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Category Archives: music
Blast From The Past: Ricky And The White Boys 1977
Ricky And The White Boys, outside their practice space at 809 Idlewood Avenue; c 1977.
Pictured are: Boo Smith, Bruce Terrell, Ralph Harper, Richard Buchanan, Craig Thompson, Jennifer (Cherry Bomb).
Some of the following people & bands lived there at one time or another. They were: Rob Reisinger of NY Dux; Jennifer (Cherry Bomb); Richard Buchanan of Ricky and the White Boys; White Cross, Red Cross [the forerunner to White Cross]; Dennis Madigan and Tom Zimmerman “Z” of Crossbreed, which later became X-Breed; John Hall; Bruce Terrell (Ricky And The White Boys/Boys From Skateland); Inquisition lived there from ‘91-‘96 and practiced there; Thomas Barnett (Inquisition/Strike Anywhere); Maurice Garrett (Single Bullet Theory)
The first band to practice in the basement was Crossbreed which later became X-Breed (Richard, Dennis and Z). Ricky and the White Boys followed. The NY Dux rehearsed there too. Other bands that rehearsed there were the original lineup of Hotel X with Julie O, Deke and Neil and Always August (on occasion); KAL-KAN
White Cross was formed in Richmond in 1980, the members were, Richard “Crispy” Cranmer, Mike Rodriguez, Alford Faulkner, and Scotty Price. Other members of the band were, Pen Rollings, Dewey Rowell. The band was together from 1980-1985. The band originally called themselves Red Cross. They changed the name to White Cross after being served a cease-and-desist order from the American Red Cross organization. At the time cheap little speed pills called white crosses were popular with the more enlightened citizenry. So, that’s why the name White Cross was chosen, certainly not for any religious purposes. White Cross played often in and around the Richmond area. Alford Faulkner left the band not long after the name change. He would later play with The Prevaricators. The band released a few records, opened for big-name U.S. and U.K. punk bands, and toured cross-country before its members moved on, joining Unseen Force, Mudd Helmut and GWAR. Reunited in fall 2009 for the Benny-fit show, White Cross then performed with Tommy Rodriguez replacing his brother Mike on guitar, and Greta Brinkman instead of Rowell on bass. Greta became a founding member of the well-known punk bands Unseen Force and Four Walls Falling, and she played bass with Kal Kan, The Hurly Gurlies, and Dead Blind Gone. Sources: Photo: Unknown; Thomas Bailey; Michael Maurice Garrett; Thomas Barnett
(Editor’s note: This was posted by Christopher B. Coleman on the ‘Old Images Of Richmond’ FaceBook group and is reposted here with permission.)
Mocha Mart Last Night
Louisiana band Baby, It’s the 90’s serenaded Oregon Hill yesterday evening at Mocha Mart convenience store parking lot.
Mia Zabelka + ELKA BONG At Richmond Public Library Saturday At 2 pm
Violinist, sound artist, and composer Mia Zabelka is visiting from Austria:
Saturday, April 18 starting at 2pm:
– Downtown Richmond Public Library: Performing with Elka Bong and CillaVee at 2:00 PM as part of their 2026 Spring Tour.
doors 1:30p music 2:00p
2:00p Mia Zabelka, CillaVee
2:20p Al Margolis, Walter Wright
2:40p Mia Zabelka, Al Margolis, Walter Wright, Cilla Vee
From announcement:
Mia Zabelka will be joined by duo ELKA BONG for an immersive afternoon of experimental sound art!
Saturday’s show is led by Austrian violinist, vocalist, and composer Mia Zabelka, whose radically open practice operates at the intersection of improvisation, composition, performance, and electroacoustic sound art. For this special tour date, Zabelka is joined by the U.S.-based experimental sound art duo ELKA BONG (Al Margolis and Walter Wright), whose deep listening-based approach complements and expands her gestural, embodied sonic language.
Working with acoustic and electric violin, voice, electronics, found objects, and noise-based materials, Zabelka’s method of automatic playing bypasses conscious control, allowing sound to emerge from reflex, memory, and physical impulse. In dialogue with ELKA BONG’s attention to texture, space, silence, and sonic micro-events, the performance unfolds as a constantly shifting environment in which composed structures and open-ended improvisation coexist.
Big Show Tonight At Mocha Mart
It’s a big night for local music- GWAR is at The National, and two of Richmond’s other best music groups are playing right here in Oregon Hill at the Mocha Mart convenience store. Expect a crowd on Idlewood this evening. I will see you on aisle #3…
Caroling In Monroe Park On Sunday
While Oregon Hill neighbors are organizing caroling for this Saturday evening, the Grace & Holy Trinity Church is hosting caroling in Monroe Park on Sunday.
“The Greater Richmond Children’s Choir, Hood Temple Music Ministry, RVA Street Singers, Grace & Holy Trinity Vocal Ensemble, and a brass quintet will lead Christmas carols for this fifth annual holiday event. There will be a holiday market, food trucks, and fun children’s activities starting at 3:00 p.m. The brass quintet music will begin at 4:15 p.m. with caroling following at 4:30 p.m.”
By the way, if you are not a fan of traditional holiday fare, you may want to check out this playlist by David Byrne, who had a show at the Altria Theater earlier this year-
https://www.davidbyrne.com/radio/david-byrne-radio-presents-christmas
October Festivities
October is a busy month for Oregon Hill…
October 10-12, is the Richmond Folk Festival.
From the website blurb:
The Richmond Folk Festival is one of Virginia’s largest events, drawing visitors from all over the country to downtown Richmond’s historic riverfront. The Festival is a FREE three-day event that got its start as the National Council for the Traditional Arts’ National Folk Festival, held in Richmond from 2005-2007. The Richmond Folk Festival features performing groups representing a diverse array of cultural traditions on six stages.
But also, Richmond Zine Fest, a two-day event.
From website…
On day one, Friday October 10th from 12 PM – 5 PM (note: this is has been changed since the printing of the poster) is ONLY programming aka workshops, presentations, dialogues, and opportunities to learn something new. The programs are held in the basement of the library.
Day two is Saturday, October 11th from 10 AM – 4:30 PM, and this is the big vendor day that is recognizably “zine fest” to the average attendee. We take over multiple spaces on the first floor and the basement levels of the library with exhibitors that have produced zines for purchase and/or trade. Please see our section on zine fest etiquette for tips about how to engage with tablers and what is inappropriate.
Masks are required for all participants in Richmond Zine Fest.
Don’t forget that for Richmond Public Schools, October 13 is Divison-wide Professional Learning Day (Student Holiday) and October 20 is Diwali holiday and RPS are closed.
“An Evening With David Byrne – Who is the Sky tour” is at the Altria Theater on October 14th.
There is supposed to be another No Kings protest march on October 18th but details are hazy at this time. Maybe a march to or from Monroe Park.
Tedeschi Trucks Band and Little Feat are playing the corporate amphitheater on Oct. 21.
Neighborhood block party:
And, Friday, October 31st.. the 20th anniversary edition of the All the Saints Theater Company Halloween Parade through Oregon Hill.
… And Then There Are The Upcoming Riverfront Concerts
The list so far… there may be some new ones added since making this list…
April 26 – Brown’s Island – Remi Wolf with Dana and Alden
May 2 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Chaparelle with Jack Wharff and the Tobacco Flats
May 9 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Bully with Rikki Rakki
May 10 – Brown’s Island – Fighting Gravity with Pat McGee Band and Virginia Coalition
May 16 – Dominion River Rock – Mountain Grass Unit and Garden Variety String Band (music ends at 9:30 pm)
May 17 – Dominion River Rock – at 1 pm, For What It’s Worth, at 2:05 pm Sweet Potatoes, at 3:10 pm The Sugar Hollows, at 4:30 pm, Oh He Dead, at 6:15 pm, Mikaela Davis, at 8 pm, Andy Frasco & the U.N. (music ends at 9:30 pm)
May 18 – Dominion River Rock – at 1 pm Reggaelizit, at 2:10 pm, Don and the Fam, at 3:30 pm, Suggesting Rhythm
May 23 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Dogpark, Weekend Plans, & Caroline Vain
May 24 – Brown’s Island – TLC with Saved By The 90’s
May 30 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Josiah and the Bonnevilles with Jonathan Paige Brown Jr.
June 6 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Cashes Culpepper with Ramona and the Holy Smokes
June 6 – Alianz Amphitheater – Kansas and 38 Special with Outlaws
June 7 – Alianz Amphitheater – Rick Springfield: I Want My 80’s Tour
June 10 – Brown’s Island – Wallows: Model and More Tour
June 10 – Allianz Amphitheater – Dispatch w/John Butler
June 11 – Allianz Amphitheater – Glass Animals: Tour of Earth
June 13 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – La Lom with Afro Zen Allstars
June 19 – Allianz Amphitheater – Boys II Men
June 20 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – The War And Treaty with Mekong Express, The Get Fresh Horns, and Madeline Edwards
June 21 – Allianz Amphitheater – Dwight Yoakam
June 26 – Allianz Amphitheater – Parker McCollum Tour
June 27 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Say She She with Big Fancy
July 10 – Allianz Amphitheater – Kids Bop Live
July 12 – Allianz Amphitheater – Counting Crows
July 15 – Allianz Amphitheater – Dave Matthews Band
July 16 – Allianz Amphitheater – Dave Matthews Band
July 17 – Allianz Amphitheater – Brad Paisley
July 19 – Allianz Amphitheater – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
July 24 – Allianz Amphitheater – Lamb Of God, GWAR, Hatebreed
July 26 – Allianz Amphitheater – Whisky Myers
August 1 – Allianz Amphitheater – The Head And The Heart
August 3 – Brown’s Island – Flaming Lips & Modest Mouse
August 6 – Allianz Amphitheater – Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder The Brotherhood
August 9 – Brown’s Island – Jampacked featuring Lotus, Moon Taxi, Spafford, and more!
August 10 – Allianz Amphitheater – Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts
August 23 – Allianz Amphitheater – Bailey Zimmerman
August 24 – Allianz Amphitheater – The Red Clay Strays
August 26 – Allianz Amphitheater – Simple Plan
August 28 – Allianz Amphitheater – Gavin Adcock
August 29 – Alison Krauss & Union Station
September 1 – Allianz Amphitheater – James Taylor
September 2 – Brown’s Island – Men I Trust: Equus Tour
September 6 – Allianz Amphitheater – Leon Bridges
September 9 – Brown’s Island – Sierra Ferrell:Shoot For The Moon Tour
September 20 – Allianz Amphitheater – Steve Martin and Martin Short
September 22 – Allianz Amphitheater – “Weird Al” Yankovic
October 10-12 – Richmond Folk Festival
October 21 – Allianz Amphitheater – Tedeschi Trucks Band
Remember this statement- ““We’ll be working with our business and residential neighbors to make sure that we are a good partner and good neighbor,” she says. “For us to be successful, we need everyone around us to be happy with us, so it’s something that we are very aware of, and we’ll go through all of the proper procedures to make sure that we are putting together the best plan possible.”
– from “RVA’s New Groove” article in Richmond Magazine.
Of course, we will all need to speak up for those that cannot..
Mocha Market Show Yesterday
Cherry Street eighbor and Plan 9 Music employee Jimmy Blackford caught this performance of Knifing Around yesterday on aisle 3.
Minimum Wage Studio Relocating
Style magazine has published a rousing tribute to Lance Koehler’s Minimum Wage Recording Studio, which is relocating to Staunton, Virginia, after 20 years of making music right here in Oregon Hill.
The piece also promotes a fundraising concert scheduled for this coming Sunday at The Broadberry concert venue.
Microphones, cables and rows of knobs and dials — every recording studio has ‘em. A stated goal, on the other hand? Not all studios have one of those, but Minimum Wage Recording did: “To make it affordable enough that bands could take more time in the studio and really dig into doing some art.”
That’s how owner Lance Koehler describes the mission he sought to fulfill during Minimum Wage’s two-decade run operating in Oregon Hill. Now the gifted engineer, founding member of No BS! Brass Band and overall pillar of Richmond’s music community is packing up his studio and moving to Staunton, and some his former clients are stepping up to honor his contributions — and pay forward his generosity.
On Sunday, Nov. 17, the Broadberry will host A Celebration of Minimum Wage Recording Studios. The concert — part send-off, part benefit event — was the brainchild of fellow drummer Scott Clark, who was among the first to record at the studio when it was founded shortly after Koehler moved from New Orleans to Richmond in 2001. Upon learning Koehler was planning to move again, Clark was immediately inspired to put a bill together.
Needless to say, many neighbors will greatly miss Koehler and the great creativity emanating from Albemarle Street.
Event description as it appears in Style:
A Celebration of Minimum Wage Recording Studios will take place on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Broadberry. Bio Ritmo, No BS! Brass Band and Justin Golden will perform. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Minimum Wage Recording Studio. Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and can be purchased at thebroadberry.com.