Past & Present: 15 Game-Changer Artists of the RVA Music Scene

Hey all you fervent, musical listeners and showgoers, you!

So, I’ve been trying to change things up with this blog, outside of my reviews, and hit on more aspects of the RVA scene, venues, and just culture within this city and others around, far and wide. This will be a new series called “Past & Present,” where every few months, I’ll garner a collection of information surrounding a certain subject: Venues, local businesses, local record stores, labels, restaurants, tattoo shops, piercing shops - you name it! Whatever I can find some interesting information about and write about, especially anything with a broad history like the RVA music scene and artists in it? Expect it to end up in these.

With other subjects, I plan to maybe interview and collect some insight from different owners or individuals that are willing to speak on it, but today I’m simply going off experience and observations of my time in the RVA music scene to-date, an ever-changing landscape with just as many high points as low, and LOTS of wild talents popping up just as fast as others disappear.

Today, we talk about 15 Artists That Changed the RVA Music Scene, for better or worse, forever!!! Or, well, at least for me and some others they did…

Even if you don’t totally agree with this list, haven’t heard of these artists, or totally understand their appeal - it is no doubt that the following brought something special to the scene, even if in varying capacities. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with those artists that stick to their roots, follow any “trends,” or blend in with their influences or other acts like them and still manage to make a successful run of it, I want to focus on artists that push boundaries or stick out.

Again, this is all based on my opinions and personal observations, as well as a general consensus shared with other music nerds such as myself in or around the RVA scene that all agree with a base sentiment that these bands stick out from any crowd or trend; Nothing like album sales, how many followers they do/don’t have, people paying us to write this shit (you should know damn well, by now, no one does and even if they did, sorry, I’m not spending any time writing bullshit that doesn’t line-up with what I actually think or feel about the things I experience and consume, why would I?) - just the general overall merits of the bands as they are perceived. We’re talking about pure innovation, here; So here it is, Past & Present: The Game-Changers of the RVA Music Scene…

…Some Gone, Some Still With Us…

1. Terminal User Guide

(Image taken from the band’s Instagram page, shot by @baaabysnakes)

We’ll start with a sort of recent, personal favorite of mine: Terminal User Guide

While, unfortunately, they ended just about as quickly as they began, TUG’s presence was a titanic wave, even if in relatively smaller, underground circles. I will never forget my one and only opportunity of seeing them live, which was where I first discovered them as well. If I remember correctly, they messaged us asking if we’d be interested in performing on a slot with them, Destructo Disk, and Mere Exposure Effect. Thrilled at the idea of playing with some super sick bands like them at The Camel, we of course agreed! I’ll be eternally happy we did and that I was able to get out of work that night to be able to play it, too. Terminal User Guide took the stage second, just after Mere Exposure Effect, and I remember thinking “yeah, these cats look like the shoegaze type, probably in for some pretty sick catchy stuff here!” Then vocalist/guitarist, Kylie starts this almost alternative metal-sounding riff up, albeit it had some of the post-rock, shoegazey undertones to it, but once she stepped up to the mic and started screaming in a fashion reminiscent to black metal and even some hints of grindcore, all while this hazey array of emotional sounding guitars were going…yeah…CURVEBALL. I was immediately sold as a fan.

I, of course, wasn’t the only one. People showed up to TUG shows en masse. While sure, some of the places they played were more DIY-centric and thus, may have been known for having a sort of “built-in” crowd of sorts, there is no denying the impact Terminal User Guide branded into the RVA underground. Almost every picture on their page makes them really look like the “next best thing,” and if you ask me or anyone in those crowds: they were. This eclectic mix of shoegaze, alternative rock, metal, blackened grind, and even some grunge thrown in made us all believers. As far as presentation and style were concerned, they were undeniably a force of their own; A real quartet of outliers.

It is truly unfortunate that this band had to call it quits because the amount of traction it seemed like they were gaining even just from the first show I saw them at to a month or two after (which all took place between February to April of this year), was really something special. Playing in the middle of VCU campus, The Deck, The Collective, and other DIY and casual venue spaces, and essentially filling the room each and every time, the brief period of this band almost even feels cathartic to its distinction. Even if many more bands come and go doing things almost totally identical to TUG, there will still always be one Terminal User Guide. I don’t know how to fully express it even if I wrote 50,000 words on them, but, there was simply a particular flavor to this band, a culture of their own, that radiated kilometers and then some around them, absorbing all who fell within that radius into a trance of awe. R.I.P. forever. Here’s to high hopes that the members continue on with likewise forward-thinking projects in the future.

2. Dumb Waiter

(Picture of band performing live by Joey Wharton Photography)

This one was a given. I don’t think you’ll find many, if any, that would write Dumb Waiter off as your typical RVA-based band. First becoming aware of them at one of the final Strange Matter shows in 2018, hadn’t ever seen a band of this caliber, flaunting an avant-garde, jazz-metal crossover, fronted by an electric saxophonist running through an EFX pedalboard. They had my attention from soundcheck all the way to screams of acceptance and applause once they began stepping off stage. Lots of talent stepped on and off the stage throughout that night, but Dumb Waiter remained a real highlight for me, and is still considerably one-of-a-kind even to date.

If it’s not their sporadic, groovy, Primus-like sound that gets you, it’s definitely their visuals. Some of the coolest, most vivid, and creative visual concepts have gone into their music videos, as can be seen in their video for the song ”Vegan Mustache Jazz.”

A full package of zany art; Frank Zappa would be proud. If Primus hired John Zorn, this is maybe a close example of what that might be like, only I truly do not know what to really compare a band like Dumb Waiter to, and even if I did? It still wouldn’t quite get it. Their live act is equally as unforgettable as their music videos and other visuals are. If ever you see the name Dumb Waiter on a flyer, you are best to go catch ‘em while they still exist. For me, personally, it is rare that we see acts this experimental and daring to branch out the way Dumb Waiter have managed to, all while still keeping eyes and ears tuned in, which in itself is enough of a challenge for any artist, especially so, these days anyway.

Let them always be a stark reminder that being different, especially today, can and really should be a good thing.

3. Gull

(Image taken from Gull’s instagram, photographer unknown as of time of publishing)

Don’t even try to play like Gull doesn’t belong on this list. We can’t use the terms “innovative” and “RVA” anywhere close to each other in the same essay without mentioning Gull - it says so in the Bible (whatever one is known for telling the truth, that is) and we are absolutely subscribers to truth. So here’s some more truth: Gull is fuckin’ awesome.

There’s lots of solo acts, singer-songwriters, DJ’s, and other notable musical minds that possess various pieces of electronics or inventions and manipulate them as instruments, creating something interesting each time they do it. Some aren’t even your average stage performers you can find in local venues, some do this out in Carytown on the sidewalk for essentially free (unless you’re so kind as to throw them a bone or two for their graceful gesture of soundtracking your daily window-shopping routine), but there really is not anyone quite like Gull. A one-man avant-garde noisemaker who simultaneously pieces acapella chants, barehanded drum beats, oddball noise effects through a mix of pedals and resonators, and even some guitar melodies into a fine stew of true audio architecture that you can almost see, taste, and feel, the same way you can hear it. It’s enough to make Leonardo da Vinci shit himself in his grave.

Oh yeah, did I mention he does all of this and performs a full set out of it all by himself? (queue the Céline Dion)

Forget about things like backing tracks or, y’know, bandmates; All primitive things of the past! Totally not hip! No sir, instead, Gull just makes the music come to life, in real-time, right before your eyes, and there’s not a venue or space he’s performed in that takes any sort of element away from him, given he is the element himself, it seems. First caught this dude in the basement of the (now thankfully back on operation) Lucy Lane right here in Richmond, VA, back in 2017 when my residence was not even 800 ft away from Lucy Lane. Ever since that show, I’ve been hooked.

Rest assured, and do go see for yourself, any stage Gull takes because his own sonic landscape. Mike Patton, That 1 Guy, and Buckethead need to get eyes on this dude and start talking a tour someday…if not just Patton picking him up for a record deal.

4. Bananaslama

(Image of band playing live, shot by Nick Oukolov of nØ.visuals. Photography)

Okay, let’s face it: It is pretty much impossible at this point to do virtually anything in metal music and it get perceived as either “original” or accepted by a vast majority of metal lovers. This is not to knock the niche taste of any of our resident metalheads, both local and afar, but even with RVA being a hometown to names such as GWAR, Lamb of God, Municipal Waste, and Occultist - as well as metal in all wakes being a particularly favored genre, historically, within much of the scene and community - it is still hard to get on much of a radar as a metal band here (or anywhere). It’s even harder to be seen as any true “game-changer” without either people just not getting it, or stepping just enough outside the “metal” realm to dissatisfy and be written off by many of the oldheads and elitists as not “metal.” So how do you walk that thin line between being “metal,” while still also doing something different enough to set you apart from that which has come before and remain entertaining enough to keep the crowds coming, while also not giving into any trends or things you aren’t much into yourself? Simple: Hire some primates and give ‘em your instruments. And bananas…lots and lots of bananas. (What, you think this shit just comes to you for free???)

Bananaslama are unmatched in stage presence and performance tightness. Presenting their hairy, primal, banana-stained posteriors to any and all willing to witness the monkey business live, they have all the best (and maybe worst, depending who you talk to) parts of metal covered; Blast beats, double bassing, thrashy riffing, crushing bass tones, blackened tremolo picking passages, slammy slown-down chromatic breakdowns, and lots of gorilla grunts and monkey noises overtop of it all. This band will make the most serious, by-the-book, tech-death-loving, cold-hearted metalhead break a chuckle or two with their humorous song titles, synchronized (and not) comedic dance moves, and just an overall atmosphere of laughs, smiles, and headbangs they bring to any stage that will have them.

But don't just take my word for it, have a gander at this music video for their song, "Coffin Full of Bananas":

Bananaslama take the saying “monkey see, monkey do” to a whole different level. Having such a colossal, precise, and technical sound as a mere 3-piece, while also pulling off the jokes and various stunts (bubble machines, banana throwing, pool noodle fights, and other goofy antics) live is no easy task, but Bananaslama are also not human, and therefore execute it with perceived ease. We can only hope to aspire to be as highly evolved as these apes…someday. I heard their bassist/vocalist, Paul Gibbon, taught Geddy Lee everything he knows.

5. T V L P A

(Image of band taken from Facebook, shot by Will Fisher / Fire @ Will Photography)

Everyone loves Twin Peaks, right? Or at least most of us artsy types, anyway. Well, what if we told you there's a whole noise-rock / metal act right out of RVA that just released a concept album on Twin Peaks and may even be working up new material centered around other David Lynch works? Wild, right?

T V L P A are definitely a Channel 213 favorite, but a big part of why I'm writing about them here today is because they truly have something unlike virtually anything I've seen in Richmond before. Even with as minimal as their realm may seem, T V L P A have invented their own atmosphere, especially in a live setting. You can listen to all of Walk With Me and be floored at its production quality as well as its originality, but once you see how this band pulls songs like "The Lodge" and "The Sycamore" off live...I promise you'll be sold. There's a magic and chemistry within this band that runs similar to that of Full of Hell for me, personally, and I know I'm not the only one to recognize this aura about them when seeing the 3-piece live. Every member has a highlight, every element of each member's highlights or contributions in general sticks out yet blends so well that it just works, almost effortlessly.

A force like T V L P A is one to be both feared and marveled, as they are safely able to take the stage with the grindiest, mathcore-ing-est, blackened, metal-as-fuck, heavy-heavy-low-low-oh-no bands as they are an act as soft and poppy as The Cardigans. Again, their dynamic is just flawless in the way they mix up their style. It's just heavy enough to please the headbangers, while also artsy, intricate, and accessible enough to also not scare the parents away. Walk With Me was a wonderful release and definitely paves a road of potential for this trio, but I personally am even more excited to see what they unveil next as they get weirder and weirder, and share the stage with more and more oddball acts such as themselves...hopefully building up into a potential tour in the near future!

6. Of Want And Misery

(Photo of band taken from their Facebook, shot by Will Fisher / Fire @ Will Photography)

Sadly not currently active, at least as far as I know of anyway, this band was almost like one I feel I "grew up" with, in a sense. I recall some mild shifts in their sound as well as maybe a member change or two, but OWAM always managed to stay noisy, weird, and somehow...different. The last time I recall them doing much was maybe 2012 or 2013? But at any rate, this band had to make this list.

One thing I always appreciated about Of Want And Misery was their ability to swiftly blend southern, doomy elements, chaotic hardcore, dreamy / reverbed mewithoutYou-esque moments, and a raw, noisy, feedback-riddled drone all into their work. I also would sometimes hear similarities in screams between Cameron Odom and Dimitri Minikakis, so that would of course catch my attention as well. But this band was blistering live, too. Every show they played seemed to have pretty intense crowd reaction, and if the crowd weren't losing it, the band definitely were. Guitars swinging in the air, instrument shifts, jumps off of speakers and kick drums, vocalist falling over into people in the crowd to rile them up...they had everything any musician inspired by the likes of The Chariot would be expected to offer and then some. If I remember correctly, there were a few clubs they got banned from playing due to their chaotic nature. Don't know how permanent that ended up being, but...definitely a history to these blokes.

From what I understand...they're coming together right now to re-record an oldie, so stay tuned...we may be getting a blast from the past in the near future with the OWAM lads.

7. Mere Exposure Effect

(Photo of band yabba-dabba-doing it to ’em live, photographer unknown)

Any band that whips out a baritone guitar made from a fuckin’ wooden bar stool and throws on a respirator-like mask that runs through a small amplifier and gets mic’d up to the PA and acts as the “vocals” - Yeah, you got my attention.

Mere Exposure Effect are guitarist/noisist/vocalist Ezekiel Reed (who simply does not know how to not experiment whenever he writes anything musical at all) and drummer Varence Young, and together they are like something out of the mid ‘90s that we all missed out on back then, but are luckily able to experience now. I’m not totally sure what words to find and use to really get you to understand their sounds. They have shoegazey, crunchy guitar riffs with creamy vocals and smooth drum glides, but also get into heavier territory on other songs that almost sound down-tuned, if it weren’t for knowing that just the lower registry of a baritone guitar is definitely a good contributor to that deeper sound, anyway. This is also yet another two-piece that manages to match the kind of full sound you’d get from even a four-piece group.

As for musicality, check out this completely improved session they recorded over pandemic lockdown at the Bandcamp embed below:

Mere Exposure Effect are vivid as all get-out. They’ve already played a number of successful shows so far and are quickly gaining loads of attention with each set they perform. Both times I’ve caught them live, so far, Ezekiel Reed looked right at the crowd and said “It’s Mere’ing time…” and Mere’d all over everybody. Super sick stuff. Looking forward to what the future holds for Mere Exposure Effect as they grow and progress.

8. Terror Cell

(Photograph of band taken by Fire @ Will Photography)

Alright, I won’t be surprised if some people read this and say “there’s tons of noise bands in RVA, tons of hardcore bands, what makes Terror Cell qualify as ‘innovators’ to make this list?” Simple: There is no one like them in Richmond. Sure, I could name a pretty hefty list of bands they would go great with on a bill, but nobody’s really exploring the noise element quite like they are that I’ve seen (if your band is, hit these fuckin’ DM’s, booooiiiii that’s the whole reason I do this shit is to discover cool shit and not shut up about it!). The things Terror Cell do that just go outside of the realm of pigeon-holing them as merely “chaotic hardcore” or even just “noise.”

Especially with what I’ve been privileged to hear in the way of new demos for new material soon to be, they’re going in a sonic direction, and in many ways have already explored a sonic direction, that really does make them stick out to me. And no, I’m not saying this just because they’re my friends; I have no problem telling my friends their music is “mid,” as you kids say these days. But, I usually find something to enjoy in essentially any music I hear, so calling anything in the world of music “shitty” is maybe a bit foreign of my nature anyway. But, nah, it ain’t ‘cause they’re my friends, chief. It’s because their music is so brilliantly constructed that I’m forced to enjoy it. In actuality - I hate it. I don’t like any of this shit. It makes me upset. It’s so good and I’m just so jealous that it haunts my sleep. Jokes aside: Terror Cell know how to deliver. Point blank and simple.

The fact that RVA essentially now has a collective that sounds like Converge and Russian Circles collaborated, yet even that doesn’t summarize or fully compare to it, just goes to show how creative RVA truly can be. Again, there’s nothing wrong with the people who “play it safe,” so to speak or just do what they’re feeling and write in a more “traditional“ sort of style. But, as the late, great Smashmouth always said - “Only shooting stars break the mold…”

Doing the kind out outside-the-box thinking and feedback-as-an-instrument dynamic exploration that Terror Cell do allots them much more than just being ”ho-scaring-music” and ensuring much of the crowd may walk out during their set - It gets them on “Top Innovators” lists just like this! And if you do walk out during a Terror Cell set; You just don’t get it. It’s a you problem. You just haven’t had the right strain of feedback yet.

Check their split with THE Iron Price below!

9. Gemini Love

(Image of band taken from their Facebook, photographer unknown at time of publication)

This is another band that were truly something special during their time, arguably even one of the best acts to come out of the RVA scene. Gemini Love were a magical, indie-rock, alternative act that graced the RVA scene from about 2012 all the way up to their bittersweet final performance in 2019. In that timeframe, they moved many. Anyone who got the opportunity to catch them live knew all about how special, fun, and engaging their live presence always was.

Whether it was vocalist/guitarist Mark Jones’ humor, bassist Matt Burton’s dancey, groovy persona while performing, drummer Coty Heiser’s infectious accenting beats, goofy faces they all made at people in the crowd, or just the compelling backstories Jones would tell us all about going into each tune; Gemini Love were absolutely set apart from other bands in a similar vein or style, and definitely so for me, personally. In many ways, they could probably be considered RVA’s Modest Mouse, of whom they admittedly drew influence and even performed a cover or two of, but even if the two aren’t exactly comparable in sound, it’s the sheer, visceral, deeply expressive vocal style and dynamic in song structure that both reminds me personally of Modest Mouse, yet also makes Gemini Love so different, simultaneously.

Jones took lots of personal experiences, dark subjects, and perhaps some other less-than-fortunate occurrences, be them generally relatable aspects of the human experience or otherwise specific to him, and turned them into lyrical themes cleverly painted over music you could lose yourself in the moment and dance to. Even if what Mark was singing about was the saddest thing you’d ever heard in your life, he presented it in an almost upbeat, dreamy, dancy, and catchy way. It was like a true example of taking the negative and converting it into positive.

While Gemini Love could have easily found at least one hit song on the Top 40’s somewhere for even just a week or so, but there’s nothing commercial about their authenticity as artists and songwriters whatsoever. They just had that spirit about them; Something that almost manifested into physical form whenever they’d play live. They really made the crowd feel genuinely invited and made it just as much about everyone else in the room as it was them or any other acts they’d be sharing the stage with that night. That’s what music is, and always should be, truly about.

Will we get bands that maybe sound like Gemini Love and make that sort of impact or anything close ever again? More than likely. We may already even have! However, it’s hard to imagine recreating something so unique and particular to who Gemini Love were, both individually and as a band, and have it be totally the same, at least not without even some of the original members of the group being involved. Their music is also timeless, as can be heard with one of their hits: “Alchemy.”

10. Railgun

(Photo of band, photographer unknown)

Arguably one of the most fun and original acts out of Richmond, VA, Railgun can literally blend on a bill with virtually anybody. A trio that’s been going for as far back as at least 2016 or 2017, they’ve only had one line-up change recently in all their years together. Their music crosses punky, grungy, even metallic territory, while still also touching on mathy, poppy, upbeat, somewhat-softer, singalong-y vibes as well. There’s not much, if anything, that this band appears to be incapable of pulling off. A strong live act ontop of just well-written and performed musix, too.

It simply would be criminal to not have Railgun on this list. Their passion never falters, their act is always on-point with any show I’ve ever seen them at, and everyone who sees them for the first time generally walks away a fan. With the addition of Ryan Bowman on drums in aforementioned line-up change, there’s nowhere to go but up for them.

I would love to see this band branch out from RVA and hit more Northern territories, as well as Southern. Their sound would definitey go over well in places like New Jersey, Baltimore, and parts of Philly for sure. It’s been an absolute party any time I get to see them live.

Guitarist Gregory Johnson and bassist Ryan Hicks have expressed uncertainty on where they perhaps ”fit in” with the scene. I personally don‘t think they need to. I think they are actually more accepted for being what they are, unapologetically, than they maybe would be if they did somehow fall into any one category or style. But then, they also might not make this list if they did that, too.

So what makes them get a spot on this list? They aren’t afraid to sound like punky / metal badasses, J-Pop-like emotive crooners, and mathy jazz jammers all in the same setlist, sometimes maybe even in the same song. They blend all their ideas and styles so well and have such a chemistry about their delivery with it that can be immediately seen live or heard recorded.

It also helps that they are such supportive, genuine, and humble people, too. They might not accept it or think much of themselves, but even if these guys did act like the most talented people in any room, as much as the hypothetical arrogance might piss us all off - it wouldn’t just be an act, truthfully. They could totally back it up.

11. Black Matter Device

(Photo of band deep in the group-pissing sesh, photographer unknown)

If you’ve somehow not heard of Black Matter Device by now - click the bold, underlined text of their name to change that immediately.

If you think for some reason they don’t belong on this list - I can’t help you. Not even Jesus can.

This section is likely to be a little brief, simply because I could probably go on forever about these guys, but, almost anything I could say about them has probably already been said and still wouldn’t totally sum it up. That and I just feel like most of it goes without saying.

Dark Trail Records gems, upcoming Mathcore Indexfest headliners, probably one of the closest things to The Dillinger Escape Plan in terms of boundary-pushing that we’ve gotten yet, and just general genre-bending wizards of sporadic riffs, style hops, and noisy chaotic goodness; Black Matter Device is RVA’s own Pandora’s Box of Mathcore Mania. I’ve only managed to catch them live one time in someone’s living room here in RVA, and it was easily one of the wildest live sets ever. Their live energy 100% matches their unpredictable recorded material. Their sound is just as punishing and dynamic in live as it is in the earbuds.

This is the kind of band you hear on Spotify and think “man there’s just no way they pull this off live, probably samples or backing tracks somewhere…” and then you see them live and witness the formerly impossible and unthinkable, and probably get a few cracked ribs while doing it.

Their newest record, Autonomous Weapons, is essentially the band at their peak. If what you’re looking for is the best audible adrenaline rush you can get without having to leave your hometown to get it - look no further than Black Matter Device. Easy as that.

12. Blood Ponies

(Photo of band performing live, photographer unknown)

This one might seem a bit unfair, as it was only very recently that Blood Ponies shifted from the scene of their hometown in San Diego, CA to here in good ‘ole Richmond, VA. However, I had to include them. They likely changed the game in San Diego, and they’re ready to do the same here. Having played a handful or so of shows in and around Richmond so far, Blood Ponies have a sound that definitely wouldn’t be expected out of only two members.

A personal favorite of mine, ”Hostile Takeover,” encapsulates just how huge this band sounds between only being a two-piece. The song starts off with this gothy, dark synth drone leading into a grungy guitar and bass riff that is soon joined by some banger tom and kick work to build it all up from “verse one” to “chorus,” where guitarist and vocalist Jeff Terich croons and haunts and then quickly wails and rasps in a fine mix of tension and grooves that the thunderous beats delivered by drummer Candice Renee only compliment and make all the fuller. If I had to make any comparison, they pretty much strike me as a riffie, heavier, darker version of like a death-rock Interpol, with hints of bands like Bauhaus and Specimen present.

A spectacular mix of gothy darkness and rocky, alternative grit…this band’s onto something big. I’ll be keeping an eye on you, Blood Ponies. Excited to see what they do both with future releases and bringing their fierce live act to the East Coast! Already leading by example in this new territory, becoming RVA’s own gothic, death-rockin’, post-punk, twisted evil-villain twins to The White Stripes, if you will (bad joke maybe, but I promise meant in jest and light-heartedness, even if it is a death rock band we’re talking about) - All other RVA artists, take notes!

13. Get In The Car

(Photo of band performing live, photographer unknown)

Only got to catch Get In The Car one time back in 2016 and they were easily one of the craziest things I’d heard in RVA, especially at that time, up through then. I wish I knew more about them so I could share more info and where to find ’em, and I’m not so sure they’re even still active, but Get In The Car were insane. They had an energy similar to that of Horse the Band, but they were their very own monster and style.

Jumping from synthy, metal-ish breakdowns and sounds to punky jigs with catchy lyrics to boot, if this band ever comes back to the stage in RVA, it’s going to be pretty intimidating. I’ve been following their page since that show in 2016, and have sadly not seen any updated since a few 2018 posts about what was, for all I know, some of their last shows ever. I’d love to see this band again, but knowing that (as it appears) all their members seem to still be around and perhaps are just busy with other life things (yeah, pretty sure the last two years have made it maybe just a little harder to really be able to do much in the way of live events or even life in general, yeah?) gives promise of new projects with similar creativity. We may never get Get In The Car back, but as long as any of their members continue to do anything with music, rest assured I’ll be listening…

14. Colin Phils

(Photo of band taken by Andre Mags Photography)

This band is almost too good. Their song “Chappie” stays on repeat for me, but anything you can pull up by them is sure to raise your IQ. When I got to see Colin Phils live at Garden Grove, it was only their guitarist/singer Ben Tiner performing, as I suppose the rest of the band were unable to make the show, or if I remember correctly, Ben may have been the only member to reside in RVA at the time, given the band is based out of South Korea and only relocated to Richmond, VA some time after a few years of writing and recording albums as well as touring through major cities in China.

Ben Tiner, himself, put on enough of a show by way of loops, guitar layers, and even making percussive sounds with his guitar to make me a believer, along with the rest of the crowd. They’ve since picked back up, of course, as a 3-piece, have a new single, Totokon, out now, and continue to be otherworldly in their songwriting and performance. If Bjórk picked up a guitar and went math-rock, that might come close to what the wonder of Colin Phils are and have become. But there’s no real totally accurate way to describe them - you just have to listen and see for yourself.

Fun fact: God is still taking guitar lessons from Ben Tiner to this day.

15. Kill The Druid

(Photo of band performing live, taken by roXplosion)

Kill The Druid are yet another one-of-a-kind force that will lull you into a dreamy haze, and then quickly wake you back up with a whirlwind of rock, prog, and power all in the same 4 minutes. This is one of my favorite bands in RVA. They have it all - soaring vocals, a wide timbre of instrumental dynamic (with members often switching roles every few songs or so), and a flawless performance factor that makes you wonder how bands like Muse, Silversun Pickups, or Smashing Pumpkins haven’t picked them up for being tourmates yet. Kill The Druid are unstoppable.

Made up, primarily, of bass/vocals (Jacob Kissinger), keys/guitars/vocals (duties shared and traded between Madison Sims and Wesley Ring), electric violin (really just performed by Madison Sims, that I’ve seen), and drums (Matthew Patrick), they have a sound that is anything but linear. Ballads, heavy rock n roll headbangers, and spacey, haunting thought-provokers - there really seems to be something for everyone somewhere in Kill The Druid’s sound. It’s also wild to think they’ve only existed as a band since 2018, because their skills and tightness as a band far exceed that of a 4-year timespan. But, I suppose some are just naturals at it like that.

Wesley and Jacob make for one of the coolest vocal duos, too. They both have immensely powerful vocals with nearly unbelievable ranges, and watching them trade off on vocal duties almost feels like two angels having an argument; Although somehow it just sounds really great! I appreciate the authentic feel of what they do compositionally, too. Nothing feels forced. Kill The Druid don‘t come off as people who are really trying to be different or work outside the boundaries of “traditional” elements and conventional methodology - that, too, just seems to be something that happens naturally for them.

It seems like they’ve been a bit quiet as of lately…but rumor has it they may be making a comeback of sorts later in the year. With Jacob supplying lead vocals to local colleagues Loxias, it’s no question he’s had a full schedule of intricate musical endeavors on his hands, even if Kill The Druid appears dormant at the moment. But for all we know, the silence could also mean signals of new music and more shows! One can really only hope.

At any rate, Kill The Druid will likely always have a throne that only they can sit upon in the RVA music scene. Musical magicians of marvelous, mesmerizing muse; As soon as that new IG post goes up about their next show, you best reserve yourself a seat!

In conclusion - All music is bad and you should be ashamed of yourself for liking anything.

…and in all seriousness - THANK YOU for reading our picks for 15 Game-Changers of the RVA Music Scene! Did you disagree with our list? Good! Did you agree with our list? Great! Feel free to chime in and tell us all about why either way! I’ll totally read it! I promise! (Seriously, I will.)

Keep in mind - You don’t have to do anything specific to be innovative or set apart. Hell, you don’t even have to be set apart at all! Just do what works for you and what feels right! Remember, if it’s your passion, it must always be an authentic extension of you. Don’t write for other people’s approval, write for what it does for you. You can never fail when you continue to succeed with yourself in where you want to get. Keep going. Keep working. Take a shit on stage. Maybe we’ll put you on this list for it! (Disclaimer: Channel 213 is NOT liable for any accounts of public defecation or fecal matter infestations in any public settings. Keep that shit to yourself, literally!)

Until next time, friends!