Richmond music critics: Charlottesville shows rock!
As you may have noticed, every magazine or newspaper you pick up this week is running their �06 almanac issue. The news, the people, the trends, and the events that shaped another year past. Of course, The Hook is no exception. However, imagine our surprise as we browsed Richmond-based Style Weekly�s �06 music round-up, only to discover that it�s all about Charlottesville…well, sort of.
Style Weekly asked its regular music critics to pick their top five albums, favorite single, and favorite Virginia live performance for the year. While their artist choices traversed the musical landscape, the venues for Virginia live performances were awfully familiar.
As SW�s music editors put it, “To the capital city�s shame, nearly every favorite live show occurred in Charlottesville. But don�t think of music critics as pompous windbags, elitists or music snobs. Instead, think of them as lovers in a state whose motto welcomes them.”
Wow, talk about sour grapes! Indeed, three of SW’s four critics chose Charlottesville shows. And so,�to this city�s delight (and our snobdom?),we list them here…�
Art Brut at Satellite Ballroom, Charlottesville
This show flat-out rocked. The lovable English crew led by charismatic front man Eddie Argos played every song from its acclaimed debut, “Bang Bang Rock & Roll,” with electrifying verve for a small crowd that was enraptured throughout. Like a fun pep rally for U.K. alternative rock freaks.�- Brent Baldwin
Dungen at Satellite Ballroom, Charlottesville
These kids from Sweden are a time-machine-as-band, evoking perfectly the hazy psychedelia in full flower as the �60s came to a close. Their terrifically catchy songs and leader (and Robert Plant clone) Gustav Ejstes� crazy instrumental chops � soloing on guitar, flute, Fender Rhodes and percussion � elevate them beyond a nostalgia act.–Mark Richardson
Neko Case at Starr Hill Music Hall, Charlottesville
Flanked by a handful of brilliant musicians on a tiny stage, Neko Case and Kelly Hogan mesmerized the sold-out crowd with hearty vocals and well-timed comic relief. If you�ve never heard Neko recount stories of cutting bubble gum out of her dog�s hair on the tour bus or other roadside adventures, you are missing out.–Hilary Langford
What about James Brown at the Pavilion? Or James Taylor at John Paul Jones? DMB? Disney on Ice?
Do those darn Style people drive up here to see this stuff? Shouldn’t the Hook be attending these sophisticated cultural events?
Too bad they missed Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, the Derek Trucks Band, and Hot Tuna.
Ah, they didn’t miss anything…they had to pick their favorite live performance in Virginia. Really, did you people even read the post?
Yeah. Changes nothing. Too bad they missed Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, the Derek Trucks Band, and Hot Tuna. And it’s also too bad they went to press with the best shows of the year before the Charlottesville Blues Allstars reunion tonight.
Homer….seems to me you’re missing the point. SW editors had to choose what they thought were the best live performances across the state…3 out of four chose live shows in Virginia. Perhaps they did see Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, the Derek Trucks Band, and Hot Tuna. The point is…we seem to have a great live music scene in this town…proven by the fact that Richmond-based music critics couldn’t find shows they liked in their own city!
Indeed. The Silver Jews embarked on their first, and possibly only, tour ever this year and stopped at our own Satellite Ballroom. Hurrah!
Maybe Satellite Ballroom should move to Richmond where the press & community appreciate (& cover) what they are doing…
Art Brut, Dungen both got Zero coverage in the Hook…
The Silver Jews review was consolidated with a Mute Math Review…??? What?
Clear Channel venues got no trouble getting good press in Charlottesville…
[…] When she’s not thrilling sold-out clubs with her band the New Pornographers, Neko Case is carving out a reputation as one of the greatest country singers of her generation. Earning comparisons to such legends as Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, Case has become a critical darling. Her 2006 album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood topped the Amazon.com music editor’s list for the best of the year and came in at #8 on The Village Voice’s “Pazz and Jop” critics’ poll, ahead of such heavyweights as Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, and Elvis Costello. Richmond’s Style Weekly named Case’s set last year at Starr Hill one of the best of the year. […]