ARTS Pick: Dr. Southclaw’s wild ride

Implementing massive bass riffs, pulsing drums, screaming guitars and sing-alongs, five-piece freak funk phenomenon Dr. Slothclaw bends the genre to its liking and you’re in for a wild ride. The musical titans push the limits of creativity with their outrageously fun “freak shows” and self-declared “hobbies,” such as “erotic baking” and whistling competitions. Saturday, February […]

Album reviews: Camila Cabello, BØRNS, Reptaliens and Shopping

Camila Cabello Camila (Sony) I don’t exactly follow Fifth Harmony, and I missed the controversy surrounding Camila Cabello’s split with the group. Hope I’m not supposed to hate her because this is just great pop—glossy but not oversaturated—“All These Years” and “Real Friends” are even borderline minimal. And Cabello is a compelling, versatile performer worth […]

ARTS Pick: Ruth B. creates a safe haven for listeners

When Ruth B. posted her first Vine in 2013, it’s a safe bet she had no idea where it would take her. Her following grew quickly and as she became recognized as “the Vine chick” on the street, record labels began to rubberneck. Her debut EP, The Intro, made a splash on the pop scene, […]

ARTS Pick: Jason Burke blends classic country with rock ‘n’ roll

Blending the classic boot-tapping rhythm of country with the guitar tones of rock ‘n’ roll from the ’60s and ’70s, Jason Burke has become a musical staple in central Virginia and a huge supporter of the local scene. Following his 2015 release, Burning Daylight, Burke has enriched his live sound by adding his wife, Caroline, […]

ARTS Pick: Local musician Maria DeHart releases new EP

From the ambient, simplistic beats of her track “high,” to the steady, head-bobbing chord progression of her latest cut “nightmare weekend,” local talent Maria DeHart’s music is as varied and unique as the town she plays in. DeHart takes the stage to celebrate the release of her new EP, Fade, with the help of fellow […]

ARTS Pick: Keys N Krates crafts dance-worthy tunes

Live electronic gurus Keys N Krates defy the stereotype of button-pushing that’s often thrown at their genre. Keyboardist David Matisse, drummer Adam Tune and turntablist Jr. Flo expertly craft layers of silky, futuristic synths, bass notes, elastic loops and orchestral expanses to the delight of a massive following that’s pulled the trio from the dance […]

Movie review: A dazzling finale for Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread

The world of Paul Thomas Anderson is one in which the mundane, everyday lives of its characters are already riveting before something positively insane happens. Look at his most recent films—had There Will Be Blood only been about the hunt for oil against a beautifully bleak landscape, you would still have a terrific character study […]

Wadada Leo Smith’s creative music leads the Impulse Festival

Heralded as a pioneering figure in the field of music for more than five decades, composer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith’s artistic vision knows no bounds. Throughout his prolific career—which boasts upwards of 50 albums—Smith has delved deep into the power of sound, language and even color, to discover what art can tell us about […]

Warren Craghead draws the campaign and presidency in Trump Trump

Every day since Donald J. Trump became the Republican presidential nominee on July 21, 2016, local artist Warren Craghead has drawn him, or someone in his administration. Now six months’ worth of Craghead’s daily drawings have been published in a collection titled Trump Trump, Volume 1: Nomination to Inauguration. “I thought when I started it […]

Rapper Waasi breaks out with Betterdaze

Sitting in the living room of his mom’s house, Malcolm “Waasi” Wills, wearing a retro Looney Tunes T-shirt under a letterman sweater, leans over and lights a stick of incense. As a wisp of smoke curls into the air, Waasi waves it around, blending it into the afternoon light. “I almost cried when I got […]