Tag Archives: richmond

Hip film review…Hardcore Norfolk: A Story of Rock N Roll Survival

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hcnAs a resident of the city of Norfolk Virginia, I was very excited to hear about this film. I believe I read the interview that was in Veer Magazine when the filmmakers appeared on the cover.

Somehow I lost track of the date and missed the Opening Night showing at the Naro Theater. I’m sure that must have been quite an event. And ‘red-carpet’ events like that don’t happen that often here in Norfolk, VA. (Some footage of it appears as bonus material on the second disc!)

Debra Persons, the films co-director and executive producer, was nice enough to meet with me to talk about the film. I could really tell that this movie was a labor of love for Debra. This film is very personal to her, and co-director and associate producer Andrea Rizzo. The two were living the awesome life you see portrayed on the screen. By that I mean that the bands that you see in the movie are the bands that they were going out to see and getting to know. The same goes for cinematographer and editor Paul Unger only a bit later in the local scene.

The film starts with a brief history of the ‘Norfolk Sound‘ and the rich musical past that was in this area for quite some time. Very interesting. The footage of Tidewater landmarks and skylines are great and the ‘DIY‘ feel of it adds to the overall aesthetic of the film.

It’s not long till the documentary focuses on rock n roll…
I’m not going to spoil any of the great stories that are told in the film. (And it’s awesome that I know so many people interviewed in the movie!) I advise that you buy a copy of this great DVD for yourself and watch it. And tell your friends to do the same. These film-makers had a dream and went for it…and had success! That is a very bold thing for someone to do and I applaud them for that. We should all show our support by getting a DVD or CD (or both).

They don’t have any plans to make other feature films. (Except Paul…he’s still working in the video business). This is the movie that they envisioned to make, and after a lot of tweaking…it’s done. You can check out their website at –> www.HardcoreNorfolk.com

They are living the dream.

Hip local news…Morrissey @ The National Wed, April 3, 2013

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Happy March 1st!

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This just in….

Added to the Local Calendar page, Morrissey will be performing at The National Theater in downtown Richmond, Virginia on Wedenedsday, April 3rd. Tickets are $47 in advance and go on-sale today 3/1/13 at 10:amEST (15 min from when I write this.) I expect this show to sell-out.

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Alice In Chains, Band of Horses and Pinback added to the Local Calendar

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Hip local News:

Sean Kinney w/some HipsterAlice In Chains is scheduled to perform at The Norva Theater in beautiful downtown Norfolk, Virginia on Sunday May 5th. Tickets are $45 in advance (plus svc charge).

BOHBand of Horses will also be at The Norva Theater on Tue May 27th. Tickets are $27.50 in advance.

ZachPinback will be in downtown Richmond, VA on Saturday March 16th at the Canal Club. Tickets are $18 in advance. (March 16th is also the date of the Ocean View St Patrick’s Day Parade…So…don’t drink and drive.)

Hip event…DC Tattoo Expo No. 3 This weekend!

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This Weekend!

January 11 – 13, 2013

 www.dctattooexpo.com

Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

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Hip local news…Band of Horses @ National 12/15/12

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This just in…ultra hip band ‘Band of Horses‘ is scheduled to perform at The National Theater in downtown Richmond, Virginia on Saturday December 15th, 2012.

Tickets go on-sale 9/28/12 at 10:am. Tickets are $25 plus a service fee of $7..so $32 a ticket. Yikes…

Opening act is Jason Lytle (of the band Grandaddy)

Hip Local News…Sleigh Bells @ the Norva Theater

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I saw that The Norva added Sleigh Bells to their concert line-up on Saturday Oct 6th. Tickets are $20 (+ fees) in advance. (They are also playing The National Theater in Richmond the next day, Oct 7th)

I’m not really familiar with Sleigh Bells. The most I’ve heard them is when they were on SNL last year, and they didn’t seem like ‘my-cup-of-tea’. They kind of remind me of the ’90s band Curve ( and maybe Garbage).

I wasn’t even going to add them to the Local Calendar until I saw them listed in this article in LAweekly.com called The 20 Worst Hipster Bands.

Here’s what LAweekly has to say about them:

#18. Sleigh Bells

Remember in 2010, when we all lost our collective minds over these guys, with their iPod beats, garage-metal guitars and schoolyard-chant vocals? It was, like, the most original sound ever! Then the second album came out and everyone was more like, “Huh. Actually, this kinda sounds like shit.” Also, Alexis Krauss started wearing her own band merch at shows, which you’re really only allowed to do if you’re Morrissey.

-Andy Hermann

The LAweekly article is funny as hell, but I don’t agree with most of the bands on the list. I mean…they have Bon Iver as the #1 worst band! Everyone knows they’re awesome.

So I think Sleigh Bells being on the list of the Worst Bands makes them kind of hip. I’d even be willing to go check them out (if someone can hook me up with a guest pass (plus one?)) Email me for contact info.

Hip local news…Weather

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Thank God for Godzilla.

Local news…Garbage @ National 9/14/12

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Awesome band Garbage will be performing at The National Theater in Richmond, Virginia on Friday Sept. 14th. Tickets are $25 in advance (plus service charge).

“Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson has said that the band’s forthcoming album, ‘Not Your Kind Of People’, has been inspired by David Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux, and Cocteau Twins.

When asked if ‘Not Your Kind Of People’ saw them looking toward any new influences, Manson said she had been looking back to “all these people that built my musical fabric”. Butch Vig added that he’d taken inspiration from prog rock and the first Suicide album.

After being asked what they had been up to since their 2005 album ‘Bleed Like Me’, Manson said: “I don’t really know what I’ve been doing… We spent our time living life, then [we were] ready to record a record and here we are!”

Garbage release their fifth album ‘Not Your Kind Of People’ on May 14. Recorded in Atwater Village in Los Angeles, the album has been produced by Garbage and mixed by the band’s drummer Butch Vig.” – NME

Garbage recently gave away a free song on iTunes called ‘Automatic Systematic Habit’ Here’s a preview –>

It seems someone up-loaded the full release here –>

 

Of Montreal is perfoming at The National 6/13/12

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I was afraid this would happen…

I was so happy when The Norva Theater opened here in Norfolk, Virgina. From what I remember…(I can’t be bothered to do any research..geez.) the guy (Bill Reid) that opened it was part of TicketMaster and had a major part of the Virginia Beach Amphitheater being built. I seem to remember he had a falling out with TicketMaster and broke free from them, and I believe won a lawsuit…and with the monies, opened The Norva. ( I love saying ‘monies’!)

After some years of the Norva being very successful (it was named one of the Top 5 Venues in Rolling Stone a few years back), the new owner bought a theater in Richmond, Virgina called The National. I’ve been to the National, and I really like it. I saw Pinback there. It was a former depression-era movie theater, so it has a balcony and is decorated really ornate. It is awesome…But you know what I REALLY like about the Norva (which is basically a box)? It’s 20 minutes from my house!

What I thought would happen is bands would then only perform in Richmond, and not travel all the way to Norfolk for another show. It’s easier to just hang a right after Richmond, and go to North Carolina or a left and go to Philly or New York and the rest of New England. Unfortunately it has come true. I’m not saying it’s the venue owners fault, it just sucks…

Just from the bands that are currently scheduled…here’s what I see:

  • St. Vincent performing at The National in May –  The Norva? No
  • Puscifer performing at The National in June – The Norva? No

Last month Jane’s Addiction played The National. The Norva? No

Some bands, like Clutch, perform at both venues. They rock.

It just sucks driving an hour and a half each way (that’s 3 hours being on the road, round-trip) and you never know what the traffic is like coming thru the Hampton Roads Bridge/Tunnel. You could sit there for a hour and miss the opening band!

Now the latest news is Of Montreal is performing at The National on Wednesday June 13th 2012. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 day of the show (plus fees).

Puscifer coming to The National in Richmond 6-18-12

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Puscifer will be performing at The National Theater in the hip city of Richmond, Virginia on Monday June 18th 2012.

Tickets go on-sale Friday April 27 at 10am. Tickets are $35 reserved seat balcony / $30 general admission standing floor (plus fees).