live nearby any of the towns listed on this schedule, I would really love to see your mug out in the audience when I roll through. If you don't live in any of these towns, but know someone that does, please forward this along - I love to see strangers' mugs in the audience as well!

Super big ugly thanks to all of you who have helped me out in booking these dates and offered up places to stay, etc. You know who you are and I am forever grateful.

Note that I am playing THIS Friday [March 27] in Washington DC for what I consider to be a "warmup" show. The Andalusians rock (that is who I am playing with) and the record store is great from what I hear.

So, without further ado, here are the dates. Pass them on!!!

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Warm up show:

Washington, D.C. - Friday March 27 - @Crooked Beat Records at 2318 18th Street NW 7:00pm with The Andalusians.
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April Tour:

Roanoke, VA - Saturday, April 4 - @ The Water Heater with Kid A and Billy Wallace 7:30pm, $5, all ages

Washington DC -Sunday, April 5 - @ Solly's U Street Tavern with Sean K. Preston and a special guest 8:00 pm, $5, 21 and up

Charles Town, WV- Monday, April 6 -@ Jumpin' Java with Rob Crutchfield 6:00 pm, $3, all ages

Johnson City , TN - Tuesday, April 7 - @ The Hideaway with Killbot 11:00 pm, $5, 18 and up

Chapel Hill, NC - Wednesday, April 8 - @ The Cave, details to come 10:00 pm - $5, 21 and up

Blacksburg , VA - Thursday, April 9 - @ Gillie's Late Night with Schmarx of the Incline 8:00 pm, free, all ages

Harrisonburg, VA - Friday, April 10 - @ The Little Grill Collective with Buck Gooter, Book of Kills, and Don Zientara 8:00 pm, $5, all ages

Richmond , VA Saturday, April 11 - @ Wonderland with One Friend and Push Button Reaction 10:00 pm, $5, 21 and up

Hope to see you out there on the road. Thanks for all your support!

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Sock Hoppin', Hot Rockin'

2009-03-26T22:30:00.003-04:00

Forgive the short notice, but this is a great show that will raise money for a great cause, Gallery5. If you're looking for entertainment and a way to get all up in the Virginia new rock scene, You should head for Gallery5. Word up.

Weekend Wrap-up

2009-03-24T22:42:00.003-04:00

(Toggle Switch photo of The Mountain Goats, Darnielle left, Vanderslice right)

A few brief, belated words about a pair of fine concerts that took place in Norfolk over the weekend. The Mountain Goats, who played Friday night at The Attucks Theatre, were in fine form. John Darnielle cuts an unusual figure as a performer -- his weird, nerdy energy is strange, but compelling. I'd never seen him live before and I was certainly impressed. His voice was every bit as strong as what's heard on his records. And his odd charisma meant he commanded the stage even though he was alone for most of the show. His producer (and opening act) John Vanderslice joined him for a few tunes, but mostly it was John alone. Definitely one of the young year's most memorable sets.

The size of the crowd at the Attucks was a pleasant surprise. The place was almost sold-out. I know the Discovery Music Series (of which the Goats were a part) has chalked up a few sellouts, including ones by blues rocker Joe Bonamassa and The Avett Brothers. But this was the biggest crowd I personally witnessed. Says something good about the local audience for adventurous music.

On the other hand, Saturday night's show by the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players attracted just a handful of folks. The Trachtenburg's didn't seem bothered that there were only a few dozen folks at The Boot to watch their sweet, funny performance art shtick. "It's fine. We're about to break this thing wide open," Jason Trachtenburg told me after the set. "The show's never been better." Amazing that he could be so optimistic after playing a nearly empty room in Norfolk, Virginia. But it was great to hear and see the Trachtenburgs here. And for only $10? Where was everybody?

MACRoCk The Casbah

2009-03-17T22:48:00.002-04:00

(Cinnamon Band photo via MySpace)

MACRoCk, Harrisonburg's annual new rock celebration, has announced its lineup. I was glad to see the list includes familiar names like Mas Y Mas, Young Sinclairs, Red Clay River, Great White Jenkins, Cinnamon Band and Super Vacations. At the same time, I'm happy to see lots of unfamiliar names. I'll be exploring a bunch of these folks in preparation for the festival, which happens at various venues April 3-4.

The Kings of Slides

2009-03-11T23:22:00.004-04:00

The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are a band everyone should see. Well, you shouldn't see them if you don't have a sense of humor. Or if you don't like sugary indie rock music. Pretty much everybody else should see the Trachtenburgs. And thanks to the wonderful people at The Boot, doing just that is as easy as a ride over to 21st Street in Norfolk.

On March 21, you'll see the three Trachtenburgs working their magical spell of music, weird comedy and old slides from the 1970s.

Oh yeah.

James River Blues

2009-03-07T23:01:00.002-05:00

(John Cephas photo by Jack Vartoogian/FrontRowPhotos)

I was sad to read this week of the death of John Cephas -- known as the singing, guitar-playing half of the blues duo Cephas and Wiggins. John's deep voice and robust acoustic guitar style helped to keep the Piedmont style alive here in its native Virginia. With his loss -- and the loss of John Jackson a few years earlier -- there's an enormous void.

Here's a link to the New York Times story about John's death.

Sea Songs

2009-02-23T21:27:00.002-05:00

(Seamonster art by by dave kiersh!)

Lots has been happening and I haven't been posting much, but I intend to catch up. In short, the print version of Portfolio magazine is dying, but Saturday's award show at the JewMom seems to be on as scheduled. Saturday also will see simultaneous Norfolk shows by two of Toggle Switch's favorite Hampton roads bands -- Pawnshoplifters at The Taphouse and Mas Y Mas at The Boot. Three places to go on one night, an embarrassment of live music riches.

Here's a repost of a message from Seamonster about some good things that are happening with him:

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Seamonster's first full length recording, the ascension of archibald balloonhead is now available at fine online retailers such as itunes and emusic, courtesy of the swell folks at gold robot records! now you can spend a few cents and hear some tunes, or just listen to the sweet thirty second samples. if you already have the album, be kind enough to write a review on the itunes page!

also, robbert bobbert and the bubble machine is available in stores, and features super deluxe packaging by yours truly (including a comic book and coloring book) and the mightyfine musical stylings of the apples in stereo's robert schneider! check it out march first on good morning america, and right now on abc news now's "amplified"

lastly, there are a few shows coming up in april - elon nc, athens ga, and columbia sc - for which i hope to unveil some new recordings.... we shall see!

Moonlight Mile

2009-02-17T21:51:00.004-05:00

(Photo of Rickey from Facebook)
Through Facebook, I learned tonight that my friend Rickey Wright is hospitalized and is in very serious condition. For those of you who don't know Rickey, he was a music writer from here in Norfolk who worked at the Virginian-Pilot for a time in the 1990s. He's been living in Seattle for the better part of the last 10 years.
Rickey was very much a role model for me. His writing about local bands including Buttsteak and Waxing Poetics definitely pointed me in a direction that eventually became this blog. Along with being one of the funniest and smartest people I know, he's also easily one of the most musically knowledgeable people I've ever met. I wish I could offer more details about Rickey's situation, but I'm just finding out about all of this myself. I'll update as as soon as possible. In the meantime, join me in sending healing thoughts or prayers his way.
[Update, 02-19-2009, 11:30 p.m.] A few hours ago, I learned that Rickey passed away this afternoon in Seattle. He had suffered several strokes, the last of which caused severe brain damage, according to a family member. Rickey was 45. Read a Virginian-Pilot story about his death here.]

Up In My Mixed Grill

2009-02-10T23:00:00.003-05:00

(Photo of Andalusians from Dischord Records)

Here are a few random bits I'd like to share with Toggle Switch Nation (all 7 of you):

Thing One -- A recent Mojo magazine (the one with James Hetfield from Metallica on the cover) included a short, very positive review of a hard-to-find disc by Hush Arbors. The review's subhead announced: "Avant-pastoral stalwart Keith Wood finally steps into the spotlight." The short piece goes on to explain that Wood, the band's mastermind, is a Virginian now living in London.
"Wood has certainly paid his acid-folk and experimental scene dues," Manish Agarwal writes, and mentions Sunburned Hand of The Man, Current 93 and Wooden Wand as some of his earlier projects. Apparently, Wood collaborates with Leon Dufficy in Hush Arbors. Anyway, these guys are now officially on my radar screen.

Thing Two -- I was very happy to see on The Boot's calendar that the wonderful, funny and profoundly strange Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are set to get weird at everybody's favorite Italian/Virginia/Indie rock restaurant on March 21. This is something to look forward to ... unless you're morally against laughing.

Thing Three -- The Andalusians, a Washington, D.C.-area band, that features Hampton drummer Sammy Ponzar -- are now out on tour after playing over the weekend in Richmond. The band has issued a 7-inch on esteemed Dischord Records. I'm hoping they find a way to make it to Hampton Roads soon.

Gallery Needs Green

2009-02-03T22:27:00.006-05:00

(Photo courtesy of Laurel Dankos/MySpace)

Gallery5 in Richmond is one of the most vibrant art and music spaces in Virginia. A quick glance back at posters for events there shows appearances by Fight the Big Bull, The Hotdamns!, Prabir and The Substitutes, David Shultz and The Skyline, The Great White Jenkins, Hot Lava, Special Ed and The Shortbus and many others. The place has been a source of life and community and it would be a shame for it to die. The place is in serious financial peril, though, as you can read from the following MySpace bulletin:

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In the past four years, Gallery5 has introduced to Richmond an entirely new concept in the presentation of cutting-edge art and creative live performances. From the critically acclaimed “Disrobed” and “Disrobed 2” - the highest-attended art openings in Virginia history; to the “Carnival of Five Fires” - three nights of art, entertainment, and ribald revelry; and hundreds of unequaled exhibits, performances, and socially-conscious presentations, programs and campaigns throughout the years, Gallery5 has been the beacon of hope and creativity for thousands of emerging artists and entertainers.

Gallery5, housed in a 160 year-old, National Historic Landmark building, now finds itself in a very precarious position. The tens of thousands of loyal volunteers, artists, performers and guests who have combined to make Gallery5 one of the most popular art destinations in Richmond, have also been responsible for the wear and tear to the building that now must be addressed, without the necessary funding to do the work.

Without an immediate influx of adequate funding to address this serious situation, Richmond will lose this valuable historic resource. As most of you already know, Gallery5 has always been a labor of love, operated and maintained entirely by volunteers. It is our hope that the thousands of visitors who have been treated to a cacophony of unique sights and sounds each and every month will now come to our aid so that Gallery5 can continue to provide quality, innovative and enriching art, entertainment and exhibits to patrons for years to come.

Our goal is to raise $175,000 to maintain both the historic building and Gallery5, we need your support.
All donations, monetary or in-kind, are tax deductible. Even the smallest donations are appreciated.

A few of our critical needs:
-Roof repairs
-Exterior repairs
-Interior Water Damage
-Replacement awnings
-Electrical upgrade
-Heat and Air Upgrade
-Floor Repairs (Sanding, Repainting, Refinishing)
-Painting (Interior and Exterior)
-Equipment Repair and Upgrade
-Cleaning Services
-Gas Line Repair
-Mac Computer for Office and Internship Program
-Musical Equipment

Gallery5 currently pays over $4, 000 a month for its utilities, mortgage and insurance.
This does not include monthly licensing, taxes, maintenance and other professional services.

We are now placing Gallery5’s future in the hands of our loyal supporters and friends. If you are in a position to assist us, all of our faithful volunteers will be eternally grateful for your unselfish support for this Richmond icon.

How do I donate:?
You can make a donation via check, money order, credit card or paypal. If you would like to make an in-kind contribution, please email gallery5@gallery5arts.org

Our paypal link is listed below. Please enter what you would like to see your donation go towards.

https://www. paypal. com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2986253

Checks can be made payable to “Gallery5” and mailed to:

Gallery5
200 West Marshall Street
Richmond Virginia, 23220

If you would like to make a donation over the phone with a credit or debit card, please call 804 614 8466 or email gallery5@gallery5arts.org

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Mountain Music

2009-01-28T09:44:00.003-05:00

(Jack Rose with Black Twig Pickers/photo by Amy Shea)

The Black Twig Pickers have snapped their way back into my thinking. Today, I stumbled upon a very illuminating blog post that describes a Blacksburg gig with the guitarist Jack Rose back in November. In case you missed my earlier Black Twig musings, these guys are former alternative drone noise rockers (formerly with the Richmond-born band Pelt) who have become infatuated with traditional Appalachian folk music. Naturally, the music they make is informed by both strains. I've only heard the Black Twig Pickers on record, but judging from the account on the Strawberry Flats blog, it sounds like they're terrific live. The Seattle Weekly mentioned them as part of a refreshing new wave of twangy alternative in this piece.

Paul is Live ...Long Live Paul

2009-01-22T23:06:00.004-05:00

(Photo nabbed from mgblakenship.blogspot.com)
Public Radio's Paul Shugrue said tonight on his show "Out of the Box" that he plans to mark the fifth anniversary of his joining WHRV-FM wth a special retrospective program on Saturday.
So this is a fine opportunity to give Paul some luv.
It's hard for me to believe it's already been five years. But in another sense, I have trouble remembering what the airwaves were like without him. With no disrespect to the wonderful Rollie Bristol who died last year, Paul's show has become a fundamental part of my musical world. I listen habitually. Of course I don't love everything he plays. But I can depend on Paul to spin lots of good music that's creating a buzz in the industry or the underground. So often, I am introduced to music that I've previously only read about as I drive home from work around 7 p.m.
Paul also deserves credit for playing music from Hampton Roads artists. He's definitely dedicated to fostering a sense of community here and I appreciate that. Thanks.

Trooper Take Two

2009-01-18T22:04:00.006-05:00

(Bobby, left, is out. Jonnie, right, is now center stage/MySpace photo)

A few weeks ago, I ran into the guitar player from Little Trooper at The Boot and he informed me that Bobby, the band's previous lead singer and primary songwriter, had left the band. The guitar player didn't go into detail, but I could tell this was an unhappy and uncomfortable situation. On the bright side, Little Trooper will apparently live on. They were supposed to play at The Taphouse on Friday (I missed it because I've been battling a nasty cold). I understand that a reconfigured version of the band now features the guitar player, Jonnie, as the new lead singer and they've got a batch of new songs. Admittedly, I'm concerned because I was fond of the old version of the band ... but we are in a season of change, right? I see from the band's MySpace page, that they're set to play The Boot on Feb. 12.

Race For the Prize

2009-01-11T18:34:00.006-05:00

(Muckrakes photo/ MySpace)

Port Folio Weekly recently published its list of nominees for 2009 Local Music Awards. You can see the full list and cast your vote here. Awards will be handed out Feb. 28 at the Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach.
Scanning the names, I see several bands and performers that Toggle Switch has been following over the last year. The Villains are nominated for Album of the Year. At War was picked in the Metal/Hard Rock category. Mas Y Mas, The Super Vacations, The Trauma Dolls and Basic Riffs all will compete in the punk category.
Under the Americana heading, I see Gina Dalmas, Pawnshop Lifters, Shifty and The Muckrakes, who I heard for the first time this past Friday at Tanner's Creek in Norfolk.
I'm happy to report that The Muckrakes are a great addition to the Hampton Roads scene. Their rustic ensemble sound -- made up of banjo, fiddle, lap steel and strong harmony vocals -- shows they have a bright future. On Friday I only heard a handful of tunes, including Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and a honky-tonk version of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven," but I heard enough to know I want to see them again soon. Fortunately, they're scheduled to play a bunch in coming weeks. Their schedule includes shows Jan. 22 at Cozy's in Newport News and Jan. 23 at O'Sullivan's Wharf in Norfolk.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should point out that Muckrakes lap steel man Cory Nealon is a co-worker of mine. But don't hold that against him.

Ten Gems from Oh Eight

2009-01-05T20:46:00.005-05:00

(Death Vessel's Joel Thibodeau: Not exactly what I imagined.)

Happy new year, Toggle Switch readers. Here at T.S. World Headquarters, our crack team of technicians, ethnomusicologists and barbecue fanatics are still putting the finishing touches on a best-of 2008 Virginia music collection for you to download. In the meantime, allow me to introduce my ten favorite tracks from 2008. Here they are in no particular order and not hemmed in by any geographical limitations what-so-ever:

1. "California Girls" Magnetic Fields, from the album "Distortion." Stephen Merritt's homage to the droning, grungy sound of Jesus and Mary Chain didn't turn out to be my favorite Magnetic Fields album, but it did produce this sweet, sarcastic gem.

2. "Baby Likes a Love Song" Malcolm Holcombe, from the album "Gamblin House" A gravel-throated North Carolinian at his rustic best.

3. "Bruno's Torso" Death Vessel, from the album "Nothing is Precious Enough For Us." I was obsessed with this song after hearing it on a free Sub Pop sampler CD I picked up on Independent Record Store Day. A big part of the attraction was that voice -- which upon closer examination turned out to belong to a man, not a beautiful woman. Hmmm.

4. "Furr" Blitzen Trapper, from the album "Furr." Coincidentally, another song included on that Sub Pop "Happy Birthday to Me" sampler, this track is one of several nice ones on the band's newest disc. Seeing these guys open for Iron and Wine at The NorVa sealed the deal for me. What a great band.

5. "He Doesn't Know Why" Fleet Foxes, from the album "Fleet Foxes." Yes, lots of people have been singing the praises of these guys, so I'm not enlightening anybody, but I've got to be honest. I was infected with Fleet Foxes Fever like everybody and your brother. This track finds them getting more Zombies than CSN, which is always a good thing.

6. "Effington" Ben Folds, from the album "Way To Normal." I always thought the Norfolk street name Effingham sounded like the punch line of a joke. Could never get the setup, though. Then Ben comes along and writes this great song about how "life is effing great in Effington." Jerk.

7. "That's Not My Name" The Ting Tings, from the album "We Started Nothing." I hated Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" a few years ago -- even though a bunch of people thought the tune was a guilty pleasure. I'm embarrassed that I like this track so much. But fuck it. I do.

8. "Time to Pretend" MGMT, from the album "Oracular Spectacular." Another popular favorite in new music circles, and I understand why. Great melody, great lyrics and great production from Flaming Lips pal Dave Fridmann.

9. "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance" Vampire Weekend, from the album "Vampire Weekend." The thing that still amazes me about this album is how relaxed and effortless it all sounds. This is my favorite tune from the disc -- and the first one I heard when my man Joe Atkinson sent me a link to a video of the band playing it unplugged.

10. "Broken" Tift Merritt, from the album "Another Country." Looking back over the songs I've picked, I think I'm revealing myself as a incurable fluff-head. Anyway, this is the sweetest track from a possibly too-polished album. Can't give the whole album a recommendation, but I absolutely loved this tune.

Them Bones

2008-12-29T22:24:00.008-05:00

Friday night's Trolling Bones Revue at The NorVa -- which featured a bunch of reunited punk and new wave bands -- was a mind-expanding evening of musical time travel. Since I didn't arrive in Hampton Roads until the mid-1990s, this event was fascinating to me. It gave me a chance to catch a glimpse of a music scene that was apparently pretty healthy in the 1979 to 1985 era.
I'd like to post something with more detail later, but here are a few impressions about three of the bands I saw:

Thermal Heat -- Funny that my evening started with this angry reggae band. While I'm not sure the exact time line of the bands that played the Trolling Bones Revue, earlier research on the punk and new wave scene in Norfolk led me to The Tropix, a band that blended progressive rock, reggae and the punkish sounds of Patti Smith and early Talking Heads. Thermal Heat took a similar approach, but with a more confrontational attitude. At the NorVa, the band featured guitarist and singer Bink Brown, who also played in two other bands on this particular night, Basic Riffs and Jerry Skids.

Jerry Skids -- Not to be confused with the hardcore band from Boston, this quartet (originally named Jerry's Kids) was the loudest, snottiest, most pissed off band of the evening (although I missed the night-topping set by Left Wing Fascists.) Tunes like "Fucked-Up Ford" and "All I Want's a Harley" were shot, sharp, punch rock songs -- tough and intentionally obnoxious. This was not hardcore punk, however. This is what came before it. In their day, I'm sure Jerry Skids were a refreshingly abrasive alternative to bands trying to sound like Molly Hatchet.

Tango Storm -- This band, which featured singer Bruce Gray, wasn't trying to annoy anyone. But the group was definitely inspired by the Ramones and Elvis Costello. They covered E.C.'s "No Action" and the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated." The band's guitarist (now an executive with Fender guitars) played clean, hard, melodic lines. This was definitely not Johnny Thunders territory. It was something much more refined. But still enjoyable. And Gray is a natural front man who still sounded credible singing originals including "No Rock on the Radio" and "Blow Job."

Let's Get Mauled

2008-12-26T17:55:00.003-05:00

(Clint Maul photo from MySpace)

A belated merry Christmas to everyone who stops by Toggle Switch from time to time. Hope you're having a great holiday and that you've got lots of great toys to play with.

Now, down to business. Today I stumbled upon the music of Clint Maul, a songwriter who grew up in the Virginia Beach area, but who eventually relocated to Richmond. Maul has worked as a guitar tech for Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, but the handful of songs I've heard from him are more in an alternative-country vein -- sort of a blend of Paul Westerberg and Steve Earle.

Maul's definitely got a good melodic touch. Read more about him in this profile/Q&A from 2007.

Richmond Toggle Switchers have a good chance to check him out Jan. 2 at Gallery 5 where he'll be playing with Jason Webley, The Hotdamns, Arise, Sweet Donkey! and Alison Self.

Punk, rock and remember

2008-12-17T22:04:00.004-05:00

(Daily Planet photo courtesy of Pete Desnoyers)

The new edition of PortFolio sports a nifty new design and a cover story about the punk-new wave good ol' days in Hampton Roads. The coverage sets the stage for the punk-new wave reunion show that's planned for Dec. 26 at the NorVa.

If I'm reading the Web site correctly, the new PortFolio includes a lengthy and enlightening essay credited to Mr. Malcontent about the beginnings of punk rock in our region. Though I may be mistaken, I believe Mr. Malcontent is the pen name of Michael "Beaker" Davye, a source to be trusted on the subject of punk.

Here's a short exerpt, but if this is of any interest to you at all, I encourage you to read the whole piece. It's pretty entertaining:

***********

If you became a punk in 1980, you weren’t just cutting your hair and buying a copy of London Calling, you were making a commitment. A commitment to be ostracized by lots of your friends, laughed at and threatened regularly. If you were a chick from Virginia Beach, you risked multiple incarcerations in Tidewater Psychiatric Institute by your family for the simple crime of having a punk haircut. More than a few people got thrown out of the house by their parents for a Mohawk. It was amazing how freaked out so-called grown-ups got about it. I’ve literally seen an entire K-Mart brought to a halt because of a couple of punk haircuts and a T-shirt, thanks to Jennifer Jones, Andy Masters and Betony Vernon.

**********

Art Country

2008-12-11T23:19:00.002-05:00

(Andy Friedman photo by Ian Fry)

Marker 20 in Hampton has booked a rare sort of alt-country, roots music show for Saturday night. A band called Andy Friedman and The Other Failures from Brooklyn will play with Norfolk's own purveyors of dirty swing, Rylo.

I'm just learning about Friedman, but I like what I've found out so far. For instance, his list of 100 favorite albums listed on his Web site includes discs by Townes Van Zandt, Jackson Browne, Gram Parsons, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, John Hartford and the Louvin Brothers.

Here's the beginning of a story from the Pittsburg City Paper written by Andy Mulkerin:

****************

"In the scheme of things, Andy Friedman's musical career is relatively young. In 2002, after years as a professional cartoonist (most notably penning celebrity illustrations for the New Yorker), he began performing, but not as a musician the way most of us picture one. He took to the road with an act that involved live illustrated oral performances -- songs without music, as it were.

More recently, he's come into a more traditional setup, fronting a band called Andy Friedman and the Other Failures and recording his first full-length of gritty alt-country (or "art country," as he's prone to calling it). Taken Man is a collection of clever songs that take the arty and urbane elements that one might expect from a New Yorker illustrator, and mix them with a raw roadhouse sound that one might not.

Friedman, a Brooklyn native, bases much of his songwriting on a sense of unrest and dissatisfaction, tempered with a kind of storytelling that's reminiscent of the old country music from which he draws inspiration. "Guys Like Me Don't Get Grants" is clearly a New York artist's tongue-in-cheek update on the bluesy country of yore. "David Berman," on the other hand, is a clever retelling of how Friedman was once accused of biting the Silver Jews frontman's style (he'd never heard him before) and how he then met Berman and became a fan."

**************

Sounds promising, huh?

Happy Anniversary, Baby

2008-12-10T22:41:00.002-05:00

(Cinemasophia poster photo/MySpace)

Without much fanfare, Toggle Switch marked its 1-year birthday on Dec. 8. As I think back, I realize I've learned so much about music in Virginia simply by paying attention on a semi-regular basis. There's a long list of bands and performers that I've come to know and love through this blog.

As a gift to you, the Toggle Switch reader, I'm planning to post a set of free downloads representing some of my favorite discoveries over the last 12 months. I'm hoping to make it available before Christmas.

In the meantime, allow me to share a couple of news chunklets:

1. The MySpace page and local music resource MC7C recently posted a long, in-depth interview with the Chapel Hill, N.C., electronic musician Mild Davis. Turns out he's originally from Newport News. Read the interview here.

2. Style Weekly's "Local Bin" column included several interesting items last week, including news about the Richmond-based experimental pop band Cinemasophia. The band is supposed to release an album titled "Fits & Cycles" sometime next year. Read the entire "Local Bin" column here.

Pub Crawl

2008-12-07T17:47:00.002-05:00

It's been a good weekend in Toggle Switch Land. I've managed to consume lots of music: hard-to-categorize songwriter Erin McKeown at The Boot on Friday, local Celtic champs Poisoned Dwarf at the Newport News Library on Saturday afternoon and Uglyography -- Hampton's premier pop-punk-psychedelic solo act played Goody's in downtown Hampton Saturday night. My own band, the acoustic-rock covers trio Kneeling Drunkards, opened for Uglyography -- and it was all lots of fun.

Mitch from Fantasy was nice enough to hand over his video camera for a few minutes during the McKeown set. Here's the song that I caught.

Steppin' down?

2008-12-04T22:43:00.002-05:00

(Poster courtesy of Steppin Out/MySpace)

According to Internet buzz, Steppin Out -- the Virginia Beach dancehall and live music space -- is out of commission as a concert venue. From what I've read, it's a temporary problem and that the place might return to booking shows in the spring. Still, if it's true, it's a blow to the area's live music scene. Steppin' Out has been one of the most active rock clubs in the region for the last year or two. The list of bands that have played there has included The Misfits, Agent Orange and Hieroglyphics.

On the positive side, that same Internet buzz suggests that The Half Shell in Virginia Beach is seeing a change in management and the change may help the place continue its role as a home for original music. Definitely good news.

This sort of listing from side to side is pretty typical of our area, sad to say. It's often a case of one step forward, one step back.

On an unrelated subject ...

Tonight, I ran into Tom Robotham, formerly editor of Port Folio. Since leaving the paper, he's started a new Web site called TReehouse: A Magazine of Possibilities. It's still in its infancy, but it shows promise. I know Tom's a big music head. He mentioned that he heard Prabir and The Substitutes at The Taphouse recently. He dug it.

Black Twigs and the Helix

2008-11-30T22:23:00.004-05:00

(D. Charles Speer with Tele and unidentified accompanist/MySpace)

I'm back from an eventful Thanksgiving weekend -- so forgive me for my lame reposting of a MySpace bulletin from the Black Twig Pickers. This house party is exactly the sort of event that makes me wish I was living in Roanoke with my old buddy Punk Rock Jimmy as my turkey-pinging, deer-slaughtering neighbor ...

[Addendum: This update was posted Tuesday:

hey folks, sorry to assault yr screens: There's been a late-game change with the D. Charles Speer & the Helix/Black Twig Pickers show on Thursday, Dec. 4. It has moved a block to 209 Giles Road in Blacksburg. Sounds are still supposed to start soon after 9 p.m. It's a house party -- no cover, bring your own refreshments, and please contribute to the DCS&TH travel fund jug (and maybe buy one of their releases too).

thanks, back to yr regularly scheduled huzwit --
--l;kasdjf]

*******************

hey folks

another month almost upon us, another show announcement. huzzah huzzah!

firstly: thanks to all who showed up to the jack rose/twigs throwdown on the
14th! it was a lot of fun.

this one promises to be a doozy as well. this thursday, dec. 4th at 9pm, the
black twigs and the fine chaps at 202 turner street in blacksburg, va. will host d. charles speer and the helix, a chooglin' acid-fried country rokk unit from new york city. d charles himself, along with helix members dave nuss and jason meagher, are also members of the critically acclaimed free-improv group-chuff experience known as the no-neck blues band (one of my personally fav bands of ever, and you know this!), and lead guitar duties in the helix are manned by none other than the revelatory marc orleans of suburned hand of the man, enos slaughter, et al.

but don't expect too much skronk and doof -- d. charles and his band are a
swingin' song-based project that brings to mind those link wray country records and waylon jennings at his most twisted. but judge for yourself: you can check out d. charles' solo tunes @ his myspace (www. myspace. com/dcharlesspeer) and the group rockers at their official website (http://www. dcharlesspeer. com).

d. charles and his merry men will join with local corn-slurpin stomp factory the
black twigs at some point for group interpretations of... wait for it... solo jack rose tunes! we're an incestuous bunch, what can we say? and there'll be a solo twigs set as well, natch.

so after youve checked out teddi's exhibit at xyz that evening (6pm-9pm i
believe? can someone comfirm?), move as a single staggering unit towards 202 turner where the festivities will be startin' up. no charge at the door, but
come with enough shekels in yr pocket for the gas donation jar (not to mention LPs and CDs available from both bands!). this event is generally b.y.o.b. as per usual.

so to recap:
THURSDAY
DEC 4TH
9PM
202 TURNER ST. BLACKSBURG VA

ta,
nathan

********************

Magic Twig Update

2008-11-25T20:10:00.002-05:00

(Magic Twig group photo by Joe The Scientist)

Those marvelous Magic Twiggers from rockin' Roanoke posted the following MySpace bulletin earlier this week. It offers a nice overview of what's happening with that community these days ...

********

2008 is about to end. Thank Power Circle! It has been a quite a year for us. We have found new Fortress and recorded a few albums and played a few shows and met some friends along the way. Heres some details of things coming your way.

The Young Sinclairs have just released 3 albums. Tough Face, Indian Winter and O Bummer.
We made 25 of each! They will be available on the Magic Twig myspace as well as The Young Sinclairs page this coming week so keep an eye out!

The Young Sinclairs are also releasing "Songs of The Young Sinclairs" on Kindercore Records digitally and in LP formats. It will be a compilation of songs from their prior albums as well as a few unreleased songs. With this Kindercore is also releasing 5 of The Young Sinclairs albums digitally from their website.

The Young Sinclairs are now finishing the last touches of "Chimeys"

The Sad Cobras are about to record an EP of favorites Gag Balls, 250 lb Lover and Color Beams to name a few. Even possibly a split with Hot Lava. They have made 25 more copies of the beautifully enveloping NO MORE GRAVES. So get it just in time for the holidays

SUN KING! was also in the studio recording "The Rose Ceremony" that will be out early 2009. It was recorded 1 year after their previous album Dreamy of the Sunchildren. Get their first album before they're gone. Only a few left! Also in 2009 expect SUN KING!'s first 2 albums back to back on LP

The Missionaries also put the finishing touches on their first release "Dark Animals" and are currently writing the follow up. You can hear a new tune called "What cannot be Broken" on their myspace.
We sold out of the first run but have made 15 more! Get them while they sleep

Turbo P got mono and has pieced together a dance craz in Germany. He has a new track up and is rumored to be working with members of Boys Lie in the studio.

Also in the land of recording John is working with The Bastards of Fate in The Mystic Fortress. YAY!

In other news The Magic Twig Community Super Friends Fest was a blurry blast of great music from the area!
Reading Ranbow
Hot LAva
Sound Houses
The Bastards of Fate
Mommies
Root Stone
Sun KING!
The Young Sinclairs
The Sad Cobras
all did a great job and the day was beautiful with leaves falling in the in light!

Thanks to all who care and support us. I'm sure i left some things out. Keep an eye out for the golden sun of bells and rhyme.

Pals,
Indianface

PS- We just mailed out all previous orders. Enjoy!

Video Lava

2008-11-23T11:34:00.002-05:00

(Hot Lava at Toad's Place/ MySpace)

Toggle Switch readers know my affection for Richmond's Hot Lava. I like them so much I'd like to get them to play in my living room for my birthday in January, but I haven't actually talked to my wife about this. And it might upset the dog. So for now, we can all just enjoy this nice video for the band's song "Brainex."

More Discovery

2008-11-20T21:28:00.004-05:00

(Mountain Goats photo/MySpace)

The Spring Session of the Discovery concert series at the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk includes a few folks who have already played the market -- but there's still some really good stuff here. The highlight for me is the Mountain Goats -- who I've wanted to see live for years.

Kathleen Edwards – Feb. 21
Theresa Anderson – March 6
Shemekia Copeland – March 7
Mountain Goats with John Vanderslice – March 20
Corey Harris – March 21
Josh Ritter Band – April 3
John Hammond – April 10
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – April 18

I'll get back to you about the ticket details.

Kibbles and Bits

2008-11-18T22:17:00.003-05:00

(Blitzen Trapper photo by jade harris)

Tonight, I offer a few tidbits for your consumption:

Thing No. 1. I see on a MySpace bulletin that the dear, beloved Half Shell in Virginia Beach will continue booking music at least through December. Ben from the Shell sent out this message: "i was told to continue booking december so thats a good sign. we have food back to normal and will be open for lunch again next week so come support! also looking to do big shows in dec so hit me up now so we can keep the venue running."

Thing No. 2. Iron & Wine play The NorVa tomorrow. That's good. Even better is that Blitzen Trapper is the opening act. I've wanted to see those guys ever since my man Joe Atkinson turned me onto them awhile back.

Thing No. 3. The always entertaining Southern Culture on the Skids is set to play The Jewish Mother on Thursday night. That show and Dexter Romweber's visit to the Taphouse this weekend make up a sort of unintentional Chapel Hill roots rock extended weekend. Raise hell and show your ass appropriately.

Thing No. 4. Mas Y Mas will be back at The Boot on Friday, on a bill with Benjy Ferree and Shortstack. For more on that show, go here.

Feeling the Feedback

2008-11-16T21:50:00.004-05:00

(Paul Curreri, MySpace photo)

For awhile now, I've been wanted to give some props to some excellent music blogs from elsewhere in this great state of ours. Through the magic of the Internets, you can watch video of some of Virginia's finest musicians doin' their thang.

Today, I looked in on the site for C-Ville, the Charlottsville news-arts weekly and read up on several months of Feedback, a blog by Brendan Fitzgerald. In addition to posting about concerts around Hooville, Fitzgerald also has area bands come by the paper's offices where he shoots video of them performing. A session with acoustic guitarist and songwriter Paul Curreri was particularly good -- quirky lyrics with strong singing and fantastic finger picking. If you like freak folk, Curreri is worth checking out. As an aside, this video shows him backing fellow Charlottesville musician Devon Sproule during a trip to England.

Short Bus to 2009

2008-11-13T22:44:00.002-05:00

(Poster from MySpace)

Yeah, it's a bit early to be thinking about New Years Eve. But this show is unusual enough to get my attention. The following came as an e-mail today:

*****************

Richmond 's First Ever Roots Music New Years Spectacular!
Ring in 2009 with three of Richmond 's best acoustic music ensembles. WIth a champagne toast, and all the wild dancing you can muster!

Featuring:
Jackass Flats - Richmond 's favorite high-energy progressive bluegrass quartet.
A Good Natured Riot - Eclecti-grass supergroup
The Fox Hunt - Martinsburg WV = new-oldtime music

and ...

Special Ed & the Shortbus - Richmond 's beloved, internationally acclaimed, absurdist stringband, in their final Richmond (or anywhere!) appearance before retiring the bandname forever (for more on this, please email seshortbus@gmail.com).

Wednesday, December 31st (New Year's Eve)
The Canal Club - Richmond VA
$15 in advance (from Plan 9 or Canal Club Website), $20 at the door, includes midnight champagne toast.

18+, 7:30 Doors, 8:00 music

*************

Fest Fever

2008-11-10T23:36:00.006-05:00

(MySpace photo)
It's late and I'm short on time, so just two quick notes, only very loosely related.
Tonight, I've been reading about two rock festivals featuring some very fine Virginia bands.

Fest No. 1 -- Something called Ghost of Pop 4 is scheduled for Dec. 12 at Gallery 5 in Richmond. It features a gang of indie-pop/rock acts including Hot Lava, Prabir and the Substitutes, David Shultz and the Skyline, Palominos, Orioles and Awesome Few. I can attest to the niceness of all but the last two bands listed -- I haven't seen the Orioles or the Awesome Few. I'll try to find out more about this post what I learn soon. (Addendum: the Awesome Few is Marshall Costan's band. I haven't seen Marshall live, but I like his nifty Internet songs.)

Fest No. 2 -- Something called Rebellion USA will bring a stampede of punk bands to Steppin' Out in Virginia Beach on Nov. 29. Bands I'm familiar with include The Unabombers, The Hydeouts, The Nerve Scheme. Ones I don't know squat about include D.H.H., Corner's Cut, Underground District, Fujiwara and The Screws. It's an all-ages show. Doors will open at 3 p.m.

Sam's lament

2008-11-07T20:16:00.003-05:00

(Hammer No More the Fingers photo from MySpace)

Because I'm still fighting a nasty cold, I'm missing not one, but THREE good shows tonight. I actually had tickets to see Mark Kozelek tonight at the Attucks. No. Can. Do. But there were several other great choices -- Hot Lava up in Williamsburg, Little Trooper at the Norfolk Taphouse.

Since there's no live music in my present, I'll look forward to the future.

The Mas Y Mas boys sent me this message a few weeks ago:

************

It's been a moment since we've played the area, but we're going to be
putting a show on with two great out-of-towners on WEDNESDAY, NOV 12 @ The
Taphouse, starting around 10. Who are we playing with, you ask? What, is
Mas Y Mas not enough? Socialist. Anyways,

ROYAL BANGS are coming back to town (myspace.com/royalbangs), I'm pretty
sure you were at that show, but they're pretty great live, one of those
bands that sounds like their recordings. We don't know how to do that.

HAMMER NO MORE THE FINGERS (myspace.com/hnmtf) make it really hard to make
a good flyer (thanks for the name, guys), but I've included one of the
five different prints we've done for the show; they're a great three-piece
from NC that we've been trying to bring down for a while, and are another
one of those bands that are all about high quality recording- they just
completed a record with J. Robbins from Inner Ear Studios (? I DONT KNOW
SOMETHING ABOUT D.C. HERE ?!?!) which I'm sure won't make a difference at
all. Oops, not supposed to say what you really think this time of year, it
could get you in trouble.

**********

I'm happy to see that Mas Y Mas is playing with Hammer No More the Fingers -- because my old band The Floating Children played with those guys in Chapel Hill, N.C. earlier this year at the farewell to Schoolkids Records show.

Extraordinary

2008-11-05T17:23:00.009-05:00

(Toggle Switch photo of Billy Bragg with The Watson Twins at the Attucks Theatre, Norfolk, Oct. 30)

I'm still trying to get my head around the presidential election. The fact that our nation has made such a leap forward makes me, frankly, a bit weepy. But one of the pre-election moments I'll always remember is hearing Billy Bragg last week at the Attucks Theatre. Musically, Billy was sharp. More on that later.
He was also very funny -- I could do a post just on his banter. And his between-song political chatter (as you would expect, there was a lot of it) included several gems. Looking forward to what he predicted would be an Obama victory, he warned against the cynicism that would surely set in after the honeymoon period ends. He said, and I paraphrase: "Mark my words, within 18 months after he takes office, people will say, 'Obama is no better than Bush.'" He said the key is to guard against that cynicism and to be ready to push our leaders back in the right direction when we see them wander off the path.

He also said that America electing a black president would be a wonderful message to send to the rest of the world.

At that, someone from the balcony yelled, "It's not that he's the black candidate, it's that he's the right candidate."

Billy said, yes, Obama was the better candidate. But he stressed that from the perspective of Europe and the rest of the globe, the symbolism of a black chief executive would be powerfully positive.

Bragg said that folks in the rest of the world get weary of the United States describing itself as extraordinary. "But then once in awhile you do something truly extraordinary. So here's to you," Bragg said, or words to that effect. He went on to say, "What are the chances of Britain electing a black prime minister? Zero. France, Germany? Zero."

Now, getting back to the music, I'll just say that I was knocked out. I have not been crazy about Bragg's last few records. Even going back to the "Mermaid Avenue" records recorded with Wilco, I found his songs lacking. So I was concerned that this, my first Billy Bragg concert, would be a disappointment. My worries evaporated the very second Bragg walked on stage and plugged in.

In a wide-legged, Steve Jones-style stance, he ripped into "Help Save the Youth of America" sounding as fierce as ever. He followed that with "Farm Boy" from his new album "Mr. Love & Justice" then "Greetings to the New Brunette." His voice sounded full, strong and in-tune. Most of the set was electric, although he did pick up an acoustic guitar for a set of tunes in the middle of the show, including an excellent version of "Sexuality." For me, the highlights were "The Saturday Boy" and "The Milkman of Human Kindness" and "There is Power in a Union."

Billy's 50 now -- he turns 51 next month. But he still feels the fire.

Fear of Music

2008-11-01T17:34:00.005-04:00

(Photo by Patty McDonald)

Sorry for the delay in posting. I get pretty excited about Halloween so my attention has been diverted from Toggle Switch fun and games to crafting a frightening environment on our front porch for candy-craving neighborhood youngsters. In lieu of some shocking Virginia music news, I'm going to hit you with a couple of lists of recommended Halloween music and movies. I hope something here makes your weekend more creepy.

Behold, friends, my Unsettling Halloween Playlist ....

"I Put a Spell on You" Sreamin' Jay Hawkins
"Unfolding" Feralcatscan
"Electric Funeral" Black Sabbath
"We're All Mad Here" Tom Waits
"Back Juju" Alice Cooper
"Boris the Spider" The Who
"Can't Find My Mind" The Cramps
"Quartet No. 8: I. Largo" Kronos Quartet
"Lie Down" The Handsome Family
"Blood Bitch" Cocteau Twins

... and my 10 Favorite Halloween Weekend Movies

"Sleepy Hollow" (Johnny Depp)
"Nosferatu" (1922)
"Young Frankenstein"
"The Exorcist"
"Blair Witch Project"
"Sweeney Todd" (Johnny Depp with Tim Burton, again)
"Rocky Horror Picture Show"
"Night of the Living Dead"
"The Ring"
"Psycho"

Apples Meet Seamonster

2008-10-28T22:17:00.005-04:00

(Art by Todd Webb)

Tonight's good news is that Todd Webb aka Seamonster is collaborating with Robert Schneider of Apples in Stereo on a childrens album to be released early next year. Schneider wrote the songs and Webb contributed to a comic book that will be included in the disc. Pitchfork ran a story about the disc this afternoon.

Webb/Seamonster is a Virginia Beach guy, by the way.

The following is what Seamonster posted about the project on a MySpace bulletin:

***************

hey guys!
just a heads up that an awesome project i have been working on is being released into the world this january!
my friend robert schneider recorded a super cool children's record which is being released in packaging with a comic book and coloring book containing art by me - it is called robbert bobbert and the bubble machine!

***************

You can test drive some of the songs and check out a few samples of Todd's artwork here.

In related news, Seamonster's MySpace page says he's opening for Jens Lekman at The College of William and Mary on Nov. 8. Wow!

The Power of One

2008-10-26T22:21:00.004-04:00

(Photo of Phil Roebuck at The Boot by Jim Roberts)

Phillip Roebuck makes music of awesome, primal beauty. The plinky rattle of his $22 banjo and the blues rasp in his voice combine to make something special. But you should also take into consideration the fact that he sings and plays banjo while also playing a bass drum and tambourine that's strapped to his back. That last part would seem like a gimmick if Roebuck's one-man-band sound wasn't so powerful. I saw Phillip do his thing at The Boot this past Wednesday and I'm still thinking about how great it was. I had been hearing rumblings -- including one mention in a South By Southwest roundup a few weeks ago -- but I didn't really understand the force of his solo playing until I saw it in person.

It's not just a neat trick. The guy is really good at doing four things at once. He reminds me of The Avett Brothers -- if they were distilled to one person instead of three.

After his set, Phillip told me that he divides his time between Hampton Roads and New York City. His family is here. I guess the opportunities are there. I've read he's considered one of NYC's best subway performers.

The last time I heard Phillip play music, he was still in the powerpop group The Hollowbodies, a band with roots here in Hampton Roads. I may be mistaken, but the last time I remember seeing that band was at the East Coast Surfing Championships at Virginia Beach years ago. His strong singing and gift for melody always impressed me.

Hearing him again -- and applying his talents to a sort of punk-folk sound-- was wonderful.

I'm just catching up to all this, but it turns out that he's recorded four CDs as a one man band, the most recent two were recorded by rock production hero Steve Albini.

At The Boot show, I picked up his newest, "Fever Pitch" which has a copyright date of 2006. On it, Phillip sounds like some kind of weird backwoods hybrid: part hillbilly, part grizzled blues man, part rock 'n' roller. Most of all, though, he sounds good.

Back to the Blue Ridge

2008-10-23T23:05:00.004-04:00

(Photo of Wayne Henderson from flatpick.ning.com)

Wednesday night, I saw a great set by one-man-band Phillip Roebuck at The Boot in Norfolk. More about that later.

Tonight, I want to alert you to a great folk festival that's happening Saturday at Ferrum College, hosted by the Blue Ridge Institute.

The musical lineup for the Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival includes several great names in Virginia folk, among them guitarist Wayne Henderson and the string band Ballard Branch Bog Trotters. See the full schedule here.

Don Harrison wrote to tell me that the Dazzlers, from Brookneal/Lynchburg will be part of the action on Saturday. "They are one of the 'lost' rockabilly acts we uncovered for the upcoming exhibit and they will getting back together to play the festival on Saturday," Don wrote. He was referring to an upcoming exhibit he's working on with the Blue Ridge Institute about the original rockabilly explosion in Virginia. I've heard some of the music, and it's hot stuff, so I'm expecting a great exhibit.

Also performing at Saturday's folk festival will be Jeffrey Scott, of Culpeper. Scott is nephew of the late legendary Piedmont Blues musician John Jackson, who was truly a treasure.

Big Apple Dreaming

2008-10-21T23:01:00.003-04:00

I just looked at the long, long list of bands playing the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, and I counted a total of four Virginia acts: Hot Lava, Ki:Theory, Skillz, and Sons of Bill. I'm hoping someone can look at this list and tell me who else from our dear Old Dominion will be getting it done in NYC. I'd like to think that out of 1,000 or so bands playing the event more than four would be from here. In any case, good luck to the foursome I know about. I have especially high hopes for Hot Lava who played The Boot awhile back and made a believer out of me.

Shell Shocked

2008-10-18T23:53:00.002-04:00

(MySpace photo)

I was disappointed to read the following MySpace bulletin posted tonight. I don't know the details, but it sounds like The Half Shell -- a long-time center of original band activity in Hampton Roads -- might be in trouble.

Here's the post in it's entirety:

********
tonight could possibly be the last chance everyone has to catch a show at the shell. come out if you can and support helping us stay open. it would be a sad sad day for the live original music scene in hampton roads to see it happen. this place is near and dear to my heart as well as all the bands and customers we have had over the years. it would very much be a personal loss not just for myself, but many of you. you people are the ones that helped mold the half shell into what it is and i personaly thank you all for that. it has in a way helped me become the person i am as well. so come support! thank you from the heart - ben @ the half shell

*******

Several of my favorite local bands have played The Half Shell repeatedly over the years. It seems to be one of the few bars in Virginia Beach that regularly books original, up-and-coming rock bands. If the place shuts its doors for good, it would be yet another blow to original music in the area. Despite the bleak-sounding post, I noticed the Half Shell MySpace page is still advertising a Nov. 1 post-Halloween party featuring Download, No Mercy for Martyrs and others.

Around the Way Jams

2008-10-15T22:07:00.003-04:00

St. Cloud, MN

(Video courtesy of philliproebuck.com)

I'm watching the Obama-McCain slugfest right now, so I'm a bit distracted. But I want to bring two promising shows happening at The Boot to your attention.

On Oct. 22, a band from Oklahoma called The Uglysuit will play along with Phillip Roebuck, musician known locally from his days with The Hollowbodies. These days, he's doing a crazy, banjo-fueled one-man-band act. In 2003, the New York Press voted Phillip the city's Best Subway Musician, and he has since recorded three albums and has been touring steadily. I'm looking forward to Uglysuit, but I'm really excited about catching Phillip's set. I haven't seen him rock in many years.

On Dec. 5, Erin McKeown, a talented and stylistically varied songwriter will be stepping into The Boot. She previously played The Attucks Theatre as part of The Discovery Series. At this show, the wonderful Sarah Carter -- a local indie-folk artist, will open.

Super Friends Super Show

2008-10-13T21:57:00.003-04:00

(SUN KING! photo from MySpace)

Those zany Magic Twig Community rockers from Roanoke have planned what's looking like a really good, free music festival in the Star City next month. The event will take place 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 8 at Elm Wood Park in downtown Roanoke.

The Magic Twig Community Super Friends Fest will include:
Root Stone Jug Band
Hot lava
Sound Houses
Reading Rainbow
Bastards of Fate
SUN KING!
The Young Sinclairs
The Sad Cobras

No-Joke Folk

2008-10-11T20:32:00.004-04:00

(Toggle Switch photos of -- top to bottom -- Grupo Cimarron, Howard Tate and the fiddle traditions workshop)

Today I made a quick trip to Richmond to romp through the inaugural Richmond Folk Festival -- which is a free event happening this weekend along the downtown riverfront. Two previous Octobers, Richmond hosted big music festivals under the National Folk Festival banner. I admired those from afar. This year, I finally got to see it all up close.

Damn, it was impressive. Generally speaking, big music festivals can be a pain. Bands tend to play one short 45-minute set. Sound can be sketchy. Lines can be long. Crowds can be irritating. Parking can be a pain in the neck. But organizers at the Richmond Folk Festival have most of the logistics sorted out. I was able to park quickly, walk a few blocks to the festival area near Browns Island and bounce between six stages with few snags.

In less than three hours, I was able to hear:

1) Grupo Cimarron, a joropo band from Colombia. These guys were an eye-opener -- and very entertaining. I'm familiar with some Colombian folk styles, but not joropo. I turns out to be based on stringed instruments -- nylon-string acoustic guitars, harp and bass -- along with hand percussion and singing. The sound reminded me of flamenco guitar at times, but the rhythmic elements were very different. The band's two vocalists were both very strong and fun to watch. Carlos Rojas' group, for me, was a revelation.

2) Howard Tate, a 70-year-old, classic-style soul singer. Howard's music has been rediscovered recently and he was in fine form in Richmond Saturday. While he's not all that mobile on stage, his voice was powerful and precise. I heard him sing Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927," as well as "Solid Ground" "I Learned it All The Hard Way" and "Ain't Nobody Home." That last song, Howard introduced saying "This is the first song that put me on the front line of music and I haven't looked back since ... except for the 30 years I disappeared." He also made it clear that he's thankful to have survived years of drug abuse and personal struggles to make music again. "I'm going to give God a clap for delivering me -- and I still have the voice," he said. "He'll deliver you, too."

3) A session featuring fiddlers from several different groups playing the festival. I came in late so I didn't get to hear everybody get introduced, but I know that Michael Doucet from Beausoleil and James Cheechoo, a Cree fiddler from Ontario, Canada, participated. I believe the fiddlers from the Irish group Liadan were also part of the action. Hearing these diverse fiddle styles helped me see subtle differences and similarities. This is the kind of thing I love about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the mall in Washington. Great to hear it a little bit closer to home.

Chocolate in C'Ville

2008-10-09T22:45:00.003-04:00

(CCD photo courtesy of carolinachocolatedrops.com)

I've been waiting for years for the chance to see the celebrated Carolina Chocolate Drops. My best opportunity is coming up Oct. 25 in Charlottesville when CCD will perform at Paramount Theater. If you haven't heard of the Chocolate Drops, they're an African-American folk trio that celebrates the nearly extinct sound of black old-time string bands. There's a bit of a black banjo revival going on right now that's wonderful. Otis Taylor -- who is playing Norfolk next month as part of the Discovery Series -- is part of the movement. His latest disc is titled "Recapturing the Banjo" and includes contributions from Guy Davis and Alvin Youngblood Hart.
Getting back to the Charlottesville show, the Chocolate Drops will play as part of a great weekend of roots music at the Paramount. On Oct. 26 Wayne Henderson, Elizabeth LaPrelle and Lee Sexton will play together. For ticket information, go here. Warning: The shows are painfully expensive. The Chocolate Drops show is $40.

Big Bull, Big News

2008-10-07T21:33:00.005-04:00

(Fight the Big Bull photo by Jake Lyell)

Listening to Public Radio's "Fresh Air" last week, I heard the host introduce an album review by saying something like, "In this age of global culture, there's no telling where the next great jazz band will come from." I was prepared to hear something about a fusion act from Indonesia or Uzbekistan. So felt a sense of giddy confusion when I heard the words "Richmond, Virginia" leap from my radio.

It turned out to be a positively glowing review of the new disc by Fight The Big Bull, "Dying Will Be Easy."

You can listen to the entire episode of "Fresh Air," here, but Kevin Whitehead's review starts like this:

********

"Ambitious jazz musicians used to have to relocate to big cities with reputable scenes: to learn from elders, collaborate with peers, play on big stages and meet potential financial backers. But the adventurous nonet known as Fight the Big Bull formed in an age of widespread jazz education and instant global communication. That zeitgeist may explain how a nine-piece group from Richmond, Va., could score a breakthrough gig in Chicago, well before it issued its debut on a Portuguese record label. The generation gap may also shed light on how Fight the Big Bull has made some of today's most exuberant and relevant improvised music."

**********

Fight The Big Bull is one of several projects from songwriter Matt White. His band The Great White Jenkins has strong connections to Norfolk -- maybe why his bands tend to play here.
Your next chance to see Fight the Big Bull here is Oct. 24 at The Boot.

Real in Richmond

2008-10-05T22:06:00.003-04:00

(Lee Sexton photo from Flickr.com)

The Richmond Folk Festival -- happening Oct. 10-12 along the downtown's riverfront -- has booked a terrifically wide-ranging bunch of bands and artists this year. Highlights include Lee Sexton, The Itals, Dan Tyminski, E.U., Dale Watson, BeauSoleil, Ledward Kaapana & Mike Kaawa, and Howard Tate. I didn't make it up to the Commonwealth's capitol for the last few years -- when the event marched under the banner of the National Folk Festival. But I heard from several sources that the whole thing was fun and well run. Read more about the festival here.

Local Heroes

2008-10-02T20:51:00.005-04:00

Is it just me, or does Montgomery Burns bear a resemblance to Dick Cheney? Monty's a bit skinnier, but beyond that, I think they're separated at birth.

In honor of Burnsy (my favorite "Simpsons" character, ahead of Police Chief Wiggum and The Comic Book Guy) I'm linking to a message from The Alfredo Torres Debacle about excellence on the Hampton Roads music scene.

He begins his post by writing:

"Wake up people!!!!!! You have no idea what the local music scene holds. You have no idea of what is going on with the talent that is currently walking the streets of Hampton Roads. You don’t know what is slipping through your fingers even as you read this."

Read the whole post here.

But, in essence, Torres is sounding a call to action on behalf of local musicians. He specifically mentions Pawn Shop Lifters, Rylo, Shifty, The Nerve Scheme and Freedom Hawk among many others.

Word.

Rock 'n' Roll Ruckus

2008-09-30T22:24:00.004-04:00

(Needles logo from MySpace)

Saturday night at The Taphouse in Ghent, a bunch of punky, garagy bands played in honor of Nathan Berger, who celebrated his birthday with a metric crap-ton of rock. I only got to witness The Needles from Wilmington, N.C., who were truly excellent. But if this kind of sleazy, three-chord rock appeals to you ( and why wouldn't it?) sample some of the night's festivities here. I should note that Gina Dalmas also performed and was an exception to all the punk rawk rowdiness. She's doing a sort of honky-tonk swing thing that's also pretty fun.

Night Time for Nappy

2008-09-28T22:55:00.007-04:00

(MySpace photo)
I learned that the R&B/blues singer Nappy Brown died last week. I realize I am once again stretching the geographic focus of Toggle Switch by posting about this. And I don't care. I know that Nappy -- who was based in Charlotte, N.C. -- played in Hampton Roads at least once over the last 14 years. He played Goodfellas in Hampton about 5 years ago, if my memory serves. While I always knew that Nappy was a beloved figure down in North Carolina, I had forgotten until I read his New York Times obituary that he wrote "(Night Time) Is the Right Time" -- truly an R&B classic. Ray Charles had a big hit with the tune, but I learned about it through the J. Geils Band version. But it's been covered by everybody and his brother. Even Norfolk's own Crums did a version last time I saw them.
I'm sorry that I never heard Nappy live. Anyone who can write a song like that and also maintain a live career over five decades gets my admiration.
Brown's MySpace page contains a nice tribute by friend and collaborator Bob Margolin.

Say It's Your Birthday

2008-09-26T23:24:00.004-04:00

Saturday night at the Taphouse, Big Bobby and the Nightcaps will be laying down the sleazy garage rock in honor of local scenester Nathan Berger. The birthday celebration will feature a special appearances by Steve Baise of The Villains and Paul Johnson. I'm expecting a big mess of excess -- which should be fun to witness even if you don't join in.

What else is happening this weekend of note? The Sunrise to Sunset Acoustic Music Festival brings the spunky string band Old Crow Medicine Show to Town Point Park for a free show Sunday evening.

Sounds Like Norfolk Spirit

2008-09-23T22:32:00.003-04:00

(MySpace art)

Norfolk's punky, garage-rock gutter princes The Villains have released a new CD. They celebrated the new disc with show at The Taphouse over the weekend. We at Toggle Switch haven't gotten a copy yet, but we're working on it. Until I can give you a full review, check out a few songs here and head over to hamptonroads.com to read an interview with band leader Steve Baise.

Here's an excerpt:

************

“It’s just something I started saying because of Frank Guida, which is the original Norfolk sound. I don’t write it as good or the same, but pretty close to the same style as him, which is rooted in the ’50s with girls and cars,” said Baise, songwriter and former member of 1989’s New York City punk rockers The Devil Dogs. Baise toured in Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada and, of course, the United States while with the band. He moved from New York 10 years ago, when the Dogs broke up, “I basically grew up in Jersey, and living down here reminds me of Jersey.”

************

Unplugged Punk

2008-09-21T22:57:00.004-04:00

(poster from Myspace)
I've been trying to see Avail-turned-folk-troubadour Tim Barry for some time now. Thursday's show at the Jewish Mother sounds like it should be something unusually good. Can I make it all they way to the oceanfront on a Thursday night? We'll see about that.

Here's a press release about the tour that includes Thursday's show ...

***************

In a match made in folk-punk heaven, Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan, Avail’s Tim Barry and Lucero’s Ben Nichols will embark on The Revival Tour this fall, , a series of shows that will see all three artists playing solo sets as well as performing on each other’s material. “All the tours that I’ve done since I’ve been doing this solo stuff have in some way or the other ended up with a bunch of friends onstage by the end of the night,” Ragan explains, adding that each performer will be joined by a backing band that will change based on geography and include many of their peers and previous tourmates. “I’ve always loved seeing that and now I’m absolutely loving creating something like that with good friends who think and believe along the same lines.”
The tour will mark Ragan’s final run in support of last year’s solo debut Feast Or Famine, after which he’ll begin pre-production on his next album for SideOneDummy. Barry is touring in support of his own folk debut, Rivanna Junction. Although the two musicians met in the nineties while fronting two of the most influential DIY punk bands of the era, in recent years both songwriters have begun to explore folk and bluegrass compositions, making this tour a perfect pairing of ideologies and instrumentation.
Nichols entered the picture when him and Ragan recently toured in January, but it wasn’t until this year’s SXSW Festival in Austin , Texas , that the plan was solidified. “We were both doing our own thing and weren’t there in conjunction, but ended up sitting down for some drinks after one of the long days,” Ragan explains. “We agreed on a time, shook hands and kept on drinking.” While the tour will feature individual sets from each artist, it will be more reminiscent of the folk tradition of involving multiple artist collaborations—and each performer will have guests coming on and off stage, including the three primary songwriters who plan to hunker down in Barry’s Richmond, Virginia backyard this summer to learn each other’s respective tracks.
“The three of us have been in bands that each have their own sound, but I think we’re all coming from the same place musically concerning this tour,” Nichols explains. “When it comes down to it, we all appreciate good songs and good songwriters and that’s what this tour is all about,” he adds, “stripping everything down to its basic form and playing some good songs with some of your friends. The idea of Woody Guthrie, just a man and a guitar, is very appealing to all of us—and the chance to be a part of something like that with Chuck and Tim is something I couldn’t pass up. We all have our own types of songs, but I think it’ll be a blast basically sitting around a campfire every night playing music with some friends.”
“I don’t know what it’s going to end up sounding like from night-to-night and that’s the coolest thing about it,” explains Barry. “I don’t think anyone is going to know what it’s going to sound like until we get up there, but I can honestly say that I’m more excited about music now than I’ve been in a long time.” The routing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but The Revival Tour will tentatively take place from late September through mid-November and traverse the entire country. “There’s only a few bands that I feel that kinship with as far as personalities beyond music; there’s some people where you’re like, ‘this is my family on the road no matter what.’ Hot Water Music and Lucero are two of the few bands I feel that way about,” Barry summarizes. “It’s going to be a thrill to do this.”
Chuck Ragan has been the co-frontman for the Gainesville , Florida punk act Hot Water Music since 1993. He released his debut full-length Feast Or Famine last year on SideOneDummy.
Tim Barry has been the singer of the Richmond, Virginia-based punk band Avail since 1990. Barry released his solo debut Rivanna Junction last year on Suburban Home Records.
Ben Nichols has been the frontman of the alternative-country/punk act Lucero since 1998. The band released their latest album Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers on their own label Liberty & Lament in 2006.

**********

Tim Barry's new album "Manchester" will be out Nov. 4 on Suburban Home Records.

Heaven is a Place

2008-09-18T23:22:00.003-04:00

(2006 Byrne photo by Fred von Lohmann)

It's late and I'm out of energy, so here's a quick mini-review of tonight's David Byrne show at the Ferguson Center in Newport News.
Overall, the show was very entertaining, although my enjoyment was diluted by the fact that the sound was brash, brittle and treble-heavy, lacking in clear, distinct bass.
That aside, Byrne was in a good mood and his singing was strong. His band was tight and capable and a team of three dancers were fun to watch and gave the show a nice visual boost. I could nitpick and say the choreography wasn't always as inventive as I might have hoped, but then I'd sound like a grumpy, middle-aged malcontent. I'd never want that.
The night's setlist was smart mix of new and old tunes, many of which showed the fingerprints of Brian Eno, who of course was the ghost hovering over the night's affair.
Highlights from the set -- which, as advertised, concentrated on Byrne-Eno material -- included "Heaven" from 1979's "Fear of Music" and "One Fine Day" from the new album "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today." Another peak came with the one-two punch of "Once In a Lifetime" and "Life During Wartime."
Good stuff. Not life changing, but good.

September Girl

2008-09-16T22:18:00.003-04:00

(MySpace photo by Lynne Brubaker)
Today, I learned that Shannon Worrell -- who back in the gay '90s recorded and performed in the Charlottesville duo September 67 -- is still in Charlottesville and still making music. This is, for me, great news because I dearly loved a particular September 67 song called (I kid you not) "Stephen Malkmus is a Fucking Snob."
While the song doesn't actually contain that line, Shannon did seem to be addressing Stephen -- also someone who spent some time in C'Ville way back when. At the climax of the tune, says Shannon quotes poet Allen Ginsberg then sings "Fuck a bunch of irony, dear God, make me a hippie!"
Funny, smart, heartfelt stuff -- and sung in a voice and setting that reminds me of Tanya Donelly or Kristen Hirsh.
September 67 got some big label attention and even toured as part of Lilith Fair, but, for whatever reason, never really took off. Worrell went on to record some overly slick coffeehouse pop-folk on her 1994 solo disc "Three Wishes." Her 2000 album "The Moviegoer" was better, but must not have made much of a splash. I don't even remember hearing about it when it was released.
I had pretty much written off Shannon, so stumbling on her MySpace page was a pleasant surprise. She's set to release a new album, "The Honey Guide," on October 17. If the song "Kitchen" posted on her MySpace page is any indication, she's moved in a more folky, rustic direction. It suits her.

If you want to download "Stephen Malkmus ..." or Shannon's solo discs, they're available through www.emusic.com.

Thrift Shop Stop

2008-09-14T22:48:00.003-04:00

(Dan Villanueva photo from MySpace)

My weekend was consumed by lots of strenuous, but worthy, activity. None of it had much to do with music, though, so I thought I'd write about a local disc I discovered at the Hope House Foundation thrift store -- the one across from Doumar's.
Astropop 3's self-titled disc from 1998 is a testament to that group's ambitions and to the talents of Astropop guitarist and singer Dan Villanueva. "You're the One" "and So Happy" drip with both sweet melody and sour melancholy. Arrangements are simple, strumming guitar and restrained bass and guitar make up the meat of the tracks. Dan sings in a bit of a monotone -- and I think that probably ultimately makes Astropop 3 a tough sell for some people. But on tunes like "China Doll" he sounds confident, clear and pretty inspired.
As of earlier this year, the band was still around, but I think they're playing much less frequently.

Auto Harping

2008-09-11T21:59:00.009-04:00

(Autoharp photo courtesy of www.jetmedic.com)

I've got a shotgun blast of scattershot news for you tonight, so prepare for screaming pellets of concert/music information.

Pellet No. 1. First off, I urge any of you who have any interest in folky, indie rock to head over to The Boot tomorrow to hear Sarah Carter. Sarah, who sings and accompanies herself on autoharp, is promising to play a set of mostly original tunes. If they're as good as the ones I heard recently at an in-store performance at Volume in Virginia Beach, I'll be a happy man. Regardless, though, Carter is a fine live performer. Her voice -- which seems to bridge a gap between Irish Dement and Billie Holiday -- is in itself something to behold. Friday, she's playing with the duo Ellery and a singer-songwriter named Kyler England. Cover is $5, I think.

Pellet No. 2. I heard today that The Watson Twins are opening for Billy Bragg at the Attucks Theatre on October 30. OK, I really didn't need another reason to get excited about this show. But here's another reason. I've read up and down reviews of the Watson Twins' record, but several of the tunes I heard on their MySpace page were pretty terrific.

Pellet No. 3. Jeff Maisey wrote a nice story about the local SHDWPLY Records in the current issue of Port Folio. The label, which has released an LP by Norfolk's own Super Vacations and a split 7-inch with Norfolk's Little Trooper on one side, Houston's Wicked Poseur on the other. This is a record I need to get my grubby paws on. Read the full story here.

Pellet No. 4. Finally, I learned this week that one of my favorite Hampton Roads cover bands, Ampersand, is playing a local wine festival this fall -- good news for anyone who likes 1980s and 1990s rock songs reinterpreted in an acoustic format. [UPDATE!]They’re playing at the Neptune’s Fall Wine Festival, on Saturday, at the 31st Street Park at Virginia Beach. They’re supposed to be on from 2:30 to 5 p.m.

South Side Soul

2008-09-09T23:12:00.004-04:00

(Swamp Dogg photo courtesy of The Sound of Young America blog)

Journalist and music guru Don Harrison supplied the Toggle Switch fodder for tonight. Harrison has a piece on the wonderful (but often overlooked) Virginia funk master Swamp Dogg in the current issue of Hampton Roads magazine.
Here's a sample:

****************

"A comeback?" the talkative and gregarious Portsmouth native laughs into his side of the phone. "First, you gotta go somewhere."

At the age of 12, the future show biz veteran was hawking homemade records to area record shops; he hosted a TV music variety show in Hampton Roads when he was barely in high school. Jerry Williams' resume has since included prominent stints as singer, songwriter, producer, label owner, song publisher and political gadfly; his creative orbit inhabited by a diverse cast of characters, including Lionel Richie, Jane Fonda, Kid Rock, Johnny Paycheck, Dr. Dre and John Prine - imagine them all in one room!

So how come you've probably never heard of this guy?

Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that, since the '70s, Williams has operated under the pseudonym of Swamp Dogg, and with a fiercely independent attitude that has often blurred any public recognition he might've gained from his musically formidable body of work. The pugnacious, profane (and often fiercely political) Dogg is a big name in South America and the Dutch West Indies; the British dig him too. At the time of this interview, Williams had just returned from a tour of Europe and was planning future concert stops in Aruba and Amsterdam.

But in America, it's been a different story, he says. "I can't pay people to come see me."

************

Don was also nice enough to tip me off to what looks like a great resource on Virginia soul music from days gone by. I'll be digging deeper into the Funky Virginia blog soon. You should, too.

Fuck the Computer

2008-09-07T22:39:00.003-04:00

(Poster from MySpace)
In the name of expanding the body of knowledge created through the Toggle Switch Institute For Advanced Virginia Music Studies, I've been asking lots of questions. When I run into someone who's deep into the original music scene, I usually ask him to tell me about two or three of his or her favorite Virginia artists.
I like to call this my "Method."
And the "Method" is what led me to Richmond's Amoeba Men.
Matt Deans, keyboard dude from Hot Lava, told me they were one of his favorite Richmond bands. In fact, he was wearing an Amoeba Men T-shirt at the Hot Lava show at The Boot.
Once I made it to the A.M. MySpace page, I heard some deliciously abrasive rock music -- made by a guitar-keyboard-drums trio. The vocals remind me of the shout-talk stuff we used to hear a lot in the 1980s. The angular, stabbing riffs are definitely post-punk. But I wouldn't say these guys are trapped in the past. There's a freshness to the Amoeba Men attack on tracks like "Fuck the Computer" and "Itchy Trigger Fingers" (the latter of which is available as a free download) that tells me that these guys are worth a closer look.
No Hampton Roads dates are listed as yet, but the Amoebas are set to play Gallery 5 in Richmond on Oct. 15.

Undercurrents

2008-09-04T23:02:00.003-04:00

The Kung Fu Dykes are a Hampton Roads band that mixed new wave with heavy metal. At least that's my memory. It had been a long time since I'd heard much of their music, so I listened to a couple of newer songs on MySpace and that confirmed my recollection. I'm happy to report that it looks like they're becoming semi-active again. I believe at least one member attended the recent Tidewater Alternative Music Subculture reunion in Chesapeake. And tonight, I saw a bulletin saying the band is playing with Metal Blade recording artists Soilent Green in Danville, of all places. I'm glad that the Dykes are playing again. And I'm glad to see that Danville has some kind of a metal scene going. If there's any place that dark, menacing, morbid music would make sense it's Danville -- where the textile/tobacco economy has been on the skids for years.

Alive She Cried

2008-09-02T08:31:00.004-04:00

An ambitious music and art festival centered on local artists is being planned for Oct. 12 at the Granby Theater.
Called Look Alive, it will feature several of my favorite local musicians including 1888 and Sarah Carter. The event will benefit Tidewater Arts Outreach, a worthy local charity.

Here's a description I lifted from the Look Alive Project Web site:

*********

"Hoping to be a resounding call to arms for area artists and musicians alike, the LOOK ALIVE Festival will not only serve to foster and celebrate the Hampton Roads creative community but will also raise the bar as to what it's capable of, effectively turning artists into artisans and offering an escape for anyone stuck in the doldrums of Saturday night monotony.
Eleven of the region's most gifted visual artists and three of its most praised musical acts will be showcased under one roof; the centerpiece of an evening designed to both raise awareness, and spark initiative among the local arts scene. Some of the area's most recognizable staples like John Hickey (muralist), Cassie Rangel (visual artist ; Norfolk Craft Mafia), and Britta Petilon (gallery artist) will be alongside up-and-coming amateurs like Howard Tarpey (photographer) and Andrew Albertson (urban artist) giving the LOOK ALIVE Festival audience a full scope into the wealth of talent Hampton Roads has to offer. Dancehall darlings JC-DC and Lord Ryan Thomas and indie-rock marvels 1888 (Portfolio Awards Best Album Nominee) will be on hand to turn their amps to eleven and keep the audience dancing all evening long. Also performing will be alt-country outfit Gifthorse (ex-Copperpot, Some Odd Sense), whose forthcoming album serves as both namesake and inspiration for the festival.
Artist participation will not only be restricted to those whose names are on the marquee. LOOK ALIVE coordinators are encouraging and engaging all local artists and musicians to contribute to what's been coined the "Take-Home Tote". Included in each of these FREE souvenir bags will be everything from local bands' demo discs, upcoming show fliers and stickers, to area artists' one-of- a-kind trinkets, photo prints and business cards. Nothing that fits reasonably within the confines of a standard tote will be refused, giving anyone who attends this event quite the memento and giving every artist that submits something a chance to spread their own gospel for just the price of admission.
In keeping with the idea of positively affecting the community at large, the LOOK ALIVE PROJECT has chosen TIDEWATER ARTS OUTREACH (TAO) as its benefactor of all monies from every ticket sold. TAO brings music and the arts to area homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers, pediatric cancer hospitals, and many other facilities and institutions in need of their efforts. These performances, programs and activities promote human interaction, happiness and healing for people who have limited access to the arts, due to health, economic or social circumstances.
Lookaliveproject.com will be launching in the coming weeks, serving as "home-base" for the project, the event itself and as an open forum for any and all interested in getting involved."

************

O.D. in C'ville

2008-08-29T23:33:00.005-04:00

Last weekend, a bunch of Virginia's best garage punk bands played in Charlottesville under the banner of the "Rock 'n' Roll Overdose" festival. Thankfully, somebody was there with a video camera. And thankfully, they were nice enough to edit their footage down to the digestible hunk you can watch above. You'll see The Villains, The Ladies, Black Jesus, The Dirty Fingers, The Brutal Knights, The Hookers, Big Bobby and the Nightcaps, and former Candy Snatcher Larry "Mud" May singing with several of the previously listed bands. The view of the stage isn't always so clear and the audio is shaky, but you get the idea of what the night was like.

American Roots

2008-08-27T20:48:00.004-04:00

(Photo of Boo Hanks from Music Maker Relief Foundation)

A Virginia musician played a festival in New York City on Sunday, along with punk godmother Patti Smith, jazz hero Charlie Haden and folk giant Pete Seeger. His name is James Arthur "Boo" Hanks, an acoustic blues guitarist from Virgilina. Hanks has released an album through the North Carolina-based Music Maker Relief Foundation, a group that helps aging, poor musicians make money for necessities like housing and health care.
Boo played Sunday as part of the Roots of American Music Festival, an outdoor event connected with Lincoln Center. New York Times reporter Nate Chinen included him in his review of the 25th annual event. His story, headlined, "From Back-Porch Ease to A Taste of the Wild," includes these words:
"The music ranged from unfiltered to polished. Boo Hanks fell somewhere in between: playing and singing in the Piedmont style, he brought a back-porch ease to 'Trouble in Mind,' dropping the occasional beat or bar."
If you like Piedmont blues, go here to download three free tracks by Boo Hanks.
Here's the full lineup from Sunday's featival:
Alabama Slim, Adolphus Bell, Dr. G. B. Burt, Capt. Luke, Boo Hanks, Macavine Hayes and Big Ron Hunter, the Knitters: John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Dave Alvin, DJ Bonebrake, Jonny Ray Bartel, Haden Family Singers Labor of Love featuring Charlie Haden, Ruth Cameron, Petra, Tanya, Rachel and Josh Haden, with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton, Dan Tyminski, and special guests Patti Smith and her band.

Friday Night Lights

2008-08-24T07:53:00.004-04:00

(Hot Lava at The Boot, Toggle Switch photo)

There's much to report from Friday night's indie-pop extravaganza at The Boot, but here's the executive summary: It was a great, enlightening, entertaining evening of music.
Roanoke's Sad Cobras opened the show -- and I regrettably missed their first two songs. But what followed was almost all new music. The only tune the band played from their "No More Graves" album was "Bodycast." The new tunes struck me as a bit more somber than the most buoyant moments from the album. An exception was the set-ending "Blue Kettle," a new song that I can't wait to hear again.
Hot Lava's live set was much more straight-forward than what's heard on the "Lavalogy" CD. On stage, the band left behind most of the arty low-fi noise, which brought the focus on the Lava's sugary melodies and singer-guitarist Allison Apperson's lovely voice. I'm addicted to the CD -- which I just got my paws on last week -- but the Lava's live show sealed the deal for me. They're officially one of my favorite Virginia bands.
In some ways, we in Hampton Roads get to claim them as our own. Allison told me Friday that she's from Williamsburg -- a graduate of Lafayette High School. Keyboard dude Matt Deans is from Portsmouth. Drummer and audio mastermind Jared Sosa is from Norfolk. The musicians all crossed paths in art school at VCU.
Norfolk's own Little Trooper provided the finale to Friday night's shindig and I can see how the band's live show is getting more cohesive and forceful. My guess is that touring -- including a recent short run with Mas Y Mas -- has helped the group focus its live attack.
I left The Boot a happy man, clutching a Little Trooper button and a disc of two new songs: "Faster Louder" and "Dinner Time."

Midnight Confessions

2008-08-21T23:13:00.004-04:00

(Photo of TAMS reunion by Rachel Greenberg. Pictured are Paul Tiers of Waxing Poetics far left and Kelly Miltier far right with someone named Johann in the middle)

It's mea culpa time here in Toggle Switch land. Mistakes have been made ... terrible, terrible mistakes.

Maybe that's the reason you, the Toggle Switch reader, aren't leaving me any provocative comments. That must be it. You're disappointed in me. I hereby pledge to do better.

Please give me another chance!

How did I eff up? Well, first of all, somehow I failed to alert you to the fact that two of the best roots-rock/blues bands in the region -- Rylo and Pawn Shop Lifters -- were playing together in Williamsburg tonight. This was quite an oversight. I beg your pardon. Seriously, if you're living in the 'burg and you were looking to go have a beer and listen to some live music tonight, this was the perfect double bill. Did any of you go see Rylo and PSL? Write some comments and tell me how it went. I'm sure it was smokin'.

OK, here's another of my fumbles. I've failed to follow up from the Punk New Wave reunion that was held back in June. In April, I reported on plans for a film documentary and photo book on the local New Wave scene from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Kelly Miltier and Pete Desnoyers were spearheading the project. They also held a reunion for scenesters and musicians from that era. I was hoping to attend and post about the experience, but I had to work that night, as it turned out.

Anyway, here's a belated message about how the reunion -- held June 29 at Headlights in Chesapeake -- came off. This was sent out by Miltier and Desnoyers soon after the event:

*************

"A massive killer big-time thanks to everyone that was able
to attend the Call To Arms reunion on Sunday the 29th. Our sympathies to
those of you who were unable to attend for one reason or another as you
missed a good one.

Hope everyone had as great a time as Pete and I. Even though we were busy throughout the day, we enjoyed seeing everyone in the same place, carrying on as before once again. Mac made the statement that "it seems like an extended break from one of our gigs" . . . how true.

The attendance was somewhere between 250 and 300 of you
guys and the club was impressed . . . honestly they were a little worried
that a bunch of old school 'punkers' just might wreak a little havoc
for old times' sake. We thank you all for your behavior - in general.

Bill Reid was there and a deal was knocked out to have the
live band showcase reunion at the Norva, which will be open to the
public. Details are forthcoming, especially as concerns the actual date. We
have a fall target but are basing the final decision after formal negotiations and additional info on Mac Quayle's availability schedule."

********

Miltier now tells me that the showcase is being planned for December. More details as they materialize. To look at more photos from the reunion, go here. To read more about plans for the book and movie go here and here.

Lava Love

2008-08-19T22:40:00.004-04:00

(Hot Lava photo by Ellie Bolton, Bar/None)

Friday's show at The Boot featuring Hot Lava, The Sad Cobras and Little Trooper is sort of an small-scale Virginia indie-pop festival featuring three of the Old Dominion's most creative and tuneful ensembles.
Here's the overview:
Norfolk's own Little Trooper has great tunes, great spirit and a refreshingly unpretentious stage stance. For me, they're the shiznit. Roanoke's Sad Cobras are a band I've been salivating over for months now. The Cobras' CD "No More Graves" is an arty, ambitious disc that's melodic, heartfelt and -- at times -- very funny. The disc shows a lot of craftsmanship and I can't wait to hear what the band sounds like live.
Finally, there's Richmond's Hot Lava -- a spiky, sorta electronic, sorta poppy, sorta garagy ensemble that's about to release an album, "Lavalogy," on Bar/None Records, the respected label that's brought us music from Freedy Johnston, Yo La Tengo and They Might Be Giants. Just today, I got my hands on a copy of "Lavalogy." I'm still digesting it, but I can say now that it's both beautiful and brutal, both nasty and nice.
The Boot lists the start time of Friday's show as 10 p.m. Cover is $5.

Everything Happens Tomorrow

2008-08-17T09:11:00.004-04:00

(Byrne and Eno photo from New York Times)

The Sept. 18 David Byrne show at Ferguson Center in Newport News will catch the former Talking Head at a cool moment -- exactly a month after he'll have released "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today," his new collaboration with Brian Eno. The album will be released tomorrow through the site www.everythingthathappens.com. The whole record will be available for free streaming or for purchase as a download. One track, "Strange Overtones," has already been available for free through the site, and according to today's New York Times story about the album, the track was downloaded 40,000 times in the first three days it was available.

So by the time Byrne reaches Newport News (regrettably without Eno, who isn't going to be part of the tour, though he'll probably show up for a few gigs here and there) Byrne and the rest of us will have lived with the music for a month. It'll be familiar, but still fresh. It's pretty much a best-case scenario for everyone involved.

The new disc is less experimental than Byrne-Eno's 1981 collaboration, as the NYT Jon Pareles story explains.

"The new album is by no means a sequel to 'Bush of Ghosts.' It is, in a way, more conventional: a set of songs, with verses and choruses, placing Mr. Byrne’s lead vocals up front with Mr. Eno’s voice occasionally in the background. Most songs are in major keys, using just three or four chords — different from the more elaborate pop songs Mr. Byrne had been writing. 'I think minor chords fill in too much of the picture already,” Mr. Eno said. “They push you into a certain place. You can make major chords sound sad, but you can never make minor chords sound happy.' "

Anarchy in The VA

2008-08-15T07:10:00.004-04:00

(MySpace photo)

I was wondering what was up with Liberty IV, an experimental punk/metal performance space in downtown Newport News. There are vague references to struggles on the club's MySpace page, but it appears to be still alive and kicking.
The following blog post gives details about an upcoming festival that sounds like it could be a make-or-break proposition for the joint.

What follows is the post in its entirety:

*****************

"Here is the lineup and info for liberty 4 fest this year, hopefully everything goes well. I still have a few slots open if anyone is interested in playing.

Dates: August 29th, 30th, 31st. This is labor day weekend so most people hopefully will not have to work on monday, and can stay for the whole show on sunday.

Cost: The show is $10.00 for all three days, even if you only come to one day it is still $10.00 hopefully no one will have a problem with this, and this will help get us back on our feet.

Each day the show will start at 6pm except friday which will be 7pm there is no end time because the later it gets the less people we can disturb in the area. Apollo's will be open all three days, so please stop drinking in the parking lot, that is one thing that can definitly get us shut down very fast, and if we piss apollos off he can get us shut down immediatly. We will be selling drinks and chips, and 100% of the proceeds from that goes toward the rent, so please hook it up, 7 - 11 has enough money they don't need you.

the lineup us as follows so far, and change to this will be announced...

Friday August 29th
The Banner
Moutheater
Dead Thoughts Memory
Pushing On
Original Sin
Brain Damage

Saturday August 30th
Loss of Reason
Waiting Mortuary
Barefist
Macerated
Reckoner
Unknown Band

Sunday August 31st
The Unambomers
Naysayer
Parasytic
Plague The Suffering
Outrageous Rhinoceros

I am still waiting on a few bands, that have said they would get back to me, as you can see there is a good mix of bands, from hardcore, punk, and metal and we tried to mix them up each day so please come out and support these bands."

******************

Ain't No Grave

2008-08-14T23:18:00.007-04:00

(Toggle Switch photos of Sarah Carter, top, and Red Clay River)

It's odd to have an authentic, folky musical experience in a strip shopping center near a big suburban mall, but such is life in "America's First Region" Hampton Roads.

Tonight, I spent a few hours in Volume, a fine record store near Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach. The music I heard was wonderful -- way beyond what anyone should expect from a free in-store performance.

Take that, Virginia Beach Amphitheater!

Sarah Carter -- a solo singer I'd been hearing about for some time -- did not disappoint. She's blessed with a powerful voice that she uses to put a new spin on old-time classics from Dock Boggs, the Carter Family and the like. But she also writes some lovely tunes her damn self and accompanies herself on autoharp and ... high-hat! Oh, and add to all that a loopy, sometimes hilarious stage presence. I'm ready to go hear her again tomorrow.

Red Clay River is a gritty, folk-rock ensemble from Roanoke more than lived up to the recordings I'd heard online. Singer Daniel Bivins writes dark, stark tunes about struggling mountain people and sings them in voice somewhere between Steve Earle and a death rattle. His band -- a banjo player, an electric guitarist and violinist Camellia Delk (who also plays with The Bastards of Fate) -- back him with sympathetic restraint. Delk's violin and viola add drama to an already rich landscape.

I only had time to hear one song by the night's closer, Mason Dixon Disaster, but I heard enough to know they mean business. The band's high-volume Southern punk snarled sweetly.

Coal-fired Folk

2008-08-12T23:23:00.004-04:00

(Photo from Amazon.com)

The August edition of Virginia Living magazine includes a story by Don Harrison about the 48-song box set "Music of Coal: Mining Songs From the Appalachian Coal Fields."

Don writes: "'Music of Coal' is a treasure trove for fans of Virginia mountain music. There's a rare live recording of the Norton banjo legend, Doc Boggs, and a touching duet featuring the late Carter Stanley and his daughter."

You can read more about the box set at this official site, but here's the track listing:

Disc: 1
1. Down in a Coal Mine Excerpt (The Edison Concert Band)
2. Mining Camp Blues (Trixie Smith)
3. Sprinkle Coal Dust on My Grave (Orville Jenks)
4. Coal Miner's Blues (The Carter Family)
5. Hard Times in Coleman s Mine (Aunt Molly Jackson)
6. He s Only a Miner Killed in the Ground (Ted Chestnut)
7. Coal Black Mining Blues (Nimrod Workman)
8. 31 Depression Blues (Ed Sturgill)
9. Prayer of a Miner's Child (Dock Boggs)
10. That Twenty-Five Cents You Paid (Sarah Ogan Gunning)
11. The L & N Don t Stop Here Anymore (Jean Ritchie)
12. Dark as a Dungeon (Merle Travis)
13. Come All You Coal Miners (The Reel World String Band)
14. My Sweetheart s the Mule in the Mines (Mike Kline)
15. Thirty Inch Coal (Hobo Jack Adkins)
16. Black Waters (Jim Ringer)
17. Roof Boltin Daddy (Gene Carpenter)
18. Dream of a Miner s Child (Carter Stanley)
19. Coal Miner's Boogie (George Davis)
20. The Yablonski Murder (Hazel Dickens)
21. What Are We Gonna Do? (Dorothy Myles)
22. Explosion at Derby Mine (Charlie Maggard)
23. Blind Fiddler (Jim Bud Stanley)
24. Loadin Coal (John Hutchison)
25. Coal Town Saturday Night (Randall Hylton)
26. It s Been a Long Time (Sonny Houston & Roger Hall)
27. Fountain Filled with Blood (Elder James Caudill & Choir)
Disc: 2
1. West Virginia Mine Disaster (Molly Slemp)
2. Union Man (Blue Highway)
3. Blue Diamond Mines (Robin & Linda Williams)
4. Set Yourself Free (Billy Gene Mullins)
5. Redneck War (Ron Short)
6. Sixteen Tons (Ned Beatty)
7. There Will Be No Black Lung in Heaven (Rev. Joe Freeman)
8. Deep Mine Blues (Nick Stump)
9. I m a Coal Mining Man (Tom T. Hall)
10. Dirty Black Coal (Kenneth Davis)
11. Black Lung (A. J. Roach)
12. Coal Dust Kisses (Suzanne Mumpower-Johnson)
13. Coal Tattoo (Dale Jett)
14. A Strip Miner s Life (Don Stanley & Middle Creek)
15. Daddy s Dinner Bucket (Ralph Stanley II)
16. In Those Mines (Valerie Smith)
17. Miner s Prayer (Ralph Stanley & Dwight Yoakam)
18. Dyin To Make A Livin (W. V. Hill)
19. You ll Never Leave Harlan Alive (Darrell Scott)
20. They Can t Put It Back (Jack Wright)
21. Which Side Are You On? (Natalie Merchant)

Secret Handshake

2008-08-10T22:32:00.003-04:00

(Photo from www.blacktwigpickers.org)

I shouldn't be surprised anymore that I read about Virginia music in British magazines before I read about it from homegrown sources. (See several previous posts) But it still bugged me to see a very positive review of the Black Twig Pickers' album "Hobo Handshake" in the August issue of Uncut magazine. Mind you, I'm happy that a Virginia band is getting good ink across the pond. But I'm a little disturbed that I'm coming so late to the party. The record -- I've learned -- came out back in March!

Anyway, here's the text of Jon Dale's review in Uncut:

"Fronted by Mike Gangloff, long-serving member of backwoods drone outfit Pelt, Black Twing Pickers play traditional songs that sit at the bridging point between country, blues and folk. Their readings of tunes like "Never Miss Your Mama" or "Old Joe Bone" are respectful without feeling hidebound by tradition, and the rangy scrawl of Gangloff's fiddle, scratching over stringy banjo melodies and rudimentary, totally monomaniacal percussion reminds of Peter Stampfel's Holy Modal Rounders. Another beautiful set of American Primitive, '00 style."

A related gripe is that the Black Twig boys don't seem to know that Hampton Roads exists -- at least based on their posted tour schedule. Then again, our region isn't replete with venues for experimental/old-time music acts, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that, either.

If you're interested grabbing some Twigs music, you'll find free MP3s at both links given in this post.

Scheming For Justice

2008-08-06T22:20:00.004-04:00

(MySpace photo)

The Nerve Scheme is a local punk band I've been hoping to see for some time. If the tunes they have posted online are any indication, they're a pretty tight band in a Fat Wreck Chords kind of vein. Tunes "Not Sorry" and "Dorktown" (both available for download) reminded me a bit of Bad Religion and Social Distortion -- not a bad set of sources if that's really where they're coming from. Formulaic? Well, yes. But there's a spark on the recordings and I'm eager to see if the live show kicks it up a notch. It doesn't appear that the boys are playing all that often, but they have scored a few choice gigs. On Aug. 24, they'll be at Steppin' Out with Agent Orange. Then, looking ahead to Sept. 30, they're set to warm up for a punk-adelic double header featuring The Queer and The Independents.

Freedom Funk

2008-08-05T07:56:00.003-04:00

(Photo of Biggs from MySpace)

Seed Is ..., the veteran soul/funk/reggae/hip-hop collective, is playing a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Saturday at the Taphouse. If you've heard about these guys but never seen them, here's your chance. This is a big band -- horns, keys, singing and rapping -- that makes a big, wide-ranging sound. The mix of styles could mean lack of focus and confusion. But whatever style these guys dip into -- rock, go-go, jazz -- it always sounds like them. Over a decade or more, they've perfected a musical gumbo that will move your hips and soothe your soul. Biggs, the ensemble's guitar player, is a busy guy. When he's not jamming with Seed Is ... he's laying down the roots rock with the reggae group Session Rockers. He's also an in-demand session dude who contributed bass playing to a track on Kanye West's disc "Graduation."

Light in August

2008-08-03T09:03:00.003-04:00

Friday night's indie-rock event at The Boot managed to live up to the considerable hype that preceded it.
Atlanta's Deerhunter is a band that, by general consensus, is about to make a great leap forward. Street talk and media reports pronounced that the band's appearance in Norfolk would be the last time the group would play a place so small. It's true that there's a national buzz surrounding the band's next album "Microcastle" - which officially comes out in October. It's also true that the band is getting ready to go out on tour as openers for Nine Inch Nails.
The stars are aligning, it would seem.
For me -- a listener hearing the band live for the first time -- Deerhunter's set was less a revelation and more confirmation that, in this case, there is fire to go along with that big plume of smoke. There were no crazy stage antics in Norfolk -- just a band playing creative, dense, somewhat mysterious rock 'n' roll. Eerie drones, strange electronic vocal effects, repetitive guitar grooves -- and an occasional burst of beautiful melody to offset the moodiness -- were delivered along with the odd stage presence of Bradford Cox. The whole affair was very much in the vein of My Bloody Valentine, and in more melodic moments, Jesus and Mary Chain.
For me, highlights were "Never Stops" from the forthcoming new disc, and the bouncing, dance-friendly "Operation," a tune Bradford said was brand new.
This is not a band reinventing rock. But it's clearly pushing it forward a bit -- and that's enough.
Tap into more Deerhunter's experimental goodness here.

Extra Dexter Texture

2008-08-01T07:54:00.007-04:00

(Dexter Romweber photo by Camellia Morton)

Today's all about the Deerhunter at The Boot. It's a big deal. Expect a big crowd. I'll give you my take on the show later this weekend.
But for now, I'm turning elsewhere.
Dexter Romweber is one of those true, pure rock 'n' roll animals -- a guy who's studied the past, but also has a visceral hold on the music. I first saw his band Flat Duo Jets in Chapel Hill in about 1985, at UNC's Ackland Art Museum. It ranks among my favorite rock moments ever. Dex was thrashing about, threatening to knock over precious works of art. He seemed to be experiencing rockabilly convulsions -- eyes rolling back in his head as he sang -- and he literally kicked off his very cruddy thrift-store shoes while drummer Crow beat the living shit out of the drums.
Flip ahead 23 years and Romweber is still at it. He's well loved and respected in rock 'n' roll circles -- Jack White of the White Stripes has cited him as a primary influence.
But Romweber has never made a pile of money.
I hear you thinking, "But Sam, Dexter is from Chapel Hill. What does this have to do with 'Music in and around Norfolk'?" The local connection comes from drummer Sam "Crash" LaResh, a local guy who played with Romweber for years. Dex seemed to consider Norfolk a second home for a time in the 1990s.
I'm happy to report that Dexter's upcoming album may get him some richly deserved mass-media attention, thanks to some high-profile collaborators. Here's the press release that was sent out back in June:

**** Bloodshot Records and Dex Romweber announce the signing of a multi-album deal – a match made in heaven between two arbiters of the edgy side of rock, R&B and country. The first album, as yet untitled, will feature duets between Dex and Cat Power, Neko Case and Exene Cervenka. Recording commences in mid-August at Overdub Lane in Durham , NC ; John Plymale (Meat Puppets, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Corrosion Of Conformity) is producing. Said Nan Warshaw, Bloodshot co-owner, “Dexter’s reputation as a musician’s musician is well-established and so deserved, but we here at Bloodshot are also in awe of the unbridled fury and raw soul he has unleashed for decades.”

Dex Romweber is nothing less than an icon of the American music underground. The former frontman for the world famous psycho-surf-rockabilly-garage-punk combo Flat Duo Jets, released his first of nine albums in 1990 to rave reviews worldwide. He starred alongside R.E.M. and The B-52s in the 1987 cult classic film “ Athens , GA Inside Out”. His first national tour in 1990 was as opening act for The Cramps. He was showcased on MTV's The Cutting Edge and 120 Minutes, starred in the Flat Duo Jets videos "Wild Wild Lover" and "Radioactive Man", made a stunning performance on Late Night with David Letterman, and has shared the stage with dozens of other rock icons including Iggy Pop and the White Stripes.

The Dex Romweber Duo also features Dex’s celebrated sibling Sara Romweber (Mitch Easter, Lets Active, Snatches of Pink) on drums. Together the two have been performing electrifying concerts all over the US, including touring with Cat Power, Neko Case, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, Southern Culture On The Skids and the Squirrel Nut Zippers. ****

Sketchbook

2008-07-30T07:57:00.005-04:00

(Threatening pirate art by Seamonster)

The Virginia Beach freaky folk singer Todd Adrian Seamonster writes lovely, weird, mostly acoustic tunes that remind me in general tone of the wonderful Neutral Milk Hotel. It looks like Mr. Seamonster is also Mr. Scribblemonster. He posted the following bulletin this week:

"hey there seamonster friends!
head on over to my etsy page to snag a new casual poet mini-comic!
it collects two months of strips from my big cross-country seamonster tour!
there are also lots of tiny drawings for sale there too!
lotsa love,
seamonster"

At the Etsy page, you'll see cartoons of smiling mountains, bulbous ghosts, a cute robot, a guitar duck, you know, the normal stuff. The aforementioned "Casual Poet" tour diary will set you back about $5.

***Addendum: Seamonster is performing Aug. 5 (Tuesday) with The Never and Deleted Scenes at The Boot.

Byrne-ing Down the House

2008-07-28T21:13:00.004-04:00

(D.B. photo from www.austinchronicle.com)

Today's big news is that David Byrne of Talking Heads fame is coming to play a show at the Ferguson Center in Newport News on Sept. 18. Byrne is hitting the road under the banner of "The Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno," which means he'll be doing tunes from the three Talking Heads albums Byrne and Eno collaborated on -- "More Songs About Buildings and Food," "Fear of Music," and "Remain in Light" -- as well as compositions from the duo's collaborative album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts." Pitchfork Media tells us that Byrne and Eno have written and recorded a new album together that's to be called "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today." One free song will be available for download on Aug. 4, the rest will be ready to buy on Aug. 18.
Eno won't be performing with Byrne in Newport News, but I'm told that David will be backed by his own band.
I very well may be forgetting something, but I believe this is the coolest show yet to play the Ferguson Center. Tickets go on sale Aug. 4.

Hawks Vs. Doves

2008-07-26T00:24:00.004-04:00

(Toggle Switch photos)

I stopped by the Taphouse in Norfolk tonight to catch a few tunes by Freedom Hawk, an oh-so-heavy rock band from around these parts. Having heard some of the band's blues-metal music on the Internet I sort of knew what to expect -- big distorted riffs, grinding tempos, good, old-fashioned '70s-style jamming. I'm glad to report that singer-guitarist T.R. Morton has a fine metal voice -- high, but not operatic, menacing but melodic. All together, Freedom Hawk is sort of Hampton Roads' answer to Wolfmother. Our region tends to breed a lot of similar meat-and-potatoes hard rock groups. Is Freedom Hawk the best of the bunch? More research is needed.

Attucks A-List

2008-07-24T08:07:00.006-04:00

(Poster from www.discoverymusicseries.com)

(Tift Merritt photo from www.unc.edu)

The City of Norfolk folks who organize the Discovery Music Series at the Attucks Theatre have hit another home run. Looking at a press release announcing a set of 10 concerts coming this fall I briefly thought I was hallucinating ... Billy Bragg? Mark Kozelek from Red House Painters? Otis Taylor?

Are you kidding me?

They're not kidding. While it seems almost too good to be true, this set of indie, roots and blues performers is in keeping with the Discovery tradition. The series has previously brought the Avett Brothers, Rhett Miller, Hem, Greg Brown, Josh Ritter and The Holmes Brothers. They're amassing quite a track record.

Here's a quick look at the fall schedule. A 10-show series subscription is available now for $140 through Ticketmaster and Scope's box office. Individual shows go on sale Aug. 15. Advance tickets to all the shows are $20, $15 for students.

Tift Merritt -- Sept. 19
Henry Butler -- Sept. 20
Sharrie Williams -- Oct. 4
Bowerbirds -- Oct. 11
Joe Bonamassa -- Oct. 18
Ane Brun -- Oct. 25
Billy Bragg -- Oct. 30
Guy Davis -- Nov. 1
Mark Kozelek -- Nov. 7
Otis Taylor Band -- Nov. 8

Two Up Two Down

2008-07-22T20:30:00.004-04:00

(MySpace photo)

Quan, a straight-up gangsta rapper from Newport News, has had a strange sort of career. After he appeared on "Just a Moment" by hip-hop heavyweight Nas a few years back, it looked like he was going to break big on the national music scene. Instead, he's continued to lurk mostly in the shadows, releasing mix tapes and trying to lay the groundwork for another assault on the biz.

Here's what he posted as a MySpace bulletin last week:

"I am thankful for all the love and support ya'll give me, and I promise to continue to lace you with that real shit....
I am a free agent now, as soon as I find a good situation, ya'll will get the album, and whatever other album god allowz me to deliver....
My aim at the least for this year is to give ya'll a 6 to 7 song ep with one or two singles / videos...that displayz my singing and rapping equally,just looking for the right distribution.
As for my personal life...My son is gettin grown as hell, ;) (if you have a seed ..cherish them, they grow sooooo fast) ..I can complain about alot of shit, but itz no need...
I have had alot of deaths in my family, and a few other tragediez lately, back to back...and to say that that shit don't fuck with my art, i'd be lying... but God don't make no mistakes....that just meanz I have a few personal angelz up there watchin my crazy ass....
I'm great though, ready to show the world what i got to give....
ps. I'm workin on my r&b project....still the same nigga, just blowin the dust off my pipes thatz all....don't worry niggaz, I ain't gonna get mushy..;) gangsta love at itz finest!!!!!
sneak peakz soon......til then i love you all for lovin me.....I AIN'T GOIN NOWHERE BUT TO THE TOP OF THEM CHARTZ"

Visit his MySpace page to download a free copy of Quan's R&B tune "The Hustle."

You Bastards!

2008-07-20T09:14:00.006-04:00

(MySpace photo by Jordan Saul)
I could write a book about the music I heard on Saturday, but here's the executive summary:
The Bastards of Fate from Roanoke are an amazing live rock band -- performance art freakout, punk howl, dance party, and chaotic fertility rite all rolled into one. From listening to Doug Cheatwood's music online and from his disc "More Than a Dozen Songs," I knew to expect a wild collage of electronic bleeps and guitar squawnk. But I couldn't have fully envisioned the scope and open-throttle force of the live show. Cheatwood reminds me of a cross between Iggy Pop and David Byrne -- with maybe a little Andy Kaufman thrown in. He throws himself into his performance with little regard to life and limb. In that way, Saturday night's show at The Boot reminded me of a very memorable Buttsteak performance I saw at King's Head Inn about 13 years ago. I'm amazed that Cheatwood's band was able to successfully harness the wild energy of the songs.
And while the Bastards were the night's revelation for me, I should also credit Hampton Roads' own wonderful Mas Y Mas, who rose to the the occasion with probably the most intense set I've heard from them.
Mas Y Mas and the Bastards of Fate are definitely two of the top rock bands in Virginia. Hearing them together on one night sent shards of my brain flying high over the Great Dismal Swamp and low through the strip malls of Denbigh.
More, please.

Get Into 1888

2008-07-19T16:23:00.003-04:00

The Norfolk band 1888's album "Honey I'd Kill," is a great, arty piece of work -- cool melodies, unexpected arrangements, lyrics that avoid the obvious. It's in my Top 5 of all records released by Hampton Roads musicians in the last 10 years. (That's a list I haven't actually compiled, but I should. I'll get back to you on that.)

I was wondering what was up with 1888. "Honey I'd Kill" came out a year or so ago and I hadn't heard much about live gigs by the band since March when it played "Always Something There to Remind Me" as part of the Port Folio Local Music Awards. At the time, word was that 1888 was writing and recording new songs.

Now, the band -- led by Brad Rosenberg -- is recruiting a new member. The group posted a bulletin this week that read as follows:

"We are in need of a guitarist, or a keyboard player, or a juggler. If you are interested in being our guitarist, our keyboard player or our juggler than please send us a message so we can get to know each other a little better."

In other 1888 news, some of the tracks from "Honey I'd Kill" are available as free downloads through the band's MySpace page. Don't wait to grab 'em though. They'll be free for a limited time.

Random Notes

2008-07-17T13:01:00.003-04:00

(Prisoners photo from MySpace)

A few things to consider, ponder, mull and ruminate on as we slither, slide and slouch closer to the weekend:

1. Paul Shugrue once again proved his coolness by inviting The Prisoners -- a Peninsula based reggae band -- to lay down the roots and the eerie dub landscapes on his show "Out of the Box" last night. Paul devoted the first segment of his show to a live performance by the group. Today, you can hear it today by going here and hitting the "Out of the Box - On Demand" button. The Prisoners play an outdoor show Sunday at Peninsula Fine Arts Center. The festival lasts 1-5 p.m. The Prisoners play at 2 p.m.

2. Saturday night's show by The Villains at Steppin' Out in Virginia Beach will be a memorial concert for Matt Odietus, guitarist for The Candy Snatchers, who died recently. Also on the bill are The Needles, Freedom Hawk, Fujiwara and, according to a bulletin from The Villains "special guests." Cover is $10. Watch out for updates here.

3. Speaking of memorial shows, a Saturday afternoon benefit is happening at Gloucester Courthouse over on the Middle Peninsula. James King and a bunch of regional bluegrass bands are getting together to pay tribute to Eugene Crabtree Jr., who died back in April of a massive heart attack. He was 42. Crabtree had played banjo in James King's band. Here is where to find details about the event, which will raise money for Crabtree's family.

4. Finally, I'd just like to remind you about two other musical events happening Saturday. Mas Y Mas, The Cinnamon Band and The Bastards of Fate are playing The Boot. This is a triple bill sure to soothe your soul, bend your mind and rock your ass. If you're in a more mellow mood, consider heading down to The Virginia Beach Library to hear Skye Zentz play what may be her final performance in the area for quite some time.

Endangered Species

2008-07-15T19:14:00.004-04:00

(Toggle Switch photo)

I'm in the mood to appreciate the few remaining bricks-and-mortar record stores that still exist in Hampton Roads. I stopped by DJ's Music & Video this week because I happened to notice a big "store closing" banner hanging outside the Tidewater Drive location. DJs is a grocery-store-sized music emporium filled with a deep selection of gospel, reggae, soul, jazz and hip-hop discs. But it won't be that for long. The store's owner told me this week that he's looking for a smaller, cheaper location for his store. DJ's has been in the same building since 1990, but the store has been operating since 1977. At one time, DJ's had at least a half-dozen locations spread throughout the region. Now, it's down to one. And the owner is downsizing that.
"We have too many CDs and people aren't buying enough CDs -- it's that simple," the owner said.

If you like funk, gospel and soul, keep an eye on DJ's. It's likely to discount its stock before it moves to the new location.

Here's a partial list of the discs I bought there on my recent visit:

"Look-Ka Py Py" The Meters
"Nnenna Freelon" Nnenna Freelon
"Look How Me Sexy" Yellowman
"Chet Baker Plays and Sings the Great Ballads" Chet Baker
"The Very Best of Joe Tex" Joe Tex
"Okayplayer. True Notes Vol. 1" Various Artists

Wading to Exhale

2008-07-13T21:32:00.004-04:00

The Wading Girl, a pretty nifty rock band from Roanoke, is playing in Richmond Thursday night. If you have time, you should go see them. I'd certainly like to. TWG is yet another Virginia band I'm hoping will come and play Norfolk or Virginia Beach sometime soon. They'd make a fine double bill with Norfolk's own Little Trooper -- if anybody would like to take the ball and run with it.

For a sample of the band's tuneful goodness, visit its MySpace page here. You can even download the excellent tune "Miriam." Or go here to watch live videos from The Roanoke Times' very cool video blog called MusicCast. The newspaper invites local bands to play live in the studio and videos of their performances are posted. The Wading Girl performed three tunes: "Ohio," "Water Into Whiskey" and "I Miss It." If you only have time to watch one video, go straight to "I Miss It." The band works up a nice head of steam toward the end of the tune.

Thursday's Alley Katz show is all-ages. Admission is a paltry $5.

Looking ahead a bit, I'm thrilled, THRILLED to report that it looks like the aforementioned Little Trooper is going to play with Roanoke's wonderful Sad Cobras on Aug. 22 at The Boot. Great double bill. Wahoo!

Mixed Media

2008-07-10T23:06:00.005-04:00

(Seamonster photo from MySpace)

I've got several mostly unrelated news nuggets to pass on tonight.

Thing No. 1: I learned tonight that Volume, the Virginia Beach CD shop, will hold its final Friday-night folk session tomorrow. I'm disappointed that I never got to experience the acoustic throw-down, because I gather it was hosted by Adrian "Seamonster" Webb, a talented songwriter whose music bears resemblance to that of Neutral Milk Hotel. I won't be able to make Friday's folk finale, but I'm going to keep an eye out for Seamonster, who is scheduled to play The Boot on Aug. 5. Listen to his songs here, including a weird, cool track called "Bearsuit."

Thing No. 2: Thanks to Leona Baker at PortFolio for writing an apt and appropriately unsentimental story about the recent death of Candy Snatchers guitarist Matt Odietus. Read it here.

Thing No. 3: The charming and talented Skye Zentz will give a solo performance at Virginia Beach Central Library July 19. Skye told me weeks ago that this would be something of a farewell gig, since she is planning to move away from the region soon. I'm not sure that she's still planning to relocate, but I haven't heard otherwise. Unfortunately, her show is the same night as the Bastards of Fate gig at The Boot. I hate it when this sort of thing happens. Curses!

Sweet Harmony

2008-07-08T22:29:00.005-04:00

(MySpace photo)

Score another one for The Corner Pocket in Williamsburg. They're bringing a wonderful acoustic duo called The Honey Dewdrops to town Aug. 3 for the Pocket's Music on the Patio series. Somehow, this combo from Scottsville, Virginia, had previously escaped my attention -- despite the fact that they won the Wobegon Idol competition for twenty-something troubadours on Garrison Keillor's radio show. The songs you'll hear on the band's MySpace page show them to be very much in the vein of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, but that's not a knock against them. So, so happy to know about the Dewdrops and so, so happy they're coming to Williamsburg.

Honey Tones

2008-07-06T22:54:00.003-04:00

John Sayles' new movie "Honeydripper" is set in an odd time in American history -- the trough that separates the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s from the rock 'n' roll era of the 1950s. Listening to Sayles talk about his film on NPR's "On Point" show last week, I was wondering if Virginia musicians would somehow connect with his story. Sure enough, the soundtrack to his movie -- which is out on Rounder Records -- ends with the Ruth Brown song "Things About Coming My Way." Given the subject and setting of the movie, this is a smart choice. A Portsmouth native, Brown was a pivotal figure -- someone who sang in the swing era, but also recorded important pre-rock R&B hits for Atlantic. The fact that the soundtrack recognizes this fact makes me want to see the movie all the more.

Return to Forever

2008-07-04T23:23:00.003-04:00

(artwork courtesy of MySpace)

During its brief, 4-year lifespan, Denali made a sizable splash -- especially for a band from Richmond. Signed to the Jade Tree label, the group' made a debut CD that was produced by Sparklehorse jockey Mark Linkous. The group -- led by singer Maura Davis -- developed something of a following in Europe. Then, poof! It was all over. Thankfully, the band's original lineup is getting back for a show Saturday, July 5, at The National in Richmond. Moody, dramatic and elegantly sung and played, Denali's music deserves another chance. I'm guessing that Denali made an impression on young players on the Richmond scene. The three acts opening for the band at Saturday's show are some of the most interesting and ambitious in Virginia: Tulsa Drone, Prabir and The Substitutes and The Great White Jenkins. As a Style Weekly preview of the show explains, the band feels like grandparents to the Richmond indie rock community.

Norfolk Drive-By

2008-07-02T23:09:00.003-04:00

(Photo from drivebytruckers.com)

Truthfully, I've never fully appreciated the Drive-By Truckers. A lot of people in my age group who like a lot of really good music go ga-ga over them. I don't get it. It's not that they're terrible. I just don't hear much that's unique or addictive. That said, I was totally impressed by the Truckers' song "Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife" from the band's album "Brighter Than Creation's Dark." Are the Truckers getting better or am I finally tuning into their style? Ahhh, whatever.
I'm glad that the band is set to play The NorVa Sept. 19, a Friday. If I get to go, maybe it will help me finally understand their schtick.

Goodbye

2008-06-30T22:58:00.003-04:00

(Photo from Fandango Records)

I heard today that Matthew Odietus, guitarist for the Candy Snatchers, died over the weekend. This is certainly sad news for many reasons. Matt was a wonderful rock musician and only 40 years old. It's sad for me personally, because the last Candy Snatchers show I saw (at the Taphouse a few months back) was by far the worst one I'd seen. At their best, the Snatchers were a ferocious rock and roll machine. The group I saw at The Taphouse was a much weakened version.

I'd like to supplant the memory of that last show with my recollection of the first time I saw Matt and the Candy Snatchers. It was at King's Head Inn, probably in 1994. They were opening for The Humpers. That night, Matt, Larry and the rest of the band rekindled my love of raw, fierce, feral rock 'n' roll. They inspired me. I wish I'd thanked Matt for that.

Don't Be Nervous

2008-06-27T22:31:00.006-04:00

You'd expect a band with a name like The Sad Cobras to be some sort of mopey emo monstrosity. Well, folks, names don't always tell the tale. The Sad Cobras are a strange, yet tuneful band from Roanoke -- also home to the wonderfully weird Bastards of Fate.
They share members with The Young Sinclairs. But here's what you really need to know: They have super-catchy, off-kilter pop songs. They remind me of a more dance-oriented version of Camera Obscura or a more melodic version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I plan on buying their CD "No More Graves" in a hurry. But in the meantime, I've been enjoying several tracks that have been floating around the mysterious InterWeb. I'm posting them here for you to enjoy. If you like 'em, consider shelling out for the disc. Or at least make an effort to hear the band whenever it makes it to Hampton Roads.

"Bernice"

"Hoof Prints"

"Body Cast"

While I don't know about any local Sad Cobras shows, it does look like the Young Sinclairs are playing Gallery 5 in Richmond tomorrow.

Oh, and one more thing. Here's a video of The Sad Cobras performing last year in Danville. Strange how often that old textile town's been coming up in conversation recently.