Richmond Clubs and Music etc.
Although erratic at times due to club shutdowns in the recent past, Richmond's music scene seems to want to thrive again. Like most cities it's size, it's music scene is fragmented both musically and geographically. When good national acts come through, and clubs take a chance on them, they are often treated to a mediocre draw. . . and yet local bands (good and awful) can sometimes find a rabid following in the same clubs. Strange, yes, but that's Richmond for you.
In the Fan, clubs like TWISTERS (at 929 W. Grace, 353-4263 ) and TRADEMARKS (1707 E. Franklin; 804-649-1079) offer up a ongoing spotlight on cool indies and noisy up-and-comers; Then there's the Richmond rock tradition: Friday free shows at SHAFER COURT on the VCU Campus (everyone from Fugazi to the Make Up) during the school year.
The MOONDANCE SALOON (9 N. 17th St., 788-6666) in hard-to-park Shockoe brings a steady stream of bluesy, roots-rock favorites. Lots of other clubs that feature distinctive mixes of local, regional and national music dot the Richmond skyline-- fun "spots" like ALLEY KATZ (10 Walnut Alley, 643-2816) and HUMPHREY J's (1725 E. Main; 804-644-4880) Clubs in town take turns hosting the Capital City Barn Dance, an ever-changing country-fried tent show that features local twang-tinged performers and special guests. Check it out if it's happening!
The summer ROUTE ONE SOUTH music festival has been put on hold for now, sadly. I know Grip had some criticisms of this festival, but it was a worthwhile thing anyway. Let's hope it gets back on track somehow in the near future.
When in Richmond, dial up the weak, but wonderful, signals from WDCE (the University of Richmond's college station) at 90.1 FM. If you are on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, check out WVCW AM 640. It's also broadcast on Continental Cable FM 105.3.
Continental Cable Access Channel 13 (a.k.a. BLAB-TV) {look for Mudie Hogg on The Ben Franklin Craft Hour on Tuesdays and that incredible black lady preacher with the mustache on Friday nights} features other notable local music acts at times, as well as a new Horror Movie show co-hosted by the one and only Michael Joyner. As they say: Keep the dial right there!
For more information on Virginia's radio alternatives, click to our Virginia Alternative Radio file.
Selected Richmond clubs and Venues
ALLEY KATZ (10 Walnut Alley. 804-643-2816). Door admission. Advance tickets from for some shows.
AREA 51 (19 N. 18th St.; 804-643-5100) "Ask to See Our UFO's" is their slogan.
BABES (3166 W Cary ST.; 804-355-9330)
BANDITOS (733 W. Cary St.; 804-343-1177) Mexican fare. NEW!
BIOGRAPH THEATRE . Currently closed. Gosh, don't you hope someone comes and opens this long-suffering, could-be-great venue proper for bands and movies!!! (Investor Alert!!!)
CAFE OLE (2 N. 6th St.; 804-225-8226) International cuisine.
CAFINE'S (401 E. Grace St. 804-775-2233) Coffeehouse that features live music. Home of the "Boom" Saturday dance party.
CARPENTER CENTER (804-262-8100.) Tickets available at the door, at selected outlets, or thru Ticketmaster.
CARY STREET CAFE (2631 W. Cary St.; 804-353-7445) Acoustic music and bluegrass is featured at this eclectic restaurant (which specializes in Veggie dishes).
CITY CAFE (804-353-2614. 1104 W. Main St.) Door admission.
CLASSIC AMPHITHEATRE (600 E. Laburnum Ave., 804-228-3233) Cellar Door venue for touring national acts.
COBBLESTONE BREWERY (644-BREW. 110 N. 18th St). Door admission.
FLOODZONE (804-643-1117.11 S. 18th Street). Closed as of this posting!
FOX & HOUNDS (10455 Midlothian Turnpike; 804-272-8309)
FOX RIVER CAFE (109 S. 12th St., 804-644-0848)
HOLE IN THE WALL (804-225-7103. 307 N. Laurel Street). Door admission. Irregular booking.
HUMPHREY J'S (804-644-4880; 1725 E. Main St.) Cool club for indie rock and eclectic sounds. Owned by a pro wrestler... so you know quality is ensured.
INNSBROOK PAVILLION (804-965-7922 for all info)
JEWISH MOTHER (804-740-1400. In the West End at 8982 Quioccasion Rd. at Quioccasin Station.) Also a new location in Midlothian at 10921 Midlothian Turnpike. Door admission, some shows are no cover. You don't really find the most adventurous of musical lineups at your average JM location. . . but the food is usually good.
JIMMY RYAN'S (804-560-1752. 6321 Jahnke Rd.) Door admission.
LIQUID ASSETS (1727 E. Main St.; 804-343-0236)
LUCY'S (2811 W. Cary; 804-355-5829) Pretty good club now doing interesting things in Carytown, booking twangy locals and singer-songwriters.
MEDLEY'S (1701 E. Main St.; 804-648-2313) Also good Cajun food, sez our man in Richmond.
MOONDANCE SALOON (804-788-6666. 9 N. 17th St.) Door admission for most shows.
MUDBONES (804-359-9572. 2 N. Meadow St.) Features live jazz music on the weekends. No cover.
POE'S PUB (804-648-2120. 2706 E. Main St.) Shockoe Bottom restaurant that features acoustic, blues and bluegrass. Door admission.
PUDDIN' HEADS (1211 W. Main Street; 804-355-BREW) Bagels and coffee.
RACK-N-ROLL CAFE (804-644-1204. 1713 E. Main St. in Shockoe Bottom). Billiard parlor-slash-rock club. Door admission.
RICHIE'S PACIFIC GRILL (1847 W. Broad St.; 804-359-1224) In addition to bands and solo acoustic performers, this homey place also hosts the "Broken Beat Lounge" on occasional Tuesdays
SILVER DOLLAR (3001 Jeff Davis Highway; 804-233-7542) REAL country. . . crap-kickin' country. No cover some nights.
SUNSET GRILL (1814 E. Main; 804-643-2926) The same bar bands you hear everywhere else are featured often at this Steak 'n' Seafood spot.
SWINGERS (804-644-4880; 12 N. 18th St.) Guess what this club specializes in? Bring cocktail mix.
TRADE'MARKS' (804-649-1079. 1707 E. Franklin St.) Door admission for most acts. For booking, call 358-2976.
TWISTERS (804-295-4263. 929 W. Grace St. more info at members.aol.com/twisterweb). Door admission for most events. Some weekend nights feature early and late shows. Most shows feature multi-band lineups, and promote heavier rock, gothic, punk, etc. than most Richmond clubs. Disco night too.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD JAZZ CAFE (1725 E. Main Street in Shockoe Bottom). Jazz, "jazz-poetry" and the like. Door admission. Some shows free.
Selected disc stores / retail shops / instrument establishments / studios
A-MAJOR MUSIC (Across from Innsbrook in Parkside; 804-747-5833) guitars, accessories, amps, mics, mixers, etc.
BACKSTAGE (310 W. Broad St.; 804-644-1433) Full-line offerings, plus lighting and sound rentals and repairs.
BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC (9750 W. Broad St., 965-0733 / 965-0771). Open seven days a week. Caters to a more conservative, suburban Richmond-ite. . . but this chain store's selection is varied. Also offers live music on weekends.
DON WARNER MUSIC (10216 W. Broad St. in Glen Allen; 804-346-3444) This instrument shop, a little out of the way, rents out small to mid-size PA's, repairs most instruments and has a stocked product line.
EXILE (822 West Grace St. in the Fan) Cool rock-styled boutique, with vintage clothes, memorabilia, magazines and assorted whatnot.
GUITAR WORKS (3335 W. Cary St., 358-0855) Instrument shop, specializing in axes and accessories.
IN YOUR EAR (2049 W. Broad, 804-254-9599) One of Virginia's biggest and best studios. Call for rates and info.
METRO SOUND (117 W. Broad St., 804-643-7125 or www.cvaweb.com/metro) Huge selection of new and used musical gear.
MONTANA / SLIPPED DISC (3106 W. Leigh St.) A one-stop recording / mastering shopping place. Operated by a knowledgeable staff that really supports local and regional music. Write for rates and info.
PEACHES (8018 W. Broad St., 747-1755 / 7106 Midlothian Trk. & 1170 Temple Ave. in Colonial Heights). Chain record store. Nothing special, except they've recently started carrying used discs.
PLAN 9 (3012 W. Cary St., 353-9996 / Pocono Crossing, 320-5409) Two locations of this local chain. The W. Cary location is the site of the almighty "Crypt," a basement bevy of used records at affordable prices.
PURE LOVE RECORDS (804-254-7660 or www.purelove.com) Newly opened record store that specializes in house, ambient, trip-hop, dance, jungle and techno. This is a much-needed thing considering the bland-ness (and suburban-centric attitude) of many of the area's other record stores (even the good ones). And, hey, is that a turntable I see at the listening bar? What a radical idea, huh? Grip is rootin' for Pure Love. . . and their web site is cool as well. Recently moved to Grace Street. Call for details.
SIGNAL RECORDING COMPANY (P.O. Box 24212, Richmond, Va. 23224; 804-639-7768) Owned and operated by Todd Wayne himself, who can also provide a backing band and other essentials necessary for a complete recording experience.
SOUNDHOLE (Two locations: at 8026 West Broad, behind Peaches and on the southside at 11645 Midlothian Tpk.) This funky indie record store specializes in obscure hardcore and metal and indie sounds, vinyl and used CDs too. Definitely a store to support given the corporate usurption of the area's bureaucratic chains and would-be chains, but not the most friendly place in the world to shop either; ironic that both Soundhole locations are so near Peaches' west end and southside stores.
TOWER RECORDS (at 1601 Willow Lawn Shopping Center; 804-673-6424) The city's one and only Tower location. Open late. It's next to a Barnes and Noble Bookstore to boot. . . so expect to spend an hour at least. This Tower location has an outstanding selection of magazines and books.
(Tell them you heard about it from "Grip Monthly" and the Virginiamusicflash web site.)