“Virginia is for Lavas!”  So proclaims the headline on Hot Lava’s MySpace page.   Hot Lava, a four-piece band of graphic designers by day and geeky indie rockers by night, hail from our I-64 east neighbor Richmond, Virginia.  The band recently released their debut album Lavalogy on Bar/None Records back in October and the album has generated a considered amount of praiseworthy buzz across the blogosphere and beyond.  One thing is for certain:  There’s no denying the fact that the band has a love of all things techie.  It’s immediately evident as you scan through Lavalogy’s track listing and discover titles like “JPG in the Sun” and “Apple+Option+Fire” (which front woman Allison Apperson, in a recent interview, says was “written on a keyboard” at a time when “we were into computer lingo and drinking beer”).  With elements of lo-fi craftsmanship, swirling keyboards, cleverly written and slightly off-the-wall lyrics, and plenty of upbeat indie pop, Hot Lava has brought a little bit of July into my late autumn afternoon.  (It’s also the perfect soundtrack to a game of arcade-style Pac-Man).

Hot Lava opens for The Falsies, Charlottesville’s own cross-dressing, chicken suit wearing, glam-rocking foursome, tonight at the Outback Lodge.  For their part The Falsies will be debuting their brand new song “Straight Up [In Ya] tonight.  The first twenty-five paid attendees through the door will receive a “Sing Along with The Falsies” program which will include photos, art, and a complete set of lyrics.  9:30pm.  $6 - $8.  All Ages.  [show poster after the break]

Listen:
MP3:  Hot Lava–”Apple+Option+Fire”

[Hot Lava photo by Ellie Bolton]

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Popularity: 13% [?]

Why say myself what others can say better than I?  Here are a two quotes to help make your decision to see this show a little easier:

“Quintron is a Party Monster…Drum Buddy is a Percussion Marvel.  Miss Pussycat has a Puppet Show.  How can you look in the mirror tomorrow morning without the fuzzy memory of this incredible show?”–Danny Shea, Starr Hill Presents

“Get down with the sickness!  Let the bodies hit the floor!  Arrre youuu reeaaady!?!?–Truman Sparks (they also advise you wear a helmet)

Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Drum Buddy, Truman Sparks (Virginia’s Best New Band), and Class Substitute.  Tonight at Outback Lodge.  9pm.  $8.

For more on Quintron check out this recent Aquarium Drunkard interview.

Popularity: 15% [?]

[Pelican]
[Stephen Brodsky]
[Kayo Dot]
[Worn in Red]

This Friday night 11/7, the Chicago based instrumental band Pelican will be stopping at the Outback Lodge. Opening will be locals Worn In Red, who have just returned from a southern tour which included playing at The Fest and debuting a new 7″ record. Also opening is Stephen Brodsky, who fronted Cave-In. I have heard good things about his solo stuff.

Some of you may remember seeing Pelican back in March (or at least reading my review of the show). Well now you’ve got some notice. These guys are truly not to be missed, it is amazing that they’re stopping here again. Go Go Go. They’ve just returned from a monthlong tour in Europe where (according to their website) they had to deal with their van getting broken into in Rome and a bunch of stuff stolen including their passports [news here]. I’ve been anticipating this show since it was announced, it should be a highlight of the fall concerts in Charlottesville. This is likely one you’ll be hearing about if you don’t go and get your tickets NOW.

Popularity: 16% [?]

If you’re looking for a great concert to help kick off your weekend then this is without a doubt the place to be as the Outback Lodge presents the CD release party for local Charlottesville “face-rockers” The Nice Jenkins.  For some, it will probably be your first chance to hear the band’s new songs from their latest effort Elephant Twisters.  It will also be your first opportunity to get your hands on a copy of the new record.

Joining The Nice Jenkins will be two fabulous acts:  Richmond, Virginia’s The Awesome Few (I saw these guys for first time during the final run of shows at the Satellite Ballroom back in May and they are funkin’ amazing!) and one of my favorite local acts, Birdlips, kicks off the show.  DJ Steve Richmond will also be on hand to drop the needle on the record and spin the beats.  Be there or be square as the ol’ cliche goes!  Tonight at 9pm.  $8 - $10.  [listen to “So What 2″ from The Nice Jenkins’ brand new album Elephant Twisters below]

Listen:
MP3:  The Nice Jenkins–”So What 2″

Popularity: 22% [?]

“It will be a heavy freak out”.  Those are the words that were passed along to me to describe Monday’s upcoming Awesome Color and Invisible Hand show at the Outback Lodge.  A heavy freak out sure sounds like a hell of a lot of fun, so count me in.

Awesome Color, the three-piece band out of Brooklyn, NY by way of Ann Arbor, MI, features Derek Stanton on guitar, Mike Troutman on bass, and Allison Busch on drums.  The band has toured with the likes of Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. and their most recent album, Electric Aborigines, is the band’s second full-length release for Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace! label.  Here’s what one reviewer had to say about the new record:

“Awesome Color…can channel the ghosts of the Stooges and MC5 without sounding like big-muffed necrophiliacs…Electric Aborigines proves Awesome can only get more awesome”–Detroit Metro Times

Invisible Hand, the solo side project for Charlottesville’s Adam Smith (who also performs with Truman Sparks and Articulate Chewbecca for starters), opens.  [Invisible Hand MySpace]  The show kicks off at 9pm.  $6-8.

If you’d like to enter to win a pair of tickets to Monday’s show, drop a comment to this post that includes your own favorite “awesome color”.  I’ve got one pair of tickets to giveaway and I’ll be announcing the winner the day of the show at noon.  Winner will be drawn at random and notified of their good fortune via email.  [listen to Awesome Color’s “Already Down” from Electric Aborigines below]

Listen:
MP3:  Awesome Color–”Already Down”

Popularity: 17% [?]

07/10:  Song of the Day.  Truman Sparks:  Juan the Sperm Whale/Trog

Following on the heels on the announcement late last week that Truman Sparks had been named Best New Band in Virginia by The Boston Phoenix, the band will be playing their first show in Charlottesville since the news broke.  You can catch Truman Sparks tonight at Outback Lodge, along with Harrisonburg’s Lex Vegas, Glass Fence from L.A., and Corsair.  Doors open at 8pm, $6 - $8, and Truman Sparks should hit the stage around 11pm.

Next up after tonight’s show at Outback, Truman Sparks hits the road this weekend, travelling to Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday for a show at 700 Club.  Check out the video after the break, which was taken from the skate film Anthro II, and features a “Juan the Sperm Whale/Trog” medley from Truman Sparks. [Thanks JB for the details on tonight’s show] »Read More

Popularity: 31% [?]

Sun Domingo - photo by squidtank
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Popularity: 35% [?]

Since I didn’t have tickets to last night’s Radiohead show at Nissan Pavilion (I’m sure there will be other shows down the road and probably on a much warmer and drier night), I made the best of a chilly night in Charlottesville by heading down to the Outback Lodge, shelling out a mere six bucks, and caught a blistering show of Americana and rock n roll featuring Bobbie St. Ours, The Palominos, and The Dexateens.  Throw in a couple of beers from a Dixie cup and it was probably one of the best nights of live music under $20 that I’ve seen. 

[photo credit Adam Smith]

A recap of the evening’s festivities can be found after the jump.

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Popularity: 25% [?]

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A couple of items of note worth checking out and now that the rain has finally stopped and the sun has returned, I’m sure we’re all feeling a little extra shot of energy this Wednesday.  So here you go…it’s Hump Day.  The first round’s on me.

• Gravity Lounge is celebrating Earth Week with a daily matinee film series.  Today they’re showing The Real Dirt on Farmer John .  Film starts at 2pm.  $5 adults/kids free.
  .
• The Noble Beasts and Wes Forehand open for The Grey Matter at Outback Lodge.  9:30pm.  $5 - $7.  [Rock/Blues/Funk]
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• Charlottesville Music Showcase presents Sesshin at Rapture.  9:30pm.  No cover.  [Funk/Jam/Jazz]
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Popularity: 39% [?]

The Outback Lodge hosts a three-band bill tonight.  Line-up includes the Young Livers, and local bands Truman Sparks and Worn in Red.  This is an all ages show.  Cost is $6.  The MUSE says be there shortly before 10pm.  We’ll let what you hear when you walk in the door be a surprise!

[UPDATE:  And if you go tonight, you better come back and tell us about it.  Woe unto the thee who fails to do so! (said the little man behind the curtain.)]

Popularity: 29% [?]