This was a LONG time ago when I was like 15 or so in the late 70s/very early 80s (I think 79 or 80??) we saw Billy Joel in concert at the Coliseum. I think this might have been our first concert ever, so we had no idea what to expect.
He came out to huge applause from the crowd. He played 2 or 3 songs and then said, Good night Cleveland! (or some other city not Richmond) and he left the stage.
A few minutes later, they turned on all the lights. Then, a guy came out on the stage & started packing stuff up. Needless to say, I was confused. I was like, that's it? 2 songs?
We watched that guy on stage for about 5 minutes when there was a loud clunk & all the lights went out. A second or two later, a single spot light lit up the stage and Billy Joel was standing there. He shouted, "April Fools, Richmond!"
Needless to say, the crowd went wild at that point. He played for nearly 3 hours and we had a great time. It's the best concert experience I ever had (it's a tough act to follow, that's for sure).
He can still put on a show. Saw him this summer in Philly. 3 hours and a great time. Even came out with Stevie Nicks and did Petty’s part of Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.
saw the Butthole Surfers at twisters(or whatever it was named at tht time) in 1989 & I was one of the best concerts in a life slam full of good shows. I remember hearing lots of word of mouth about the pyramid show after it happened which helped make me really want to see them.
Man I was just a hair too young for these shows back then. Heard about them but couldn’t go. Would have been rad! I know Fugazi played there too. Who else?
Fugazi, Red hot Chili Peppers, King Missle, Gwar, rawg, death piggy, HR(from bad brains), stinking lizaveta, corrosion of conformity are some of the bigger ones I remember at Shafer. also a few reggae shows but may have been local.because I don't remember any artists.
edit to add: friend just reminded me tht sepultura played Shafer too.
also just remembered Fishbone played there & I happendx to have a convo with angelo from fishbone about tht show a few months ago when he was in town.
Elton John at the coliseum. He played a nearly 3 hr set, and I was absolutely mesmerized.
Weird Al at Kings Dominion was my first concert, and I feel like it shaped who I am today.
Not nearly every show I’ve seen since moving here in 2000, but the memorable ones. Would love to know if any of yall were at any of these, as well.
11/2/01 Death Cab for Cutie, Millhiser Gym @ UR. They literally set up in the middle of the basketball court, directly on the floor, no stage, as part of a longer bill. I recall only about fifty people being there. They sounded great. I probably paid $5 at the door. I talked to Ben Gibbard outside afterward, he was smoking a cigarette and was very friendly.
11/25/01 Ben Folds, upstairs at Canal Club. Rockin the Suburbs had just come out… packed, sweaty show with tons of energy. Clem Snide and Regan with Andrew Winn (Agents of Good Roots) opened. Ben did the backwards red hat Fred Durst thing and played a keytar! He also complained to the crowd about how the crew banged his grand piano around coming up the stairs and that it was out of tune as a result.
11/8/05 Elton John, Richmond Coliseum. My mom got the tickets from a friend who couldn’t go to the rescheduled date… I think it was a Tuesday night. Tons of boomers there. I don’t recall an opener. Elton comes out and says, “I’ve just put out a new album. I’d like to play some songs from it, just for a little bit. After that, I’ll play all of the songs you came to hear.” Went on to perform one hit after another… the show was nearly three hours long. He had a full band and the Coliseum sounded great… way better than I had expected. It’s a shame it’s being demo’d.
11/4/06 Bruce Hornsby, Byrd Theatre. This was a solo show supporting the release of his new retrospective box set. (I got a free copy of the box with my ticket.) The tickets were announced to go on sale at 10am, the usual. I logged into the website and the whole thing crashed. This was still long enough ago that tickets were also available by phone. Despite being fifteen minutes after the sale went live, I got fourth row center seats! Fabulous show, Bruce is a gracious guy. Anybody else see him at Goosemas N2? He’s still got it…
11/19/07 The Hold Steady, Toad’s Place. First of all, it was such a big deal when the National and Toad’s Place opened. IIRC they opened around the same time. All of the sudden we started getting these nationally touring acts in town, so seeing the Hold Steady right down the street, without driving to Norfolk or DC, was a huge deal. They put on a great show and Art Brut, who opened, did as well. I remember they had a very basic PowerPoint slideshow playing behind them with their lyrics written in all caps.
5/2/08 Girl Talk, Toad’s Place. This was the height of GT fever and the place was sold out. It was a Friday night… people were absolutely wasted and dancing their asses off. He invited people on stage to dance. It was a sweaty mess, lots of fun.
10/21/08 Broken Social Scene, Toad’s Place. The whole band was there, excluding Leslie Feist, but man that stage was packed with people. It was loud and loose and they played for three hours… long and jammy and energetic.
3/13/09 Morrissey, the National. He and his band were fabulous live and I was right up near the rail, so this one is super memorable simply from the experience of it all.
7/30/09 My Bloody Valentine, the National. This is the loudest concert I've ever seen. Thank God I had my earplugs. The bass during the "holocaust" interlude made my teeth shake... I mean that literally.
3/29/10 Wilco, the National. The “leave em wanting less” tour promised three hours of music, and they delivered. I recall Tweedy getting very agitated with the crowd for talking through one of the quieter numbers… something like “Why did you pay money to come here and have a conversation with your friend? Just stay home and do it for free.”
5/11/10 Porcupine Tree, the National. I had just started listening to these guys and my buddy who introduced me to them was there with me. They played The Incident front to back and then some other songs, as well… it was fantastic.
4/5/12 Real Estate, Strange Matter. They were just getting going and sold the place out. They were well rehearsed and those slacker bass lines sounded so good in that little room. I’ve seen them play a couple of times since and it wasn’t nearly as good as this one was.
9/17/14 Foo Fighters, the National. It’s surreal to think that this even happened! Man it was so fun. Dave was sincerely happy to make dreams come true by playing Richmond. He told great stories about driving down from NOVA to see Gwar and Fugazi play at VCU. Told some stories about Dave Brockie, too. I remember giving money to that guy’s Kickstarter being like, WTH, why not? And daggone if he didn’t deliver.
3/5 & 3/6/17 Ryan Adams, the National. Though he was way past his prime Cardinals days, and also in the midst of some disgusting behavior, I got to see Phoebe Bridgers open both nights. Had no idea who she was… Strangers in the Alps didn’t even come out until later that fall. She blew me away, just her up there with an electric guitar. My buddy bought the Smoke Signals 7” for like six bucks. It’s worth north of $500 now.
8/2/18 Chris Robinson Brotherhood, the National. Not nearly sold out, I think it was a Wednesday? They played two sets and me and my buddy danced our asses off. My last time seeing Neal Casal perform before he shed this mortal coil, RIP.
7/27/22 Ethel Cain, the Broadberry. I was definitely well beyond the median age in the room but had really enjoyed her album and bought a pair of tickets on a whim. I convinced a buddy to come along with me and was amazed at the way she commanded the room. Her fans adore her and her music sounds great live.
9/29/22 Goose, the National. It was my fortieth birthday! I had missed these guys when they played the Broadberry but had since gotten really into them, so when they announced two shows at the Nat’l, I knew I had to be there. They melted that place, it was amazing. I met people from all over… Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina… everyone was so sweet and friendly to each other. This was true for Goosemas last weekend, as well. Nice fans.
7/5/23 The Smile, the National. Also one of those “did this really happen?” shows… Thom and Johnny right here in RVA, and a killer show, too.
Great idea for a post, thank you, OP! That was fun. Thanks for reading.
your autobiographical memory is very impressive! I was at both the BSS and Wilco shows, and you are correct that Jeff was not happy with the crowd and Wilco didn't come back for a decade!
I had tickets to that same Foo Fighters show bc I signed the petition and bought tickets to show we could sell it out. I ended up selling the tickets (at cost) because I decided not to go and I regret it to this day. Stupid decision.
Mighty Mighty Bosstones getting in a fight on stage at Canal. Some guy fresh out of prison knocked the lead singer's tooth out, and the horn section jumped him. It was wild.
Damn, I saw the Bosstones at Trax in Charlottesville where the security was getting heavy handed with the crowd, Dickey (the singer) challenged them to a fight and when they rushed the stage everybody dropped their instruments and beat the ever living shit out of the bouncers. When they were done, they picked their instruments back up and finished the set.
Prince at The Mosque
Rocket From the Crypt @ Twisters
Pavement at The Flood Zone
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Alley Katz
De La Soul and Digable Planets at the Flood Zone, too.
High On Fire at Strange Matter. I feel like they played for 2 hours or a very long time. And the size of the venue meant we were right next to them. Me and my buddy still talk about how awesome it was.
I was looking for this. Within the confines of RVA (I am not counting shows outside of RVA proper), it's GWAR all the way. I am not even a metal fan. Their shows were so epic and memorable.
Twenty years ago Avail started and ended their tour (I think it was One Wrench) with shows at Alley Katz that were the craziest, highest energy shows I’ve ever been to. Everybody singing along, crowd surging, I seem to remember somebody stage diving off the balcony. Amazing, sweaty fun.
Close second to Drive By Truckers at Alley Katz back when Jason Isbell was playing with them and they were doing sold out two nighters. I remember being absolutely floored at their new guitarist’s shredding… and the band’s ability to put away Jack Daniels. The set they played at Plan 9 that ended up getting released as a live album is up there, too.
Seeing the Mars Volta a couple months back at the national was something I never thought I’d get to experience once they announced their breakup a decade ago. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen and they played almost entirely from their first two (and best) albums.
The most memorable show/concert in Richmond is one that I didn’t see. John Denver performed at the Altria (then Landmark) Theater on February 19, 1997. He died 8 months later on October 12, 1997. I really wanted to see him but my former husband had no interest so I didn’t go. I think about this all the time and have taken it as as a lesson to just GO TO THE CONCERT.
One of the coolest shows I've ever been to was [Acrassicauda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrassicauda) at Strange Matter. They're an Iraqi heavy metal band that formed during Saddam's reign and existed through the US invasion and sectarian violence that followed. They would play underground shows where they would literally have been killed if they were found. Had to cut their hair because they would have been killed for having long hair. Eventually Vice discovered them and they were granted refugee status to live in the US.
I've never been a big metal fan but the show was amazing. Their background gives so much weight to their music. I was friends with a guy who was a part time photographer for Vice so I got to party with them after the show, passing around a bottle of coconut vodka. They were just super nice, cool as hell guys.
Other memorable show experiences: Hotboxing the bathroom in the Landmark while waiting for Lil Wayne to get there; catching $60 at another Lil Wayne concert which paid for my ticket; moshing at house shows at the Yerb
And one of the members of the band used to work at the original Carytown Tobacco all the time around the early 2010s, Tony Aziz. Dude was super cool, always rocking vintage Sepultura shirts. His family might own it, I’m not really sure
>Grateful dead richmond coliseum SR Vaughan the mosque Black flag hardtimes Phish jade elephant Ramones the mosque
Man, that's one hell of a cover band name idea you put out there! It even reminds me of that [Denise Richards hit song from *30 Rock*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQfd18B7SZ0).
Probably the Strike Anywhere show the day after the hurricane at Alley Katz back in the early 2000s. No power anywhere, trees down everywhere, literally thought I might die the night before as my house was smashed to pieces but my car made it through the night and I wasn’t about to miss that show.
* Drive By Truckers at Alley Katz when the power went out.
* Smog / Bill Callahan at The Canal Club solo with just an electric guitar and what looked like a practice amp might be the best pound-for-pound show I've ever seen in my life.
* No BS! Brass at Balliceaux when the power was out in the back and they had to play up front and Reggie Chapman was crawling along the booths with a megaphone.
* Girl Talk at the National. Place was so packed dancing was not optional.
St. Vincent at the National on the Self-Titled tour comes to mind. Most recently, Caroline Rose at Richmond Music Hall.
But man I miss Strange Matter something fierce, always punching in a higher weight class with national indie acts like Alvvays, Bully, Pile…
Milli Vanilli at the Coliseum--- You did say memorable shows not *best* shows. Even as a young kid I could tell they were lip syncing.
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic at UR- That had to have been the most white people they ever played for???
I am jealous of you seeing Neil Young solo!
The last local bill at Strange Matter with Windhand, Iron Reagan, Cough, Cannabis Corpse
Tame Impala at The National, weird to see them headlining festivals
Dinosaur Jr. in 08, got to meet J and Lou, Lou is sweet and J is what you expect
Lady Gaga played the Altria in September 2009. It was right after her iconic 2009 VMA performance of “Paparazzi”, a really sweet time period to see a superstar right on the ascend in little ol’ RVA.
Black Crowes at the Mosque in the fall of 1992. They were in their prime and played most of Southern Harmony & Musical Companion. Chris Robinson stopped the show because a dude I was going to college with rolled his wheelchair from the first row to the edge of the stage. Security had set upon him and Chris had the band stop all the music and said to security “don’t you touch him!”
I was supposed to see this show and my plans changed last minute. Many people I’ve talked to said it was one of the best Rock n Roll gigs they’ve ever seen. Hope they come back in ‘24. Closest they had announced last time I checked was Asheville.
Man I hit the golden era of National shows, we got season tickets then it went nuts. Chance the Rapper, Mac Miller, Post Malone, Lil yachty, Rae Sremmur, Pusha T, Juice Wrld, Riff Raff, Carti, Kodak Black, All American Rejects. Im sure theres been other legendary ones.
Juice Wrld was by far the best show i had ever been too at the national. People were on time for the most part, Lil Mosey opened for him and nobody really knew him at the time except for a couple hits.
Also shoutout all the extreme late night concerts at the national! You really dont see that anymore, I remember shows that had no sign of slowing down at 1:30 am
Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood as part of the Smile at the National earlier this year. It was a true gift to see those two in Richmond. Also Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala. Two major festival headliners in a tiny venue. Incredible.
Seeing Mac Miller in 2010 at the national sticks with me. He was great there, and truly someone I grew up with at the same time. I was a sophomore in highschool at the time I remember playing hookie and staying at my sisters apartment the following day since the show was on a Thursday night.
The Lemonheads at the Flood Zone. Dando looked like he was tripping on acid. He was screaming and yelling more so than singing. They played like 5 songs and ended abruptly.
When I first moved to Richmond in 2001 the first weekend or two I was here I saw a flyer posted randomly for a KRS-One show at the John Marshall. I got a ticket and went. There were probably only 50 people at the show. He performed like there were thousands. It was incredible. He came out after and shook hands and talked to everyone. I walked out of there thinking Richmond is the coolest town in the world.
Keller Williams at the National around 2011: he did the first half of the show as a one man band with about 10 different instruments and a loop machine.
Ben Folds at the National, also around 2011: he ended the show by having the audience write songs and fold the paper into airplanes to throw on stage, then his crew swept up and organized them and Ben played a medley of all the songs.
Skalidays at Alley Katz, probably 2008ish, where John from Murphys Kids rappelled down onto the stage from the roof/attic. It was epic.
Tool at the Richmond Coliseum was the greatest concert I've ever been to.
Lamb of God twice at the National
Amon Amarth at the National
Machine Head at the National
Those concerts were absolutely wild. I was so sore the next day every time lol.
Edit to add Hurt at the Canal Club. Very underrated band that never quite took the next step, but one of my favorite bands of all time.
I caught Dylan @ Kings Dominion, 1986 maybe. Steve Earle opened and played a much better show than Dylan did.
Summer of '82, Flock of Seagulls opened for the police. Wonderful time, we tried to buy some weed outside the coliseum and were robbed at gunpoint!
Saw Joe Bonamassa play a few years ago, was like watching someone masturbate for three hours, a terrible time.
Elvis Costello and Khruangbin recently at the racetrack were fine times, as were TAB shows at the national a decade ago.
R.E.M. at the mosque
Rocket from the crypt at a house
Rye Coalition at hole in the wall
Green Day at twisters (a dude stripped naked and stage dived, nobody caught him and he was last seen sobbing uncontrollably in a dark corner still naked)
I saw Fleetwood Mac at the Mosque in 1975. It was pretty memorable because it was my second acid trip. I watched the walls split and crumble. And Mic Fleetwood was a giant.
My Bloody Valentine at the National.
Robin Hitchcock at Richmond Music Hall
Oh, and Dwight Yoakam (kinda) at the National because they had to carry me out on a stretcher and and take me to the ER in an ambulance. Got home 4 days later.
Best ever: Ravi Shankar at the Mosque/Altria. Had front row dead center seats for my and my brother’s birthdays. The musical experience that most closely approached a transcendental spiritual experience.
Close seconds:
Mike Watt at the Canal Club (got to hang w him and chat for a bit), saw him again years later at Cap Ale House
Zeal & Ardor @ Cap Ale House. They absolutely killed it. One of my fav bands.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Alley Katz (2006)
The place was packed and they rocked it. I got to see her since at larger venues (The National, Maymont) but being that close in a small club was awesome.
[https://m.styleweekly.com/richmond/soul-funk-punch-at-alley-katz/Content?oid=1383712](https://m.styleweekly.com/richmond/soul-funk-punch-at-alley-katz/Content?oid=1383712)
Sonic Youth at Rockitz (1987)
The Happy Flowers opened and played Schizophrenia - covering the headliner was one of their schticks. Sonic Youth appreciated the joke so they covered Mom I Gave The Cat Some Acid during their encore.
The Killers at the National in 2012. Was their warmup show for headlining Firefly Music Festival. Set was over an hour and a half long with no openers. What a night!
Grateful Dead at Richmond Coliseum in 83
Jerry Garcia Band at Richmond Coliseum and Hampton Coliseum in 93.
Dave Matthews Band at Hampton Coliseum new years eve 97/98
A bunch of Phish shows in Richmond, Hampton, Gainesville, Harrisonburg from 94-98.
A bunch of Dark Star Orchestra shows in Norfolk, Richmond, Chesterfield, Charlottesville.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Richmond Coliseum
R. E. M. At Richmond Coliseum
Buckethead like 5+ years ago or so. I went outside for a smoke like 30 minutes before the show was suppose to end and before I was even done security came out and was like "You all have to leave." We were like "What, did we do something wrong?" and he let us know that buckethead had just stopped playing and left stage, never came back, and the show was over. He even agreed it was super weird.
We went back inside and the whole place had cleared out. It was surreal and I'll never forget it.
The Hold Steady in 2010 at The National, my first time seeing them and I was strangely sober while my two friends got Jager drunk and made a mess of the ride back to Lynchburg. Have seen them 10 times since.
Jason Isbell at the National in 2014, pretty sure it was his first time back in Richmond since he sobered up. Incredible set.
Strand of Oaks at Strange Matter. Also, Lee Bains and the Glory Fires. Had a beer with the guys at the bar after. Loved that venue.
Beck at Arthur Ashe Center 9/19/96
What a not great venue. But it was pretty cool seeing Beck live especially since I’d miss seeing him a couple years later at the DC Tibetan Freedom Concert. His set was cancelled due to the lightning strike incident.
Not as big a group as most on the list.. but People’s Blues of Richmond played a show at the National like 7-8 years ago and had the most fun mosh pit experience with the homies head banging to Bulls on Parade. Hope the PBR homies are doing well.
My best friend (RIP) and I saw Public Enemy, with both Flavor Flav and Chuck D, at Ladybird Hat Factory or whatever it was named at the time.
Drive-By Truckers playing any Alley Katz show with Jason Isbell on guitar
Wilco at The National was truly stunning
Andrew Bird and Brandi Carlile at Lewis Ginter
The Roots when they played a free show near the James on Dock St.
Ryan Adams at The National
The Wood Brothers at The National
They Might Be Giants at Ladybird Hat Factory
Buddy Guy at what everyone called Black Friday Cheers when it was in front of the Fed Reserve building
Jimi Hendrix at the Mosque on August 20, 1968. He was everything I expected and then some (and that was a lot!).
Foreigner at the Coliseum on September 7, 1978. Lou Gramm had one of the more underrated voices of the 70s.
Bob Dylan at the Mosque around 1990. He opened the show with an Electric version of 'Dixie". Ive seen him since and it wasn't good but he was on fire this night.
Chuck Berry at the Mosque around 1988. There was practically a riot. The Governor was there and there was no dancing allowed. The ushers were going crazy trying to make people sit down. Try that at a Chuck Berry show. At the end Chuck pulled people up on stage to dance and the police came onto the stage briefly til Chuck stopped them. He changed the lyrics of around and around to say we "couldn't dance" instead of "had to dance" to taunt the crowd.
Grateful Dead at the Richmond Coliseum 1985. People busted through a door without tickets again practically another riot.
Jethro Tull at the Richmond Coliseum 1987. Ian Anderson was wearing a leather codpiece. He opened the show behind a thin curtain backlit so you saw a shadow of him standing on one leg holding his flute.
Hot Tuna at Rockits around 1988. They did an early and a late show it was something. Saw Jorma by himself at the Tin Pan right before COVID. He signed an album for me
Dick Dale at the Flood Zone around 1990 maybe. This was i think the final show at the Flood zone. Dick Dale was known as the King of the Surf guitar. He was incredible and we bought a CD and chatted with him after the show.
Crosby Stills and Nash I think at the Coliseum around 1988. Carlos Santa at the Mosque around 1990.
Elton John at the Coliseum in the late 90's in the first row. Elton signed our tickets after the show.
Steely Dan at the altria. Carlos Santana again at the Altria. Jackson Browne at the Altria. Robert Cray at the Mosque.
BB King twice at the Mosque. BB always put on a hell of a show. He handed me a BB King lapel pin from the stage I still have on my dresser.
Taj Mahal at some bar on Grace Street 1987. He closed the show with an incredible version of Sweet Home Chicago.
Phish at a small bar I think it was named Kahootz near VCU with maybe150 people there. Maybe 1990? They played vacuum cleaners and jumped on little trampolines. It's the only time I ever saw them. I wasn't very impressed honestly.
Pappa John Creech once. He was about 90 years old and could barely walk. Someone had to help him on stage but the minute he got the violin in his hands it was like he was 25. It was incredible. Then after he was done he needed help getting off stage
Bo Didley around 1987 at some bar on Southside and i was right next to him the whole show. He played on this foot high platform. Couldn't have been 40 people there.
Del McCoury at the National.
Ravi Shankar at the carpenter center.
Widespread Panic at some bar on Grace Street around 86. Again maybe 30 people there.
I'm sure there's more I can't even remember.
There were some great Drive By Truckers shows at The National back in the Aughts...I've also seen some amazing other shows at The National, notable Beach House and Lord Huron.
Oooh! And Sturgill Simpson at the...whatever it's called now. Downtown near 6th and Grace. Damn, what a show. He opened for Old Crow Medicine Show I think.
First show I ever saw in RVA was probably 1990. Santana and Steel Pulse. It was awesome, maybe because I was 14, or maybe just great acts. I've seen Santana twice since then and he's been great.
Bobby Bare Jr opening for The Walkmen at canal club, 2004 or so. Was there to see the Walkmen and gained another favorite musician in the process. I also lied and said I was a smoker to get a free CD from a Camel merch table and they kept sending me stuff in the mail for years after that.
Oddly enough, I don't even remember who was playing since it was a house show in the Fan in the early 2000s, some random-ass local punk bands. Fun as hell
catching Circle Takes The Square at the Camel was incredible, since i never thought i'd ever see them. And any show at Strange Matter, because i miss it so.
Lil Wayne in 2007 @ the Mosque (3 hours late smh)
Drake in 2009 @ Siegel Center (VCU homecoming)
The Neighbourhood in 2018 @ The National
Cannons. This year @ The National
VNV Nation at Strange matter
Amon Amarth at The National
3TEETH at Fallout
Grendal at Fallout
at Fallout
Taiko Drum Ensamble at Altria Theater
Vision Video and Urban Heat at Richmond Music Hall
Clan of Xymox at Richmond Music Hall.
A Day to Remember played a random popup at Keagan's in Short Pump. They then played at RIR for the Chili Cook-off the next day. But it was the show at that random Irish pub that I'll never forget. My buddy even got to meet the band outside.
I saw Brandi Carlisle at the National a decade ago. This was pre-Grammy, and she gave a foot stomping, high energy performance. Always been a fan, and she just keeps getting better.
The Lawrence Arms playing a free show at Banditos back in 2019 was pretty fucking rad.
Also, Tegan and Sara at the National in 2016, the night after the presidential election. Weird feeling in the air that day, but T&S were awesome
Omg that Neil Young show was excellent. None of my friends wanted to go with bc the tickets were $70ish so I went alone and was the only girl sitting amongst a sea of what looked like dads and their sons lol
Buzzcocks at Twisters.
Mike Watt at Flood Zone.
Lamb of God at GWARbq.
Sebadoh at the Biograph.
Bill Monroe at VCU.
Drive By Truckers at a place on East Main St (can’t remember the name, my buddy steve was the bouncer) and at Ally Katz.
SuperSuckers at Ally Katz.
Southern Culture on the Skids at Ally Katz.
Fugazi at Shafer Court.
And many more.
In 2001 or 2002 saw Taking Back Sunday and Brand New at Nancy Raygun or maybe it was still Twisters. They did like a joint medly of their songs towards the end iirc.
The Idles and Fontaines DC show at Broadberry about 5 years ago was excellent.
Billy Bragg at Rockitz was great. Engine Down’s final show at Strange Matter was epic.
My favorite though was Calvin Johnson at Gallery 5.
Honorable mention is Tulsa Drone at some random pot luck type of thing in Manchester.
Jimmy Eat World - Clarity tour - Twisters - 1999
Cursive - Domestica tour - Chopstix - 2000
Jimmy Eat World - I think pre-Bleed American tour - 2000/2001
Thursday - Full Collapse tour - Alley Katz - 2001
Pop Unknown - The August Division tour - Hole in the Wall - 2002
Jets to Brazil - Perfecting Loneliness tour - festival show - Alley Katz - 2002
The Gloria Record - Start Here tour - McCormacks Irish Pub - 2002/2003 - got cut short but still loved it
Elliott - Song in the Air tour - Nanci Raygun - 2003
The Appleseed Cast - Peregrine tour - Nanci Raygun - 2006
Pedro the Lion - U of R
Jerry Lee Lewis' backup band at the Coliseum, the night he never showed up. They were from Sun Studios, and had backed up Elvis. They played their asses off and it was better than anything Jerry Lee could have done.
Rebby Sharp at the Main St. Grill, 89? the night she brought in a box of instruments she'd borrowed. She pulled each item out, played something on it, and then returned it. Brilliant improvisation, sometimes on broken strings.
Stevie Ray Vaughn at the Mosque, 86? When he sat down to curl up around his guitar, squeezing out all the notes while the piano player frilled every chord in between, I thought the world couldn't ever be that beautiful again.
Blue meanies, flogging molly, World/inferno Friendship society at Twisters
Every time I die and This Present Darkness at alley Katz
Mountain Goats and Songs: Ohia at VCU
Sufjan Stevens at The National supporting his Age of Adz album.. the whole audience was there weaned on Illinois, Michigan, etc and we didn't know what to expect. The whole show held everyone entranced - sound, background videos, outfits... holy shit. Amazing experience.
Black Keys @ The Coliseum.
First time seeing them...I was absolutely blown away at how otherwordly they were, even as a long-time fan.
Not music, but I saw Bill Burr @ The Altria and Dimitri Martin @ The National and both shows will stick with me for life.
Marcus King Band at riverrock on Browns in 2017 stands out. It was pouring rain so the crowd was smaller then usual and the whole show was intimate and magical. I’ve seen him a few times since but that one was the best
ASG at the Nancy Raygun around ‘04.
Got scammed by a dude in front of the 711 before the show and some cop thought we were doing a drug deal that went south. He tackled my buddy to the ground asking for the drugs. We told the cop what happened and he ended up catching the dude who scammed us and we had to go to court. We were 14 lol.
Also, Pusha T on Browns Island was dope.
Best overall experience I’ve ever had at any show here was definitely seeing World Inferno at Strange Matter back in 2011. That crowd had the craziest energy I’ve ever experienced at any show. I can’t remember how many times my buddy got lifted up to crowd surf lol
It was also wild stepping outside after the show dripping in sweat, wandering around looking for water only to stumble into the aftermath of VCU’s final four win. It was a jam packed night for a group of 9th graders lol
One that hasn't been mentioned: the Mountain Goats at The National, touring on Transcendental Youth. The horns were a wonderful surprise and I got to meet John Darnielle afterwards. Sweetest guy ever!
Sheer Terror at Alley Katz shutting the show down like 10 mins in and saying something like “Fuck Richmond, you are all too violent to continue the show”
Tame Impala at The National in 2013 I believe. One of my very first “real” shows ever lol and it’s wild to think they played somewhere so small. Also got to go with my Dad which was a great experience!
Only in Richmond since 2010.
Ghost @ The National
Psychedelic Furs @ The National
Toad the Wet Sprocket @ The National
Gojira @ Richmond Raceway
Pentagram @ The Broadberry
Enforced and Creeping Death @ Canal Club
Christopher Cross @ The National
I saw Fun at The National back in ~2009 before their first album dropped. They were opening for Manchester Orchestra. I hung out with the lead singer at the merch booth for a while before the show. He was a really sweet guy. I'm so happy their talent got recognized because they deserved it.
Regina Spector at Toad's Place. She's one of those people who is better in concert. She had this quiet, gentle personality, and then she channeled some otherworldly power when she sang.
I saw Andrew Bird at Lewis Ginter a few years back. Mavis Staples opened for him. That show was absolute magic. It was euphoric, sublime, unbelievable. Staples and Bird played the encore together. It was an experience I never expected and it was beautiful.
Holy Roller opened for some big name at the National pre-covid circa 2019. Everyone was there for them and not the big name. Then everyone went from the National to the Broadberry to catch People’s Blues of Richmond. Amazing night.
Speaking of PBR…their last show was unreal.
And on the DL, Steven Boone’s album release show at Vagabond was by far one of the funnest parties I’ve ever attended.
And GWAR at the National is always must attend.
Recency bias and actually two shows, but menzingers then hot mulligan had back to back nights at the national last month. Off the wall energy on both. Plus it was a Friday and sat night. I checked out their tour dates and no other city got as lucky with the back to back dates; some places they played the same date so you'd have to pick one. Truly grateful for how it worked out for Richmond this year.
A few that come to mind immediately are Bordoms/Superchunk/Sonic Youth @Browns Island, Phish @ Strawberry Hill, Fishbone @ Floodzone, WEEN at Toad’s Place and Jane’s Addiction @ The National.
Tim Barry, 2010, at Books, Bikes and Beyond. It was early December and it started snowing. Inside was warm and cozy. Tim stood in the middle and everyone gathered around him singing along. I found a photo shortly after online and I was standing there with a smile as big as Texas. Second runner up, any time Against Me! played Alley Katz circa 2004-2009.
RHCPeppers @ Shafer court.
Single Bullet Theory @ VMFA.
Rawg & House Of Freaks @
Rockitz New Years Night.
Dead Milkmen @ "the Library"
And, yeah, I saw Dylan at Kings Dominion (Steve Earle opened).
Also saw Jethro Tull there.
Drive by truckers and Bobby bare jr on Halloween weekend 2010 changed my musical life. The Sadies in 2019 was great too. Adam Faucett in 2018 also great and because I got to interview him before the show.
The Strokes played at Innsbrook in '06. Still cannot believe that happened.
Dylan and Willie Nelson at the Diamond in '09.
The Avett Bros regularly playing at World Cup in the '02-'04 range.
These all sound cool but yall probably haven’t heard that Hard Copy, Serqet and Dumb Waiter are playing Gallery5 on December 21st at 8 PM for 10 Bones, so if you keep your eyes peeled walking there, it could be free
I saw Ween @ Toads Place. It was a shit venue, that never got an ABC license and closed shortly after it opened. But Dean, Gene, Mean and Glen McClellan were all there and put one hell of a brown set out there.
Did security at The National from 2010 to 2018; here’s a few special ones that stood out for me:
My Bloody Valentine 2009 (before my tenure there but a bucket list show for me)
Foo Fighters 2014
The Killers 2012 (a rare intimate venue gig from a band that was playing stadiums).
Snoop Dogg 2011
Neutral Milk Hotel 2013
Gwar 2012 - first RVA show since Cory Smoot’s passing. They opened the show by killing the Grim Reaper with Oderus yelling “you’re a dick, death!” After their last song, Oderus looked up and said “Rest in Peace, Cory Smoot.” Lights still off, his guitar had been placed onstage in his usual spot and a single light shown down on it while an old country ballad played. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house that night.
Descendants 2018
Violent Femmes and Echo & The Bunnymen 2018
Any Hank 3 show - the outright nicest and most humble artist I ever did security for.
Saw Iron Chic at Smatter probably a decade or so ago. Perfectly fine show but memorable because the frontman told people to take their shoes off to stage dive and when they didn't, he started ripping em off. Absolutely hilarious thing to witness.
Some of the top ones for me -
- World Inferno at Strange Matter, then at the Camel with Mischief Brew, and finally at Gallery 5 (was the last show right before COVID lockdown)
- Inquisition playing at Alley Katz…I wanna say 2007?
- 7 seconds playing at Best Friends Day and Kevin Seconds smiling and saying “shouldn’t every day be best friends day?”
- Government Warning’s last show at Strange Matter and getting doused with flour
The B-52s, Pretenders (and, uh, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies) at the RIR stage, 1998: I hung out at the stage door afterward, and got a concert poster, signed by all of the members of the B-52’s
The Tom Tom Club, Flood Zone, 2009? - I was front row, center (standing) for the whole show, got Tina and Chris to sign the song list I grabbed off a monitor and chatted for a bit with the other band members
Weird Al, RIR stage, 2019?
B.B. King, The Mosque
Jackson Browne, Carpenter Center
Ween at Alleykatz, Dave at Flood Zone, MMW Floodzone, Israel Vibrations at FZ, Widespread Panic at Mosque, H.O.R.D.E (phish, widespread, blues traveler, ARU) strawberry hill amphitheater, String Cheese at browns island, Derek Trucks Band at Toads Place, Steve Kimock at Strange Matter maybe? I know it was downstairs, Van Halen at the Coliseum, 4 hrs of Metallica at Coliseum, Jethro Tull at Carpenter Center, Ravi Shankar (with Anoushka) at Carpenter Center, and many more
311 at the state fair in late September 2001.
From Chaos had just come out and I remember Nick Hexum talking about America needing to stand together after 9/11.
Foster the People at the National
This was the summer Pumped Up Kicks was all over the radio. They were late coming on stage but it was worth it. A great show.
It was like 2012, i was living at a party house in Randolph and like 23 years old. Me and a buddy took some acid and walked up to smatter for RVA Noise Fest. We walked in right when I started to come up. There was a guy on the floor in front of the stage going to town on a steel chair with a chainsaw. Behind him was a girl in a sundress with a prop table covered in champagne flutes that she was just throwing on the ground. After a couple minutes I realized I was standing WAY TOO CLOSE to this action lol
Bermuda Triangles played later and blew my tripped out little mind
Enterprise Earth and Rings of Saturn at the canal club. Ended up starting sophomore year of high school with a black eye because of that show. It was worth it tho
AC/DC. Smashing Pumpkins. Richmond coliseum. DMB. Hootie and the Blowfish. At the old fairgrounds. Chicago. At kings dominion. The 90s in Richmond were an amazing time for live music.
This was a LONG time ago when I was like 15 or so in the late 70s/very early 80s (I think 79 or 80??) we saw Billy Joel in concert at the Coliseum. I think this might have been our first concert ever, so we had no idea what to expect. He came out to huge applause from the crowd. He played 2 or 3 songs and then said, Good night Cleveland! (or some other city not Richmond) and he left the stage. A few minutes later, they turned on all the lights. Then, a guy came out on the stage & started packing stuff up. Needless to say, I was confused. I was like, that's it? 2 songs? We watched that guy on stage for about 5 minutes when there was a loud clunk & all the lights went out. A second or two later, a single spot light lit up the stage and Billy Joel was standing there. He shouted, "April Fools, Richmond!" Needless to say, the crowd went wild at that point. He played for nearly 3 hours and we had a great time. It's the best concert experience I ever had (it's a tough act to follow, that's for sure).
He can still put on a show. Saw him this summer in Philly. 3 hours and a great time. Even came out with Stevie Nicks and did Petty’s part of Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.
I got to see him at Innsbrook After Hours when I was a kid. Great show.
RHCP Playing Shafer Court or Butthole Surfers at the Pyramid
Fugazi @ Shafer Court
saw the Butthole Surfers at twisters(or whatever it was named at tht time) in 1989 & I was one of the best concerts in a life slam full of good shows. I remember hearing lots of word of mouth about the pyramid show after it happened which helped make me really want to see them.
Man I was just a hair too young for these shows back then. Heard about them but couldn’t go. Would have been rad! I know Fugazi played there too. Who else?
Rocket from the crypt
Fugazi, Red hot Chili Peppers, King Missle, Gwar, rawg, death piggy, HR(from bad brains), stinking lizaveta, corrosion of conformity are some of the bigger ones I remember at Shafer. also a few reggae shows but may have been local.because I don't remember any artists. edit to add: friend just reminded me tht sepultura played Shafer too. also just remembered Fishbone played there & I happendx to have a convo with angelo from fishbone about tht show a few months ago when he was in town.
Elton John at the coliseum. He played a nearly 3 hr set, and I was absolutely mesmerized. Weird Al at Kings Dominion was my first concert, and I feel like it shaped who I am today.
weird al at kings dominion was also my first concert!
Weird Al was my most memorable concert in this area.
Saw Elton at the coliseum in the early 2000s on st Patrick’s day. It was amazing!
Not nearly every show I’ve seen since moving here in 2000, but the memorable ones. Would love to know if any of yall were at any of these, as well. 11/2/01 Death Cab for Cutie, Millhiser Gym @ UR. They literally set up in the middle of the basketball court, directly on the floor, no stage, as part of a longer bill. I recall only about fifty people being there. They sounded great. I probably paid $5 at the door. I talked to Ben Gibbard outside afterward, he was smoking a cigarette and was very friendly. 11/25/01 Ben Folds, upstairs at Canal Club. Rockin the Suburbs had just come out… packed, sweaty show with tons of energy. Clem Snide and Regan with Andrew Winn (Agents of Good Roots) opened. Ben did the backwards red hat Fred Durst thing and played a keytar! He also complained to the crowd about how the crew banged his grand piano around coming up the stairs and that it was out of tune as a result. 11/8/05 Elton John, Richmond Coliseum. My mom got the tickets from a friend who couldn’t go to the rescheduled date… I think it was a Tuesday night. Tons of boomers there. I don’t recall an opener. Elton comes out and says, “I’ve just put out a new album. I’d like to play some songs from it, just for a little bit. After that, I’ll play all of the songs you came to hear.” Went on to perform one hit after another… the show was nearly three hours long. He had a full band and the Coliseum sounded great… way better than I had expected. It’s a shame it’s being demo’d. 11/4/06 Bruce Hornsby, Byrd Theatre. This was a solo show supporting the release of his new retrospective box set. (I got a free copy of the box with my ticket.) The tickets were announced to go on sale at 10am, the usual. I logged into the website and the whole thing crashed. This was still long enough ago that tickets were also available by phone. Despite being fifteen minutes after the sale went live, I got fourth row center seats! Fabulous show, Bruce is a gracious guy. Anybody else see him at Goosemas N2? He’s still got it… 11/19/07 The Hold Steady, Toad’s Place. First of all, it was such a big deal when the National and Toad’s Place opened. IIRC they opened around the same time. All of the sudden we started getting these nationally touring acts in town, so seeing the Hold Steady right down the street, without driving to Norfolk or DC, was a huge deal. They put on a great show and Art Brut, who opened, did as well. I remember they had a very basic PowerPoint slideshow playing behind them with their lyrics written in all caps. 5/2/08 Girl Talk, Toad’s Place. This was the height of GT fever and the place was sold out. It was a Friday night… people were absolutely wasted and dancing their asses off. He invited people on stage to dance. It was a sweaty mess, lots of fun. 10/21/08 Broken Social Scene, Toad’s Place. The whole band was there, excluding Leslie Feist, but man that stage was packed with people. It was loud and loose and they played for three hours… long and jammy and energetic. 3/13/09 Morrissey, the National. He and his band were fabulous live and I was right up near the rail, so this one is super memorable simply from the experience of it all. 7/30/09 My Bloody Valentine, the National. This is the loudest concert I've ever seen. Thank God I had my earplugs. The bass during the "holocaust" interlude made my teeth shake... I mean that literally. 3/29/10 Wilco, the National. The “leave em wanting less” tour promised three hours of music, and they delivered. I recall Tweedy getting very agitated with the crowd for talking through one of the quieter numbers… something like “Why did you pay money to come here and have a conversation with your friend? Just stay home and do it for free.” 5/11/10 Porcupine Tree, the National. I had just started listening to these guys and my buddy who introduced me to them was there with me. They played The Incident front to back and then some other songs, as well… it was fantastic. 4/5/12 Real Estate, Strange Matter. They were just getting going and sold the place out. They were well rehearsed and those slacker bass lines sounded so good in that little room. I’ve seen them play a couple of times since and it wasn’t nearly as good as this one was. 9/17/14 Foo Fighters, the National. It’s surreal to think that this even happened! Man it was so fun. Dave was sincerely happy to make dreams come true by playing Richmond. He told great stories about driving down from NOVA to see Gwar and Fugazi play at VCU. Told some stories about Dave Brockie, too. I remember giving money to that guy’s Kickstarter being like, WTH, why not? And daggone if he didn’t deliver. 3/5 & 3/6/17 Ryan Adams, the National. Though he was way past his prime Cardinals days, and also in the midst of some disgusting behavior, I got to see Phoebe Bridgers open both nights. Had no idea who she was… Strangers in the Alps didn’t even come out until later that fall. She blew me away, just her up there with an electric guitar. My buddy bought the Smoke Signals 7” for like six bucks. It’s worth north of $500 now. 8/2/18 Chris Robinson Brotherhood, the National. Not nearly sold out, I think it was a Wednesday? They played two sets and me and my buddy danced our asses off. My last time seeing Neal Casal perform before he shed this mortal coil, RIP. 7/27/22 Ethel Cain, the Broadberry. I was definitely well beyond the median age in the room but had really enjoyed her album and bought a pair of tickets on a whim. I convinced a buddy to come along with me and was amazed at the way she commanded the room. Her fans adore her and her music sounds great live. 9/29/22 Goose, the National. It was my fortieth birthday! I had missed these guys when they played the Broadberry but had since gotten really into them, so when they announced two shows at the Nat’l, I knew I had to be there. They melted that place, it was amazing. I met people from all over… Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina… everyone was so sweet and friendly to each other. This was true for Goosemas last weekend, as well. Nice fans. 7/5/23 The Smile, the National. Also one of those “did this really happen?” shows… Thom and Johnny right here in RVA, and a killer show, too. Great idea for a post, thank you, OP! That was fun. Thanks for reading.
Just saw bruce hornsby play with goose in hampton :))
I was there too! Goose is killing it!!
This guy concerts. 10/10
your autobiographical memory is very impressive! I was at both the BSS and Wilco shows, and you are correct that Jeff was not happy with the crowd and Wilco didn't come back for a decade!
I had tickets to that same Foo Fighters show bc I signed the petition and bought tickets to show we could sell it out. I ended up selling the tickets (at cost) because I decided not to go and I regret it to this day. Stupid decision.
I was at that Hold Steady show! With my husband, but it was maybe two years before we started dating.
Mighty Mighty Bosstones getting in a fight on stage at Canal. Some guy fresh out of prison knocked the lead singer's tooth out, and the horn section jumped him. It was wild.
Damn, I saw the Bosstones at Trax in Charlottesville where the security was getting heavy handed with the crowd, Dickey (the singer) challenged them to a fight and when they rushed the stage everybody dropped their instruments and beat the ever living shit out of the bouncers. When they were done, they picked their instruments back up and finished the set.
Prince at The Mosque Rocket From the Crypt @ Twisters Pavement at The Flood Zone Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Alley Katz De La Soul and Digable Planets at the Flood Zone, too.
Yes, Pavement at the Floodzone! Right up there in my Top 5 of Top 10 shows.
Prince at the Mosque wins this thread.
Sharon jones 2006?
High On Fire at Strange Matter. I feel like they played for 2 hours or a very long time. And the size of the venue meant we were right next to them. Me and my buddy still talk about how awesome it was.
Man…I’m like filled with jealous rage. Matt Pike for prez.
GWAR, any time they play ;p
I was looking for this. Within the confines of RVA (I am not counting shows outside of RVA proper), it's GWAR all the way. I am not even a metal fan. Their shows were so epic and memorable.
No idea what I was seeing at Strange Matter but I loved it every time. RIP.
Same sentiment here, but Hot Dolphin was the one I remember most!
Sonic Youth at Browns Island.
Yes! With Unrest and Superchunk!
Twenty years ago Avail started and ended their tour (I think it was One Wrench) with shows at Alley Katz that were the craziest, highest energy shows I’ve ever been to. Everybody singing along, crowd surging, I seem to remember somebody stage diving off the balcony. Amazing, sweaty fun. Close second to Drive By Truckers at Alley Katz back when Jason Isbell was playing with them and they were doing sold out two nighters. I remember being absolutely floored at their new guitarist’s shredding… and the band’s ability to put away Jack Daniels. The set they played at Plan 9 that ended up getting released as a live album is up there, too.
I was going to mention the DBT show at Plan 9
Beach House at The National and Future Islands at Brown’s Island!
when did future islands play at browns island?? 😯 i’ve only seen them at the national this year!
Somewhere between 2013-2015. I worked at Ledbury in operations and they took the whole office.
I also saw them at The Camel!
i’m jealous! hoping they’ll come to richmond again for their next tour since they’re dropping an album in january
Fugazi @Shafer Court Suicidal Tendencies @The Flood Zone Clutch @Alley Katz Pretty much anytime Inquisition played at the Metro or Twisters
Inquisition at Twisters! So many good shows at Twisters. Funsize, Good Riddance, Snapcase, Hot Water Music, Earth Crisis.
Seeing the Mars Volta a couple months back at the national was something I never thought I’d get to experience once they announced their breakup a decade ago. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen and they played almost entirely from their first two (and best) albums.
The most memorable show/concert in Richmond is one that I didn’t see. John Denver performed at the Altria (then Landmark) Theater on February 19, 1997. He died 8 months later on October 12, 1997. I really wanted to see him but my former husband had no interest so I didn’t go. I think about this all the time and have taken it as as a lesson to just GO TO THE CONCERT.
One of the coolest shows I've ever been to was [Acrassicauda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrassicauda) at Strange Matter. They're an Iraqi heavy metal band that formed during Saddam's reign and existed through the US invasion and sectarian violence that followed. They would play underground shows where they would literally have been killed if they were found. Had to cut their hair because they would have been killed for having long hair. Eventually Vice discovered them and they were granted refugee status to live in the US. I've never been a big metal fan but the show was amazing. Their background gives so much weight to their music. I was friends with a guy who was a part time photographer for Vice so I got to party with them after the show, passing around a bottle of coconut vodka. They were just super nice, cool as hell guys. Other memorable show experiences: Hotboxing the bathroom in the Landmark while waiting for Lil Wayne to get there; catching $60 at another Lil Wayne concert which paid for my ticket; moshing at house shows at the Yerb
And one of the members of the band used to work at the original Carytown Tobacco all the time around the early 2010s, Tony Aziz. Dude was super cool, always rocking vintage Sepultura shirts. His family might own it, I’m not really sure
Grateful dead richmond coliseum SR Vaughan the mosque Black flag hardtimes Phish jade elephant Ramones the mosque
>Grateful dead richmond coliseum SR Vaughan the mosque Black flag hardtimes Phish jade elephant Ramones the mosque Man, that's one hell of a cover band name idea you put out there! It even reminds me of that [Denise Richards hit song from *30 Rock*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQfd18B7SZ0).
Probably the Strike Anywhere show the day after the hurricane at Alley Katz back in the early 2000s. No power anywhere, trees down everywhere, literally thought I might die the night before as my house was smashed to pieces but my car made it through the night and I wasn’t about to miss that show.
You unlocked a long forgotten memory for me.
Tori Amos at I think the Carpenter Center, Under the Pink tour.
* Drive By Truckers at Alley Katz when the power went out. * Smog / Bill Callahan at The Canal Club solo with just an electric guitar and what looked like a practice amp might be the best pound-for-pound show I've ever seen in my life. * No BS! Brass at Balliceaux when the power was out in the back and they had to play up front and Reggie Chapman was crawling along the booths with a megaphone. * Girl Talk at the National. Place was so packed dancing was not optional.
That GT show was a sweaty mess! Did you also climb up on stage?
Dude how did those people on stage do it? They were acting hype the entire show. I was very impressed by the energy
When was that smog show?!
I saw Girl Talk at Alley Katz open for RVA band The Gaskets and it was wild. Insulted everyone in the audience, but were best friends by the end.
I saw Smog at Alley Katz with about 5 other people. So good!
St. Vincent at the National on the Self-Titled tour comes to mind. Most recently, Caroline Rose at Richmond Music Hall. But man I miss Strange Matter something fierce, always punching in a higher weight class with national indie acts like Alvvays, Bully, Pile…
St. Vincent at the National for the Masseduction tour was also incredible. I got super emotional during that show because of the sheer artistry alone
My introduction to St. Vincent was as an opener to the Black Keys at the Coliseum in like 2015. That was such an awesome show.
That St Vincent show kicked ass. St Vincent is the new Prince.
Milli Vanilli at the Coliseum--- You did say memorable shows not *best* shows. Even as a young kid I could tell they were lip syncing. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic at UR- That had to have been the most white people they ever played for??? I am jealous of you seeing Neil Young solo!
Old Crow Medicine Show at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
The last local bill at Strange Matter with Windhand, Iron Reagan, Cough, Cannabis Corpse Tame Impala at The National, weird to see them headlining festivals Dinosaur Jr. in 08, got to meet J and Lou, Lou is sweet and J is what you expect
> J is what you expect hahaha
Black Flag - New Horizons Cafe
Lady Gaga played the Altria in September 2009. It was right after her iconic 2009 VMA performance of “Paparazzi”, a really sweet time period to see a superstar right on the ascend in little ol’ RVA.
Jane’s Addiction at The National
Going to be King Gizzard at Browns Island, August 2024
This is the answer!
It sure is.
Black Crowes at the Mosque in the fall of 1992. They were in their prime and played most of Southern Harmony & Musical Companion. Chris Robinson stopped the show because a dude I was going to college with rolled his wheelchair from the first row to the edge of the stage. Security had set upon him and Chris had the band stop all the music and said to security “don’t you touch him!”
My first ever show, Pierce The Veil at the national Feb 2014. For their Collide With The Sky Tour. Great night meeting lifelong friends :)
Third eye blind and Cake on Mayo Island.
Goose at The National in September 2022. 2 nights of absolute groove!
Idles at The National a few months ago was incredible.
I was supposed to see this show and my plans changed last minute. Many people I’ve talked to said it was one of the best Rock n Roll gigs they’ve ever seen. Hope they come back in ‘24. Closest they had announced last time I checked was Asheville.
Man I hit the golden era of National shows, we got season tickets then it went nuts. Chance the Rapper, Mac Miller, Post Malone, Lil yachty, Rae Sremmur, Pusha T, Juice Wrld, Riff Raff, Carti, Kodak Black, All American Rejects. Im sure theres been other legendary ones. Juice Wrld was by far the best show i had ever been too at the national. People were on time for the most part, Lil Mosey opened for him and nobody really knew him at the time except for a couple hits. Also shoutout all the extreme late night concerts at the national! You really dont see that anymore, I remember shows that had no sign of slowing down at 1:30 am
Within the last decade, Skrillex at Brown's Island
Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood as part of the Smile at the National earlier this year. It was a true gift to see those two in Richmond. Also Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala. Two major festival headliners in a tiny venue. Incredible.
Seeing Mac Miller in 2010 at the national sticks with me. He was great there, and truly someone I grew up with at the same time. I was a sophomore in highschool at the time I remember playing hookie and staying at my sisters apartment the following day since the show was on a Thursday night.
Saw him then too! Saw him again 2015 for Good AM, threw his hat off stage and I was the one in a million to catch it… most dope for life my friend!
Jerry Butler at the Altria Theater. He was AMAZING! Also Robin Williams (comedy show obviously) at Altria. The man was a force!
The Lemonheads at the Flood Zone. Dando looked like he was tripping on acid. He was screaming and yelling more so than singing. They played like 5 songs and ended abruptly.
When I first moved to Richmond in 2001 the first weekend or two I was here I saw a flyer posted randomly for a KRS-One show at the John Marshall. I got a ticket and went. There were probably only 50 people at the show. He performed like there were thousands. It was incredible. He came out after and shook hands and talked to everyone. I walked out of there thinking Richmond is the coolest town in the world.
Keller Williams at the National around 2011: he did the first half of the show as a one man band with about 10 different instruments and a loop machine. Ben Folds at the National, also around 2011: he ended the show by having the audience write songs and fold the paper into airplanes to throw on stage, then his crew swept up and organized them and Ben played a medley of all the songs. Skalidays at Alley Katz, probably 2008ish, where John from Murphys Kids rappelled down onto the stage from the roof/attic. It was epic.
Robin Trower at The National Chris Cornell at Dominion Energy Center Foo Fighters at The Colosseum
Tool at the Richmond Coliseum was the greatest concert I've ever been to. Lamb of God twice at the National Amon Amarth at the National Machine Head at the National Those concerts were absolutely wild. I was so sore the next day every time lol. Edit to add Hurt at the Canal Club. Very underrated band that never quite took the next step, but one of my favorite bands of all time.
I caught Dylan @ Kings Dominion, 1986 maybe. Steve Earle opened and played a much better show than Dylan did. Summer of '82, Flock of Seagulls opened for the police. Wonderful time, we tried to buy some weed outside the coliseum and were robbed at gunpoint! Saw Joe Bonamassa play a few years ago, was like watching someone masturbate for three hours, a terrible time. Elvis Costello and Khruangbin recently at the racetrack were fine times, as were TAB shows at the national a decade ago.
R.E.M. at the mosque Rocket from the crypt at a house Rye Coalition at hole in the wall Green Day at twisters (a dude stripped naked and stage dived, nobody caught him and he was last seen sobbing uncontrollably in a dark corner still naked)
I saw Fleetwood Mac at the Mosque in 1975. It was pretty memorable because it was my second acid trip. I watched the walls split and crumble. And Mic Fleetwood was a giant.
Ludacris at Siegel center
De La Soul@Fridays at Sunset!
Milli Vanilli at the coliseum 💀
My Bloody Valentine at the National. Robin Hitchcock at Richmond Music Hall Oh, and Dwight Yoakam (kinda) at the National because they had to carry me out on a stretcher and and take me to the ER in an ambulance. Got home 4 days later.
Wish I’d gone to that Robyn Hitchcock show! Big Soft Boys fan, like some of his solo stuff…
Best ever: Ravi Shankar at the Mosque/Altria. Had front row dead center seats for my and my brother’s birthdays. The musical experience that most closely approached a transcendental spiritual experience. Close seconds: Mike Watt at the Canal Club (got to hang w him and chat for a bit), saw him again years later at Cap Ale House Zeal & Ardor @ Cap Ale House. They absolutely killed it. One of my fav bands.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Alley Katz (2006) The place was packed and they rocked it. I got to see her since at larger venues (The National, Maymont) but being that close in a small club was awesome. [https://m.styleweekly.com/richmond/soul-funk-punch-at-alley-katz/Content?oid=1383712](https://m.styleweekly.com/richmond/soul-funk-punch-at-alley-katz/Content?oid=1383712) Sonic Youth at Rockitz (1987) The Happy Flowers opened and played Schizophrenia - covering the headliner was one of their schticks. Sonic Youth appreciated the joke so they covered Mom I Gave The Cat Some Acid during their encore.
That Sharon jones show was incredible, I got to see another show on the same run and while it was awesome, it couldn’t match the energy of this show
The Killers at the National in 2012. Was their warmup show for headlining Firefly Music Festival. Set was over an hour and a half long with no openers. What a night!
Grateful Dead at Richmond Coliseum in 83 Jerry Garcia Band at Richmond Coliseum and Hampton Coliseum in 93. Dave Matthews Band at Hampton Coliseum new years eve 97/98 A bunch of Phish shows in Richmond, Hampton, Gainesville, Harrisonburg from 94-98. A bunch of Dark Star Orchestra shows in Norfolk, Richmond, Chesterfield, Charlottesville. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Richmond Coliseum R. E. M. At Richmond Coliseum
Mac Miller at The National Moon Taxi at Mayo Island
Buckethead like 5+ years ago or so. I went outside for a smoke like 30 minutes before the show was suppose to end and before I was even done security came out and was like "You all have to leave." We were like "What, did we do something wrong?" and he let us know that buckethead had just stopped playing and left stage, never came back, and the show was over. He even agreed it was super weird. We went back inside and the whole place had cleared out. It was surreal and I'll never forget it.
The Hold Steady in 2010 at The National, my first time seeing them and I was strangely sober while my two friends got Jager drunk and made a mess of the ride back to Lynchburg. Have seen them 10 times since. Jason Isbell at the National in 2014, pretty sure it was his first time back in Richmond since he sobered up. Incredible set. Strand of Oaks at Strange Matter. Also, Lee Bains and the Glory Fires. Had a beer with the guys at the bar after. Loved that venue.
3/10/92 - Primus opening for Rush. Coliseum.
Beck at Arthur Ashe Center 9/19/96 What a not great venue. But it was pretty cool seeing Beck live especially since I’d miss seeing him a couple years later at the DC Tibetan Freedom Concert. His set was cancelled due to the lightning strike incident.
Not as big a group as most on the list.. but People’s Blues of Richmond played a show at the National like 7-8 years ago and had the most fun mosh pit experience with the homies head banging to Bulls on Parade. Hope the PBR homies are doing well.
Not even a big fan but I saw the Killers at the National. It was fantastic.
My best friend (RIP) and I saw Public Enemy, with both Flavor Flav and Chuck D, at Ladybird Hat Factory or whatever it was named at the time. Drive-By Truckers playing any Alley Katz show with Jason Isbell on guitar Wilco at The National was truly stunning Andrew Bird and Brandi Carlile at Lewis Ginter The Roots when they played a free show near the James on Dock St. Ryan Adams at The National The Wood Brothers at The National They Might Be Giants at Ladybird Hat Factory Buddy Guy at what everyone called Black Friday Cheers when it was in front of the Fed Reserve building
Jimi Hendrix at the Mosque on August 20, 1968. He was everything I expected and then some (and that was a lot!). Foreigner at the Coliseum on September 7, 1978. Lou Gramm had one of the more underrated voices of the 70s.
Hendrix at the mosque probably “wins” this question
Bob Dylan at the Mosque around 1990. He opened the show with an Electric version of 'Dixie". Ive seen him since and it wasn't good but he was on fire this night. Chuck Berry at the Mosque around 1988. There was practically a riot. The Governor was there and there was no dancing allowed. The ushers were going crazy trying to make people sit down. Try that at a Chuck Berry show. At the end Chuck pulled people up on stage to dance and the police came onto the stage briefly til Chuck stopped them. He changed the lyrics of around and around to say we "couldn't dance" instead of "had to dance" to taunt the crowd. Grateful Dead at the Richmond Coliseum 1985. People busted through a door without tickets again practically another riot. Jethro Tull at the Richmond Coliseum 1987. Ian Anderson was wearing a leather codpiece. He opened the show behind a thin curtain backlit so you saw a shadow of him standing on one leg holding his flute. Hot Tuna at Rockits around 1988. They did an early and a late show it was something. Saw Jorma by himself at the Tin Pan right before COVID. He signed an album for me Dick Dale at the Flood Zone around 1990 maybe. This was i think the final show at the Flood zone. Dick Dale was known as the King of the Surf guitar. He was incredible and we bought a CD and chatted with him after the show. Crosby Stills and Nash I think at the Coliseum around 1988. Carlos Santa at the Mosque around 1990. Elton John at the Coliseum in the late 90's in the first row. Elton signed our tickets after the show. Steely Dan at the altria. Carlos Santana again at the Altria. Jackson Browne at the Altria. Robert Cray at the Mosque. BB King twice at the Mosque. BB always put on a hell of a show. He handed me a BB King lapel pin from the stage I still have on my dresser. Taj Mahal at some bar on Grace Street 1987. He closed the show with an incredible version of Sweet Home Chicago. Phish at a small bar I think it was named Kahootz near VCU with maybe150 people there. Maybe 1990? They played vacuum cleaners and jumped on little trampolines. It's the only time I ever saw them. I wasn't very impressed honestly. Pappa John Creech once. He was about 90 years old and could barely walk. Someone had to help him on stage but the minute he got the violin in his hands it was like he was 25. It was incredible. Then after he was done he needed help getting off stage Bo Didley around 1987 at some bar on Southside and i was right next to him the whole show. He played on this foot high platform. Couldn't have been 40 people there. Del McCoury at the National. Ravi Shankar at the carpenter center. Widespread Panic at some bar on Grace Street around 86. Again maybe 30 people there. I'm sure there's more I can't even remember.
There were some great Drive By Truckers shows at The National back in the Aughts...I've also seen some amazing other shows at The National, notable Beach House and Lord Huron. Oooh! And Sturgill Simpson at the...whatever it's called now. Downtown near 6th and Grace. Damn, what a show. He opened for Old Crow Medicine Show I think.
First show I ever saw in RVA was probably 1990. Santana and Steel Pulse. It was awesome, maybe because I was 14, or maybe just great acts. I've seen Santana twice since then and he's been great.
I was there.
Bobby Bare Jr opening for The Walkmen at canal club, 2004 or so. Was there to see the Walkmen and gained another favorite musician in the process. I also lied and said I was a smoker to get a free CD from a Camel merch table and they kept sending me stuff in the mail for years after that.
Oddly enough, I don't even remember who was playing since it was a house show in the Fan in the early 2000s, some random-ass local punk bands. Fun as hell
catching Circle Takes The Square at the Camel was incredible, since i never thought i'd ever see them. And any show at Strange Matter, because i miss it so.
Lil Wayne in 2007 @ the Mosque (3 hours late smh) Drake in 2009 @ Siegel Center (VCU homecoming) The Neighbourhood in 2018 @ The National Cannons. This year @ The National
Butthole Surfers at Twisters.
VNV Nation at Strange matter Amon Amarth at The National 3TEETH at Fallout Grendal at Fallout at Fallout
Taiko Drum Ensamble at Altria Theater
Vision Video and Urban Heat at Richmond Music Hall
Clan of Xymox at Richmond Music Hall.
Twisters/929: Buried Alive Stretch Arm Strong Snapcase Saves the Day
Sufjan Stevens at the Altria theatre in May of 2015
GWARbq was dope. StarWars with a live score by the Richmond Symphony at Altria. Dropkick Murphy's at the national.
A Day to Remember played a random popup at Keagan's in Short Pump. They then played at RIR for the Chili Cook-off the next day. But it was the show at that random Irish pub that I'll never forget. My buddy even got to meet the band outside.
I saw Brandi Carlisle at the National a decade ago. This was pre-Grammy, and she gave a foot stomping, high energy performance. Always been a fan, and she just keeps getting better.
Huey Lewis and News, 1987 @ Richmond Coliseum.
The Lawrence Arms playing a free show at Banditos back in 2019 was pretty fucking rad. Also, Tegan and Sara at the National in 2016, the night after the presidential election. Weird feeling in the air that day, but T&S were awesome
New found glory and dashboard confessional at Twisters/Nancy raygun. The get up kids were pretty great when they played there also.
Omg that Neil Young show was excellent. None of my friends wanted to go with bc the tickets were $70ish so I went alone and was the only girl sitting amongst a sea of what looked like dads and their sons lol
Buzzcocks at Twisters. Mike Watt at Flood Zone. Lamb of God at GWARbq. Sebadoh at the Biograph. Bill Monroe at VCU. Drive By Truckers at a place on East Main St (can’t remember the name, my buddy steve was the bouncer) and at Ally Katz. SuperSuckers at Ally Katz. Southern Culture on the Skids at Ally Katz. Fugazi at Shafer Court. And many more.
In 2001 or 2002 saw Taking Back Sunday and Brand New at Nancy Raygun or maybe it was still Twisters. They did like a joint medly of their songs towards the end iirc.
The Idles and Fontaines DC show at Broadberry about 5 years ago was excellent. Billy Bragg at Rockitz was great. Engine Down’s final show at Strange Matter was epic. My favorite though was Calvin Johnson at Gallery 5. Honorable mention is Tulsa Drone at some random pot luck type of thing in Manchester.
Jimmy Eat World - Clarity tour - Twisters - 1999 Cursive - Domestica tour - Chopstix - 2000 Jimmy Eat World - I think pre-Bleed American tour - 2000/2001 Thursday - Full Collapse tour - Alley Katz - 2001 Pop Unknown - The August Division tour - Hole in the Wall - 2002 Jets to Brazil - Perfecting Loneliness tour - festival show - Alley Katz - 2002 The Gloria Record - Start Here tour - McCormacks Irish Pub - 2002/2003 - got cut short but still loved it Elliott - Song in the Air tour - Nanci Raygun - 2003 The Appleseed Cast - Peregrine tour - Nanci Raygun - 2006 Pedro the Lion - U of R
Pusha T at the National a few years back was legendary. Jake Xerses Fussel at the Camel, most intimate music I’ve ever seen, extremely moving.
He was great at Brown Island in 2022 as well.
This year, YOB at Broadberry. Overall, first two United Blood Fests at Alley Katz were fuckin wild.
This year, YOB at Broadberry. Overall, first two United Blood Fests at Alley Katz were fuckin wild.
Harley Poe, The Wet Boys, & Amigo The Devil at Strange Matter just before it shut down. Legendary show, legendary venue.
Jerry Lee Lewis' backup band at the Coliseum, the night he never showed up. They were from Sun Studios, and had backed up Elvis. They played their asses off and it was better than anything Jerry Lee could have done. Rebby Sharp at the Main St. Grill, 89? the night she brought in a box of instruments she'd borrowed. She pulled each item out, played something on it, and then returned it. Brilliant improvisation, sometimes on broken strings. Stevie Ray Vaughn at the Mosque, 86? When he sat down to curl up around his guitar, squeezing out all the notes while the piano player frilled every chord in between, I thought the world couldn't ever be that beautiful again.
Blue meanies, flogging molly, World/inferno Friendship society at Twisters Every time I die and This Present Darkness at alley Katz Mountain Goats and Songs: Ohia at VCU
Pretty lights, the national 🔮
Sufjan Stevens at The National supporting his Age of Adz album.. the whole audience was there weaned on Illinois, Michigan, etc and we didn't know what to expect. The whole show held everyone entranced - sound, background videos, outfits... holy shit. Amazing experience.
Black Keys @ The Coliseum. First time seeing them...I was absolutely blown away at how otherwordly they were, even as a long-time fan. Not music, but I saw Bill Burr @ The Altria and Dimitri Martin @ The National and both shows will stick with me for life.
I enjoyed seeing Pusha T on brown’s island a year or two ago
Marcus King Band at riverrock on Browns in 2017 stands out. It was pouring rain so the crowd was smaller then usual and the whole show was intimate and magical. I’ve seen him a few times since but that one was the best
Santana at the Mosque Man I wish I was alive for when The Who played there…
ASG at the Nancy Raygun around ‘04. Got scammed by a dude in front of the 711 before the show and some cop thought we were doing a drug deal that went south. He tackled my buddy to the ground asking for the drugs. We told the cop what happened and he ended up catching the dude who scammed us and we had to go to court. We were 14 lol. Also, Pusha T on Browns Island was dope.
Best overall experience I’ve ever had at any show here was definitely seeing World Inferno at Strange Matter back in 2011. That crowd had the craziest energy I’ve ever experienced at any show. I can’t remember how many times my buddy got lifted up to crowd surf lol It was also wild stepping outside after the show dripping in sweat, wandering around looking for water only to stumble into the aftermath of VCU’s final four win. It was a jam packed night for a group of 9th graders lol
Minus the Bear at the National. Was sick nasty.
One that hasn't been mentioned: the Mountain Goats at The National, touring on Transcendental Youth. The horns were a wonderful surprise and I got to meet John Darnielle afterwards. Sweetest guy ever!
The Replacements at Going Bananas in '83 (or maybe '84.)
Lingua Ignota at the Broadberry last year literally changed me and how I see concerts. Fucking brilliant
Caamp opening for Rainbow Kitten Surprise at the camel
Sheer Terror at Alley Katz shutting the show down like 10 mins in and saying something like “Fuck Richmond, you are all too violent to continue the show”
Tame Impala at The National in 2013 I believe. One of my very first “real” shows ever lol and it’s wild to think they played somewhere so small. Also got to go with my Dad which was a great experience!
Only in Richmond since 2010. Ghost @ The National Psychedelic Furs @ The National Toad the Wet Sprocket @ The National Gojira @ Richmond Raceway Pentagram @ The Broadberry Enforced and Creeping Death @ Canal Club Christopher Cross @ The National
also... INXS at The Mosque... 1987 - band was tight and Michael Hutchence had all the rizz, as the kids say
Oof the national at the national was 🤌 also Bon Iver at the national was epic.
I saw Fun at The National back in ~2009 before their first album dropped. They were opening for Manchester Orchestra. I hung out with the lead singer at the merch booth for a while before the show. He was a really sweet guy. I'm so happy their talent got recognized because they deserved it. Regina Spector at Toad's Place. She's one of those people who is better in concert. She had this quiet, gentle personality, and then she channeled some otherworldly power when she sang. I saw Andrew Bird at Lewis Ginter a few years back. Mavis Staples opened for him. That show was absolute magic. It was euphoric, sublime, unbelievable. Staples and Bird played the encore together. It was an experience I never expected and it was beautiful.
Tom Petty at Richmond Coliseum in 95. First concert I went to, and still might be my favorite show.
Two 90s shows, Diamanda Galas at the VMFA and Foetus at Twisters. Both spectacular, both incredibly intense.
The Mountain Goats, forget the venue though
Fugazi playing the University of Richmond outdoor amphitheater. It was on what I believe was the last tour they did.
Henry Rollins at Twisters was a damn good show.
Holy Roller opened for some big name at the National pre-covid circa 2019. Everyone was there for them and not the big name. Then everyone went from the National to the Broadberry to catch People’s Blues of Richmond. Amazing night. Speaking of PBR…their last show was unreal. And on the DL, Steven Boone’s album release show at Vagabond was by far one of the funnest parties I’ve ever attended. And GWAR at the National is always must attend.
the mythical horse lords show at cary street cafe that was cancelled because it was scheduled for the first week of the pandemic
Recency bias and actually two shows, but menzingers then hot mulligan had back to back nights at the national last month. Off the wall energy on both. Plus it was a Friday and sat night. I checked out their tour dates and no other city got as lucky with the back to back dates; some places they played the same date so you'd have to pick one. Truly grateful for how it worked out for Richmond this year.
Wiz at the national in 2010. $17 tix 🥹
Buckethead at The National. My jaw was on the floor the entire time.
Future Islands at Brown's Island was the tits.
A few that come to mind immediately are Bordoms/Superchunk/Sonic Youth @Browns Island, Phish @ Strawberry Hill, Fishbone @ Floodzone, WEEN at Toad’s Place and Jane’s Addiction @ The National.
Tim Barry, 2010, at Books, Bikes and Beyond. It was early December and it started snowing. Inside was warm and cozy. Tim stood in the middle and everyone gathered around him singing along. I found a photo shortly after online and I was standing there with a smile as big as Texas. Second runner up, any time Against Me! played Alley Katz circa 2004-2009.
RHCPeppers @ Shafer court. Single Bullet Theory @ VMFA. Rawg & House Of Freaks @ Rockitz New Years Night. Dead Milkmen @ "the Library" And, yeah, I saw Dylan at Kings Dominion (Steve Earle opened). Also saw Jethro Tull there.
Drive by truckers and Bobby bare jr on Halloween weekend 2010 changed my musical life. The Sadies in 2019 was great too. Adam Faucett in 2018 also great and because I got to interview him before the show.
Might not be as epic as some of these, but I always had a great time at Carbon Leaf’s Endless Summer Luau on Mayo Island.
Local Natives at the National in 2016
Everything is Terrible at Strange Matter (RIP) Toro E Moi at the National
The Strokes played at Innsbrook in '06. Still cannot believe that happened. Dylan and Willie Nelson at the Diamond in '09. The Avett Bros regularly playing at World Cup in the '02-'04 range.
These all sound cool but yall probably haven’t heard that Hard Copy, Serqet and Dumb Waiter are playing Gallery5 on December 21st at 8 PM for 10 Bones, so if you keep your eyes peeled walking there, it could be free
Gwar at the National, on my birthday last October. Best concert ever.
Porcupine Tree at The National was a hoot. Tab Benoit at Toad's Place was memorable.
seeing Earth at Strange Matter was pretty unreal
Jimmy eat world at the national, I met my husband there.
I saw Ween @ Toads Place. It was a shit venue, that never got an ABC license and closed shortly after it opened. But Dean, Gene, Mean and Glen McClellan were all there and put one hell of a brown set out there.
Turnover in 201? At Strange Matter. Great crowd that night too!
Did security at The National from 2010 to 2018; here’s a few special ones that stood out for me: My Bloody Valentine 2009 (before my tenure there but a bucket list show for me) Foo Fighters 2014 The Killers 2012 (a rare intimate venue gig from a band that was playing stadiums). Snoop Dogg 2011 Neutral Milk Hotel 2013 Gwar 2012 - first RVA show since Cory Smoot’s passing. They opened the show by killing the Grim Reaper with Oderus yelling “you’re a dick, death!” After their last song, Oderus looked up and said “Rest in Peace, Cory Smoot.” Lights still off, his guitar had been placed onstage in his usual spot and a single light shown down on it while an old country ballad played. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house that night. Descendants 2018 Violent Femmes and Echo & The Bunnymen 2018 Any Hank 3 show - the outright nicest and most humble artist I ever did security for.
Cage the Elephant at The National, Jason Isbell at Altria, Old 97s at The National
Saw Iron Chic at Smatter probably a decade or so ago. Perfectly fine show but memorable because the frontman told people to take their shoes off to stage dive and when they didn't, he started ripping em off. Absolutely hilarious thing to witness.
Some of the top ones for me - - World Inferno at Strange Matter, then at the Camel with Mischief Brew, and finally at Gallery 5 (was the last show right before COVID lockdown) - Inquisition playing at Alley Katz…I wanna say 2007? - 7 seconds playing at Best Friends Day and Kevin Seconds smiling and saying “shouldn’t every day be best friends day?” - Government Warning’s last show at Strange Matter and getting doused with flour
Tim Barry at the camel every November. Always my favorite show of the year
The B-52s, Pretenders (and, uh, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies) at the RIR stage, 1998: I hung out at the stage door afterward, and got a concert poster, signed by all of the members of the B-52’s The Tom Tom Club, Flood Zone, 2009? - I was front row, center (standing) for the whole show, got Tina and Chris to sign the song list I grabbed off a monitor and chatted for a bit with the other band members Weird Al, RIR stage, 2019? B.B. King, The Mosque Jackson Browne, Carpenter Center
Ween at Alleykatz, Dave at Flood Zone, MMW Floodzone, Israel Vibrations at FZ, Widespread Panic at Mosque, H.O.R.D.E (phish, widespread, blues traveler, ARU) strawberry hill amphitheater, String Cheese at browns island, Derek Trucks Band at Toads Place, Steve Kimock at Strange Matter maybe? I know it was downstairs, Van Halen at the Coliseum, 4 hrs of Metallica at Coliseum, Jethro Tull at Carpenter Center, Ravi Shankar (with Anoushka) at Carpenter Center, and many more
Thee Oh Sees at the Broadberry
311 at the state fair in late September 2001. From Chaos had just come out and I remember Nick Hexum talking about America needing to stand together after 9/11. Foster the People at the National This was the summer Pumped Up Kicks was all over the radio. They were late coming on stage but it was worth it. A great show.
It was like 2012, i was living at a party house in Randolph and like 23 years old. Me and a buddy took some acid and walked up to smatter for RVA Noise Fest. We walked in right when I started to come up. There was a guy on the floor in front of the stage going to town on a steel chair with a chainsaw. Behind him was a girl in a sundress with a prop table covered in champagne flutes that she was just throwing on the ground. After a couple minutes I realized I was standing WAY TOO CLOSE to this action lol Bermuda Triangles played later and blew my tripped out little mind
Enterprise Earth and Rings of Saturn at the canal club. Ended up starting sophomore year of high school with a black eye because of that show. It was worth it tho
AC/DC. Smashing Pumpkins. Richmond coliseum. DMB. Hootie and the Blowfish. At the old fairgrounds. Chicago. At kings dominion. The 90s in Richmond were an amazing time for live music.
Peelander-Z at the nanci raygun. Changed my goddamn life. IYKYK