AVAIL’s “scuffletown” Still Resonates (and “with dominion at our door”)

From their 1998 “Over The James” album, legendary local hardcore punk band AVAIL blasted the song “scuffletown” at a searing 1 minute and 18 seconds with the following lyrics:

There’s kepone in the river
But the river’s still flowing east
Ethyl ‘dozed the planet
In an attempt to keep the downtown clean

Still it’s a beautiful day
And the sun is still shining over the James

Oregon Hill is at end time
VCU crept up and lit the torch
West Ave. honkeys don’t forget
That trains still run north

Third per-capita
Next year number one

Couple of quick notes-
Local band Kepone, named after the local chemical disaster, just had a reunion at the GWAR-B-Q.
Ethyl, now known as NewMarket, owns much of the Richmond riverfront, something which is becoming more of an issue recently.
And, yes, VCU is still a concern….
Though in a few ways, Richmond is different from ’98, when there was speculation that it would go from third most murderous city in the country to number one.

Now as far as Dominion Power is concerned, Jim, there is the following reference in the AVAIL song “The Falls” off the 2002 Front Porch Stories album

i’ve been broke and forlorn and caught out with the best at acca yard
oh it just goes to show, to desert friends like these streets
i would be crazy
to all the years full of backyard parties
winters in hibernation
to assaulting views with dominion at our door
healing but scarred

Greta Brinkman, “Bass Goddess”, In Belle Magazine

Belle Magazine‘s main feature this September issue is “Women In The Arts” and one of the profiles is Laurel Street’s own Greta Brinkman.

The article describes Brinkman’s gigs in various rock bands since the 80’s from Unseen Force to the Debbie Harry Band to L7 to Moby, and right up to White Cross and Druglord.

Besides rock bands, Brinkman has also volunteered with the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council and WRIR. She can often be heard on 97.3’s Saturday local music show.

Suffice it to say, many neighbors are happy that Greta has traded her former New York digs and craziness for her Oregon Hill house and craziness.

WBCH Carnival/Community Movie/Best Friend’s Day/Chair

Looks like a busy weekend-

William Byrd Community House’s Carnival is tomorrow afternoon and evening.

If it does not storm, there is an outdoor movie in Pleasants Park tomorrow evening.

Also, BFD activites at Mojo’s:

11 am- FIELD DAY SIGN UP
12 pm- SHOW
FREE
Sexy Crimes
Grown Ass Men

Saturday morning has a great yard sale…and…

Best Friends Day
@Fine Foods Grocery
10 am
FREE
Night Birds (surf-punk!?)

Hey, and if that’s not enough- get a plush chair!

Late notice: Gypsy Band Plays In Monroe Park This Afternoon

The Petrol-Free Gypsy Carnival Tour are in Richmond right now and they are playing in Monroe Park at 4 pm during the Food Not Bombs meal. Click for Facebook event page.

From the Tour’s website:

The Petrol-Free is a bicycle-powered music and art tour to promote peace, social justice, and a healthy planet. On the tour, musicians carry only the essential instruments from city to city on their bicycles. At each venue, amplifiers and other large or heavy equipment are provided by a local band.

Flying Brick Screens From The Back of the Room

This Thursday at 8:30 pm, the Flying Brick Library shows the film From The Back of the Room.

Many people have the impression that the Riot Grrrl movement in the mid-90s was the end-all, be-all of female involvement in DIY punk. This is definitely not the case! Plenty of amazing ladies prior to this era paved the way for it, and plenty of amazing ladies continue to help keep DIY together today. This documentary chronicles the past 30 years of female involvement in DIY punk, and has interviews with over 30 women from across the country, ages 17 to 40. Race, gender, sexuality, motherhood, class, and activism are all addressed in this film, giving a more complete picture of how these women participate in the DIY community, and how it affects their daily lives.
Please join us for these wonderful films!

The Flying Brick holds sober events, unless otherwise noted. So please, no booze.

Volunteer for the Richmond Folk Festival

Volunteer solicitation:

“Richmond Folk Festival, Oct 14-16
richmondfolkfestival.org
Want to volunteer for the best festival in RVA? We need over 1000 volunteers for the Richmond Folk Festival and now is a great time to visit the website and sign up! FREE ONSITE PARKING, FREE T-SHIRT & INVITE TO THE ARTIST/STAFF PARTY!”

From the RFF website (click here to check out sound clips):

Six more artists added to the list of 2011 Performers

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
Malian ngoni ensemble

Chatham County Line
contemporary bluegrass and country

Davell Crawford
“Piano Prince of New Orleans”

Git-Hoan Dancers
Traditional Tsimshian dance and song

Larry Chance & The Earls
doo-wop

Magic Slim & The Teardrops
with Big Time Sarah
Chicago blues

Mary Jane Lamond Quartet
featuring Wendy MacIsaac
Cape Breton

The Mighty Diamonds
reggae

Redd Volkaert Band
with Cindy Cashdollar
Masters of American
country guitar styles

Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
Cajun

Winograd’s Nue Tanhoyz Kepele
klezmer band