TENVIRGINIA ARTISTSYOU
SHOULDCHECKOUT BYDOUG NUNNALLY
We all know Richmond has a vibrant music scene, one that’s constantly BAD KOREA transforming and getting better every day, but what of the rest of Virginia? It’s This Virginia Beach quartet describes
themselves as being “a punk band that
important to remember that as good as we have it here in town, Old Dominion probably should have existed in 1998,” but still has plenty of fresh and exciting bands worth your attention. Rap, country, with rancorous melodies, peevish lyrics,
and pummeling rhythms, there’s absolutely
punk, metal, experimental; whatever your scene is, you can find dozens of nothing outdated about their sound. Perhaps fascinating artists mere hours from Richmond that are talented, moving, and most notable is the polish the band applies all worthy of the same praise we so gladly bestow on our hometown favorites. Here are ten Virginia artists we think you should all be checking out right now,
to their raw energy, leaving many of their contemporaries in the dust with recordings that shy away from control board wizardry, while still maintaining a live feel to each song.
but trust us when we say there are hundreds more equally worth your time:
DORI FREEMAN
DREW GIBSON
FERAL CONSERVATIVES
Travel down the Crooked Road of Virginia and you’ll find plenty of talented musicians steeped in genuine Americana, but none bring it into this young century as vibrantly as this resourceful Galax singer. While her serenading voice and rich stories are to be commended, it’s her protean ability to float across styles that will catch your ear, as she moves from backdrops of Nashville production to sparse guitar lines, before bottoming out with the simple snap of her fingers in a sound that’s effortlessly enthralling.
A Richmond native now residing in Sterling, Gibson embodies the spirit of Virginia songwriting and on his latest album, 2015’s 1532, he has firmly established himself as one of the state’s best active songwriters. Over top his dexterous fingerpicking, the veteran musician has a moving ability to offer clarity through sorrow as he leads listeners through a filtered view of his own personal distress, allowing them to find their own serenity with moving and gorgeous melodies that become engraved in your soul.
Richmond’s EggHunt Records is full of shining stars, but no artist on the current roster shines brighter than this relentlessly charming Virginia Beach band, armed with a marvelous sound that finds the happy medium between punk and indie pop. Lead vocalist and mandolinist Rashie Rosenfarb’s imposing sonic presence instantly makes this band notable, but it’s their propensity for intelligent songwriting that makes this band spectacular. Unassuming songs overflow with expert tricks and techniques, allowing for dozens of thrilling sonic moments that will have you coming back time and time again.
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RVARVA MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 24 26 | SPRING | FALL 2016