Local acts took over Toad’s Place Friday night for an all-ages show that
featured Richmond music-scene staples Prabir and the Substitutes, Duchess of
York and Palominos.
The newly renovated venue set the mood brilliantly with dynamic lighting
and crystal-clear sound that could make an impromptu Southside blues band
seem like a national touring act.
Indeed, the quality of the venue has not gone unnoticed by national booking
agents who have secured the space for such formidable acts as Regina Spektor,
George Clinton, George Thurgood and Benevento-Russo Duo.
It’s good to know they still remain faithful to the homegrown cornucopia of
talent available to our little ears.
Although originally billed to headline the event, Duchess of York opened
the evening, partly because of the band’s young front man and his following
of minors whose hands sported not one but two “X”s. The singer’s voice was
reminiscent of a young Mick Jagger while The Clash-like sound of the band
kept the hips grounded in hard rock. With a most-certain hearkening toward
the band members’ obvious idols, The White Stripes, it’s no mystery why the
massive main room at Toad’s Place nearly was filled to capacity at the apex of
the band’s set.
Local indie band goliath Prabir and the Substitutes brought its blend of serious
and cheery attitude to the fray with tight vocal harmonies and nice changes. I
found myself singing different Beatles songs during a few instances. Prabir and
the Substitutes’ understanding of the arguable inventors of pop made for one
hell of a set, which even included a beautifully somber a capella tune. While
its trio of female backup vocalists – the Teacher’s Pets – didn’t join the band,
its presence didn’t suffer one bit. The keyboardist even managed to solo while
lying on his Fender Rhodes organ.
Though the crowd was dwindling, Palominos took the stage with the intensity
and conviction that can be scarce following two tight acts. The drummer performed
the best solo of the night while the slightly older crowd grooved hard
to the band’s Johnny Cash-like Southern-rock style. Palominos used a decent
blend of vocal harmonies with a 12-bar blues form in several songs that are
essential in the Richmond-bar band repertoire.