Hampton Roads Clubs and Music

It took us many years but we finally figured it out: The vast Hampton Roads area has an inferiority complex because it thinks its in North Carolina.

Naw. That was a cheap one. Everything is so spread out in the Hampton Roads area-- a place that is really 4 or 5 separate towns-- that it’s always been impossible for a cohesive music "scene" to stabilize. At times, Norfolk’s Old Dominion University area and the Beach strip have had memorable live music happenings-- The Bayou club, housed in the Pavillion Towers Hotel, is the latest in a series of disparate clubs to open big, shine bright, live fast and die young (anyone remember Virginia Beach’s Outer Limits?). If you know where to look most weekends, and have access to transportation, you’ll find plenty of music all over this sprawling series of cities, towns and burgs.

More good news for Norfolk-- the CAMP ZAMA music store near ODU has been featuring more notable in-store appearances from local and national indie groups (3812 Hampton Blvd. )-- the folks at Zama are filling the void left by the late, lamented KINGS HEAD INN.

Of course, since Cellar Door Promotions rules the roost in the area, big name acts like No Doubt, Tina Turner, Spice Girls, DMB, Jimmy Buffett, Phish and The Who come to the somewhat new, and quite spiffy, GTE VA. BEACH AMPITHEATER (Tickets available through TicketMaster and selected outlets), and a mess of blues, rock, folk and jazz performers play seasonal shows and special festivals at TOWN POINT PARK in Norfolk. Can't forget that Tidewater institution, the BOATHOUSE: Home to a lot of touring national acts like Dinosaur Jr., Collective Soul and Offsping. The beer garden!! Yeah.

Also good for the occasional great show: THE ABYSS (1065 19th St., 804-422-0748) at the Beach and the BAIT SHACK (333 Waterside, 804-622-3654) in Norfolk. The beautiful mountain of garbage (literally) known as MOUNT TRASHMORE in Virginia Beach also hosts some rock 'n' roll shows during the summer months.

For all its irregularity and diversity, this area is filled with rock ‘n’ roll history. The Hampton Roads area seems to have played a significant role in the development of early rock ‘n’ roll and (even earlier) country blues due to its long-playing role as a regional port and shipping town. Robert Johnson sang of the distance between Norfolk and Memphis ("It’s a 16 hour drive") in his classic "From Four Til’ Late," while early rockers as influential as Gene Vincent and Link Wray grew up and learned their crafts here (in Norfolk and Portsmouth respectively). Gary "U.S." Bonds’ early classics, like "Quarter to Three," were recorded in 1959 at Frank Guida’s shoebox studio in Norfolk, (most of these classic cuts are captured on The Norfolk Rock ‘n’ Roll Sound, an excellent and recommended Guida compilation available on Ace Records), and Norfolk’s Golden Gate Quartet were arguably among the greatest post-war Gospel groups, and one of the best doo-wop outfits period.

Don’t forget to check out the structurally-interesting NORFOLK SCOPE, the site of thousands of pop, classical and R&B concerts throughout the years. Housed inside the Scope is the more intimate CHRYSLER HALL, which is more active as a concert site than the big concrete ball of string is. Also: the hexagonally impressive HAMPTON COLISEUM, a vaunted barn that has hosted everyone from the Rolling Stones to Elvis Presley to (recently) Metallica. It’s long been the site for the annual Hampton Jazz Festival that hits during June. Not many know that there is a special door at the arena called "The Elvis Door." It was specially cut out of the Coliseum during one of the King’s ‘70’s appearances so Elvis could go directly from his dressing room to his limo.

Fun facts! Cool place! Elvis Door!Bad acoustics!

Clubs

ABYSS (1065 19th St.; 757-422-0748) National alternative and locals. Sunday is Gothic / Industrial night.

BAIT SHACK (Inside Norfolk’s Waterside complex; 757-630-9878) Everthing from alternative to bar band sounds.

BAYOU (at the Omni Pavillion in Virginia Beach; 757-422-8900) Due to remodel in May, this Beach club features alternative and cover bands most nights of the week.

BAKER STREET 757-479-4480. 1920 Centerville Turnpike in Va. Beach. www.dazone.come/bakerstreet. Restaurant hosts regular "songwriters nights".

BAYSIDE INN 757-460-1593. 2104A Pleasure House Rd. in Va. Beach. Club hosts alternative and pop acts on weekends. Door admission.

BEACH GRILL (57-496-2755. 3152 Shore Drive in Virginia Beach) Entertainment most nights with open mics, bar bands, and well-known local alternative groups (like Sea of Souls). No cover.

COGANS (1901 Colonial Ave. in Ghent, a few doors down from Hardees; 757-627-6428) A Norfolk local rock mainstay, supportive of bands just starting out. There’s usually something happening at this homey dive-- including Cogans’ vaunted local mic night.

4400 CLUB (next to Friar Tucks on Hampton Blvd. See below.) Dance parties plus the occasional live band at this longtime local watering hole / pick-up spot / frat hangout.

FRIAR TUCKS (4408 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk; 757-440-9464) This ODU staple has been around since the Eisenhower administration, and serves up classic rock as well as alternative and bluegrass.

HOUSE OF JAZZ (314 Constitution Ave. in Va. Beach; 757-456-0884) The name says it all, with live music most weekend nights.

JENROS (757-464-3349. 4648 East Honey Rd.) First of all, there’s "Jello-wrestling" every Wednesday, so you KNOW what you’ll be doing next Wednesday. This place also features regional rock groups, bluesy performers and roots rock most nights. Door admission.

JEWISH MOTHER (757-422-5430. 3108 Pacific Ave. in Virginia Beach.) Original location of this area chain that also features blues, jazz and folk performers most nights. Don’t get us wrong-- one or two of these was enough. Manifest destiny was not asked for, although you can’t fault the food here. Advance tickets are available from Birdland Records or through the club for some events. A Williamsburg location is now open. . .

J.M. RANDALLS (4854-16 Longhill Rd. in Williamsburg; 757-259-0406) Blues and acoustic rock is featured at this popular eatery / nightspot.

KOKOAMOS (Great Neck and Shore Drive, Norfolk. 757-48-3781) Everyone from acoustic bands to beach music to more "alternative" sounds.

LEGENDS (Inside Norfolk’s Waterside complex; 757-627-8800) In recent months, this venue has brought national rap and reggae, jazz and R&B.

LIBRARY TAVERN (1330 Richmond Rd. in Williamsburg; 757-229-1012) A popular band venue for the William and Mary students.

MAHI MAH'S (6th Street and the Oceanfront in Va. Beach) Folk, reggae and blues performs play seven nights at week at this Beach restaurant.

MITTYS (in the Omni Complex, Newport News. 757-873-1063) "No alternative but to party" goes the slogan.

PEABODY’S (21st & Pacific Ave. in Va. Beach.) Alternative groups, bar bands, dance nights and glittery good timin’. Door admission.

ROUTE 44 (206 22nd St. in Va. Beach) Vic Demise says this is the closest thing to a good rock club on the Beach strip. God help us.

SCULLY’S (757-HOT-ROCK. 3472 Holland Rd. in Va. Beach). Metal, hard-rock and alternative performers most nights. Door admission.

SMACKWATER JACKS (757-340-6638. 3333 Va. Beach Blvd. in Va. Beach). Acoustic performers, blues-rock and singer-songwriters at this comfortable club, which also has Karaoke every Sunday night starting at 9 p.m. No cover.

WIPEOUT EDDYS (11712 Jefferson Ave. in Oyster Point Shopping Center, Newport News; 804-873-EDDY) This Peninsula club features lots of reggae, alternative and acoustic sounds.

Selected disc stores and instrument shops

ALPHA MUSIC 757-486-2001. 3234 Va. Beach Blvd. in Viginia Beach. Guitars, drums, accessories and a full line of sound gear and gear.

AUDIO LIGHT AND MUSICAL 757-853-2424. 3301 N. Military Hwy in Norfolk. Instruments, sound gear, accessories, recording tape, the works.

BIRDLAND 957 Providence Square Shopping Center in Va. Beach. 757-495-0961. Run by the Friedman family for decades, Birdland is the place to get the goods on jazz and blues, as well as melodic power-pop and the latest new releases. This is the kind of knowledgable and personable service you just won’t get from the impersonal chain stores in the area-- plus they’ve been around a long time and know what they’re talking about.

CAMP ZAMA 3812 Hampton Blvd. in Norfolk 23508. Near ODU, this store specializes in indie label, goth and collectible CDs. 12-8 p.m. everyday but Sunday (12-5). This store, run by our main man Bill Bradshaw, also features live, in-store performances.

ECHOING SOUND 757-498-1205. 3780 Va. Beach Blvd in Va. Beach. Formerly Electric Smiles, this store specializes in vinyl, collectible CDs, rock memorabillia and Beatles artifacts. http://www.paracom.com/~echo

FANTASY 757-595-1259 (Fax) 596-2720. 9823 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, just minutes off of 1-64. www.fantasy.com. A super-cool music store with posters, stickers, paraphenalia, CDs and oddball arcana. Try to stay on owner Mitch’s good side-- he can get a little, ah, cranky!

JAM LOCKER MUSIC 4402 Princess Anne Rd. 757-467-7171. Combination recording studio and instrument shop. Also rents out rehearsal space and equipment.

SKINNIES RECORDS 814 W. 21st Street in Norfolk, in Ghent just blocks from the Naro Cinema. 757-622-2241. A long-time Ghent-region music fixture, this stores specializes in vinyl, hard-to-find imports plus T-shirts, box sets and posters. Definitely hit this place if you are music shopping in the area, and say "hey" to Jeff and Steve for us. http://pages.prodigy.com/skinnies/home.htm.

UNICORN RECORDS 757-483-0774. 3220 Academy Ave. in Portsmouth. Hard-to-find discs, plus vinyl, tapes and collectibles. Imports too.

VERTIGO MUSIC (757-428-4749; Hilltop East location. 757-430-4404; Great Neck location) Recently opened indie Rock-focused record store. Two locations to serve you. . .

VOLUME CD EXCHANGE (757-548-8030 at Greenbrier Target Shopping Center in Chesapeake; 757-431-1313 at 2720 North Mall Dr. in Va. Beach) Two locations to choose from-- music store focused on indies, metal and rap. Rare imports, posters, T-shirts, patches: Kind of a Fantasy for the other side of the water.

Tell ‘em you heard about ‘em from

Grip Monthly & the Virginia Music Flash web site!