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Under the radar and dreaming
Move over, Dave. Local experts are predicting these Charlottesville bands are the next big things!
6 DAY BENDER
Will Anderson, Sparky's Flaw: "Luke Nutting is a great frontman, to say the least. It's a unique sound, the way they mix country, bluegrass, and rock 'n roll. They're so much fun."
Jim Waive, Jim Waive & the Young Divorcees: "I guess you'd call it mountain rock, but they're just a great, very uptempo party band."
TIM BE TOLD
Anderson: "For a band that just started last year, they're incredible. They just blew me away the first time I heard them open for us, and they still do every time. They just keep getting better and better."
Brad Savage, 106.1 The Corner: "They're keyboard-driven power pop in the vein of Maroon 5 or the Fray. There's some terrific songwriting going on there, and if they keep playing more gigs, they'll gain a following really quickly."
NICE JENKINS
Jenn Rhubright, Claire Quilty, Jive Katze: "In terms of style, they have a little bit of everything. They're really into harmonies, and they never take themselves too seriously. Some of it reminds me of the Beatles, some reminds me of Brian Wilson, and some of it is jokey like They Might Be Giants."
Maxine Jones, En Vogue: "They're very cool alternative with great lyrics."
THE BLACKOUT PROJECT
Jones: "They're a must for purchasing. I want to hear more."
Adam Gottschalk, The Midnight Barbecue: "Their studio stuff is some of the best music we've heard in a long time. They just need to tighten the screws and get out there and start putting it in front of people."
Venues
Baja Bean Co. Restaurante Y Cantina 1327 W. Main St.
293-4507
Blue Moon Diner
512 W. Main St.
980-6666
Buddhist Biker Bar and Grill
20 Elliewood Ave. 971-9181
Buffalo Wild Wing
1935 Arlington Blvd. 977-1882
Coupe DeVille's Restaurant
9 Elliewood Ave. 977-3966
Dürty Nelly's Pub
2200 Jefferson Park Ave. 295-1278
Escafé
Downtown Mall
295-8668
McGrady's Irish Pub
946 Grady Ave. 293-3473
Fridays After 5
Charlottesville Pavilion
296-8548
Live Arts LAB Space 609 E. Market St. 977-4177
Big Al's Cafe
1522 E. High St.
977-5272
Mellow Mushroom
1309 W. Main St.
972-9366
Michael's Bistro & Taphouse
1427 University Ave. 977-3697
Miller's
Downtown Mall.
971-8511
Mudhouse
213 W. Main St.
984-6833
Old Cabell Hall
University of Virginia
924-3984
Outback Lodge
917 Preston Ave.
979-7211
R2
300 E. Main 295-9526
Rapture
300 E. Main 295-9526
Rapunzel's Coffee & Books
924 Front St. Lovingston in the Packing Shed
263-6660
South Street Brewery 106 W. South St.
293-6550
Tokyo Rose
2171 Ivy Road
296-3366
Wild Wing Café
820 W. Main St.
979-9464
HookTip
Not all the musical history made in Charlottesville involves Dave Matthews Band. In fact, legend has it that a young Bob Dylan used to hang out with Appalachian folklorist Paul Clayton at the old brick Wertenbaker House on Wertland Street in the early '60s. It is here that Clayton is said to have done some uncredited collaboration with Dylan on the eventual classic "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." Today, you can find the Wertenbaker House behind the Corner, dwarfed by multi-story apartment complexes.
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SOME CHARLOTTESVILLE VENUES
Mudhouse: Only rarely do they host musicians-- maybe because the espresso machine is too loud. Downtown Mall. 213 W. Main St. 245-0924.
Rapture: Rapturians usually prefer DJs to live musicians, but if a band really means business, they'll be able to work their way into the back room. Downtown Mall. 303 E. Main St. 293-9526.
Coupe DeVille's: This Corner establishment is a clear student favorite, where locals will often cut their teeth alongside bands on shoestring tours. 9 Elliewood Ave. 977-3966.
John Paul Jones Arena: In addition to being the toast of the sports world, UVA's new 16,000-seat arena also brings the legends to town for sold out shows that draw fans from all over. Budget at least an extra half hour to get out of the building once the show's over. 295 Massie Road, near Barracks Road. 883-JPJ-TIXX.
Twisted Branch Tea Bazzar: Two years before you heard about them, your favorite indie rock and experimental bands probably performed in this cozy, hookah smoke-filled establishment. 414 E. Main St. Downtown Mall. 293-9947.
Charlottesville Pavilion: The biggest shows of the summer, without exception, are always at the Charlottesville Pavilion, the large outdoor amphitheater at the east end of the Mall. Just follow the streams of people-- or, if you're in Belmont, just open your window. Downtown Mall. 434-245-4910.
Saxx: What started as a jazz and blues club has recently turned to booking more eclectic local acts. Next to Belmont hotspot La Taza (which occasionally hosts bands itself). 407-C Hinton Ave. 979-5277.
The Paramount Theater: If you want to impress your parents next time they visit, take them here to see The Beach Boys, Herbie Hancock, Peter Frampton, or any number of other touring acts who stop in-- it's the classiest game in town. 215 E. Main St. Downtown Mall. 979-1922.
Bashir's Taverna: Another eatery that dips its toe into the venue game only casually, but it's the place to go if you want to see any of the local jazz guitar wizards take the spotlight-- or some exotic belly dancers take the stage. 507 E. Main St. Downtown Mall. 923-0927.
Fellini's #9: From the looks of it, you'd think this was a much more highbrow joint than it actually is. The decor may be slick, but the schedule is filled with bands of every shape and color, sometimes with three shows on the same day. 201 W. Market St. 979-4279.
Old Cabell Hall: As expected, UVA is the nexus of Charlottesville's academic musicians. Frequency of attendance at concerts is roughly commensurate with IQ. The Lawn. 924-3984.
Uncle Charlie's: Folks at this Crozet joint have been heralding their "Soon-to-be-World-Famous-for-Falling-Off-the-Bone-All-the-time-Smoked-Chicken-Wings" on the website since they opened, but so far the only thing they're famous for is being the town's musical oasis. Hey, it could be worse, guys. 5793 The Square in Crozet. 823-9600.
Outback Lodge: When Starr Hill Music Hall bit the dust, Outback became the oldest Charlottesville rock club still ticking. Best known as home of rock, heavy rock, really heavy rock, and reggae. 917 Preston Ave. 979-7211.
Gravity Lounge: The former home of quirky rock and acoustic folk ran into financial troubles and has temporarily shut down. Plans to open again under new management underway. 103 First St. NE. Downtown Mall. 977-5590.
Miller's: Dave Matthews Band may have been launched from this downtown institution, but these days the main attraction has been the jazz bands on Wednesday and Thursday nights. W. Main St. Downtown Mall. 971-8511.
HookTip: Want to know who's playing tonight? Want to know what they sound like? Check out the Hook's music site for complete venue listings, streaming mp3s, exclusive interviews and more: readthehook.com/music.
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When the Starr goes dim:
What's next for the local scene?
BY VIJITH ASSAR [email protected] The recent closure of Starr Hill Music Hall has left many local concertgoers wondering what lies ahead for the local club scene. For any normal college town, the closure of a such a dandy venue-- for up-and-coming local bands as well as such renowned and diverse artists as Kenny Chesney, Richard Thompson, Method Man, and They Might Be Giants (who wrote a song about the place!)-- would be devastating to the local music scene. But Charlottesville is no normal college town, and around here, the music scene has a way of working in cycles.
Case in point: there's no doubt that local rock enthusiasts quaked in their boots when Trax closed six years ago. But even though many folks worried that the last slam of those worn and grungy doors meant the end of Charlottesville as a destination for big-time acts, there wasn't a soul around who was ready to write off our music scene as a result.
At Miller's, Outback, and a small band of venues in between, the local talent kept chugging along, seemingly oblivious to the change until they were asked about it over a beer between sets.
Coming toward the end of
the darkness of the teen pop age, Trax's metamorphosis into a glorified dance club had been particularly ominous. But flashing forward a few years reveals that the fears were misplaced: there's more music in Charlottesville than ever, and many more places
to play and hear it.
But perhaps most importantly, there are Rolodexes filled with musicians to fill them all, and it's to those hardly little artists we owe the continued survival of culture in this town. As long as they're here, they'll find places to play.
So what does Starr Hill's closing mean?
In the grand scheme of things, not much. Just as Starr Hill took up the baton when Trax faltered, the torch has now been passed to the Satellite Ballroom, which is now poised to make an even bigger impact thanks to its lucrative Corner location and the endless supply of youthful energy that is the University.
Shortly after opening a few
years ago, Satellite quickly became the sort of place that can inspire a devoted fan following in ways Starr Hill never could. And that enthusiasm is what Charlottesville needs right now-- let's hope it will serve us better than a glut of venues.
As tempting as it is to cap
this survey with a eulogy for Starr Hill, the truth is that it's just another page whose time has come to be turned. As last year's retro-rock documentary Live From... The Hook
Just as Bob Girard and Charlie Pastorfield waxed nostalgic about the Mineshaft on the big screen, we'll eventually see the same memories flowing from James Wilson and the Sons of Bill boys-- and every one of their fans-- when this generation greys. The next time you buy an overpriced beer as your eardrums blow out in some seedy bar, instead of toasting Starr Hill, raise your glass to the musicians who played there and made it what it was; they're still around and able to interpret your toast as a renewed call to arms.
And hey, Satellite, now it's your turn.
demonstrated, there was a vibrant music scene in Charlottesville decades before the Dave Matthews Band, and barring any unforeseen catastrophes, it will continue for a few more.
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Not rockers
Ash Lawn-Highland Summer Festival
When the weather gets warm, it's time for opera and musical theater at Ash Lawn-Highland, home of President James Monroe. Kids events, too. 293-4500
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival
Annual series of five chamber music concerts featuring musicians of international stature. September 6, 10, 13, 17, and 20 at Old Cabell Hall. cvillechambermusic.org or 295-5395. Tickets $6 (students), $16, and $22.
Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra
Performs in Cabell Hall throughout the school year. Tickets to individual concerts on sale, subject to availability, two weeks before each concert at the Cabell Hall Box Office. All seats are reserved. Tickets are $22, $15 general, $11 students. 924-6505
John McCutcheon
This Grammy-nominated folkie lives here, but doesn't play locally too often.
The Municipal Band of Charlottesville
Doing everything from folk and opera to classical and big band for over 80 years, it's the official band of Charlottesville. Every summer, these guys and gals come out of nowhere to make the Downtown Mall pulse with excitement. They perform this September at Wintergreen and again right before Christmas. 295-9850
Oratorio Society of Charlottesville-Albemarle
Performs three concerts this year: the Christmas concert on December 19 at the Paramount, Requiem by Brahms at PVCC on March 14, and "Works by Haydn, Liszt, Vaughan Williams" May 29 at the First Presbyterian Church. 295-4385.
Skyline Harmony Chapter of the Sweet Adelines
A women's chorus that performs several times yearly. No word on next scheduled performance. [email protected]
Tuesday Evening Concert Series
Internationally renowned musicians give performances in Old Cabell Hall. This year's seven acts include the Takacs Quartet, Europa Galante, the Venice Baroque Orchestra, among others. Tickets are available two weeks before each concert. Shows begin at 8pm. $5-28. 244-9505
The Virginia Consort
A choral group that performs nearly year round at various locations in the area. 244-8444
Zephyrus
Early music choral ensemble, performing from October to April. 293-5339
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