Live Music

Halifax/Montreal-based duo Purity Ring trade in dance club lullabies and haunting electro-pop.

Yo La Tengo has set the DIY standard for a subset of indie music listeners for more than 20 years, innovating, experimenting without compromise—with a unique ability to recognize its own art form—and the critics’ darlings can still deliver the goods.

Led by the vivacious, talent-packed Miss Rose, and held tight by the high lonesome harmonies of her classically trained cellist momma, The Sally Rose Band is a band of versatile influences that comes to play.

Asked for a favorite musical memory of Charlottesville, James McNew concedes “It’s hard to pick just one,” though he does cite a late-career appearance by Black Flag, as well as shows by regional punk bands like Government Issue and Honor Roll.

Grand Banks might be one of Charlottesville’s best-kept secrets. The duo of guitarist Davis Salisbury and keyboardist/singer Tyler Magill have been playing together for over 10 years, yet its discog-
raphy amounts to a handful of CD-Rs, and performances and recordings can go on hiatus for years at a time. But when Grand Banks gets together, dedicated followers anticipate some of the most transcendent, satisfying musical experiences around.

The Mantras have been producing a unique mix of funk rock, Middle Eastern, electronic and metal since 2005.

With its tenth album in the works, Donna the Buffalo’s staying power is a testament to its intrepid spirit, prolific output, and ardent following.

The loose community around The Garage suffered a shock in mid-September, when an elderly driver, departing from the funeral home, accidentally kept her car in reverse and backed through one of The Garage’s brick walls. Thankfully no one was injured, but The Garage now has a gaping, cartoon-like hole where its south face used to be.

The punk band, Forgetters, features former members of Jawbreaker, Against Me!, and Jets to Brazil.

Pick up tuner According to Cody Purvis, you can’t have too much of a good thing, except maybe “Too Much Truck.” The soulfully deep-voiced 18-year-old is country through and through, capturing the outlaw spirit of Merle Haggard and the contemporary energy of Toby Keith. His tunes bounce with charisma, and at 6’5″ Purvis is a […]