One Way Richmond

Wino.

2012-01-28T15:02:00.001-05:00

This sounds very interesting.

Dylan Languell, Richmond's man behind the man behind the man in regard to everything sound is turning wine glasses into a concert. I highly recommend this adventure for the ear.

Words by Dylan...

I’ve been saving wine glasses as to orchestrate a recording of 200+ wine glasses with all my and our friends. The principles of the recording have to do with circular motion, water, and universality based around the instrument's dynamic ease that allows anyone the ability to play. Following the recording and kegs I’m sending off for nickel plates to make molds of the negative recording and pour “the sculpture” of a plaster Lp, again based around circle motion, water, and universality. The signal contrast goes from full spectrum harmony in an experience, group recording and drinking, to the ritual of playing an Lp which will after few plays devour itself as the needle scrapes away the grooves causing white noise and eventual cutting through the record itself. Free sound beer and time to do something all together. Unfortunately I can only invite 150 ppl hope you are one of them.

For info, time, and address please click HERE

And then there's this...

BRIAN NOVATNY, picture fishing & DAYDREAMING ANIMALS

Saturday January 28th, 6-8pm

ada gallery, 228 West Broad St. Richmond, VA.

"Novatny excels at small chiseled ink drawings of everyday people and scenes that operate somewhat nastily in the vicinity of portraiture, "B" movies, political cartoons and news photos. Rendered in ink with a miniscule brush, his subjects feel like details from a larger narrative"
- Roberta Smith, New York Times

---

DAYDREAMING ANIMALS - features work by:

JAD FAIR, LORI D, ROB LEE, JAKOB BOESKOV, CASEY FARNUM, ABLE BROWN, NATHANIEL RUSSELL, CHRIS KERR, NEIL FARBER, MICHAEL DUMONTIER, CRICKET RASPET, BRUNO MEYRICK-JONES, NICHOLAS KUSZYK, POROUS WALKER, HEIDI TULLMANN

Refreshments Provided...Stop By!

What ever happened to Talia Shire?

2012-01-26T00:00:00.008-05:00

Show Picks for the weekend 1/26-1/29...

Thursday, 1/26 DJ set by Reuben Wu (Of Ladytron)(pictured left), along with DJ’s Ghost, M.A.S.S FX, Reinhold (pictured just below), Phenom @ The Hat Factory
- You know you haven’t gotten laid in 6 years when the manikins at Macy’s in Short Plump look sexy...

Thursday, 1/26 Marshall Crenshaw (pictured left) @ Ashland Coffee & Tea 7:30pm.
- Someday someway I’ll lick my own asshole...

Thursday, 1/26 Oh the Irony, Of Want and Misery, Under City Skylines, Beyond The Victory of Oceans, Abandoning Arborland (pictured right) @ Canal Club 6pm. All ages.
- The irony is that Honduras is crumbling...

Thursday, 1/26 Twangtown Thursday featuring The Don't Tell Darlings (pictured just above) @ Balliceaux 10pm. Free. 21+
- I hate uneducated Catholics...

Thursday, 1/26 Graham Dezarn (pictured right) and Ed Brogan (of the Hot Seats) playing Fiddle and Guitar Duets @ Weezie’s Kitchen 9pm.
- Richmond was rated the best city in America, no wait, it was rated the worst, no wait, it’s been rated the 4th best, then, oh my God, it has been rated the 15th best city to get a haircut in America...Stop! Just Stop!...

Thursday, 1/26 Abigail Williams (pictured just above), The Browning @ Kingdom 6pm. All ages.
- Eat my pussy says Abigail...

Thursday, 1/26 Palindrone, Peace Beast, Sonic Nectar (pictured left), Boney Loner & the Sacred Teachers, visual projections by Cosmic Hum (poster just above) @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- The long strange trip of Jerry Garcia’s masseuse...

Friday, 1/27 Steez Promo presents DJ’s Crizzly,Vaski, Mike Phear (pictured just above from PureLife), Kimsey @ Kingdom 9pm.
- Neil Hamburger used copper to chase the snakes away...

Friday, 1/27 Peoples Blues of Richmond (PBR), Think Effect, Prison Book Club (pictured left by Ashley Hoffman) @ The Camel 9pm.
- Get down on racism and get a free kids meal...

Friday, 1/27 Gandhi’s Gunmen (pictured right), HTH (KISS Tribute Band) @ Mulligan’s Southside (11146 Hull St. - Midlothian aka Hell) 9:30pm.
- This has a big fat red neck all over it...

Friday, 1/27 EQ presents The Mantras, The Polychrons (poster just above) @ Canal Club 10pm. 18+
- Spin me a pornography addiction and I’ll show you a cold and hungry baboon...

Friday, 1/27 Human Waste (pictured left), Gash, Street Pizza @ House Show (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Common fucks cease to exist inside a mule driver’s bureau...

Friday, 1/27 Austin Lucas, Josh Small, Julie Karr (pictured right) (acoustic show) @ House of Abraham (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 8pm
- Can I fart inside a vegetarian's ear?...

Friday, 1/27 Balaclava, Bubonic Bear (pictured just above), APE!, Fuckface, Tate House (poster left) @ Wonderland 9:30pm.
- Lets all listen to rap music and eat tuna...

Friday, 1/27 Ben Nelson, Ben Shepherd (pictured just above), Ben Shirley @ Carytown Bistro (Auburn & Cary St.) 7:30pm. Free.
- The FBI said that feces is an acccepted form of Ram Bucks...Damn! this sure is a lot of Ben's...

Saturday, 1/28 Robert Earl Keen (pictured left), The Deep Dark Woods @ The National 8pm.
- The girl at 821 today was so fucking hot...of course she was, she dates a low budget musician...

Saturday, 1/28 Photosynthesizers Presents: Black Science Sessions featuring Photosynthesizers, Antero, DJ Ruff Handz (poster just above) @ The Camel 9pm. 18+
- Pink tacos on the Boulevard...

Saturday, 1/28 Gypsy Healers (pictured atop), Secret Agent T (poster left) @ McCormack’s Irish Pub 10pm.
- I have to get up early tomorrow, so I can pee in my pants...

Saturday, 1/28 Hessian, Day of the Beast, Earthling (pictured right), Humungus @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- Does anyone read these sophomoric comments?...

Saturday, 1/28 Pentimento, Maker, Light Years, Turnover, This is Your Life (pictured left by Kyle Van Pelt) @ House of Abraham (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Obama is a vast admirer of...

Saturday, 1/28 Music Showcase II: The Winter Solstice featuring Whisper to Baxwell, Ameera, Hero The Artist, King, ELIM (post just above) @ Kingdom 6pm-9:30pm. All ages. (early)
- All Henricofielders must die at once...

Saturday, 1/28 Richmond Musicians Artist Showcase After-Party featuring DJ’s Aylen, Nint3ndo (pictured just above from Nightlife Promo), Skywalk3r, Rent, Yen, DJ Dokniss, DJ Paulo @ Kingdom 10pm. 18+ (late)
- The bass is up to high...what!?...the bass is up to high...Oh thanks, I do enjoy masturbating in the rain...huh!?...I thought you said your father was a Navy Seal who danced with unicorns...

Sunday, 1/29 Liza Bance (CD Release)(pictured left) @ Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall 8pm.
- Downtown is where the magic begins...

Sunday, 1/29 Ear Theory, The Absent Center (pictured just above), Matt Kiefer @ The Camel 8pm.
- Just another Angry Samoan’s album found inside a super can...

Sunday, 1/29 Suppression (pictured just above by Bernie McGrew), La Mere Vipere, Feast of the Epiphany, al-Kafir @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- This sure is a long Show Picks post, why don’t you take a break and eat some nails...might make you more comfortable...thanks for the advice neighbor’s cat...

Sunday, 1/29 Life is a Cabaret: Kathy Halenda, Class & Brass: The Music of Judy Garland & Bette Midler @ Center Stage (Rhythm Hall) 3pm.
- I'm actually working this...

Sunday, 1/29 Gritter (pictured right), Pistol Whip Nikki @ Bandito’s 10pm.
- I pistol whipped the gritter off my jeep two Tuesdays ago...

And they say Hip-Hop is dead...ha ha...my ass!...

And they say Hip-Hop is dead...ha ha...my ass!...part 2...

Strut...

The Handshake Code...

Ceee Veee Illll...

Friday, 1/27 WTJU presents Han Bennink @ Brooks Hall (UVA Grounds – info at 434-249-6191) 8pm.

Note:

Hey people,

Starting this weekend I am going to take down the 'OTHER RICHMOND BANDS/SINGERS/DJs/MCs YOU JUST HAVE TO SEE...(Some might now be defunct) list. Blogger isn't letting me add/delete or move bands from this list. I think its because its to long. I don't know shit about computers folks. But, I also need to clean the list up. I am going to try to weed out all the defunct bands/musicians I can. I will then make two new lists. An A-M, then a N-Z. It took me 2.5 years to accumulate that list, so give me a couple of weeks to get it back up all fresh and clean.

If you are not on it, and should be, let me know via the e-mail in upper right corner or via Facecrook at Nagrom Morgan.

Thanks,

- Me

p.s. VCU won another game last night!

You're a God damn motherfucking slut if you wear these...

2012-01-25T13:10:00.002-05:00

Museum District Radio

2012-01-25T12:46:00.003-05:00

Today's twenty-first instalment of Museum District Radio is
'Disorderly Conduct'...

Chrome – All Data Lost
The Fall – Auto Tech Pilot
Joy Division - Disorder
Lords of Acid – I Sit on Acid
ADULT. - Inside
The Intelligence – LaBrea Tar Pits
Parva – Mosem e Gol
Slade – Run Runaway
A Tribe Called Quest – Show Business
The Rolling Stones – Surprise, Surprise
Royksopp – The Drug
The Men - Immaculada
Killing Joke – Turn to Red

Disorderly Conduct LINK

Please, please, please, support this...

2012-01-25T01:22:00.000-05:00

Click here to see how you can make a big difference...

www.facebook.com/events/257233994349013

State of the One Way Richmond Address...

2012-01-24T16:45:00.001-05:00

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Thank you, and may Satan bless One Way Richmond.

Local Video Tuesday...

2012-01-24T01:25:00.000-05:00

FRANK MATH

STREET PIZZA

6 TRACK AMATEUR

Fruit Bat and the usurping of Long Legs Johnson on Pine St.

2012-01-23T00:18:00.016-05:00

Show Picks for the early week 1/23-1/25...

Monday, 1/23 Future Islands (pictured right), Canary Oh Canary, Ed Schrader's Music Beat @ The Camel 8pm.
- Ashton Square Apartments...

Monday, 1/23 Waxahatchee (of PS Eliot), Close Talker, Family Cat, Just Friends, (Springtime might be off bill) (poster just above) @ House of Abraham (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Girl fucks disabled guy on Mayo Bridge - Lights, Camera, Artificial Incrimination!...

Monday, 1/23 Curtis Eller (pictured left) @ House Concert (info HERE) 7pm.
- Time to kill time with a banjo...

Monday, 1/23 Lazy Magnet, Noise Nomads, Mutwawa, Flesh Control (pictured just above by Tony Lynch), Twilight Memories of the Three Suns @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- So you want to hear about noizzze...its all about fucking your girlfriend doggy style with her head pushed deep into a soft pillow as she cums all over the place...Ob anomaliyakh vol't-ampernoi kharakteristiki tunnel'nykh kontaktov...

Tuesday, 1/24 VCU Symphony Orchestra with Ensemble Appassionata - The VCU Symphony Orchestra will be performing alongside with Montreal-based chamber orchestra Ensemble Appassionata (pictured left) who is presenting their first American performances at VCU.

@ VCU Singleton Center for the Performing Arts 8pm. Free w/ student I.D. All ages.
- Ren and Stimpy were passed over by two black comedians, and three white plumbers, not to mention a Hispanic doctor who was obsessed with feet...

Tuesday, 1/24 Jazz Night at the Camel featuring Brian Jones Double Quartet (Jones pictured right) @ The Camel 8pm.
- Division is nasty business when coerced to sit side by side with multiplication...

Tuesday, 1/24 DJ Williams Projekt (pictured just above) @ Cafe Diem 9:30pm.
- If a vegetarian eats a cow, does that mean Martians have to dance at the Jefferson next week?...

Wednesday, 1/25 Chris Merrit & The Dirty Girls (Merritt pictured right), David Meade, Harper Brynn, Chris McFarland, Tabb Justis @ The Camel 8pm.
- An emu climbed the ladder of success only to see every American's rights taking away because they all didn't bite from the same cookie...

Wednesday, 1/25 Falling in Reverse (pictured left), Oh Sleeper, Skip the Foreplay @ Kingdom 6pm. All ages.
- How stupid can we get...ariva derchi...

Wednesday, 1/25 The Student Hip-Hop Organization of VCU & CMLK presents Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire (pictured atop), Ohbliv, Isaiah & Hovey, Michael Millions (poster just above) @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- The left side of your brain just got off at Marcy...

* Upside down riot of wankers...

R.I.P Etta James (1938-2012)(pictured just below), Sarah Burke (1982 – 2012), Johnny Otis (1921-2012)

Notes:

VCU plays Hofstra tonight as they go for their 5th straight win...Go Rams!

pic from RTD

The Fixtures Interview.

2012-01-22T13:03:00.004-05:00

Well, after 2.5 years of OWR, I finally have a guest writer come aboard. I've asked folks in the past to be my guest, but they were to busy copying and pasting over on Facecrook. The following interview is from Joe Chevalier.
Thanks Joe.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a city overflowing with cynics who constantly clamor for someone to break the mold, bands like Fixtures are welcomed with open, sleeve-tattooed arms. The raw, desperate vocals of frontman Jeffrey Bias over top of the slow, churning tempos and atmospheric melodies give the group a sound that is refreshingly unique in Richmond’s disconcertingly repetitive music scene. Hopefully this kind of originality will give the fledgling outfit an edge that will lead to a full-length in the near future. Until then interested parties should absolutely check out their split EP with This Time It's War, Rusted Screws and the Machinery of Man. I got a chance to talk to Blake Melton and Jeffrey Bias about who they are and whatever it is they do.

Members:

Blake Melton- Guitar
Jeffery Bias - Vocals
Travis Jordon - Drums
Reed Mincey - Guitar
Ashley Small - Bass

So for starters, how'd you guys all meet?

Blake: Jeff and I were in another band together for around four years, and Fixtures started around late 2007 when we (Jeff and I) decided to form a more “progressive” side-project. During that time, we met Reed and Travis, who were in another local band that we played with often. Ashley has sort of always been a friend of ours, so after both our old bands met their demise, we invited Ashley in. Naturally, our sound manifested from its “progressive metal” roots into whatever it is today.

Normally I don't ask this question, but I actually like your name and was wondering why you chose it.

Blake: Jeff and I chose our name from a song by an amazing New York hardcore band called Achilles, who have a song titled “We Are Fixtures.” It stood out to us, so we decided to snatch it.

How would you describe Fixtures to someone who has never heard of you?

Blake: It’s like heavy ambient music for cowboys of the cosmos

Jeff: Post-Ambient Space Metal

What are your thoughts on the metal scene in Richmond? Do you think it’s changing and evolving or fading away?

Blake: Oh, the Richmond metal scene is thriving. Aside from bands like This Time It’s War, I can’t exactly say that there’s much originality here. We’ve tried our best to shy away from the cesspool of breakdowns, blast beats, and cliche violent lyrical themes, and we rarely perform with acts of that nature. It’s really just a gimmick these days, but kids here dig it a lot... and that sucks, haha

Jeff: I hate the metal scene in Richmond. I know hate may be a strong word, but most of the metal bands here are content with regurgitating the same songs everyone has heard before and stringing breakdowns together. There are some bands that are worth a shit like This Time It's War and Postcards so I guess I still have hope, but not much.

Do you see bands in your area striving to become more unique as a response to this?

Blake: I’m not sure if they are specifically unique in retaliation to the locals’ cries for diversity, but there has definitely been a sudden bloom of genre-defying musical artists in the area. Bands like Postcards, Shy, Low, and Mouthbreather are all doing very different and new things in Richmond. It’s awesome to be able to go to a show and be bombarded by a different sound with each band that plays, as opposed to the typical back-to-back breakdown-fests that we’re so used to seeing. In short, there is a valuable trend spreading that is birthing more “unique” bands than I have ever seen in central Virginia. However, I don’t think it is in direct response to showgo’er complaints.

Jeff: Even though most of the music in Richmond is derivative and unoriginal, there are a few bands that strive to do something new like Shy, Low, Postcards, Comrades, and Fletchette.

Is it hard to find venues with that cater to heavier music?

Blake: It is quite difficult to find venues that are specifically suited to a specific genre here, because contrary to popular belief, Richmond has a very diverse local music scene. Unfortunately, many bands simply dig themselves into one specific niche and inversely wind up playing the same venues with the same bands, over and over. Strange Matter is definitely at the top of my list of great venues in Richmond. There’s always excellent sound and environment at Strange Matter. I’ve (personally) never been to a bad show there.

Jeff: It's hard to find venues of any kind in Richmond right now. The city is shutting down all of the DIY venues which really sucks. There's little I love more than playing in someone's living room, shoulder to shoulder with everyone who’s there for the show. I'm not very choosy when it comes to the venues we play in. I want to play anywhere.

How'd you decide which songs are going on your upcoming EP? How much of it is new material?

Blake: There is one song we wrote called The New Swarm that we have been playing since around December of last year (2010). The other track that will appear on the split is called House Of The Silver Wedding, which we have had written for quite some time now... we’ve just never gotten around to performing it live. We chose these two tracks because they are somewhat of a departure from our other material.

Why'd you decide to do a split rather than a full-length?

Blake: We chose to do a split because, as simply as possible, we are broke. We’ve barely made it past a full year as a band so far, however, we have enough tracks to record a full-length. It is merely a matter of financial binds that keep us from pursuing that right now. Also, we had a few songs that don’t really mesh well with the rest of our material, so we figured they deserved their own release, which is why we chose to release them on a split.

Jeff: The split with This Time It's War will be our first "official" release so it's a good way to introduce ourselves. And it never hurts to have good friends like those dudes supporting our music as much as they do.

What are some qualities you want to see in a producer that you're working with?

Blake: Everyone in the band has a desire to have our music sound as natural and expansive as possible, meaning minimal trigger usage, copy/paste tracks, and essentially anything that would drastically alter our overall “sound.” There is also a certain element of “noise” involved in the songs we write, which we purposely include in order to obtain a similar experience to our live show. I would love to have control over a large portion of the audio manipulation so that we can achieve our “ideal sound.”

Who writes your lyrics? What do you like to write about?

Jeff: I write the lyrics. I really don't like to sit down and try to write lyrics with a certain subject matter in mind. The songs often end up having to deal with religion and mortality and the greed of our society as a whole.

Blake: We all share somewhat the same understandings and beliefs of Jeff’s lyrical content.

Do you ever write lyrics before you write the music? Or does the song have to be fully fleshed out before you put words to it?

Jeff: Most of the lyrics to our finished songs were written after the music was written. For Fixtures, I wanted to let the music of each song dictate my mood during the writing process.

What kind of crowd do you like to see at your shows?

Blake: We absolutely love seeing new faces. Usually a lot of the same people come out to shows, and we love that too. There’s nothing better than demonstrating your art to a crowd who simply appreciates it. They don’t have to understand it, or try connect with it, or even pay attention to it (although it is preferred). We just want the crowd to respect what we do as an art form and not as some music-based lucrative gimmick.

Jeff: I love to see anyone and everyone at every show.

What is that one sample you use on the song "The New Swarm"? I'm a movie dork and I kinda recognized it but not quite.

Blake: That sound clip is from the film Contact, one of my favorite movies of all time (trivia, haha).

Any plans to tour in the future?

Blake: We are hoping to get some touring going once my semester ends (I’m the member who holds the band back because I’m in college). We tried to book a short run this summer with This Time It’s War, but failed miserably with only one venue responding to our emails. Booking a tour is very difficult, kids. Basically, we spent about a month sending emails to various venues outside of Virginia... to no avail.

Jeff: We all either work full time or go to school so it's pretty difficult to line up tours, but we're looking to do a lot of weekend tours in and around Virginia in the very near future.

Some of your influences?

Blake: Personally, I draw influences from many different genres and artists when writing Fixtures songs. It can range anywhere from more “light” sounding artists like Stars Of The Lid, Sigur Ros, or Caspian, to more “heavy” artists like Rosetta, Cult Of Luna, or Callisto. We really try not to limit ourselves when writing, which makes it very hard for us to describe what we sound like to someone who has never heard us.

Jeff: Some of the bands that will always influence me are These Arms Are Snakes, Spitfire, Fear Before the March of Flames, Botch, Refused, the Blood Brothers, and At the Drive-In.

What equipment do you guys use?

Blake: I am currently utilizing a B-52 AT100 head on a HUGE old 80’s (I think) Peavey 4x12 cabinet, and I play with either my Fernandes H-65 or ESP Viper 400. I also use a Digitech multi-effects pedal, which I am looking forward to retiring as soon as I obtain any other pedals... I know Reed uses an Egnator amp on some Marshall 4x12s, Ashley uses a Gallien-Krueger amp on an Ampeg cab, and Travis uses a Ludwig epic series kit with an awesome 24 inch bass drum.

Reed: For guitars, I use a mid 1990's Gibson Les Paul Special & a 1972 Fender Thinline Telecaster. For amplification, I use an Egnater Tourmaster 4100 All-Tube Head, a Marshall MG412 Cabinet, and a Marshall MC212 Cabinet. For effects, I have an array of many pedals, but the main effect pedal in my rig is a Boss DD-20 Giga Delay pedal. My Gibson, Egnater, and my Boss Giga Delay are the most dear to me, and could never imagine my tone and overall complete sound without that combination.

- Joe Chevalier

Dribbling, Drum & Bass, and Dubstep...

2012-01-21T11:33:00.006-05:00

Huge night in basketball, and I do mean huge.

First on tap is the mega mega rivalry game between ODU and VCU tonight at 8pm. The game is sold out, but on TV. Comcast Sportsnet will be carrying the game at 8pm. And, it’s on the radio, 107.3FM. Plus, if you just have to go, and I would understand, there are always scalpers outside the Siegel Center.

Jesus! I hate ODU fans. I have friends that went to ODU, and that’s all fine and dandy, but ODU has some shitty fans. Go Rams, beat the squids!

Also at Virginia State University at 7:30pm., the top two public high school teams in the metro and state face off tonight. It will be the mighty Justices of John Marshall High School against the Crimson Wave of Petersburg High School. This game is bigger than big. I wish I could go, but I’m going to VCU game.

pic from RTD

* I want to make this clear, if you do not like the sport of basketball, I feel sorry for you.

And, oh my, it’s a big 'And,' there is this!...

Description (words from Joanna O of Turnstyle)

Methods NYC --> RVA
In-store vinyl release party + trunkshow!

A SPECIAL IN-STORE TURNSTYLE EVENT
Saturday, January 21st
3-6pm

:: METHODS NYC TRUNKSHOW ::

Grab a tee, hoody, beanie, scarf, or womp it up, with the new Methods "Womp" snapback hat! hook yourself up with some fresh Methods gear this Saturday at Turnstyle.

:: 12" VINYL RELEASE PARTY ::

Original RVA native, now residing in BK NYC, we gather to celebrate Dave Gee's 1st 12" vinyl release - "MURDA STYLE." Copies for signing will be on hand for purchase.

DnB + Dubstep DJ sets from: DAVE GEE, ILL OMEN, & WILL MILES (pictured just below).

All Ages and Free promotional giveaways & special boutique sales. Today only.

Turnstyle
102 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA
(804) 643-8876

Dial tone inside of saw dust.

2012-01-19T00:00:00.010-05:00

Show Picks for the weekend 1/19-1/22...

Thursday, 1/19 The Milkstains, Fire Bison (pictured right), Tideland (poster just below) @ The Nile Ethiopian 10pm.
- Parade of skin and bones...

Thursday, 1/19 ‘Sindustry’ featuring Notorious Nino – (house - pictured left by Buddha G), Jmungz – (electro), Ill Omen – (drum & bass) @ Synergy (11 South 12th St. – Downtown) 9pm.
- Tinker Taylor Sailor Bob...

Thursday, 1/19 Cindercat (pictured left by Andy Cox) @ City Dogs (in the Fan) 10pm.
- I’m a cruise ship captain on a ton of drugs...

Thursday, 1/19 Walk the Plank, Stressbomb, T-Division (pictured right) @ Empire 10pm.
- I buried my umbrella...

Thursday, 1/19 Ear Theory (LP release)(pictured just above), Ghost Owls, Those Manic Seas, Raintree @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- Eat a chocolate covered cock...

Thursday, 1/19 Brain Drain – 3 Year Anniversary featuring Audio Ammo DJs (DJ Doodie pictured right from J Awesome Photography) @ Hat Factory 10pm. 18+
- Forget the vagina monologues, there is this!...

Friday, 1/20 White Laces, The Diamond Center, the Super Vacations, Snowy Owls (pictured just above by PJ Sykes)(poster just below) @ Strange Matter 10pm. Free.
- Every psyche has its thorn...

Friday, 1/20 Evidence (of Dilated Peoples - pictured left), Sleaze, Ohbliv, music by DJ Dizz (poster just above) @ Canal Club 9pm.
- There’s evidence that I masturbate way to much...

Friday, 1/20 Goldrush (pictured just above), Eric Hunter @ Café Diem 9:30pm.
- Is this music or those hot as shit VCU Goldrush Dancers?...

Friday, 1/20 Vw Loveless (pictured just above), Azrael Onassis, Insane Booman, MC JT, and other guests (poster just below) @ Kingdom 6:30pm. All ages.
- I saw my friend’s uterus alongside East Belt Boulevard yesterday...

Friday, 1/20 Cheryl Wheeler (pictured left) @ Ashland Coffee & Tea 8pm.
- Crippled children need to be free from lactose intolerance...

Friday, 1/20 The Mag-Bats (featuring Wes Freed) with Franco & the Rateros (poster just below) @ Cary St. Cafe 9pm.
- Live for yesterday...

Saturday, 1/21 Jucifer (pictured right), Inter Arma, Mephisto Heat, Argonauts @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- Inter Jucifer’s heated Argonauts...

Saturday, 1/21 Slapdash & The Respectables present Post Traumatic Fresh 8 featuring Doe the PaperBoy (pictured just above by Jeremy Ledford), Conrizzle, Suburban District, Ameera, Nike Nando, T.I.M.E, Cheap Thrills, MYT, Isaiah & Hovey, Ivory Snow, Doe Boy Da Dude & Chris Haskins, Ace Callwood (Of The Dakotas), Ryan Flow, Hosted by Phylece Fowler, music from Mr. Mason Jones (poster just above) @ The Camel 8pm.
- Rap is spelled smile off da hook yo!, get up bitch, lets gravitate towards arm chair fishing...

Saturday, 1/21 Vaudeville Galore Burlesque featuring Alison Self , Mark Slomski, Bitsy Buttons, Foxy Faux Pas, Indy Go-Go, The Muse, Cherrie Canary, Deanna Danger, Buster Britches, Kamikaze Keiko, Parker Galore (poster just above) @ Gallery 5 8pm.
- What the fuck is going on over at Armstrong High School?...

Saturday, 1/21 Anthony Green (of Circa Survive)(pictured right), The Dear Hunter @ Kingdom 7pm. All ages.
- Allan was a photographer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps in World War II...A family on their lawn one Sunday in Westchester, N.Y. licked butter off their dog...

Saturday, 1/21 Copstabber (pictured left), The Screws, Dead Face @ Wonderland 9pm.
- How about stabbing rich white people who bitch and moan a lot...I know, I know...to common an occurrence...

Sunday, 1/22 Street Pizza (pictured just above), Weekend Nachos, Abyss, Full of Hell, Iron Reagan @ Strange Matter 5pm.
- Penis, penis, penis, penis, penis, penis, penis, penis, penis...why is Broad St. west of the Boulevard turning ghetto as a motherfucker...penis, penis, penis, penis...

Sunday, 1/22 Gardening, Not Architecture (pictured atop by Josh Jashinski), Dinner & A Suit @ The Camel 8pm.
- Not long ago, a dress was considered taboo, but my silver dollar insight brought home peaches and Uncle Leroy’s third slave...well, needless to say, we shot Leroy, and went to Honduras, where I found discount gouda cheese and five Viagra’s...

BASS, how low can you go...

Notes:

* Fuck, Buddy's is staying open.

* R.I.P Alexis Weissenberg (1929 – 2012)

And

Jimmy Castor (1940 – 2012)

OWR opposes SOPA and PIPA.

2012-01-18T00:11:00.001-05:00

Feelings, nothing more than feelings...

2012-01-17T17:32:00.005-05:00

I'm trying to think about how I feel about the "Richmond Institution" Buddy's closing down...

Good Riddance Shithole!

Local Video Tuesday...

2012-01-17T12:04:00.002-05:00

MUTWAWA

THE GREATER THE RISK

CHRIS SCHOLAR

And, for good measure, please check this out (your voice must be heard!)...

Richmond City Council, Where Are You? Richmond, Virginia 2012 from Silver Persinger on Vimeo.

Look everybody, Joe Hafkey is back...

2012-01-16T17:31:00.007-05:00

Return of comedian Joe Hafkey! @ Cafe Diem Comedy Night (Joe was this event's founder) - Open Mic. Starts tonight at 9pm in the Devil's Triangle. Be there!

Team of Dicks.

2012-01-16T01:00:00.005-05:00

Show Picks for the early week 1/16-1/18...

Monday, 1/16 The Greater the Risk (pictured right), Youngbloods, Heavy Heart, Like the Stars @ The Camel 8pm. 18+
- Forget the poetry inside the bladder...

Tuesday, 1/17 Radio Moscow, Graveyard (pictured left), Ancient Wisdom @ Strange Matter 9pm. (possible sellout – please check with Strange Matter)
- Breakfast burritos for everybody with tiny eyes...

Tuesday, 1/17 RVALUTION featuring Dirty Nitrous, M.A.S.S FX (pictured atop)(poster just below) @ Hat Factory 10pm. 18+
- These kids are still dancing?...damn, give me double what they are on...

Tuesday, 1/17 Double Rainbow (pictured right), Indy Skulls, A Stick and a Stone, SirLady InDee @ The Wingnut (2005 Barton Ave. – South Barton Heights / no booze) 7pm.
- Anarchy in the SBH...

Tuesday, 1/17 John Hulley Large Ensemble featuring John Barker, Brendan Schnabel, Suzi Fischer, Dana Morrison, Sam Koff, Steven Cunningham, Roman Richardson, Seth Williams, Justin Esposito, Ben Faught, UTV Chamber (pictured just above) @ The Camel 8pm.
- Insurance plans that include the Hershey squirts...

Wednesday, 1/18 The High Street Lowlifes (poster just above) @ Balliceaux 10pm.
- The lower I go, the harder the orgasm is inside my underneath fan blade of a memory...

Wednesday, 1/18 Grease Trigger (pictured just above) @ Cary Street Café 10pm.
- If I grease my libido, do you think I can get free tickets to the Dog Fuck Race?...

Wednesday, 1/18 Mutant Supremacy (pictured left), Orthrus, Degeneracy @ Strange Matter 10pm. 18+
- I can out swim Michael Phelps as long as it’s at a city of Richmond pool...

Wednesday, 1/18 Silo Effect (pictured right) @ The Republic 10pm.
- The best effect is when you snort a kilo in one day out there on Key Biscayne...I’m sorry, I meant the Pony Pasture...

Wednesday, 1/18 Blood Brothers (featuring Jamie Lay and Duane Lauginiger - pictured just above) playing records featuring rock and roll music, soul music, and whatever else they want @ Ipanema 9pm.
- Ipanema reading is fundamental...

Notes:

VCU beat Delaware this Saturday past. Their next game is Thursday, Jan. 19 on National TV (ESPNU) at 8pm against William and Mary. You know, Jon Stewart's alma mater.

* Happy Lee-Jackson-King-Olajuwon-Speilberg-Ginger Lynn-Horovitz-Pacquiao-Twain-Robb-Yong-il Day everybody!

Run to this ASAP...

2012-01-15T12:38:00.006-05:00

* Also, I don't usually post stuff I see on Facecrook, but this is so very very true and has me thinking I should change my lifestyle a little bit. The following is for those 35 and up and is from www.gaasedal.wordpress.com via Facecrook...

Checking out at the supermarket recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. I apologized and explained, “We didn’t have this green thing back in my earlier days“.

The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations“.

She was right about one thing–our generation didn’t have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we have back then? After some reflection and soul-searching on “Our” day, here’s what I remembered we did have….

Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled. But we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn’t have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby’s nappies because we didn’t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts — wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn’t have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house — not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of Wales. In the kitchen, we blended & stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she’s right. We didn’t have the green thing back then.

We drank from a water fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn’t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing back then?

Please post this on your Facebook profile so another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smarty-pants young person can add to this.

!BREAKING NEWS!

2012-01-14T11:16:00.000-05:00

RIR (Richmond International Raceway) sues the girls of Off the Hookah over who’s faster.

Thank goodness for cream pie soda and billy club pesticide...

2012-01-13T18:37:00.001-05:00

Adiabatic.

2012-01-12T00:04:00.001-05:00

Show picks for a spooky weekend 1/12-1/15...

Thursday, 1/12 SINDUSTRY featuring DJ’s ADD - Dubstep, Joey D – House, Rometti – Electro, Rudebeatz – Electro (poster just below) @ Synergy
(11 S. 12th St. – Downtown) 9pm.
- Hang on for the entire groove of puberty and red bull...

Thursday, 1/12 Michetti (of Conspirator), Sonkin (pictured left) @ Canal Club 9pm. 18+
- When an entrepreneurial mother, Ann Zipser, and her two twenty-something daughters, Rebecca Hoffman and Emily Raisher, decided to go into business...

Friday, 1/13 Miramar (pictured just above) with Bob Miller and Marlysse Rose Simmons @ Crossroads Coffee (Reedy Creek/Woodland Heights) 8pm.
- A fish called wanda sikes out another little red corvette...

Friday, 1/13 Stephen Simmons (pictured right) @ Ashland Coffee & Tea 8pm.
- Duchess Says Black Flag...

Friday, 1/13 Casey Jones, Death Before Dishonor (pictured just above), Hundredth, No Bragging Rights, Boys No Good @ Kingdom 6pm. All ages.
- Rosary beads are for losers...

Friday, 1/13 DJ Big Crack, DJ Rometti, DJ Ruhl, DJ Tapeworm (pictured just above) - spinning Drum & Bass, EDM, funky house, electro @ Canal Club 9pm.
- DJ Big Cock in my mouth with awful cum loads and dandelion fun...sing me a song about diarrhea and boats...

Friday, 1/13 RVA Mag. presents ‘Cold Cuts’ featuring DJ Long Jawns & DJ Doddie (poster right) @ NY Deli 10pm.
- Money equals a Ron Paul type mosquito inside my boil...

Friday, 1/13 Lost Tribe, Cult of Youth (pictured just above), Anasazi, DJ Glenn, DJ Sybil Disobedience, DJ Shrevnasty (poster left) @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- I’m tired of calculators, but my infatuation with long knee socks gives me credence to destroy the revival...octopus makes for happy dinner guest...can you help me buy medicine that is illegal in Tijuana?...

Friday, 1/13 Mercy Creek (pictured left) @ Tobacco Company 9pm.
- Mercy the fact that a threesome with two Puerto Rican boys is a desire lost onto a Snickers bar...

Friday, 1/13 Monster Mash benefit for American Cancer featuring The Milkstains, Black Girls, 6 Track Amateur, Postcards, Cardinal Compass (poster just above) @ The Republic 7pm.
- Eat pudding and slap a bitchy nun...

Saturday, 1/14 Wrist Rocket (CD release)(pictured just above), Missives, Wolves at Bay, The Tired and True @ The Nile Ethiopian 10pm.
- Twinkies are as good as sticking your dick in the oven and shoving a God damn piece of shit preacher into a vice...love Jesus now God boy?...fuck the cross...

Saturday, 1/14 Celebration of the life of Brian Nabili featuring Proverbial, Steelshot (pictured right), A Good Vibe @ Canal Club 9pm.
- Tribute - part deux...

Saturday, 1/14 Yip Deceiver, The Absent Center, Eureka Birds, Dead Fame (pictured left)(poster just above) @ Strange Matter 8pm. 18+
- Women banned from wearing boots...

Saturday, 1/14 Bryce McCormack (CD Release)(poster just above) @ Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall 8pm.
- Frankie, they found that kid’s corpse in the canal...Tell Rico they gotta do things just a little bit better...

Saturday, 1/14 Three Man Cannon (pictured right), Cheyenne, Pheramones, American War, Dial Up @ House Show (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Rover red rover, send Molly right over...

Sunday, 1/15 Little Master, Family Cat (pictured left by Jake Cunningham), Rivers, Old Flings @ House Show (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Go the Marcus...

Sunday, 1/15 Silent Music Revival featuring Nick Coward & the Last Battle (pictured right from CC photography)(poster just above) @ Gallery 5 8pm. Free. (Film: Now You Tell One - 1926)
- Movies are the silver dollars of yesteryear's...

Sunday, 1/15 Joe Buck, Jr. (pictured atop from Element Visuals), The Trillions, Balcony, Ugly Purple Sweater @ The Camel 9pm.
- Bringing back everything from the dead...excuse me I dropped my fork...

Sunday, 1/15 Feast RVA featuring Frankzig (pictured left) @ 1708 Gallery (319 West Broad St.) 6:30pm.
- Feast on this...

* Catered by:

Soul clap...

How do you do...

Note: Go Rams, beat JMU!

Know your Richmond Markets...

2012-01-11T13:47:00.003-05:00

pic by Lesley Howson Bruno

Here is a piece I did for Richmond.com you folks might be interested in. It's a summary of every mom and pop store west of Belvidere, north of the river and south of Grace St., and within the city limits...

Cary Street Mini Market - 1317 W. Cary St. - (804) 447-8781

This year-old, maybe two, convenience store is just that, convenient. They have two ATMs, no beer yet and plenty of snacks and cigarettes. This store which is in the old Chop Suey Books location is a perfect bridge of VCU students and Randolph residents. Phone cards for everyone! I think it’s only been robbed twice, which is good because this location back in the day would have warranted more heists. Good news everybody, they have the lottery.

Cary Street Mini Market II – 817 W. Cary St.

Same crew that runs the Cary Street Mini Market at 1317 W. Cary. Description above applies here. Also I just want to add, it gives VCU students and Oregon Hill residents another option on where to play the lottery. With the cost of tuition rapidly increasing, I think it’s safe to say more students are playing the lottery. It’s also right next to 821 Café and yes, yet another tattoo parlor. Guess these neighbors alone can support all cigarette sales at this tucked in establishment.

The Cleveland Market - 801 N. Cleveland St. - (804) 213-0505

This is the newest neighborhood market in Richmond and the Museum District. It is near and dear to me literally. I live next to it. There has always been a store at this location, but never has it been a clean reputable neighborhood treasure. Well that has all changed; the new, very well informed proprietor at 801 N. Cleveland St. has completely gutted, revamped and turned this corner market around. The market is completely new with tons of new lighting, including a huge, very welcoming window overlooking West Franklin Street. This is by far one of the cleanest markets in the city with fresh gourmet foods and snacks galore. For you early birds, there is awesome coffee and a prepared food collection on hand including muffins and donuts waiting for you. Cleveland Market offers one of the most stellar domestic, imported and micro beer selections I’ve seen in awhile. If they don’t have something, just ask, they’ll order it ASAP, so you’ll never have to worry about that item again. My prayers have been answered – The Cleveland Market is open till 11:30 p.m.

DJ Market and Deli - 2001 W. Cary St. - (804) 353-3053

DJ Market and Deli lies in what I call SOFA, South of Fan. This market/convenience store used to be known as DJ Seafood, but has expanded into a market of convenience. From what I hear, they still have an outstanding fish sandwich. Now along with your fish you can get snacks, play the lottery and purchase refreshing malt liquor beverages. Phone cards for everyone! You can also pay your utility bills here while playing the lottery. One-stop shopping I must say.

Eastern Express Convenience and Food Store - 937 W. Grace St.

A lovely alternative to the scariest 7-Eleven in the world which lies just a few feet away, Eastern Express Convenience and Food Store sells everything but booze. They have a decent adult magazine rack, and yes they still publish nudie magazines people. This store is a tad bit disorganized, but what isn’t on the 900 block of Grace Street? Also, I think this store has been around longer than VCU. And, of course you can buy your winning lottery ticket here.

Fine Food (Oregon Hill) – 700 Idlewood Ave. - (804) 780-1869

Fine Food in Oregon Hill just might be the most famous convenience store in Richmond. The store may look a little bleak on the outside, but inside is a very well kept store where the expiration dates coincide with the current calendar. Their domestic and imported beer selection is marvelous, and they have a great bulletin board to keep you abreast of every good music show going on in Richmond. I also would like to add, I’ve seen a ton of local videos/photos shot at this location. Who needs Hollywood when you got Fine Food? I believe they close at 10 p.m., so plan accordingly punks, metal heads, hippies, hipsters, scenesters, mods, anarchists, liberals, students, blue collars, homelesss, conservatives, rich, poor, old codgers, rednecks, artists, hip-hoppers, frat boys, etc. You get the point.

Kramer’s Market - 406 N. Cleveland St. - (804) 359-2199

Kramer’s has had an extraordinary reputation as a quality market for as long as I can remember. The Museum District store is very clean, and has an amazing assortment of domestic, imported and micro beers along with good wine. They are always polite to their customers, and will go out of their way to accommodate the regulars. There’s a nice coin-op laundry mat next door, which is nice to know in case you want fresh food, drinks and snacks while you do your laundry.

The Lombardy Market (pictured atop) - 201 N. Lombardy St. – (804) 355-4172

This is an old standard in the Lower Fan full of domestic beer and all kinds of cigarettes with plenty of chips for the munchies crowd. Sitting right next to Balliceaux is nice. Parking is hard, but it’s a perfect nook for the many students and young professionals that live nearby to walk up too. Open late, and if that bench out front could talk.

Patterson Express - 3100 Patterson Ave. (804) 355-8510

Patterson Express is a museum district institution. Since the famous Dave sold it to two brothers a couple of years back, this bastion of community hasn’t skipped a beat. This is a great spot to get the real neighborhood (Museum District/Devil’s Triangle) news. The conversations while checking out never get old and I personally love the dogs chilling inside the old deli counter. It’s OK, the owners converted it into a nice spot for dogs to hang out and sleep in. There is no deli at Patterson Express. This place may be old, kind of rustic, but you will love it to a point of not wanting to leave. Fabulous soda, snacks, cigarettes and beer selections that are nicely priced are available as well. Patterson Express also has the best old school video games on hand along with the greatest hits of the Simpsons playing in the corner.

Sheppard Street Market - 704 N. Sheppard St. - (804) 354-5800

This is a nice alternative to the 7-Eleven in the Devil’s Triangle. There is a wide beer selection domestic, imported and microbrew. The only thing is that this market could be a lot better. The place is huge, and has the capability on being an outstanding deli. The deli area in back is not used at all. I would even recommend that they have bands play in there, but that’s just me. There is a back entrance for the neighborhood folks that live behind the store. They have cheap cigarettes, the lottery, and a wide selection of snacks. Most importantly the people who own this market are very nice and they are willing to go out of their way for their customers. The 7-Eleven across the street can’t do that.

Shields Market – 206 N. Shields Ave. – (804) 353-9880

This is one of my two personal favorites as far as an independent convenience/grocery store in the city. Nestled in the heart of the Fan, Shield’s Market is the blue print of how it should be done. Ever since the Joe’s Inn folks took this store over, it has been a beauty for the neighborhood. When they say they have fine groceries, meats and beverages, do they ever mean it. They don’t have a deli, but their delectable prepared food selection and fresh produce make up for that. If I was late for a date with a lovely lady and I needed a quick bottle of awesome wine, I’d stop in here. Their domestic and imported beer selection is a miracle. This store may be a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for and superior customer service to boot. They are open till 11:30 p.m.

Strawberry Street Market - 415 Strawberry St. - (804) 353-4100

This is the Cadillac of independent markets in Richmond. In the middle of the Fan on one of the most beautiful streets in the city, Strawberry Street Market is a deluxe stop for awesome microbrews, fine wine and a glorious deli. The lady at the deli always has a smile on her face. The food she prepares for daily sales, like the big salads for example, are the tops. I feel that their fried chicken is A-plus. This is the seminal Fan District market, and is my other all time favorite market in the city. It is pricey, but you get what you pay for. Everything in this store is fresh. They are open every day till midnight.

Sunny Market - 2700 W. Cary St. - (804) 342-6052

You haven’t lived until you’ve visited Sunny Market just east of Carytown. This store has a decent fairly priced domestic beer and snack collection. Count on cheap cigarettes everywhere and phone cards for everyone. Every time I’ve been in this store, the guys at the checkout have been very friendly. Thought to be run down, once inside it’s a true Richmond market. This market also is a go to for the employees of the many bar/restaurants around the area. Don’t be surprised if you run into your favorite bar tender or chef at this nice change of pace Upper Fan convenience store.

Trolley Market - 1614 W. Main St. - (804) 342-9000

The Trolley Market is one of the newest convenience markets in town, and it shows. It is very well kept, extremely clean with fresh food options everywhere to boot. Their domestic wine and beer selection is grand while their imported wine and beer selection is grander. They have the perfect snacks for the South Fan District resident, and being situated near a lot of bar/restaurants, this is a perfect spot to grab Johnny smoke-smokes. Customer service at the Trolley is top notch by the way. That never hurts. Also, be sure to catch some of the amazing art galleries that surround this friendly oasis.

West End Supermarket – 2200 Idlewood Ave. - (804) 254-9520

If you were ever looking for a neighborhood market that also sells a ton of hair products, well here you go. This market in Byrd Park sits along the downtown expressway. It’s very convenient for Byrd Park residents and they sell just about everything under the sun. Snacks to beverages to the lottery, the West End Supermarket has it. There are plans for expansion to provide more for the quality customer, so keep a look out. This part of the Byrd Park neighborhood has become more populated with students and young professionals, so I can see this store becoming more like a Fan District market in the near future.

Today's Virginia Ski Report...

2012-01-11T11:31:00.006-05:00

Location ------ Conditions -------- Weather...

Bryce Resort - Eat a bag of dicks - 34f cloudy

Massanutten - Shit on my face - 32f rain

The Homestead - I farted on my white grandmother - 38f light rain

Wintergreen - That bitch got a big 'ole ass - 34f rain

The movement is tomorrow night...

2012-01-10T14:18:00.004-05:00

Wednesday Night! Tomorrow! - "Live @ The Shop"

It’s a local talent showcase show and open mic.

This open mic doesn’t cater to any one genre in particular. This is to
represent Richmond, a city of such wide taste and abilities. No limitations
and no expectations, just get down to Manchester and The Shop –
0 East 4th St. (Plant Zero Arts Complex) 8:30pm.

* Curated by James Dangle

* Info & if you want to sign up early: Info@the-shop.tv

- Okay folks, you’ve heard me rave about the local music blogsite www.revoltoftheapes.com, but I also am infatuated with the Cheats Movement site. Self described as a forward looking blog designed to highlight the city of Richmond and all of its diversity through photos, art, film, and music. This is the real, trust me, the Cheats Movement is the real...I hope to have more on this site in the near future, stay tuned.

www.thecheatsmovement.com

Subscribe to Mesopotamia.

2012-01-09T02:27:00.001-05:00

Show Picks for the early week 1/9-1/11...

Monday, 1/9 Spraynard, Hold Tight! (pictured atop by Van Pelt), Sundials, Pedals On Our Pirate Ships, Signals Midwest @ House Show (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Driven to smell...

Monday, 1/9 Jonathan Vassar & the Speckled Bird, The Spinning Leaves (poster just above) @ Globehopper 7pm.
- Where was Phil Collins’ Buick found in Nova Scotia?...

Tuesday, 1/10 Soundstorm (pictured just above) @ The Camel 9pm. Free.
- Unlimited free fun...

Tuesday, 1/10 The Dirty Kicks (pictured left), Young Adult Fiction @ Strange Matter 9pm. 18+
- The Dirty Orgasms gave way to fiction and somebody else’s goofy THC smoking...

Wednesday, 1/11 Tungs, Nervous Ticks, Paint Fumes, Sports Bar (pictured right) @ The Camel 8pm. 18+
- Casper, Wyoming wants its furniture back...

Wednesday, 1/11 Glows In the Dark, Jason Aljemian & the High Life (pictured left) @ Balliceaux 10:30pm.
- Return to myself dying inside a cute bug eating its own larva...

Wednesday, 1/11 2 Dope 2 B Local Showcase featuring Young Richmond Outkasts, Nyce, Cnile, Cooli High, F Dot Low, P.O.M.C, 360 Boyz (pictured just above), Krown City, JayO, B.E.E, Torch, Stack Up Records, Q Dot, O.T.G., Slick Trick, hosted by Young Oohz, music by DJ Nigeria (poster just below) @ Strange Matter 9pm. 18+
- They say hip hop is a mutual fund...I say it’s a belly flop of ricochets...

Gothic Tuesday Comedy...

Notes:

VCU Update: This losing reminds me of an anal fisting gone wrong.

R.I.P Don Carter (1926 – 2012 / pictured below)

Poll.

2012-01-08T14:13:00.001-05:00

OWR 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination Poll...

0.000087% - Gingrich = Chubby Cheater the Womanizer

Off - Huntsman = Beholder of great semen / Father of three smoking hot girls

1.1% - Paul = World's Oldest Boy

0.000067% - Perry = Drunk & Friendly Racist

0% - Romney = Flip Flopping Mormon from Outer Space

-666% - Santorum = Supporter of Blue Babies and the Confederate Flag

2.

2012-01-07T14:24:00.003-05:00

Richmond's Most Wanted...

2012-01-06T22:01:00.000-05:00

Eric Richardson
* Felonious Assault

Neycer Urquin
AKA Alejandro Valencia Villareal
* Aggravated Sexual Battery of a Minor

Marco Bailey
* Grand Larceny
Failure To Appear
Breaking and Entering

Woodfin Oil Mascot
* Unlawfully and knowingly committing an act likely to spread infection of rabies

Woman astray from wine and song...

2012-01-05T00:31:00.004-05:00

Show Picks for the weekend 1/5-1/8...

Thursday, 1/5 This is Your Life, In Courage (pictured left), Balance and Composure, Tigers Jaw, Captain We're Sinking @ The Camel 6pm. All ages.
- Waste not, want not, have not, smoke pot...

Thursday, 1/5 Mayday! (pictured right), Eurotics, Boney Loner @ House Show (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 8pm.
- Trip up my boner...

Thursday, 1/5 Jazz Cafe at VMFA featuring Larri Branch Agenda (pictured left) @ VMFA 6pm.
- I love my master's degree, then I woke up...

Friday, 1/6 Joe Threat (pictured left from atticboy.com) @ Nile Ethiopian 10pm. 21+
- Free Poodles!...

Friday, 1/6 Erin Tobey (pictured left), Midair, Greetings @ Gallery 5 6pm. (First Friday - all ages)
- Artistic music on the very first Friday of your life...

Friday, 1/6 RVA Mag Presents ‘REBEL’ featuring Doddie (pictured just above) & Josh P. @ The Republic 10pm.
- Here we go through a forest of drinking sluts...I love bacon...

Friday, 1/6 Savage Attack, Occultist (pictured just above by Sarja Hasan), Gloominous Doom (poster right) @ Wonderland 9pm.
- The future sucks...

Friday, 1/6 Tribute to Brian Nabili featuring The Former Champions, The Silo Effect (poster just above) @ The Camel 9pm. 18+
- Tribute...

Saturday, 1/7 Antero, Gallo Vera, Proverbial (pictured atop) @ Kingdom 6:30pm. All ages.
- Let me get this straight...Rick Santorum and his wife brought home a dead fetus?...

Saturday, 1/7 Cory Smoot Experiment CD Release and Memorial Show featuring Mensrea, Cannabis Corpse, Antietam 1862, Dave Brockie Experience/GWAR unmasked/RAWG, Throne from Royalty, Make Like Murder, The Cory Smoot Experiment (poster just below) (Cory Smoot pictured just above) @ The Canal Club 6pm. All ages.
- This is one helluva way to go out...

Saturday, 1/7 Hunter Wolfe (CD release)(pictured left) @ Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall 7pm. Free.
- Eighty Eight was the year of dogma...

Saturday, 1/7 The Kindling Kind, Jawa, The Mystery Ship, Crushed Purple (poster just above) @ Current (Hat Factory) 9pm. 21+
- One plus the bonus...

Saturday 1/7 Sweet Tooth, FleshMolt, Bermuda Triangles, Weekends (pictured just above) @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- Queen Latifah and Dolly Partin?...I'm sold!...

Saturday, 1/7 Herschel Stratego, Meade Skelton & the Meadow Street Band, comedian David Marie Garland (poster just above) @ The Camel 7pm. (early)
- Herschel's back!...

Sunday, 1/8 Scott Clark 4tet (pictured left by Lauren Serpa) @ The Commercial Taphouse 9pm.
- The Tet Defensive...

Sunday, 1/8 Tenement, DOC, Coke Bust (pictured right by Nukkka), Poison Planet, Abyss (poster just above) @ Grace St. Mansion (info at rvashows.proboards.com - no booze) 7pm.
- I'm beating up myself tonight...

Sunday, 1/8 Buck Gooter (LP release)(pictured just above), La Mere Vipere, Zomes, War Graves @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- War is crap, but cranberries are aliens...

* Haywood Nelson, Ernest Thomas, Danielle Spencer, Fred 'Re Run' Berry, Shirley Hemphill & Mabel King...(don't forget the guys that played Big Earl
and Little Earl)...

Notes:

* Don't forget folks...Radio Rubber Room is now live on Thursdays starting tonight: WHAN 1430AM & 102.9FM - 10pm-12am.

* Fuck, VCU just lost.

And then there is this...

Jerk Off.

2012-01-04T11:32:00.007-05:00

As many OWR readers know, I have been pretty hard on Coach Frank Beamer in the past. Well here again, after yet another loss in a BCS Bowl, Beamer has me at a point where I hate my life and can't sleep.

While Tech's loss last night to Michigan appeared to be because of shitty officiating or a third string kicker, that was not the reason at all. The third string kicker by the way kept Tech in the game. All the blame should go squarley on Beamer.

I am not trying to be some typical venting fan here. Beamer's time is up. Any rational person in the Commonwealth of Virginia knows what im talking about. First, the days of 'elder' good ole boys running a major college football program are over. They may be able to recruit, and they may be able to win over a red neck fan base, but in actuallity they are out of touch. Frank Beamer is out of touch.

Coach Beamer has brought Tech into the national spotlight, but has reached a ceiling when it comes to how far as he can take the program. Now does Tech go the way of Penn St. and hold onto the lovable good ole' boy coach? Hell no. Now i'm not comparing Beamer's tenure to Joe Paterno and the Penn State 'fuck little boys' scandal, but what I am saying is that Virginia Tech University officials need to set into place a strong exit strategy for Beamer.
I suggest it start today.

Going for a fake punt on 4th and 1 after a timeout at Michigan's 48 just proves that old worn out coaches flat out make poor decisions and come across senile. Frank Beamer looked like a complete idiot and fool last night with his inept coaching. He is now a true embarrassment to the Commonwealth.

Coach Beamer's accomplishments has everyone, including myself, very proud and grateful. However, this man must step down. If he steps down now graciously, he will ride off into a sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains with pride.

Unfortunately money and crappy steak houses talk. Beamer, who is the highest paid state employee, will jeopordize the Commonwealth's pride and vision. It is truly at a point where Beamer is doing more harm for Virginia than good. Poor decisions on the gridiron is one thing, but Beamer is now making poor decisions for the Commonwealth of Virginia in general. Yes, I said that. He is more of an ambassador for Virginia than you think. Can the Governor fire this guy?

Step down Coach Beamer, secure your legacy now because Virginians don't see you as a visionary anymore. If you stay on as Coach at VPI, you basically will be viewed as an inept hillbilly who is hijacking the integrity of the amazing place that is the Commonwealth of Virginia.

D'Angelo finally has a new album on the way...

2012-01-04T09:31:00.000-05:00

According to Billboard.com and ?uestlove, of The Roots, Richmonder D'Angelo is in the "home-stretch" of the recording process.

Local Video Tuesday...

2012-01-03T12:30:00.000-05:00

VOLTURE

THE MARCUS TENNEY TRIO

LOST TRIBE

GO HOKIES!

2012-01-03T12:26:00.000-05:00

Controlled by baloney and a doll fixated on cupcakes made of barbwire...

2012-01-02T00:38:00.000-05:00

Show Picks for the early first week of the year 1/2-1/4...

Monday, 1/2 Fred Eaglesmith (pictured left) @ Ashland Coffee & Tea 8pm.
- The eagle has landed...

Tuesday, 1/3 Casting Call, Challenges, I Time Bomb, Heavy Heart, High Regard, Burn the Ballroom (pictured right by Brandon Hambright) @ The Camel 7pm.
- Usually when i'm tripping balls, I take the pistol and rob little kids for bags...

Monday, 1/2 Cafe Diem Open Mic Comedy Night featuring Kenny Wingle (pictured just above) and many other of Richmond's finest comedians
@ Cafe Diem 8:30pm.

Wednesday, 1/4 Trust Fall, Burning Bridges, Amateur Thieves, Button Up (pictured left), Jake Mayday @ House of Abraham (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Went to a house where there was no furniture...

Wednesday, 1/4 The Itchy Hearts (pictured atop), The Milkstains, Blue Rajas, A.M. Astronaut @ The Camel 8pm.
- Don't stop at nothing...

Wednesday, 1/4 Rukus, DJ Ruhl (poster just below) @ Canal Club 9pm.
- Thank God these kick ass bands in Richmond only rely on Facecrook to get out the word on their shows and crappy artwork...

Note:

VCU Plays Hofstra on Strong Island tonight at 7pm. VCU enters the game 10-3 and in first place of the CAA. VCU is playing above expectations, so catch them if you can. Its beginning to look like every home game this season will sell out.

R.I.P Mary Lou Decossaux (1957-2011)

2011 OWR RICHMONDER OF THE YEAR.

2012-01-01T15:42:00.013-05:00

Thomas Cannon may have left this earth six years ago, but he is still whom I regard as my favorite Richmonder of all time. So much in fact, this man should continue to be awarded for his generosity to those who truly deserved it.

For those of you who may have forgotten Thomas Cannon, he was a retired postal worker at the edge of poverty, yet gave most of his money away to folks he read about in the Times-Dispatch who had fallen on way harder times than himself. Stroking a three or four digit check to these people wasn’t even a question let alone a concern for Cannon. It was a given that he had to do it. Cannon referred to himself as a “poor man’s philanthropist.” According to the Washington Post, Cannon gave over $150,000 over 33 years to those he felt needed the money more because of the severity of their current hard times.

Cannon was also famous for boarding various GRTC buses around the city and handing out envelopes of cash to various individuals he felt could use it more, only to get off the bus and disappear into the day. Gratification was the last thing this man searched out or wanted. Unlike today where many philanthropists are generous, but still seek the vanity that comes with the massive amount of press that comes with their donation, Cannon was truly the opposite. It wasn’t until his last years on earth and the publishing of a book about his philanthropy people really knew who he was or looked like.

These days with the politics of politics itself, charities, panhandlers, laziness, greed, corporate greed, rich assholes, over population, free food giveaways and markets, “Occupy’s” and protests of God knows what, Cannon was before his time, and he did it the right way. He would give a little here and a little there, but it mounted up. And the last thing he wanted was face time in the papers and local television news. Cannon’s philanthropy had nothing to do with religion, politics, nationality, socio-economic status or race. To Cannon, his philanthropy just needed to be done.

Unfortunately six years after Cannon’s passing, we are at a time where a young physically fit twenty-something male who looks like he could play football for U of R can stand in the middle of an intersection, bum change all day, and local media organizations along with severely confused students, ex hippies, young people that are mad at their parents, and anarchists make him out as a hero. Thomas Cannon was a true hero. He worked his shitty job everyday just like everybody else, served his country in yet another crappy war, and still did the right thing. He was an angel, not a political hound dog.

When Cannon retired in ‘83, he and his wife lived on his pension. Cannon told the Times-Dispatch "We lived simply, so we could give money away." "People say, 'How can you afford it?” “Well, how can people afford new cars and boats? Instead of those, we deliberately kept our standard of living down below our means. I get money from the same place people get money for those other things."

Cannon never thought of himself, only others. In the current economic times we as a society are in, everyone is a lot thriftier with their money and there is nothing wrong with that. That is just how it is these days, but just think about it. The current state of the economy is parallel to everyday of Thomas Cannon’s life, yet he still only thought of and contributed to others. That truly says something right there folks.

I have mentioned many times before about my hatred for Christmas as it is now and always will be a corporate holiday ruse. I just hope when you read, see or hear about people around Christmas trampling, maiming, and even shooting other people at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, enter another corporate fuck hole here, or any shoe store selling some stupid retro sneaker once worn by Michael ‘just give me more dollars’ Jordan, you will first think about Thomas Cannon. However, it’s highly doubtful because you just have to have that new version of a new video game, or it would take away from your time on Facecrook or Twatter. I know I know, I get caught up in this bullshit too sometimes, but if I make a contribution to someone or cause truly in need in the name of Thomas Cannon in 2012, won’t you?

In 2005 Thomas Cannon left this earth at 79 after succumbing to cancer.

The 2011 One Way Richmond ‘Richmonder of the Year’ is awarded posthumously to Thomas Cannon.

* Pictured is Thomas Cannon’s book. Please purchase or order this book from an independent book store:

* Recording of Thomas Cannon's last words - was played at his memorial:

Thomas Cannon's Last Words Link
courtesy of gatewayva.com

* Past OWR Richmonders of the Year:
2009 - Travis McKie
2010 - Silver Persinger

Twas the night before Christmas and Dixie was stripping on Broad Rock Boulevard.

2011-12-29T01:12:00.009-05:00

Show Picks for another fucked up year in my life, your life, their life
12/29-1/1...

Thursday, 12/29 Keller Williams (pictured left) and the Pimps of Joytime @ The National (Kids matinee show 2:30pm) - (9pm evening show)
- The gangs of Richmond Vee Aye
will never die, just multiply...

pic by Nicole Kibert

Thursday, 12/29 You Blew It (pictured just above), Dikembe, Quiet the Trees, Jabroni (poster right) @ Some House (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- They play in the road only to get run over, days are counting, my diasease is an inner thought of courage...

Thursday, 12/29 A Tribute to bluegrass on MacArthur featuring The Slack Family Reckless Abandon, Cook County Bluegrass, Shockoe Bottom Boys (poster with S.B. Boys pictured just above) @ Shenanigan’s 7pm.
- Realize the cries are no longer the surprise...

Thursday, 12/29 Hanzel Und Gretyl (pictured right), Synthetic Nightmare, Machines of Living Death @ Fallout 8pm.
- Anything hopes to leap out of straights...

Thursday, 12/29 Photosynthesizers (pictured atop), The Witch Doctor, Amul 9, James Dangle @ Balliceaux 10pm.
- Wild goes 2011, but hardcore sex is the 2012 near sight...

Friday, 12/30 The Hot Seats @ Ashland Coffee & Tea 8pm.
- What did you do on NYE? Oh, you smoked crack and got a STD...meanwhile I watched my intestines bleach out the moon...

Friday, 12/30 Downfall of Gaia (pictured left from Marmota), Vestiges, Balaclava, Fixtures, The Blue Letter (pictured just above by Phil Bowne) @ Strange Matter
- Usurp the beings in transit after you whisper for freedom underneath a straight jacket...dill pickles anyone?...

Friday, 12/30 Goodwill Coat Drive featuring Eric Hunter (pictured just above), The Sweater Band @ The Republic 9pm.
- Move a policymaker to the back of the line...

Saturday, 12/31 Former Champions (poster just above) @ City Dogs in the Fan 9pm.
- Oh shit, I forgot...

Saturday, 12/31 Black Girls (pictured just above), Michael Murphy, DJ Carlito @ Balliceaux 10pm.
- Peruvian Girls...

Saturday, 12/31 Eliot Lipp (pictured right), Existor, Brothers Past @ Canal Club 8pm.
- Go masturbate to Mozart!...

Sunday, 1/1 Tasty Soul Brunch with DJ Charles Williams (aka DJ Greybeard on WRIR)(pictured left) @ Balliceaux 10:30am (early early)
- A Bloody Mary, Rabbit Rabbit and black eyed peas please...

Feliz año nuevo...

Go Wahoos!

And, also from the OWR sports desk...VCU plays @ Akron tomorrow. I say beat 'em good Rams, and grab some tires while you're at it...

R.I.P Cheetah (the chimpanzee from the 1930s "Tarzan" films) succumbs at 80 years old.

ONE WAY RICHMOND 2011 YEAR END MUSIC AWARDS...

2011-12-27T18:47:00.013-05:00

Best Band: Lost Tribe (RVA)

Best All Around Musician in Richmond: Eddie Prendergast of Amazing Ghost, Bio Ritmo, DJ X, and solo projects

Best Jazz Musician/Band: Reggie Pace

Best Classical Musician: Eric Stanley (violinist)

Best Blues Band: The Dirty Truth

Best Piano/Keys: Marlysse Simmons of Bio Ritmo and Os Margrelos

Best Guitar: Nick Poulos (Parasytic, Volture)

Best Drummer: Erik Larson (Parasytic)

Best Bass: Sadie Powers (Dead Fame)

Best Utility/Multi-Instruments: Ben Sheperd of The Nervous Ticks/Solo projects

Best Vocals: Brandi Price of The Diamond Center

Best Vocals/Frontman: Davey Bales of Lost Tribe

Best Singer/Songwriter: Jonathan Vassar

Best Hip Hop Group/Collective: Just Plain Sounds

Best MC/Rapper: (tie) Barcodez of Photosynthesizers, The Honorable Sleaze, and Joe Threat

Best Producer/MC/Hype Man/Entertainer: Noah O

Best Party DJ: All the DJ’s from the Audio Ammo Crew

Best Original/Techno/House/Breaks/Glitch/Dubstep/Etc. DJ: PLF DJs (Conway Jennings/John Reinhold)

Best Experimental/Soul/Hip Hop DJ: Ohbliv

Best Drum and Bass DJ: Joanna O

Best Noise/Pedals/Other Odd Musical Objects: Leo Heinzel of Flesh Control, Flesh Molt, Positivland

Best Acoustic/Unplugged Band: The Whiskey Rebellion

Best Jam/Funk/Reggae Band: Proverbial

Best Ensemble Band/Group of Musicians: (tie) Samsun Trinh & The Upper Eastside Band and No BS Brass Band

Best Up and Coming Musician or Band: (tie) Cough and Downbeat Switch

Best Musician/Band Not Everyone in Richmond Knows About, but Should:
The Kindling Kind

Best Music Related Business in Richmond: Black Iris Music

The Hardest Working Person in Richmond’s Music Scene: Mark Osborne of Strange Matter

Best Local Record Label: Triple Stamp Records

Best Record/Music Store: Steady Sounds Records

Best Musical Equipment Store: Kapeller Violins and Metro Sound

Best Theatre/Gallery/Cultural Space (plays, musicals, music, film, other): (tie) Gallery 5 and Ghostprint Gallery

Best Jukebox: The Village

Best Show Flyer/Poster Artist: Joe Legzz

Best Venue: (local acts)(tie) Strange Matter & The Camel (national acts) The National

Best Club: Fallout

Best Weekly Event: Beast Wellington - Wednesdays at Bogart’s in the Fan and VCU Jazz Night (on Tuesdays - not exactly every week, but close enough at The Camel)

Best Monthly Event: 'Afro Beta' presented by Audio Mass Transit at The Nile Ethiopian

Best Place To Play As A Street Musician: Carytown

Best Venue Sound: (tie) Cary St. Cafe and Wonderland

Best Recording Studio: (tie) RVA Studios and Etching Tin Studio

Best Record Producer/Studio Engineer: John Morand of Sound of Music Studios

Best Show Sound/Mixer/Engineer: Jonathan Kassalow of Strange Matter/The Bike Lot/Gallery 5/Other

Show of the Year:

(Major)(Seven way tie)

* Foster the People @ The National

* Bon Iver @ The National

* Raphael Saadiq @ Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

* Neil Young @ The Mosque (Landmark)

* Big Freedia @ Hat Factory

* Best Friend’s Day (featuring numerous national funk, hardcore, punk, & metal bands)

* Lonnie Liston Smith @ Capital Alehouse Downtown Music Hall

(Local)(Six way tie)

* RVA Music Festival @ Local venues and 18th Street - Shockoe Bottom (featuring numerous local bands, DJs, along with Girl Talk and Best Coast)

* Ghost of Pop 7 @ Gallery 5 (featuring My Old Ways, Young Adult Fiction, Horsehead, TheTrillions, Goldrush, Kid Is Qual, The Druthers)

* Cheap Fest. III @ Strange Matter (featuring numerous noise/experimental acts)

* Ice Age, Lost Tribe, La Mere Vipere, Dead Fame @ Strange Matter

* RPG, Dead Goats @ Cous Cous

* Final Show/Farewell Night @ Sprout (featuring numerous local bands of all genres)

Best Official/Yet Underground Party: Source presents ‘Underground 2’ (underground rave event back in September)

Best Richmond Music Scene Media Source: RVA Magazine and Website

Best Local Radio Station: WRIR 97.3

Best Local Radio DJ: (tie) Shannon Cleary (WRIR) and Black Liquid (WDCE)

Best Music Calendar of Events: Mike Rutz’s ACTIVATE! Weekly Music Calendar @ WRIR Activate

Best Non-Live Music Show (radio or live in person):
- Open Mic Comedy Night every other Monday at Café Diem
- Wordy Birds (Interviews with writers by Liz Humes from WRIR)
- Radio Rubber Room 102.9 WHAN – Thursday Night

Best Local Music/Band Documentary: The Whiskey Rebellion – “Live from Oregon"

Best Multiple Day Music Event: Best Friends Day

Best Outdoor Concert Series: Groovin’ in the Garden

Best Indoor Concert Series: The Listening Room Series

Best Musical Selections By A Local Bartender: Matt Brooks (Bamboo Café)

Best Richmond Music Scene Photographer: (tie) PJ Sykes (www.pjsykes.com) and Tony Lynch (www.tonylynch.us)

Best Place in Richmond to Get News On What Bands Are Up To: Strange Matter

Best Neighborhood for Richmond Musicians to Live In: Church Hill

Best blog or website about music in general and or the Richmond music scene: Revolt of the Apes - www.revoltoftheapes.com

Best Place to See A Local Musician When He or She is Not Playing: Any local restaurant’s kitchen/bar

This year's Award's Award goes to: All the folks who made songs, videos, and rioted during VCU's Final Four run.

Cecil B. DeMiller and Rhodes Richmond Music Scene Lifetime Achievement Award: Christ Bopst

– Writer/books talent at Balliceaux/music podcast posted every Monday on rvanews.com/formally of the Richmond bands: Alter Natives, Holy Rollers and Mao Tse Helen, and founding member of GWAR.

Best Video: (three way tie) Jonathan Vassar & The Speckled Bird – “Turn to Face the Wind” – Directed by Kevin Gallagher

Noah O – “Voices” – Directed by Monsee' and The Media Den.

Ki:Theory "I Wanna Run" featuring Maura Davis of Denali - Directed and edited by Johnny Hugel

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Musicians In Memoriam: Cory Smoot of GWAR, Page Wilson, and Phil ‘Slomski’ Pollard
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shot Outs to places, people, and organizations that contributed to the 2011 Richmond Music Scene: Byrd Theater, Radio Rubber Room Radio Show, Crossroads (Jackson Ward), Richmond Symphony, 821, The Mosque (Landmark Theater), Pete & Liz Humes, Phil Foxwell, Andrew Necci, Shannon Cleary, R. Anthony Harris, Aaron Reinhard, Rand Burgess, Student Hip-Hop Organization at VCU, Brown’s Island, Belle Isle, Jeyon Falsini and Magnus Music, James and Lesley Howson Bruno, Mike Blain, Death By Audio, Brooklyn Vegan, Sean O'Shea, Jamie Lay, VCU School of Music-Art-Film-Photography-Theater, The Camel, Cary St. Café, Bamboo Café, Avalon, Sprout, Charged Up Ent., Chocolate Milk, Hollywood Cemetery Collective, Just Plain Sounds, Godfrey’s, Hat Factory, Canal Club, Commercial Taphouse, Balliceaux, Ghostprint Gallery, Reference Gallery, Café Diem, Legend Brewery, Bogarts, Richmond.com, Richmond Jazz and Blues Society, the band Sports Bar, Raphael Katchinoff, Gallery 5, Really-Really Free Market, Ada Gallery, Forcefield Records, Weekly Rant, Lonnie B, CenterStage, City of Charlottesville, Tea Bazaar, Caliente, The Southern, Musictoday.com, WNRN, WDCE, WVCW, WHAN, WVNZ, Virginia Union, City Dogs, Club 534, VCU Ram Band, VCU Gold Rush Dancers, Every area high school band, Chris Ramming and Cous Cous, Plaza Bowl, Bunny Hop Bike Shop, Food Not Bombs, Illegal underground house/space venues, Alex Wilhelm, Any small yet extremely inspirational gospel group in the area, Lift, Velocity Comics, PLF, House of Real Toys, Various dishwashers, cooks, chefs, and bartenders, The Wingnut, The Black Hand, Crossroads Coffee, Get Money Green Brothers, Face Jay Ent., A-Money Promotions, RVAFreaks.com, Sound guys at all the local venues, The Bike Lot, rvashows.proboards.com, Occupy Richmond, Facecrook, Street performers, El Tropicabana, U of R’s Tyler Haynes Commons, Richmond Flying Squirrels, EQ, Triple Stamp Records, The Bucket Boys all around town, Richmond Coliseum, Modlin Center for the Arts, McCormack’s, First Fridays Art Walk, All involved in the Folk Festival and Two Street Festival, James Talley, Scott Blake, Breton Pezzelle, Silver Persinger, Ward Tefft, Shelley Briggs, Venture Richmond, Rumors Boutique, Fridays at Sunset, The Various Cultural & Nationalities Independent One Day Festivals, Bill Reid, High school music teachers, The Showplace, The Nile Ethiopian, The Cellar Door, Ipanema, The 14 ‘Head Shops’ in Metro Richmond, GRTC, Grace St., Robinson St., Broad St., Fulton Hill Neighborhood Resource Center, Open High, Record Finders, Turnstyle, Vinyl Conflict Records, Steady Sounds Records, Plan 9, BK Music, Witchmond, Rat Ward, Smooth Dirty Productions, Richmond Music Center, Metro Sound, Mojo’s, Chop Suey Books, Sound of Music Studios, Etching Tin Studios, Empire, All the rehearsal spaces around town, Video Fan, Eric E. Stanley, The Biograph, The Triple, GWAR, Lamb of God, Municipal Waste, Angela Pellerano, Mayor Dwight Jones, Chad ‘Cutty’ Coleman, mechanics who fix band vans, VCU's Final Four run, ungrateful bands, and all the others...Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Low Budget Scotch & Daniels.

2011-12-26T01:09:00.000-05:00

Show Picks for the early week 12/26-12/28...

Monday, 12/26 THINK, People's Blues of Richmond (pictured right) @ The Camel 9pm.
- I'm so fucking sick of liars...

Monday, 12/26 Max Levine Ensemble, Delay, The Haverchucks @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- I wondered what would happen if OWR shut down...

Tuesday, 12/27 Night Idea, Brother Wolf (pictured just above), Plastic Traps @ The Camel 8pm.
- Piss on Jesus...

Tuesday, 12/27 Nine Mile Island (pictured just above), South Swell, Emma White @ Canal Club 7pm.
- Religious people are crooks...

Wednesday, 12/28 Stephen Kellog & the Sixers (pictured left), Madi Diaz @ Capital Alehouse Downtown Music Hall 9pm.
- Frankie goes to Hollywood Cemetery...

Wednesday, 12/28 Ramming Speed, Battlemaster (pictured just above), Thrones of Deceit, Degeneracy @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- Whats Happening...

Wednesday, 12/28 Binary Sound presents Year Reflective featuring James Dangle (pistured atop) & The Just Plain Sounds All-stars, RUHL, Rometti (poster just above) @ Canal Club 9pm. 21+
- Driving that drain, high on Metamucil...

Note: God damn mothafuckin' right i'm smoking a Soouth Richmond blunt.

Story.

2011-12-25T00:15:00.001-05:00

African Streets.

2011-12-24T12:27:00.001-05:00

Christmas is the time for giving, not stampeding corporate stores for bullshit. In the true spirit of what Christmas is really about please take the time to learn about The Street Muse Project featuring Richmond/Philadelphia’s ultimate street performer GULL.

* The Street Muse Project is a documentary project exploring the culture of street and public music around the World. This component of the project will document street performances in Africa. In addition, Gull will perform on the street throughout the project as an offering and thank you to those who are sharing their talents and energy with us. The documentary will be the first in a series.

Why Street Music?

Have you ever stopped and listened to a street musician, maybe given them a dollar, and wondered about their story? What are their musical influences? What can their life and art open to you about the World? That's the goal of the Street Muse Project...to capture and share these stories and use them as a springboard for education. Many countries in East and West Africa are facing incredible humanitarian and political challenges. We see public music as a way to help inspire education and foster a sense of mutual humanity.

Over the last 5 years Gull (Nate Rappole) has been performing as a street musician across much of the United States and Mexico. He is known for his percussion project that involves the simultaneous playing of the drums and guitar. Through his travels, Nate has come to see the importance of street music as a public display of emotion and how it can be used to break down social barriers and constraints. The street can serve as a public venue for artistic experimentation and social/political creativity. In the Spring of 2011, Nate was joined on a tour of the American South by Len Albright, who had recently completed a PhD in urban sociology. They discussed the possibility of interviewing musicians on the streets in other parts of the world and how the sharing of this could open pathways for creative politics and experiences across the globe. The Street Muse Project was born.

Within each country that we visit in Africa we will be meeting street musicians, documenting their craft with both audio and video, and using the lens of street music to explore local cultures and stories. The project will take place for six weeks during February and March, 2012.

The product of the Street Muse Project will be a documentary short that we will share free of charge to educational institutions, cultural centers, and anyone else who is interested in learning about the creativity and stories of street musicians from around the World. We plan this component of the Project to be the first of a series.

The funding you provide will support:

1.) Equipment needed and costs for conducting audio/video field recordings

2.) The editing of the project and the sharing of the field recordings and documentary.

3.) Travel expenses (including airfare, visas, and travel within Africa)

How you can help:

Street Muse Project - Kickstarter Account

* Words by Documantarian Len Albright and Nate Rappole

The following actresses need to start mainlining serious amounts of heroin...

2011-12-23T19:20:00.001-05:00

Stamp Collection.

2011-12-21T23:15:00.001-05:00

Show Picks for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Festivus or what other crap you may celebrate this weekend 12/22-12/25...

Thursday, 12/22 Bruce Olsen & the Family (pictured right) @ Shenanigans 8pm.
- Divorce everybody...

Thursday, 12/22 Mutwawa, TSRP - Tom Smith & Ryan Parrish, AZ Tireks, En Nod, Whoa! (poster just above) @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- Shit on children...

Thursday, 12/22 Erika Blatnik (pictured atop from Pure Light), Clifton McDaniel, Matthew Paul Butler @ The Camel 8pm.
- Toss a baby into traffic...

Friday, 12/23 Christmas Blowout featuring Amazing Ghost (pictured right), DJ Elves & J Kanizzle @ Balliceaux 10pm.
- Loosen the revenge factor to death...

Friday, 12/23 The Congress, DJ Williams Projekt, Murphys Kids (poster just above) @ The National 6:30pm.
- Everybody sucks balls...

Friday, 12/23 This Time It's War, In Alcatraz 1862 (pictured left by Brandon Hambright), An Obscure Signal, and others (poster just above) @ Kingdom 5pm. All ages.
- Murder the crippled...

Saturday, 12/24 Get drunk, snort cocaine, vomit, repeat.

Sunday, 12/25 White Cross (pictured just above), Pistol Whip Nikki @ Bandito’s 9pm.
- Do mind the bollocks...

Feliz Navidad...

Welcome home to all those who served in Iraq!!!

Sports with Chip Casadonte...

2011-12-21T09:34:00.003-05:00

Christian-Lorraine Oriental Rugs defeated W. Hirsch Oriental Rugs last night in a fierce game of Monopoly.

Local Video Tuesday...

2011-12-20T16:37:00.003-05:00

Buck Gooter (Harrisonburg)

White Laces

Isaiah & Hovey

Note: VCU plays University of Alabama-Birmingham tonight at 7:30pm. The Game is sold out. The game can be seen on ESPN3.com. Go Rams!

The New.

2011-12-20T11:49:00.009-05:00

Anarchists are the new hippies

Crust punks are the new break dancers

Silence is the new loud

VCU is the new guillotine

Yuppies are the new blue collar

Skaters are the new surfers

Protests are the new JC Penny white sales

Tattoos is the Silly Putty

Skinheads are the new mods

Rat boys are the new geeks

Full blown AIDS is the new Shockoe Slip & Bottom waitress

Noise kids are the new glee club

Thug is the new book worm

Disabled is the new pretty boy

Occupying is the new selfishness

Bloggers are the new virgins

Failures are the new winners

Sorority is the new slut

Lazy is the new employed

Richmond is the new Hopewell

Masturbation is the new reading

Facecrook is the new pen pal

Female is the new male

Rich is the new poor

Sports is the new science fiction

Gay is the new fascist

Politicians are the new drug dealers

Facecrook Timeline is the new get a fuckin' life people!

Religion is the new bi-polar disorder

Days left until erosion...

2011-12-19T00:32:00.004-05:00

Show Picks for the early week 12/19-12/21...

pic by Sarja Hasan

Monday, 12/19 Lost Tribe, Mauser @ Empire 9pm.
- Goth punk and a carton of Russian cigarettes...

Monday, 12/19 Cafe Diem Comedy Night Open-Mic featuring Richmond’s best stand up comedians along with Brian Michael Gartland (pictured right) @ Café Diem 8:30pm. (Comedian sign up 8pm)
- Laugh at the ridiculous laughing...

Monday, 12/19 James Justin & Co. (pictured left), Loves It @ The Camel 8pm.
- K95 spells country again...

Tuesday, 12/20 Close Talker, Amateur Thieves, The Haverchucks, Family Cat (pictured just above) @ Church of Abraham (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Close to thieves using haverchucks to capture the family cat...

Tuesday, 12/20 A Very RVALUTION X-Mas (pictured just above) @ The Hat Factory 10pm. 18+
- Dance you birds!...

Tuesday, 12/20 Fight the Big Bull (pictured just above) @ Balliceaux 10pm. 21+
- Jazz is an empty light across a Montana sky...

Wednesday, 12/21 Benefit for The Cushing Family featuring Josati (pictured left), RYU, The Polychrons, Former Champions @ The Camel 8pm.
- Happy feet tell the story of dull loons escaping from RCJ...

Wednesday, 12/21 Dr. Sketchy’s RVA featuring burlesque renaissance-woman, Deanna Danger (pictured just above by Kim Frost), local burlesque performers, alternative models, circus-ters, and vaudevillians @ Strange Matter 6pm.
- Lady in red...

Wednesday, 12/21 Julius Pittman & the Revival (pictured left) @ Shenanigan's 7pm.
- Scarlett Jake Johannsenn & Tootie from Facts of Life...

Wednesday, 12/21 J3 Project (pictured right) @ Cary St. Café 9pm.
- Think she’s a slut?...I hope so...

Note:

R.I.P Kim Jong 'mentally' il (1942-2011); Václav Havel (1936-2011); Christopher Eric Hitchens (1949 – 2011 - pictured just below)

Tacky.

2011-12-18T22:19:00.000-05:00

According to CBS News, Richmond has the best tacky (Christmas) lights tour in America. What they forgot to report was the fact Richmond also has the tackiest people in America. Case in point...

New endeavours for the conscious Sunday stroll...

2011-12-17T12:05:00.014-05:00

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday - Richmond Dragway! I mean the Tobacco Company, Sunday night 12/18, 9:30pm...

The Kindling Kind

And also, get 'em outta jail...outta jail...

Swordplay

Brunch is served...

Santa fucks a sandwich...

Note: VCU plays UNC-Wilmington tonight (Saturday 12/17) at 7:30pm. down there in Carver. They call UNCW the Seahawks, I call 'em a bunch of redneck beach bums.

Oligarchy.

2011-12-15T10:53:00.003-05:00

Show Picks for the weekend 12/15-12/18...

pic by Luna Duran

Thursday, 12/15 Mermaids I Mean Whales, Lobo Marino, The Moonbees (poster right) @ The Camel 9pm.
- Watching the Creighton Court drug kingpin open up his hands and pray for rain...

Thursday, 12/15 Double Negative (pictured left), Bukkake Boys, Unholy Thoughts, Slugz (poster just above) @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- Has Winston Churchill ever been to Church Hill?...

Thursday, 12/15 PC Worship (pictured just above), Mutwawa, Nightshade, Navi @ Ghostprint Gallery 7:30pm.
- I feel like standing on my head and bouncing my way to the refrigerator to grab some ice and pudding...

Thursday, 12/15 Paul Ivey vs. the Board of Education (pictured right), Merrin Karas, the Hadron Delay @ Emilio’s in the Fan 9pm.
- If a dollar could talk, it probably would say – you know where I have been?...

Friday, 12/16 Holiday Hoedown featuring Lee Harris & Country Sunshine, Loversville, Andy Vaughan & the Driveline (pictured left), Slack Family (poster just above) @ Canal Club 8:30pm.
- Ode to Billy Joe...

Friday, 12/16 Samson Trinh & the Upper East Side Big Band (pictured just above) @ Bogart's in the Fan 9pm.
- It’s a large outfit of aliens and gas pedals...

Friday, 12/16 Ohbliv (pictured left), DJ Zoidberg, Luggage @ The Nile Ethiopian 10pm.
- Trip up the iron lion why ceases to quiver out a conscious of pot belly pigs and frugal surfers inside a dark and lovely tree hugger...

Friday, 12/16 League of Space Pirates, Low On Sanity, Proceed the Eye (poster just above) @ Wonderland 9pm.
- Pissed off white ladies need to rediscover masturbation...

Friday, 12/16 Woods (pictured just above), MMoss, The Diamond Center @ Strange Matter 10:15 pm.
- The center of the woods has moss and diamonds at the core...Barbiturates for all infants!...

Friday, 12/16 & Saturday, 12/17 Christmas Jam curated by Farm Vegas (pictured just above) & Friends (Talking Heads set 12/16) @ Cary St. Café 10pm.
- Welcome back to death metal for the bisexual monopoly player in all of us...

Friday, 12/16 16th Annual Hamaganza Variety & Christmas Show @ Balliceaux 9pm; Saturday, 12/17 Hamaganza Variety & Christmas Show @ Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall 9pm.
- This year's Hamaganza variety & Christmas show is on two nights. It just gets bigger and bigger and bigger. Hamaganza is music, burlesque, comedy, drag and of course, the absolute star of the show every year - Richmond legend, Dirtwoman! (Dirtwoman pictured just above - Balliceaux poster just below)

Friday 12/16 12th Annual Happy Skalidays Day 1 (Friday) featuring Among Criminals, East Coast Secondaries, Broadside, Murphy's Kids (pictured just below) (poster just above) @ Strange Matter 5pm. All ages (early)
- Fuck me with your trumpet...

pic by Mary Jacobs

Saturday, 12/17 12th Annual Happy Skalidays Day 2 (Saturday) featuring Murphy’s Kids (pictured just above), Capital 7, Tsunami Rising, Proverbial, Eastern Standard Time @ Strange Matter 5pm. All ages (early)
- Screaming about screaming...

Saturday, 12/17 GlamBang (plays 1970's glam rock including the tunes of David Bowie, T. Rex, Mott the Hoople, Lou Reed, The Sweet, Roxy Music, and Alice Cooper) (pictured right) @ Emilio’s in the Fan 9pm.
- Glam is a marauder death ray flapping hysterically down Hull St. in the center of Manchester...Can I get some chest hair over here please...I read books about pantries in New England...

Saturday, 12/17 The Clash Party featuring Young Richmond Outkasts (Chi Chi of YRO pictured just below), Hard 2 Kill Ent., Ratchet City, POMC, Our City Boyz (poster just above) @ Kingdom 9pm. 21+
- I just posted some non sense on Facecrook and girls who have very low self esteem seem to like it...Oh go suck an egg...Half off Mrs. Marshall’s on aisle 6...

Saturday, 12/17 Former Champions, The Silo Effect (pictured right) @ The Camel 9pm.
- Bucky Dent had a big cock, I know I sucked it all night long...afterwards I shoved my long tongue in his bung hole...sky rockets in flight, afternoon delight...

Sunday, 12/18 Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun (pictured left) @ Shenanigan’s 8:30pm.
- My friend died and all I got was this wet t-shirt contest...

Sunday, 12/18 Druglord, Gnawed (pictured atop) @ Bandito's 9pm.
- Sluts make me happy, and pony rides just add to the happiness...

Sunday, 12/18 Down to Nothing (pictured just above), Cruel Hand, Born Annoying, Tough Luck @ Kingdom 5pm. All ages.
- Down to something is my new barracuda act...

Rivalry...

The Threat of Threat...

Harrisonburg anyone?...

Friday, 12/16 La Mere Vipere (pictured just below), Thrones of Deceit, Buck Gooter, Sleepfeeder @ Little Grill Collective 8pm. (621 North Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA – Ph. (540) 434-3594)

Don't Forget...

2011-12-14T08:49:00.000-05:00

Hacked.

2011-12-13T12:12:00.007-05:00

Hello cherished OWR reader,

For those folks on my Yahoo Account e-mail list, I realize it has been hacked. Several Viagra ads were sent out via that account this morning. This is the same e-mail address in upper right corner of OWR. If you make an e-mail acct. that public, Its a sure thing this kinda stuff will happen. I've had this e-mail address since '99. This is the first time this kind of hacking has happened. I'm used to spam, but never this kind of crap.

I sincerely apologize and have since changed my password. Hopefully that will deter future compromising of that e-mail account.

- John

P.S. I know, I know, Yahoo is so 90s...

I am so motherfucking sick and tired of doing One Way Richmond.

2011-12-12T00:02:00.005-05:00

pic from thecheatsmovement.com

Monday, 12/12 Trapped Under Ice (pictured left from helenabxl.com), Hundredth, Backtrack, Betrayal, Take Offense @ Kingdom 6pm. All ages.
- Everybody 'likes' bullshit...

Tuesday, 12/13 Manipulation, Southside Stranglers, Dry Spell (poster just above) @ The Catacombs (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Hey, let’s put our cocks inside the honey jar...

Tuesday, 12/13 The Clippers, Cheyenne, Bozmo, Carved Our Names in Stone, Basmati @ House Show (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- I love how all these anti-corporate/occupy videos and literature links get posted on Facecrook, but hasn’t anyone realized Facecrook is the biggest corporate/data collector/watch dog organization out there? Say cheese, the government and your employers have your photo and personal data on record...

Tuesday, 12/13 Richmond Jazz Society presents Eve Cornelious & Mosaic with Jeremy Pelt (poster just above) @ Capital
Alehouse Downtown Music Hall (two shows) 7 & 9pm.
- Get out of my way, I’m a blind chef and I overcook rutabagas...

Tuesday, 12/13 Nick Woods, (of Orioles - last show in Richmond), David Shultz, Josh Hryciak, Shannon Cleary (pictured just above) @ The Camel 5pm. (early) all ages.
- Mr. Fuck Mouth took a swing at the pansy ass bitch whore who loved guys in line at Star-Lite...afterwards we all went to the Eudora Welty convention...

Tuesday, 12/13 Gospel Music (Owen Holmes of Black Kids - pictured right) @ Strange Matter 10pm. 18+
- Haven’t heard from CNP Records in awhile, better gas up the jeep...

Wednesday, 12/14 JP Harris & the Tough Choices (pictured just above) @ Balliceaux 10pm. 21+
- I’ve now got two part time jobs and all I got to say to those tent dwellers next to the Mayor’s house is my crippled ass works...Free burritos?...I can be at Beddington Rd. in 10 minutes!...

Wednesday, 12/14 Ignite, Fire and Ice @ Kingdom 6pm.
- Ignite my scrotum please...

Wednesday, 12/14 Girls Rock! RVA presents Be Steadwell, Eli Conley, Constance Sisk (pictured just above)(poster just below) @ The Gay Community Center of Richmond (1407 Sherwood Ave.) 8pm.
- I wish I was gay...

Wednesday, 12/14 Hip Hop for the Hungry Benefit Show featuring Nickelus F, Black Liquid, Ms. Proper, Chance Fisher,The Honorable Sleaze (pictured atop), Artik Phreeze, OMG, Divine Profitz, Bravp, Kleph Dollaz, Bobby Capri, So Illa, Scorsese @ Strange Matter 8pm.
- Rapping is much better coming from a white guy...I’m just kidding...hey, support this cause in any way shape or form...

Wednesday, 12/14 VCU Jazz at The Camel featuring Nick Skinner and Justin Esposito (pictured left) @ The Camel 8pm.
- Anal Candy gift cards are available at Barnes & Noble...Last year I gave these as Christmas gifts...

Hardcore Lombardy...

Eat a lot of pussy...

I finally found those breastfeeding supplies I was looking for...

Black & Blue

2011-12-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a preview I did for Richmond.com for tonight's Black & Blue Classic...

It’s that time of year again—when the Richmond Spiders battle the VCU Rams in the annual Black and Blue Classic for basketball supremacy in the city of Richmond.

Since 1976, this cross-town rivalry between two universities that share a city dissected by a river has turned into an all out annual war. Gone are the days when no one but Richmonders paid attention to this big game.

This year, thanks to last spring’s miracle runs in the NCAA Basketball Tournament by UR and VCU, this Black and Blue Classic game is on national TV. It is not the first time this clash of titans has been on national TV, but to be on ESPN2 on a Friday night when there is nothing else going on in the national sports scene says a lot. It’s the privileged versus the commoners. Now that’s must-see reality television.

The Black and Blue Classic has reached a level where all of America must witness this sold-out barn-burner of a game. Spiders head coach Chris Mooney and Rams head coach Shaka Smart are two of the brightest young coaches in America. I think it’s safe to say they are also the kings of Richmond. They have now faced each other twice, with both coaches winning one game.

University of Richmond took last year’s game at the Robins Center and the Rams seek revenge on their home court, the Siegel Center, on Friday night. To call this game intense would be the understatement of the year.

Both teams are not as good as last year’s senior-laden tournament teams, but have very exciting young stars to keep an eye on. VCU has two exciting guards you should pay extra attention to, sophomore Rob Brandenberg, and freshman Briante Weber. UR counters with its own super freshman guard, Kendall Anthony and powerful veteran center Darrius Garrett. UR enters the game at 6-2, while VCU is 5-3 so far this young season.

Forget the Lincoln movie cast members and what they have with their salad, Obama’s stolen teleprompter, the unpaved roads, the guy at MCV bitten by his pet cobra and everything else Richmond has dubiously given America these past couple of months. The Black and Blue Classic will put the city of Richmond in a positive spotlight nationally this Friday, and man oh man, do we need it.

The Black and Blue Classic is Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m.

Location: Siegel Center (Sold Out)

TV: ESPN2

Radio: 107.3FM

Internet Stream: ESPN3.com

84 VCU Campus Connector.

2011-12-08T00:02:00.002-05:00

Show Picks for the weekend 12/8-12/11...

Thursday, 12/8 Dirty Nitrous (pictured left), Gangsta fun, J Mungz, Popsh!t, Retch @ Canal Club 8pm.
- In case of fire break dance into Rupert Pupkin’s marmalade sky...

Thursday, 12/8 The Recliners (pictured just above from Churchhillphoto.com) @ Tobacco Company 7:30pm.
- I froze the peaches into my aorta...

Thursday, 12/8 PBR (pictured right), Bucket @ The Republic 8pm. Free.
- Please Beat Robots...

Thursday, 12/8 PLF Music Night featuring Jordan (Videos), Justin & DeeJay, Preston (pictured left), Reinold, Brian - Groove Status, Noah , Rutu Panchal, Danny Boy @ The Camel 10pm. Free.
- Think about the sexiest girl in the world...pause 7 minutes, and realize she ain’t fucking...

Thursday, 12/8 Toys for Tots Benefit featuring Andy Vaughan & the Driveline (pictured just above) @ Shenanigans 8pm.
- There are some turncoats out there...

Thursday, 12/8 Just Plain Sounds presents ‘Off the Record’ featuring The Holik, DJ Ruff Handz, Barcodez, James Dangle, Drano, The Honorable Sleaze (pictured just above from cheats movement), Megan Simone (poster just below) @ Steady Sounds 5pm. (early) Free.
- If only I worked in the service industry...I’d be smarter than all the silence...

Friday, 12/9 Marionette, Trees on Fire (pictured just above), Dank D, The Weathervanes, Mojoceratops, Carl Anderson @ Canal Club 6pm. All ages.
- I like art that hangs on walls...

Friday, 12/9 Sam Friedman (pictured just above by Tyler Conta), River City Rising @ Current (Hat Factory) 9pm.
- I just called Marks & Harrison and told them I meant business...

Friday, 12/9 We Came as Romans, Falling In Reverse, Sleeping With Sirens, Atilla, For All I Am (poster just above) @ Hat Factory 6:30pm. All ages.
- Hey kids, why don’t you shove heroin up your mother’s twat...

Friday, 12/9 Slapdash presents “Christmakwanzakuh Chaos 2” featuring MYT (Lyrix & Koncept), TV, Mike Lawless, Soulfully Me, Chris Haskins, Rak Squad, Superstar Spitaz, Rome Montana, Desting , Swag Cliq, Kleos Jansport, Doe The Paper Boy, Artik Phreeze, Eye Q, Superstar, Doeboy Da Dude, hosted by Phylece Fowler, music by Mr. Mason Jones (poster just above) @ Strange Matter 8pm.
- Fuck Christmas...long live Festivus...that’s for Jewish lifeguards that eat soul food right?...

Friday, 12/9 The Atkinsons (pictured ride), Luz del Sol @ Poe's Pub 9pm.
- Ear the Pearl...

Friday, 12/9 The Polychrons (pictured left), Ghost Payne @ The Camel 10pm.
- White men have small penises...

Saturday, 12/10 Point Blank (final show – record release - Pictured right), Craptain' Jack, Kill The Car @ Empire 8pm. 21+
- Last show, but first mushroom cloud...

Saturday, 12/10 Crucial Elements (pictured atop) @ Cary Street Café 10pm.
- Don’t think about all those things you feel...

Saturday, 12/10 Gull (pictured just above), Nurse Beach, Houdan the Mystic, The Blonde Tube @ GRH House (info at HERE) 9pm.
- Noize kids need to try something other than Adderal...

Saturday, 12/10 Wind-Up Bird, Basmati, Boney loner, Nelsonvillans (pictured left by Brad Sealpon) @ The Yerb 8pm.
- I went to a cicada convention and all I got was this t-shirt...

Saturday, 12/10 Zoroaster (pictured right), Queen Elephantine, Lord By Fire, Bubonic Bear, Gloombeam, Balaclava @ Strange Matter 5pm. (early) 18+
- Sold to the fat bitch in the front row...

Saturday, 12/10 Divine Suffering, Imperial Order, Bearstorm (poster left) @ Wonderland 9pm. 21+
- Metal is cool, and my winter coat is at the cleaners...

Saturday, 12/10 Ghost of Pop 7 featuring The Druthers, Kid Is Qual (pictured above), Goldrush, The Trillons, Horsehead, Young Adult Fiction, My Old Ways (poster just below) @ Gallery 5 7pm.
- Sorry to see Ralph White go...

Saturday, 12/10 Greater the Risk (pictured left), Chuck Shaffer Picture Show, Audiostrobelight, The Comeback Season, For Not We Live, Sean McCoig @ Canal Club 7pm. All Ages.
- Suicide is a ride...

Sunday, 12/11 Jonathan Vassar & the Speckled Bird (pictured right by Rob Jefferson) @ Balliceaux 9pm.
- I need to study up on the triangle offense...

Sunday, 12/11 Hex Machine, Lorem Ipsum (poster just above) @ Bandito’s 9pm. Free.
- If you love God, then fuck a clydesdale in the ass...

Sunday, 12/11 Exebelle & the Rusted Cavalcade, Mason Brothers (pictured just above), JP & the Gilberts @ The Camel 8pm.
- Pot goes well with grease, cheese, Dalmatian lard, and a turquoise magnolia tree...

Its a Church Hill Christmas miracle!...

Ménage à trois...

Note:

Happy Birthday Donnie 'Dirtwoman' Corker!...

R.I.P Hubert Sumlin (1931-2011)

Foods got rhythm.

2011-12-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

Early Winter 2011 Super 20...

1. The Roosevelt
2. Edo’s Squid
3. Black Sheep
4. Comfort
5. The Belvidere
6. Café Rustica
7. Millie’s Diner
8. Ipanema
9. Water Grill
10. Arcadia
11. Nile Ethiopian
12. Mama J’s
13. Mama Zu's
14. Kuba Kuba
15. Station 2
16. Acacia
17. Tarrant's Cafe
18. Pasture
19. Muse
20. Bamboo Café

Just Outside: Avalon, Blue Goat, Caliente, Conch Republic, Croaker’s Spot, Lemaire, Mezzanine, Nate's Tacos, Pescados (Oregon Hill), Str8 Outta Philly, 821 Bakery Café

Local Video Tuesday...

2011-12-06T10:45:00.002-05:00

Split Personalityz

Ki:Theory - (feat. Maura Davis)

La Mere Vipere

Onomatopoeia for the Byrd Park in all of us.

2011-12-05T00:51:00.005-05:00

Show Picks for the early week 12/5-12/7...

Monday, 12/5 Cafe Diem Open Mic Comedy Night featuring Ray Bullock (pictured right) and many other local comedians @ Café Diem 9pm. Free. (comedian sign up 8-8:30pm)
- Funny Fun Fungi...

Monday, 12/5 The Inflatables (pictured just above) @ The Camel 8pm. Free. 18+
- Bills are due and I’m in cahoots with Hal Linden...

Monday, 12/5 Mutilation Rites (pictured just above), War Graves, and a special guest @ Strange Matter 10pm. 18+
- You’ve got MS, I've got Parkinson's...

Tuesday, 12/6 Obscura (pictured right), Abysmal Dawn, Enfold Darkness, Last Chance to Reason @ Kingdom 5pm. All Ages.
- We'll only talk to you when you give us a ride somewhere...

Tuesday, 12/6 Compass Rose Orchestra, Marcus Tenney Trio (pictured just above)(poster left) @ The Camel 8:30pm. Free. 18+
- Fragile peacock...

Wednesday, 12/ 7 Spacebomb Records presents The Brian Jones Quintet (pictured just above) @ Balliceaux 10pm. Free. 21+
- Jazz is a blues noise only crocodiles whisper about...

Wednesday, 12/7 Three Legged Fox (pictured left), A Good Vibe @ Canal Club 8pm. 18+
- Five legged piano player giving mouth to mouth to a bell hop...

Wednesday, 12/7 Gene & Gayla Mills (pictured atop) with Barry Lawson @ Ashland Coffee & Tea 7pm.
- Play misty for me twice...

Get loud...

All DJs are masters of the Hat...

Innsbrook rockin' the covers...

Note:

Tech in Sugar! Tech in Sugar! Tech in Sugar!

Museum District Radio

2011-12-04T11:12:00.006-05:00

Today's twentieth installment of Museum District Radio is
'Release the Bowels'...

Les Thugs – Biking
DJ Premier – Change
Executive Slacks – Cinema
Zola Jesus – Clay Bodies
Deerhunter – Desire Lines
Lost Tribe (RVA) – Forever
The Skull Defekts – In Majestic Drag
Weird Owl – Parallax Eyes
Negativland – Quiet Please
A Place To Bury Strangers – So Far Away
Thee Oh Sees – The Dream
Magik Markers – There Is No Path Which Is Not Straight

Release the Bowels Link

Scenes from Richmond holiday traditions...

2011-12-03T10:52:00.004-05:00

The annual "enter corporate sponsor here" Christmas Parade...

And, last night's annual Grand Illumination...

Along with opening night at the downtown ice skating rink...

A couple of hundred yards down the road...

2011-12-01T01:05:00.004-05:00

Show Picks for the weekend 12/1-12/4...

Thursday, 12/1 The Chanels (pictured left), Mutwawa, Revolt of the Apes @ Balliceaux 10:30pm. 21+
- They found him in the paint...

Thursday, 12/1 Cotton Jones (pictured right), The Diamond Center @ The Camel 8pm. All ages.
- And here's our annual online gift of the weirdness that Sire has to offer during this most festive time of year...

Thursday, 12/1 Flechette (pictured left), Dial Up, Meth Lab @ Church of Abraham (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 8pm.
- Making love to dust...

Thursday, 12/1 EQ Produktions presents Bonobo (DJ set)(pictured just above), PLF DJs - Reinhold & Mister Jennings (pictured just below - hey how'd Parker get in there) @ Canal Club 9pm.
- Crank up the jalopy...

Thursday, 12/1 XL 102.1 “Miracle on Broad Street” featuring Switchfoot, Airborne Toxic Event (pictured just above), Drew Martin & The Limelights, Against Grace @ The National 8pm.
- Who cares about cheerleading accidents...

Friday, 12/2 The Steel Wheels (pictured left) @ Ashland Coffee & Tea 9pm.
- Trouble free bacteria...

Friday, 12/2 St. Jude's Children’s Hospital Benefit featuring Sloth Loves Chunk (pictured right by Daniel Travis), Crashing Reality @ Capital Alehouse Music Hall 9pm.
- Its for the kids man...

Friday, 12/2 Simplified, Proverbial, Blue Haven (pictured just above) @ Canal Club 8pm.
- It’s not simple when you can’t pop a pimple...

Friday, 12/2 The Dirty Truth (pictured just above) @ The Tobacco Company 9:30pm.
- Truth is that I’m a carnivore...

Friday, 12/2 Alma Tropicalia (pictured left), Quatro na Bossa @ Sound of Music Studios 7pm.
- Wrong Turn Rodney woke up in a dangerous state...

Friday, 12/2 Midnight Eye, Tombs, Inter Arma (pictured just above) @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- Get the kids of the pills...yeah, like that will happen...America has done lost it...

Saturday, 12/3 The Comedy of Michael Ian Black (pictured right), The Pushers @ The National 7pm.
- I actually met Michael Ian Black once and he was a super down to earth good person...

Saturday, 12/3 Phil Pollard Memorial Concert and Hoedown featuring Phil Slomski & Slomski Family Band, The Hot Seats, Hotel X (poster just above) @ Neighborhood Resource Center (1519 Williamsburg Rd. – Fulton Hill) 8pm.
- Give to giving...

Saturday, 12/3 Cashmere Junglelords, Giant Squid (poster just above) @ Cary Street Café 9pm.
- Here we are on Cary Street without clothes...

Saturday, 12/3 Dead Fame (pictured left by Chad Van Pelt), Fire Bison, Dance For the Dying (poster just above) @ Gallery 5 9:30pm.
- Dead Bison Dancing...

Sunday, 12/4 Inquisition (of Cali, Columbia)(pictured right), Deceased, Bastard Sapling @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- Charging the French pastry chef with a look of love...

Sunday, 12/4 Young Adult Fiction, Emperor X, Sports Bar (pictured just above in triplicate) @ The Camel 9pm.
- Six minutes Doug E. Fresh you’re on...

Sunday, 12/4 Benefit Show for Miranda featuring "Master of Ceremonies" Mark Slomski - the Rascally Vaudevillian, John Moossa & the Eclectic Acoustic Review, Lily Mayhem, Lightfields (pictured atop), The Amazing Stage Showwith Special Appearances by Bitsy Buttons & Moxie LaBouche @ Bogart’s in the Fan 7pm.
- Next year I’ll be gettin’ buckets...

Sunday, 12/4 Les La Britanica, Luggage (pictured just above), DJ Kief @ Helen’s 10pm.
- Pull away my house of candy pants and this is similar to high energy and prunes...

Sunday, 12/4 Sundials (pictured left), O Pioneers, New Bruises, Amateur Thieves @ Church of Abraham (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 5pm.
- Slam! Let the boys be boys...

Guaranteed good times, not temporary lay-offs...

Winter Thunderland 12/3 - 4pm (for information please e-mail MTWEnterprises@comcast.net)...

Le Tigre by Marnie Wolfford...

More Marnie Wolfford collages HERE

Note: VCU Basketball Update -

VCU lost a tough one last Sunday at the University of Alabama. University of Alabama, let me tell you, rednecks, racists and football. Yee Haw.

VCU did bounce back nicely last night by winning against the University of South Florida down there in the great neighborhood of Carver. VCU is now 4-3 with their next game against GW on Sunday at 2:30pm. The game is on TV, MASN, if you get it.

Morgan/Jones

2011-11-29T19:27:00.001-05:00

I am as shocked as you are that I got literally twenty minutes to interview Mayor Dwight Jones of Richmond, Virginia 11 days ago. It was a process to get the interview, but persistence pays off. Now obviously I had a million questions for the mayor, but for time’s sake and the threat of getting way off course I chose a topic that is near and dear to Richmond’s music community, C.A.P.S. (Community Assisted Public Safety)

For those of you who are not sure what C.A.P.S is, here is the city’s definition:
Community Assisted Public Safety (CAPS) is a pro-active, team-based program to address and enforce property maintenance and public safety code violations within the City of Richmond. C.A.P.S is a partnership, with citizens and the city working together, to keep our neighborhoods safe, clean and healthy. The C.A.P.S program involves multiple city departments such as code enforcement, police, fire, finance, and the Virginia Department of Health, working as a team, to resolve issues with problem or non-compliant properties.

The thing is that C.A.P.S has been more detrimental to the independent culture of Richmond lately than combating blighted homes, drug houses, and building code enforcement. I figured it was time to go to the top and find out what is going on here. By the way, for those of you who don’t know, my surname is Morgan.

From the conference room at the mayor’s office, 2nd floor of City Hall, Richmond, Virginia:

Morgan: I have been attending C.A.P.S meetings of late and I have been astonished by what the C.A.P.S officers have been discussing at these meetings. At these meetings, it’s more about the officers boasting about how they have issued citations to small businesses, parties, and even charitable events here in Richmond which concerns me. However, these citations really were not so much about safety, building codes or underage drinking for that matter. They were in the end only about collecting an admissions tax or disrupting events that didn’t pay out an admissions tax. Where does the admissions tax go?

Mayor Jones: The city’s general fund and is part of a revenue base for the city.

Morgan: And that covers anything from roads to city of Richmond employee’s paychecks?

Mayor Jones: Yes

Morgan: Did you realize that the city’s admission tax drives away larger scale shows/events like at the coliseum for example. You want to bring in larger events into the city?

Mayor Jones: Sure.

Morgan: Has your administration discussed doing away with or lowering that tax?

Mayor Jones: We of course want to bring events into the city, but people hate tolls and taxes...

Morgan: Yes they do.

Mayor Jones: It’s really a no win situation in terms of the city’s need for a revenue source. I don’t know how we could mitigate that in terms of driving shows or events away. We certainly don’t want that to happen, but we also are not in a position to not have revenue.

Morgan: I actually was at a show not too long ago that C.A.P.S shows up at, and is it really necessary to have 12 or more officer’s barge into an event that was attended by half of the amount of C.A.P.S. officers that have just stormed in?

Mayor Jones: Seems a little over the top right?

Morgan: A little over the top.

Jeff Borne (Mayor ‘s Deputy Chief of Staff): C.A.P.S as you know is a conglomeration of city agencies (police, fire marshal, tax enforcement, city attorney’s office, building code enforcement etc.) that only come in when there has been more than one violation of particular sections of the codes. The C.A.P.S team is deployed whether there are 5 or 500 people there.

Mayor Jones: So while it looks like its overkill, that’s the group that handles it from every angle.

Morgan: As an example, there’s a clothing boutique on Harrison Street, great store, run by young female entrepreneurs whom I feel are great for the city, and they’ve even done very positive benefit/charity work through their store. A year or so ago, they had a band play in the store. There was no alcohol and it wasn’t a regular thing to have bands in that store. There also were very few people there of the time C.A.P.S came rolling in 12 or more strong. It was said that they couldn’t have live music because they didn’t have the proper permit (cabaret license). I don’t understand why that is needed if it’s a rare event in the first place to have a band perform at the store. The C.A.P.S officers might say it’s because of the admissions tax, or because of a license some actual music venue/clubs more than likely don’t even have. I’m wondering is all this enforcement over a tax even if it’s an event that might take place a few times a year nesscessary? Even if you collected a tax, it probably would be only $10? because it’s what, 5%?

I, along with many other citizens, seem to think its stuff like that that sends a message that the city is coming down on its independent arts, music and culture and trying to cripple its growth. I feel that the independent culture scene is the backbone of Richmond. There are some amazing things going on in Richmond’s music scene for example, why hinder it?

Mayor Jones: We certainly don’t want to do that. We actually want to stimulate the creative class along with arts and music. But, we are a city of people, so we have to live together. When people make complaints, or people that live next door to you might not be as desirous as you by have a venue/live music right next door to them, they are going to want action taken. So, if they call the police or city, we have to respond.

Morgan: What if there’s no complaint?

Mayor Jones: (continues talking) So the issue for us is to find a balance; the kind of balance between enforcement and stimulation of the music scene. We have, we have done very well with it in terms of Richmond’s entertainment venues, and places for live music. It has changed drastically in the last several years, so...

Morgan: It has changed.

Mayor Jones: It’s a matter of balance. We don’t want to be over zealous, but yet we have to maintain decorum.

Morgan: Does your administration have issues with the city’s music scene because it may take away from larger venues the city has put hundreds of thousands of dollars into like the Hippodrome or CenterStage? It just seems those venues could flourish more if the smaller mom & pop venues were supported more positively by the city, that way folks would recognize and show more support to the bigger downtown venues of the National, CenterStage and the Hippodrome and attend more events at those venues.

Mayor Jones: Absolutely, we want to see all of it flourish. If Richmond is going to be a vibrant city, we want people to come and play, come and work, and live in the city, so you need to have a smorgasbord, a menu of activities for them to choose from. They’re people who are not interested in CenterStage, or the shows that they offer and there are people that are interested in a combo of smaller and larger venue’s events. So, we got to cultivate an atmosphere where all of them can survive. So when you ask about my administration, my administration is desirous that the atmosphere is such that all of the venues in Richmond can survive. I do not prefer one music venue over another. We have a lot going on and we want to continue to have a lot going on.

Morgan: Because of the lack of music venues and a lot of that has to do with the current state of the economy of course, there has been a push to have more shows (live music/DJ music) “underground.”

What I’m talking here are shows at warehouses. Lately there have been some busts of these ‘underground’ venues. One of these warehouses, no alcohol was aloud, and some VCU students actually lived in both of these warehouses. Now obviously neither space having a business license is the number one reason they were busted up, but despite the live music, no one complained about noise. The C.A.P.S officers admitted this, and stressed it was mostly because of no business license. With this said, they also admitted frustration over not being able to shut down a liquidation warehouse on Chamberlayne Ave. that was operating without a business license. They really wanted to summons this business, perhaps shut it down, but as they described, the higher up they went up at each individual code enforcement agency here at City Hall, they were not given any answers thus basically being told to leave the business alone.

I guess what I’m asking here is if you have these venues that are “underground” but they’re actually bringing in young people into the city, helping the music scene flourish, and there is zero crime going on at these events, why does one business without a business license get to stay open over another that actually attracts people to the city?

Mayor Jones: It would be very hard to speak to whether or not they are getting the legal cooperation or somebody is telling them not to shut down a particular “illegal business.” I am just not privy to this particular case.

Morgan: I understand, you can’t know every little business matter in Richmond.

Mayor Jones: But it also would be very hard for me to sit here and condone a business that is not properly licensed. It would be very difficult for me to put that out there.

Mayor Jones: At these underground events, how many people are showing up?

Morgan: Honestly, anywhere between 5 to 200. I completely understand what you are saying. One of the things said to the kids (and they were starving students so to speak - we were all there once)

* The Mayor and Jeff Borne nod their heads in agreement

that were living at the two aforementioned warehouses were told if they had the proper licenses this would be fine, and my question is that many people if not all respond on how that would just be a nightmare going through all that bureaucracy, and city hall indecisiveness. Has your administration ever thought about making it a little easier to obtain proper permits/licenses or perhaps temporary licenses for an event that just occurred once a month for example?

Mayor Jones: That is something we can consider. We are always looking for ways to expose Richmond’s culture and we want to be business friendly number one, and number two, we would love to streamline processes to avoid a bureaucratic nightmare. Number three, I don’t know if any consideration has been given to looking at temporary licenses.

Morgan: I know ABC does that, and if you give portions of what you make to charity, I think they can offer a one day license. Which is something I think is another great idea.

Mayor Jones: That is something we can look into.

Morgan: RVA Studios which is now in the old Theater/Veterans Hall on MacArthur Ave. in Bellevue, recently known as Samis Grotto.

Mayor Jones: I know it.

Morgan: A friend of mine saw it wasn’t being used, bought it to turn into a recording studio, may do more with it down the road. Great idea, small business in a neighborhood that needs all the economic engines it can get, there you go.

The owner then wanted to do a theater show a year or so ago, a puppet show mind you. There was not going to be any music or dancing. He had 150 people coming to the show, some out of town. C.A.P.S apparently saw a flyer/poster for the event, came to the owner a day before the event and told him he could not go on with the event, which was for charity by the way. C.A.P.S really could not give RVA Studios a solid answer to why this event had to be shut down. This obviously frustrated the owner/event organizer big time. One of the things pointed out was that the bathroom was downstairs and there was no drinking fountain which I guess every public venue has to have. I thought because of the building’s age, it could be grandfathered. The owner also stated the C.A.P.S officers who were very uninformative could only refer him to other city agencies and ABC.

Why couldn’t C.A.P.S make a phone call or write the owner/show organizer a letter, they just had to show up. It seems like that is the type of place or event neighborhoods in Richmond would love to have and need to bring people into the area. Again, these type venues can be the centerpiece of a neighborhood’s economic engine. Can you comment on this?

Mayor Jones: The only comment I can make is that I’ve never been inside that building (RVA Studios), I don’t know whether it’s in compliance with building codes or not.

Morgan: It’s similar to the Robinson Theater in Church Hill, I don’t know if you been there.

Mayor Jones: I have, and that’s been significantly renovated and brought up to code. You know, on the face of your argument I agree that that is something that could create some economic activity and cultural expanse. But, not having been in the building I don’t know the drivers – you know, handicapped accessible, electrical problems, adequate bathrooms, I just don’t know.

Morgan: I know you talk with Chief Norwood about C.A.P.S, I just wished there was a better system, more polite yet stern notification that what venues, theaters, etc are doing is wrong. The city should take more of a stance that it doesn’t want to come down to hard, or over excessive on places like RVA Studios, or the warehouse shows, but give these places a chance to get “legal.” The overkill of enforcement is kind of embarrassing for legitimate business owners who are just trying to add to Richmond’s independent culture.

Mayor Jones: When did they find out about that show (RVA Studios event)?

Morgan: This happened almost a year ago. The owner told me that he actually knew about C.A.P.S coming down hard on venues with stages, dance floors etc. that didn’t have the proper licenses like a cabaret license. He was at least thankful they came to RVA Studios the day before the event knowing they usually come in during the middle of an event. This particular event was again to be attended by out of town folks, and it was a charitable event.

Morgan: If a show takes donations, the city wants a cut of that. They consider that admissions right?

Mayor Jones: I don’t Know.

Jeffrey Borne: I don’t know if there’s a distinction between donations or ticket sales.

Morgan: Because, that’s what the C.A.P.S officers were saying.

Morgan: With all due respect, my question is why don’t you tax church donations?

Mayor Jones: (laughter) I knew you were going there with that.

Morgan: (laughter) You knew that was coming.

Mayor Jones: I really don’t know the distinction between the two. I really would like to find out. I honestly don’t know the distinction between the two, and what I mean is that I really don’t know legally the difference between church donations and show donations.

Morgan: The amount of C.A.P.S officers that go to these venues to make sure every little code/law is enforced – I mean real nitpicky stuff here to be honest –is up to par. Couldn’t many of these officers be better served walking the streets of Carver and Jackson Ward for example which has had a rash of violent muggings/assaults/armed robberies recently? It really seems like C.A.P.S could be done by three people.

Mayor Jones: Well with C.A.P.S made up of various aspects of concerns (city law/code enforcements), we do have over 600 policeman.

Morgan: I’m just saying that don’t you think common sense would tell you that maybe some or most of these officers would be better suited in fighting actual criminal activity?

Mayor Jones: Sure.

Morgan: To me, it is a privilege to have a business license in the City of Richmond. With that said, there are rules every business owner must adhere to just like everybody else. I am very concerned about a building I used to work at. It was called the Flood Zone, now it’s known as Have A Nice Day Café in Shockoe Bottom. There were issues at the Flood Zone, but nothing like there is nowadays at Have A Nice Day Café. I know that building can hold up to about a thousand patrons, but I’m sure the owners are letting more in than that. I’ll be honest; I do not trust the owners of that establishment. I, like many, don’t think there is anything going on inside the venue as far brutal attacks, but still all the shootings lately have stemmed from there (11 S. 18th St.). A lot of people want to make this issue a race thing, but it’s a safety issue.
You guys, feds and IRS shut down Sam Moore and his strip club. The murals of Obama and offensive banners were embarrassing to the city, and eventually that particular business was shut down. Moore abused his privilege of a business license, and what happened, happened. Don’t care how, but it was finally shut down. That club now, still a strip club by the way, has been cleaned up, and I haven’t heard about any problems from that place which has an ABC license now I belief, and the business looks way more aesthetically pleasing from the outside.

I think it’s time that Have A Nice Day be shut down. When that club lets out, a thousand or so pours into the street. With that club allowing 18 and up, many of the patrons are between 18 to 21 years of age. To me, small business owners and many others, all races by the way, are saddened by what has happened to such an awesome neighborhood. Outside the nightclub area currently, there is some amazing things going on down there from festivals, retail, to developments. This positive growth however is being constricted by mostly one place and that’s Have A Nice Day Café.

I am adamantly for a slavery museum down in the Bottom perhaps by the burial site. I feel it would be very positive for the city, its tourism, and history. How can you justify leaving Have A Have Nice Day Café open and allowing black on black violence, but then you want to someday build a slavery museum just a couple of blocks where there is consistent crime and violence? Do you see where I’m going with that?

Mayor Jones: No.

Morgan: Young black men mostly attend Have A Nice Day Café, but they also attend many other venues and clubs around the city and there’s no problems. It’s just Have A Nice Day Café and the one block radius (including large unlit parking lot) around it where there are problems. I guarantee you something else is going to happened (shooting, beating, etc.) as long as that place stays open.

Mayor Jones: Yeah. You know I went down there about 2 o’clock in the morning to see it for myself and to see the clubs let out. I’m on record as saying 18 year olds should not be admitted where alcohol is being sold. It’s a recipe for disaster. That being said we just unveiled our new plan/vision for Shockoe Bottom. We are going to be doing things including rezoning and develop things I feel is going to change the character of Shockoe Bottom and downtown. We also have had meetings with some of the club owners and we are trying to develop some strategies to combat some behavioral problems so we can get in front of any type of violence happening. We are looking at traffic control, ways entrepreneurs can coexist with folks already living in the Bottom. So, it’s on our radar. We are continuing to look at it, but it’s hard to just shut a business down if don’t have any crimes (murders inside the clubs)

I know where you are going with this question. For instance the murders took place outside of Have A Nice Day Café, So, we can try to work with them (Have A Nice Day Café), but if it gets to a point where it doesn’t work we will take action.

Morgan: You were saying 18 and up...

Mayor Jones: If you have 18 years olds in the same venue as 21 year olds and up, it’s not going to work.

Morgan: I know of a couple of venues that are 18 and up and there are never problems.

Mayor Jones: Oh really.

Morgan: Yes.

Mayor Jones: Okay.

Morgan: There’s a venue called Kingdom (ex Alley Katz) in Shockoe Bottom.

Mayor Jones: I know of it.

Morgan: Everything at this venue is being done above boards and no signs of major trouble/violence along with the fact many shows there are all ages.

Mayor Jones: I find it hard to believe that if I’m an 18 year old at a venue where there are 21 and ups drinking that I’m not going to at least attempt to drink.

Morgan: I’ve worked in venues, and I’ve seen underage drinking and it along with fighting were the biggest problems, not getting shot just outside the venue.

Mayor Jones: I mean I think all clubs 18 and an up/all ages adds to an atmosphere that isn’t healthy at some point.

Morgan: Are you looking to pass a law then that states you have to be 21 and up for every venue?

Mayor Jones: I don’t think we can, legally.

Morgan: You do realize a lot of these local venues, that 18-21 (college age) come in droves, lots of them do not drink or want to drink, they just want to be at that particular venue and they spend money i.e. food. I don’t think you want to drive that and meals tax away?

Mayor Jones: True, but I also don’t believe a lot of these 18-20 years old are not drinking. (laughter)

Morgan: Okay, we all might have done it at one point or two.

Morgan: Again, I just think that that one venue (Have A Nice Day Café) is the crux of the problem and again many other clubs around Richmond that cater to young black males have no issues and flourish. And, there are many venues in South Richmond that cater to Hispanics, and venues around Richmond that cater to rough white people…No problems within the clubs.

* Note – At the time of the posting of this interview, the city and Commonwealth’s Attorney have decided not to shut down Have A Nice Day Café, yet an ABC Board review of possible infractions at the club are pending.

Morgan: I hope your administration understands what I’m saying in that it’s not a race issue, it’s a safety issue. I’m afraid it’s becoming a race issue.

Mayor Jones: That’s what we are looking at. We are looking at it as a safety issue.

Morgan: We are done, and thank you for your time Mayor Jones.

- Regardless of my political beliefs and feelings towards the mayor or yours, this interview is what it is. No op/ed. The Honorable Mayor Dwight Jones did not have to grant me this 20 minute interview, but he did. I truly am grateful to him and his staff and feel it was real classy for Mayor Jones to sit down with some local guy with a blog site.

LOGAN THOMAS.

2011-11-28T01:06:00.000-05:00

Show Picks for the early week 11/28-11/30...

Monday, 11/28 Pavement Cover Night featuring music of the band Pavement, all night, brought to you by some of Richmond’s best bands: The Diamond Center, White Laces, Climbers, The Milkstains, Snowy Owls, Nelly Kate, Adah (picture of the band Pavement right) @ The Camel 8pm. 18+
- Is this the industry that thrusts to much salt, too much sugar, too much fat in our lives?...

Monday, 11/28 Hatebreed (pictured just above), Brace War, Saint Diablo, Seraph @ Kingdom 6pm. All ages.
- Maturity is having children during a suicidal rage...

Monday, 11/28 Aghast (LP release - pictured atop), Dead Reich, Syndrome, Dry Spell @ Strange Matter 9pm.
- Usurping the anti-melon head...

Tuesday, 11/29 Cruddy, Hounds of Hate, Moms, Brown Sugar (poster just above) @ Strange Matter 9pm
- On Christmas day, experience a farewell to arms...

Wednesday, 11/30 The Wailers (pictured just above), Duane Stephenson @ Kingdom 8pm. All ages.
- He went to Jared and said no more blood diamonds!...

Wednesday, 11/30 David Mayfield Parade, Boom Chick (pictured just above) @ The Camel 8pm.
- The last parade I went to a clown came up to me thinking I was a mirror...

Wednesday, 11/30 Expressways, Close Talker, Rivers (pictured just above), Springtime @ Catacombs (info at rvashows.proboards.com) 7pm.
- Talking dirty into a midnight sassafras fire of maplewood gardens and on the ball German spotlight associations...

Look who's at The Nile tonight...

2011-11-26T12:19:00.002-05:00

Chest Hair

Intangible Minds

The Commonwealth Cup.

2011-11-25T13:19:00.000-05:00

This year’s UVA vs. VPI game is the biggest game ever between the two. Because of the dominance by Virginia Tech over the years, this game hasn’t been much of a rivalry. However, this year’s game is a tossup. Tomorrow at 3:30pm will be a war for the Commonwealth Cup and a ticket to the ACC Championship.

Thought.

2011-11-25T00:31:00.001-05:00

As I sit here on Thanksgiving night I think to myself, if Dubai can build this (Burj Khalifa), Why can't Richmond?

Don't You (Forget About the Native Americans)

2011-11-24T00:11:00.000-05:00

Show Picks for Gobble Gobble weekend 11/24-11/27...

Thursday, 11/24 Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun (pictured left) @ Shenanigan’s 8pm.
- Running against every problem you’ve ever had...

Thursday, 11/24 ‘Jive Turkey’ featuring a night of Drum & Bass with DJ’s A Sides, Will Miles (pictured just above), Ill Omen, Patrick Currier (poster just below) @ Emilio’s in the Fan 9pm.
- Today is Thursday...

Friday, 11/25 Wrenn Mangum’s Elvis/Johnny Cash/50s Show (Mangum pictured atop) @ Gus' Bar & Grill 10pm.
- Fire belly flops...

Friday, 11/25 Trash & Burn Fest featuring Winds Of Plague (pictured right), Chelsea Grin, As Blood Runs Black, For The Fallen Dreams, Upon A Burning Body, In The Midst Of Lions, Like Moths To Flames, Volumes @ Kingdom 2pm. All ages. (early)
- Children of the corn on the cob...

Friday, 11/25 Flesh Mountain Boys @ Balliceaux 10:30pm.
- Buck the trend and dance on a piano...

pic by Brandy Collins

Friday, 11/25 Carbon Leaf (pictured just above), Scars on 45, Say Chance (poster just above) @ The National 8pm.
- Boxing poetic...

Friday, 11/25 Oregon Hill Funk All-Stars (pictured just above) @ The Camel 9pm.
- Woodland Heights Blues Mediocres...

Saturday, 11/26 Downbeat Switch (pictured just above) @ City Dogs in the Fan 10pm. Free.
- Pony Boy Curtis & The Magnificent Ground Grass Hoppers...

Saturday, 11/26 Close Your Eyes (pictured left), Lower Than Atlantis, S3x @ Kingdom 5:30pm. All ages.
- Open your anus...

Saturday, 11/26 Think! (pictured left) @ The Camel 8pm.
- No way, i'm stupid...

Saturday, 11/26 EQ Produktions presents Dopapod, Damn Right, Josati (poster just above) @ Canal Club 9pm.
- Frugal boilermaker found out about daisy and her hemoglobin...

Sunday, 11/27 Tara Mills with Strings Attached (pictured left by Ben Hernandez), the Southern Belles @ The Camel 8pm.
- Two dollar bill y’all...

Sunday, 11/27 Lil’ Ronnie & The Grand Dukes (pictured right) @ Shenanigan’s 6pm.
- Walk once out trip that yellow is a mistake with triple heart from hen that got tied to quest beneath zebras and Xerox machines killed in action...

Feliz Día de Gracias...

Shockoe Bottom giving thanks...

Note: And on the eighth day, God created ADA Gallery...

ARCHIPELAGO : Solo show by artist Jenny Kendler

Exhibit opens Saturday November 26th, 6-9pm
228 W. Broad St. (Jackson Ward - Arts District)
www.adagallery.com

* Congratulations to MLB pitcher Justin Verlander of Goochland on willing the Cy Young Award and AL MVP.

Happy Thanksgiving from OWR even though I don't celebrate it...

Onward with the VCU Rams...

2011-11-23T13:05:00.001-05:00

pic by Phil Foxwell

It’s been a few days since I’ve posted on what VCU Basketball has been up too. Currently their record is 2 and 2. They came out of the Charleston, SC Classic last weekend with one out of three wins. Their loses were against Ga. Tech and Seton Hall. They did beat Western Kentucky. This isn’t that bad considering how young and inexperienced the Rams are this early season.

Speaking of Western Kentucky University, the Rams face the Hilltoppers again tonight at 8pm because it was a previously scheduled game and not part of a tournament. Hopefully lightning strikes twice.

Pictured above is the Final Four banner VCU unveiled opening night. Sorry, the phone camera didn’t have a zoom lens, but hopefully one day they’ll make a phone that does along with one that can make coffee.

Sports with Chip Casadonte...

2011-11-23T01:15:00.002-05:00

Last night in a game of Charades between "same word twice" Richmond restaurants, Cous Cous defeated Kuba Kuba, Can Can and Cheeburger Cheeburger.

Local Video Tuesday...

2011-11-22T11:28:00.000-05:00

Dead Fame

The Diamond Center

Young Adult Fiction

The Boathouse.

2011-11-22T00:59:00.007-05:00

Pic by Stephen M. Katz of the Virginian-Pilot

Even though I really could care less about Norfolk, it is sad to see that The Boathouse was demolished today. I saw some amazing shows at this rustic seaside gem of a venue. The Boathouse which was located near Harbor Park, once was a shack used for fish-packing and storage, but became a music venue in the early 1980s.

The venue hosted some of the most popular acts of the times before they 'blew up' like the Beastie Boys, the Ramones, Jane's Addiction, Fishbone, Primus, Alice in Chains, The Replacements, Bruce Hornsby, Joan Jett, Charlie Daniels, and Jay-Z. The building was condemned after suffering damage in Hurricane Isabel in '03.

Hotel Service In Thailand.

2011-11-21T11:47:00.005-05:00

Show Picks for the early week 11/21-11/23...

pic by Bailey Glasscock

Monday, 11/21 Un-Open Mic featuring performances in 30 minute rotations by: Bruno Haynie, Mark Slomski (pictured atop), Steve Organ @ The Camel 9pm.
- Khmer Rouge?...no, Baton Rouge...

Monday, 11/21 War Graves (pictured right by Jodi Donkel), Khann, Gnawed @ Strange Matter 10pm. Free.
- Regardless of how you feel about Occupy Wall Street, you don’t pepper spray kids sitting on a curb...

Tuesday, 11/22 The Listening Room Series 2nd Anniversary Show featuring Nelly Kate, Bonnie Staley, Cliff Boyd, James Wallace (poster just above) @ Firehouse Theatre 7:30pm.
- Rabbit turned to the Rabbi and said Rhinoceros...

Tuesday, 11/22 East of the Wall, Hex Machine, Meek is Murder (pictured up left from musiconthestreets.com)(poster left) @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- Wall of Voodoo Machine Murder...

Wednesday, 11/23 The Silo Effect (pictured just above),The Mantras @ Canal Club 9pm.
- Sick hiccups give the elderly time to take in a David Blaine trick...

Wednesday, 11/23 King Louie's Missing Monuments, The Nervous Ticks, Haverchucks (pictured just above), Boney Loner, Sacred Teachers @ Strange Matter 10pm. Free.
- Passing time can lead to interceptions...

Wednesday, 11/23 Jackass Flats (pictured just above), Melody Walker, Big Daddy Love @ The Camel 9pm.
- Is this a blood drive or a Woody Allen insult?...

Wednesday night before turkey lard...

Who says there isn't meth labs in the Museum District?

2011-11-20T17:07:00.000-05:00

Radio Rubber Room EP39, The Camel & OWR

2011-11-20T11:28:00.006-05:00

Thanks again to the Radio Rubber Room guys for having me on last night. Its always a joy to head up to Ashland, Va. Also, it was an honor to be co guest with the hardest working man in show business, Rand Burgess of The Camel. Here's the podcast link from last night's live show on WHAN just below. Warning: I sound like shit as I usually do on the radio.

Radio Rubber Room EP39, The Camel & One Way Richmond

Get on the microphone.

2011-11-19T13:50:00.002-05:00

pic by Joeseph Opyt

Tonight and tonight only...

Joe Threat (pictured above), DJ Evil, Divine Profitz, Black Liquid, LSD, and Delta Automatika @ Baja Bean 9pm.

If you want to invest in Joe Threat, and who doesn't, here you go:
www.cdbaby.com/cd/joethreat

Note: I will be a co-guest on tonight's Radio Rubber Room on 102.9 FM or www.naked-jester.com from 6-8pm.

Radio Rubber Room is a sketch comedy, live music radio show out of Ashland/Richmond. The podcast is available for free at www.radiorubberroom.podbean.com

Sad days for honky-tonk...

2011-11-18T15:38:00.000-05:00

This November 19th will be the 12th anniversary of Shenanigans Eatery & Pub in Bellevue, North Richmond. Sadly though, it will be its last.

Shenanigan’s lease was up for renewal November 1 and their landlord opted to let his son have the space. It will be a new restaurant with no music.

As for now, Shenanigan’s has made a deal to stay open through Christmas until the end of the year. Bands will still perform until New Year’s.

This obviously sucks because it was a great neighborhood joint that hosted local, regional and national honky-tonk, blues and alt-country music. Shady landlords, the fact Richmond has way too many restaurants and the state of the current economy has really put a dent in the availability of true music venues in Richmond of late. I said it before, I’ll say it again; Richmond’s music community will ride out this storm.

Here’s a suggestion to the current owners of Shenanigan’s and aspiring venue owners: Go buy or rent the now available Triple restaurant and pool hall at 3306 W. Broad St. I still feel with the right leadership and minor renovations including a proper stage, that place can still be a great venue/pool hall/bar/restaurant. The kind of bands that played at Shenanigan’s could fit in nicely here. One thing however, the city or whoever must clean up the building to the right of the Triple, it’s pathetic how the absentee owner of that space and the city has allowed it to deteriorate.

And, don't give me any crap about how the Triple is to far, or there's no parking. There is plenty of parking on Broad, and the side street (Mactavish) right by the Triple. I admit, some extra lighting on the street would be nice. Also, it's not far at all lazy asses.