I would apologize for all the posts recently, but at least we have something to read? I guess I should be condensing everything, but I barely had time to dash off this morning’s post before leaving for my “real” job. I also don’t really know what day it is and have just glanced at the calendar and realized that there’s a lot going down this week.

And here’s what I recommend:

Night Beds, Caveman and Jenny O. at the Southern, Tuesday at 7 p.m. I’m not one for soft, country-tinged rock, but if you are, you would like Night Beds a whole lot. If you still are listening to Fleet Foxes, you would really like this show. Like if strumming acoustic guitars, slight reverb on the vocals, and solid harmonies get you excited, please go to the Southern tomorrow. Here, here’s their song “Ramona.” I’m listening to it. It’s catchy. I don’t know much about Caveman or Jenny O., but I think both of them are in the same vein as Night Beds.

And, on Thursday the 20th, Japandroids at the Jefferson. I will never pass up an opportunity to see them play, because I think they do everything a touring band should be doing. I saw them last year in DC at the Rock and Roll Hotel, and they closed their set with their cover of the Gun Club’s “For The Love of Ivy.” They actually had to take breaks in between choruses because they were so tired. And every night, they play just about every song they know (if they have the time) until they can’t play anymore. And no bullshit encores. They love playing live; they made their last album (Celebration Rock) pretty much just so they could tour as much as possible for the next two years. And it’s just two dudes, one on drums and one on guitar/vocals making music as loud and fun to listen to as possible. I also recommend learning the words to “The House that Heaven Built” so you can shout along with the band, all the Japandroids bros, and me.

Crocodiles is opening for Japandroids. They honestly have not been on my radar, but I played part of their newest album about five minutes ago and this one really reminds me of Jesus & Mary Chain. I mean, who are you fooling with a song called “She Splits Me Up” containing sunny, fuzzed-out guitars over chiming pop melodies? It’s worth pointing out that their earlier stuff is a bit noisier/shoegaze-y-er, and they’ve been touring with Dum Dum Girls for awhile.

Here’s everything else for the next few days, if you don’t feel like staring at the calendar over on the sidebar there: on Tuesday, Last Call Gospel Choir is playing at Blue Moon Diner. On Wednesday, Southern Belles at Rapture/R2, and Jim Waive at Blue Moon Diner. On Thursday, MALC D at Rapture/R2, Jamie Dyer, Dan Sebring and Cathy Monnes at Blue Moon Diner, and Tall Tall Trees with Prypyat at the Garage.

Also, maybe hit up the Scottsville Batteau Festival on Wednesday the 19th, including Charlottesville folkies Red & The Romantics and Rockfish Gap.

Not only are we losing Random Row to hotel developers, we are also losing another great venue, Utopia. There’s a show out there tonight; their second-to-last before the lease runs out:

Special Events, hip-hop from Tennessee feat. Neil Fridd. They’re on David Byrne’s label, Luaka Bop Records.

Younger Siblings, lo-fi romantic pop from Birmingham, Alabama.

gGarageband, hip-hop from RVA.

and two Cville experimental/electronic artists, Ming Ming (John Mingsley) and Nu Depth.

Come at sundown. Check the Facebook event here. Don’t get lost in the woods (400 Stribling Ave., follow the gravel road, turn left before the tunnel).

Corsair have been getting a bit of attention these days after signing to Shadow Kingdom Records and reissuing their debut EP. They’ve garnered comparisons to classic metal bands like Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden.  I highly recommend seeing the band play live– their guitarist Marie Landragin RULES. Come check out their show with Nashville psychedelic stoner rock band All Them Witches at the Southern on Saturday at 8pm.

Tonight (Friday), check out Le Feb at Rapture/R2, Chris Amsler at Blue Moon Diner, or Kathryn Caine & The Small Band and Sally Rose at the Pavilion.

And, because I’m not sure if I will be able to post again before Sunday, PUNK RETURNS TO MAGNOLIA HOUSE. A Brazilian grindcore band, Days of Hate, will play there Sunday night along with Richmond group Suppression and Harrisonburg crust punks Thrones of Deceit. Yeeeeeah. It’ll be sludgy and wonderful.

 

Local psych pop band Invisible Hand has just released a outtake/rarities tape, Squirrel Jail on Funny/Not Funny. It’s a sprawling collection of lo-fi studio jams, sweet little experimental bits (check out the keyboard loop on “Summer Home at Last”), and different versions of familiar favorites like “Eating Out.” As always, the band’s humor is quite evident–”I’m not homeless if I’m on your couch,” they sing in “Pigeons.” The tape is a charming listen, fascinating too in giving me the ability to hear a band I’ve seen play live countless times in a more relaxed, playful setting.

Listen to Squirrel Jail here on Bandcamp, or buy one of a very limited run of 100 cassettes on the label’s website.

ALSO: Roanoke, VA dream pop group Wild Nothing return to Charlottesville with a show at the Southern tomorrow (Tuesday), hot on the heels of their successful Nocturne LP and also the Empty Estates EP which I haven’t listened to but I’m sure is nice as well. Twin Tigers is opening, who seem to be a psychedelic-leaning band from Athens, GA.

I’ll be seeing Danish punks (buzzbands? Do they count as buzzbands now?) Iceage and Lower at Strange Matter in Richmond, so there’s that too.

Everything’s happening everywhere this weekend. Tonight (Saturday): DJ Hummingbird Feeder will be playing some records at the Black Market Moto Saloon.

Charlottesville is excelling on the “bringing 80s cover bands into town” front because tonight at the Jefferson, Aquanett will play all your favorites from Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, etc. Stacy’s Highway to Rock opens.

Also: We Are Star Children and Red & The Romantics at Random Row, Blue Dogs, Second Draw at the Southern, Le Feb at Rapture/R2, and Chamomile & Whiskey with Honey Bear at Whiskey Jar.

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On Sunday (6/9), check out Anatomy of Frank, Invisible Hand, and Suburban Living at the Southern. The Anatomy of Frank are kicking off an extensive two-month tour across the U.S. and Canada (dates here). It’s also lead singer Kyle’s birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KYLE.
Opening for the Anatomy of Frank are Charlottesville power pop favorites Invisible Hand, coming home after a brief tour of Virginia with Suburban Living. A dream pop group from Virginia Beach, Suburban Living are promoting a new 7″ called Always Eyes. (Thanks to Jimmy for the info)

Also on Sunday, check out Hot Tuna and Jill Sobule at the Jefferson.

A lineup of Richmond hip-hop artists will be featured tonight at Random Row. KONS the Child is headlining the show, featuring songs from his new album LOST, which incorporates both hip-hop and psychedelic/ambient beats. He is joined by Richmond rappers Jo Casino, TERRORIST PO$$E, and Charles Diamond, as well as Charlottesville’s DJ Trill Cosby. KONS played a house party in Charlottesville a few weeks ago, and word has it that his next show in town will not disappoint. Check out the Facebook event for the show here.

*Update* Jo Casino will not make the Random Row show but the rest of the lineup will remain as announced.

There’s a free show at the Pavilion as well that promises to be interesting: Love Canon, which does bluegrass 80s covers. It may be your only chance to hear “She Blinded Me With Science” or ZZ Top’s “Legs” played on a banjo. Gina Sobel & The Mighty Fire will be opening.

Also playing tonight are James McCartney (the child of Paul McCartney) and Alyssa Graham at the Southern; Downbeat Project at Rapture/R2; Boxwave at Blue Moon Diner; and at the Jefferson: “folk ‘n’ roll” artist Langhorne Slim & The Law with The David Mayfield Parade.

So once again, Charlottesville, you have your choice of shows. Maybe even Screaming Females at Strange Matter in Richmond will catch your eye tonight.

Many thanks to my friend Caroline for her help on this post.

Another, more extensive post for the rest of this weekend will go up sometime this evening. But in the meantime: DJ Hummingbird Feeder will be playing some records at the Black Market Saloon on Saturday, and on Sunday the Anatomy of Frank kicks off a summer tour at the Southern with hometown favorites Invisible Hand and VA Beach’s Suburban Living.

Hey everyone, I’m your newest Nailgun contributor, with another promise of MORE POSTS THIS SUMMER. I’m serious though: I’ve already updated the calendar and now I am here to tell you about what’s going on in Charlottesville this evening.

As per usual, there’s a lot going on tonight: First, the Australian dance-punk/synthpop group Cut Copy is playing the Jefferson Theater. The tour is in support of their album coming out later this year, a follow-up to 2011′s well-reviewed Zonoscope. The band is bringing along fellow Australian electropoppers Worlds End Press as an opening act, so get ready for an energetic show full of infectious neo-disco beats. I caught a bit of Cut Copy’s set back in 2011 at Pitchfork, and that show remains the biggest dance party I have ever seen at the Fest. Doors are at 7 and tickets are still available as of this morning. Read an interview with the band about their Charlottesville tour stop here at The Cville.

Or, if it floats your boat, check out Moby & The Dicks at Rapture/R2, or Eric Sommer at Blue Moon Diner.

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. We here over at Nailgun have been extremely busy! James already wrote a great write-up of tonight in this week’s Feedback column which can be found here.

At the Tea Bazaar, Daniel Bachman, a 22 year old Fredericksburg native will be playing. Daniel Bachman is on the legendary Tompkins Square Record Label and plays both banjo and guitar in the American primitivism style. Opening the show in Dais Queue which is the solo project of Grand Banks’s David Salisbury. In addition, there has been word that James Ford and Tyler Magill will be playing some records in between sets. $5. 9 PM. Tea Bazaar.

Here’s the poster designed by James Ford:

Also going on tonight is the EP release for Left & Right’s “93″ EP which came out, well, today. I saw some of the tapes they would be selling and they look gorgeous! Pick one up. Rounding out the bill is Borrowed Beams of Light, playing their first full-band Charlottesville show in a while, and Girl Choir, who I have yet to hear. $7. 8:30 PM. Random Row.

Here’s the poster designed by Thomas Dean:

It’s gorgeous weather, there are two awesome shows going on, come on out and see some good music.

So without WTJU I’m not sure I would have found out about Eternal Summers, Thee Oh Sees, The Dead Milkmen, Flipper, The Butthole Surfers, Sunn O))), Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Jesus and Mary Chain and countless other acts that now make their way into my regular listening rotation. I wouldn’t place such a premium on music discovery. I would have gotten a lot more sleep in college.

I’ve been volunteering at WTJU since I was a freshman at UVA and although I’ve been there for almost five years now, combing through the extensive music library, I’m still one of the least knowledgable people there. WTJU fosters an insane level of deep-cut digging from their DJ’s, who outdo themselves every year during the marathon to bring you music you’ll have probably never heard of but immediately fall in love with. It’s a week of not having to slog through allmusic.com, sift through countless repetitive year-end lists, or put up with terrible promoted tracks on lame internet radio stations. You get the cream of the crop hand picked and dropped right in your lap. Take one look at the marathon schedule and it’s obvious there’s a show here that’s going to feel tailor made for you. This year we have shows dedicated to power pop, Australia, a single hip-hop breakbeat, dead people, record labels, riot grrrls, and cars (just to name a few). There are also live bands popping in to play sets from 6-7 every day, usually with surprises you don’t get to hear at their live shows. In short, 2013 is going to be one bitchin’ marathon.

But it doesn’t come cheap.

That’s where you come in. It’s really easy to help support the station. All you have to do is click here and throw them a few bones. There are endless costs to running the station (no one’s getting their pockets lined doing this job) and signing up for a monthly donation helps the station figure out it’s long term budget for the year.

So this week when you’re falling in love with a band you didn’t know about or discovering an entire sub-genre of music you hadn’t yet heard, remember that you can take five minutes and a few bucks and return the favor.

See you at the station – Zak