Wed Nov. 12
A night of young turks, bluegrass mandolin player Chris Thile and dour heartthrob Conor Oberst, better known as Bright Eyes. Thile will be with his ensemble the Punch Brothers, kind of a chamber bluegrass outfit, at the Modlin Center at the University of Richmond.
Conor Oberst began his career as a teenager, recording songs on cassettes. Since then he's put out a gazillion records, including a new one with his band the Mystic Valley Band. Rolling Stone called him the best songwriter of 2008, but you be the judge -- he's at The National with Ben Kweller and Rig1.
Thurs Nov. 13
At Bottom's Up, the lovely ladies of Buttercup will play honky-tonk weepers and not even break a sweat while breaking your heart. You won't mind much, I promise.
The Camel is casting aside their desert-like image in presenting a nautically themed show with Swimming with Dolphins and Colin Healy and the Jetskis. Think Jacques Cousteau drinking Pernod in a seaside café in southern France while pouty gamines in Capri pants stroll by with unworthy boys on their arms. Why so wistful Jacques?
Fri Nov. 14
It's a bold move for a local band, in this case Farm Vegas, to book themselves into The National. But then, their name suggests 1. that they love tractors, livestock, overalls and growing alfalfa, and 2. that they like gambling. Or maybe the Vegas reference is because they like legal prostitution, hard to tell.
Sat Nov. 15
It’s a battle of the singer songwriters tonight -- Amy Ray is at Capital Ale House and Robert Earl Keen is at Toad's. Indigo Girl, outspoken activist, label owner and musician, Ray goes at it hammer and tongs to make this world a better place. Get there early so as not to miss New York songwriter Jennifer O'Connor.
Keen is from the Texas singer-songwriter school whose graduates include Willie, Lyle, Townes and Guy, plainspoken men who are part of a long and grand tradition. Canadian Corb Lund, who cribs from the Johnny Horton songbook, opens playing songs from his new record about war and horses.
The Ultra Kings, frequent visitors from Pennsylvania, will be mixing their rockabilly with barbequed pig at Grandpa Eddie's. For those who just have to hear a double bass played to within an inch of its life.
Sun Nov. 16
It's not much known but Elvis was reincarnated as a dog named ShinBone. His favorite local band is Hamburger James, a rockabilly outfit that comes by their name honestly -- those boys love a meat patty. They are at Shenanigans on Northside.
Mon Nov. 17
Rent a movie.
Tues Nov. 18
There has been a tragic black cloud hanging over this country for the last eight years. The laws of universal physics demand there be a counterbalancing force. This force comes in the form of bands heavily influenced by disco, unabashed lovers of synthesizers, bad clothing and other things 70s. Cobra Starship is one of these bands, mixing irony, disco, synth-beats, singalong choruses and tongues gleefully shoved into each other's cheeks. They will be at The National. Live it up while you can, change is acomin'.