Dharma Bombs treats The Camel to new folk bops
Quentin Rice, Staff Writer Local Richmond country/folk band Dharma Bombs treated fans Saturday night at The Camel to a few hours of their revised sound —which they have taken to calling “Appalachian Dixie,” — to celebrate the release of their second album, “Enjoy the View.” The band was preceded by The Judy Chops, a folk […]
Students, meet the RVA music scene
This story ran as part of a VCU Student Media Center summer special publication, The Compass, which serves as a guidebook for new students. Quentin Rice, Staff Music Writer Richmond is very obviously a beautiful city to look at. With its constantly growing collection of murals and tattoo artists, Richmond is easy on the eyes. […]
Was Kurt Cobain the last true rock star?
Quentin Rice, Staff Writer On April 8, 1994, Seattle electrician Gary Smith discovered Kurt Cobain’s lifeless body on the floor of Cobain’s greenhouse. Hours later, Kurt Loder announced Cobain’s death on MTV, and the music world had a new wound that will never heal entirely. Not much can be said about Cobain that hasn’t been […]
Making the case for video game music
Quentin Rice, Staff Writer The idea that video games are only for the elusive “basement-dwelling nerd” has subsided over the years. With the advent of streaming, and as the first generations of kids with home consoles get older, gaming has become more ubiquitous than ever. That growth has allowed more gamers to talk openly about […]
Weekend Plans drop a groove that just won’t quit
Quentin Rice, Staff Writer Standing between a great mural of a watercolor forest and a crowd of leisurely drinkers, a collection of some of the finest musical talent Richmond has to offer laid down some jazz grooves that were fun, above all else. Weekend Plans is a nine-piece jazz outfit that take a lot of […]
Sleepwalking to a groove where past and present collide
Quentin Rice, Staff Writer In the abstract, a sonic marriage of The Cars, Thin Lizzy, Foster the People and Hippo Campus sounds strange at best. But Richmond’s very own Sleepwalkers has found a way to make it work. Led by brothers Michael and Austin York as well as drummer and engineer Alex De Jong, Sleepwalkers […]
New country album offers blues for the modern era
Quentin Rice, Staff Writer Nashville country and blues musician Todd Snider’s new album “Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3” is a departure from the lively barn-burners he typically puts out. Recorded at the cabin Johnny Cash built in 1978, Snider’s new album plays like an “Unplugged” session, full of mellow acoustic guitar diddies and quaint harmonica […]
‘Weezer (The Black Album)’ offers more confusing pop tunes
Quentin Rice, Staff Writer Emo music’s distant and nerdy dads have returned with their 13th studio LP, “Weezer (The Black Album).” Coming hot on the heels of Weezer’s “Teal Album” — a rather fun record of covers from groups like TLC and Tears for Fears — “The Black Album” is a deeper exploration into more […]
Jazz students entertain Friday nights at local tapas bar
Quentin Rice, Contributing Writer The walls are not cluttered with sports bar memorabilia, the lights are dim and the music — more often than not — is live at Emilio’s tapas bar, where VCU jazz students treat Richmond nightlife to some genuine jazz every Friday. The unassuming bar has hosted a jam session every Friday for […]
Local band returns, debuts psychedelic music
Quentin Rice, Contributing Writer Richmond’s beloved psychedelic blues band People’s Blues of Richmond have returned with two new singles titled “Journalist” and “I Don’t Give a Damn.” Currently on their east coast tour, PBR plans to release a new record before the end of the year. Comprised of guitarist and vocalist Tim Beavers II, bassist Matt […]