Elaine Williams
Contributing Writer
If you don’t know Black Girls, you should.
Richmond and VCU natives, Black Girls travel up and down the east coast, but they always make time to play for their hometown, Richmond.
This past Friday night they performed in a trifecta of talented artists for a First Friday event at the Camel Club on Broad Street. Along with Dr. Millionaire and LD50, Black Girls carried the audience away on a musical adventure.
It’s hard not to feel a strong, delightful yet sensual pull towards these guys as they sing to their hometown fan base.
The audience gravitates to the stage once the first chord is strung. Frontman Drew Gillihan killed it on the mic as he draws in the audience with his electrifying movements.
This band has a stage presence like none I’ve ever seen. It remains one of the many reasons their fans continue to come back with such excitement and strong support.
“Black Girls brings a new culture to Richmond; there are not a lot of bands like them. I consider them a diverse and very talented group of individuals,” said Alex Smith, a Richmond native and Black Girls fan. “They represent Richmond in the best way.”
Another fan, Jennifer Harrison said, “Black Girls speaks to the people of Richmond as well as to the culture of Richmond. The first time I saw them I was pretty amazed and ever since then I continue to come back to see them.”
The audience had their hands in the air as Black Girls rocked some of their biggest hits, such as “South Carolina.”
Always packed full for the native Richmond band, The Camel frequently hosts Black Girls and remains one their favorite venues to play.
“This is where we started,” Gillihan said. “Before this place even had a stage or real sound system, we were playing here. Together we have grown, they as a venue, and we as a band. We have an allegiance.”
Black Girls continues to impress their fans new and old, not only in Richmond, but in places like New York, Illinois, Missouri, Maine, Pennsylvania and even Canada.
Black Girls will play Friday, Sept. 21 at The Speakeasy and Friday, Oct. 5 at The Camel.
