SWIMMING UPSTREAM: THE VIDEO FAN FIGHTS THE RISING DIGITAL TIDE

Alex Aloise

INTERVIEW BY ALEX ALOISE

PHOTOS BY SCOTT ELMQUIST AND JULIAN MAY

I grew up in video stores. My movie-obsessed path started with Erol’s Video, which was founded by a Turkish immigrant to Virginia named Erol Onaran and sold to Blockbuster Video for $40 million in 1990. Blockbusters came and went, and never had what I wanted, but they gave me the Bruce Lee and Mel Brooks fixes I never knew I needed. For an entire generation, video stores were the gateways to new worlds, characters, and stories. Yet, as vital as they were to the social and cultural fabric, they couldn’’t last forever. But one video store in Richmond still stands, despite today’s increasing demand for digital content.

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KO DISTILLING SERVES GOOD SPIRITS AND SERVICE TO THE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KO DISTILLING AND JOE FITZ MEDIA

Graduates from the United States Merchant Marine Academy abide by the motto “Acta Non Verba,” meaning deeds not words, and they are leaders that exemplify the concept of service above self. As graduates from the class of 1982, KO Distilling co-founders Bill Karlson, CEO, and John O’Mara, president and head distiller, understand the importance of service to the community and enjoy great locally sourced spirits.

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THE STARLESS DEBUT SONGS WITH NEW DRUMMER

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK

PHOTOS BY JOE FITZ MEDIA, AGNES OWUSU, AND SHVWN COOPER

Though they aren’t as superstars just yet, the Gainesville, Va. trio known as THE STARLESS formed by lead vocalist/guitarist Briana Strobele, bassist Donny Sauer, and guitarist Shane Lewis, released their debut EP Impulses Drive earlier this year, but not before they picked up drummer Josh Duncan. With Duncan on the skins, the band are finally bringing their anthems about the human condition to the masses.

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RICHMOND’S RED STATES TO RECORD A NEW FULL-LENGTH ALBUM IN SEPTEMBER

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY BETH AUSTIN

PHOTOS BY NISHA MEHTA AND BETH AUSTIN

With grinding, driving guitar, heavy drums, and personal lyrics, Richmond, Va.’s RED STATES have mastered the ability to rock your face, while hitting you square in the heart at the same time. Their current release, High Bison, on Richmond’s EggHunt Records is a collection of six songs with plenty of hooks wrapped up in an grungy, indie-pop blanket.

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CATOCTIN CREEK DISTILLING COMPANY CRAFTS COLLABORATIONS AND HISTORIC SPIRITS

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK

PHOTOS BY MARK RHODES, FIREFLY IMAGEWORKS, SARAH HAUSER/VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION, AND RICK MARTIN

Straddling a fine line between honoring the past and innovating their industry, Catoctin Creek Distilling Company based in Purcellville, Va. has been doing just that with their high quality spirits and liqueurs. Founded by Scott and Beck Harris, the distillery is based in the heart of Virginia wine country, and their small staff is revolutionizing the spirit industry around the world-literally.

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SURE HAND SIGNS SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH PAINT AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPARICK

PHOTOS AND VIDEO BY TOM WOODWARD, RACHEL WYSE, ROSS TRIMMER, SUBURBIA, AND BROOKE MARSH

When most people look at signs, they don’t see art. Ross Trimmer, founder and CEO of Sure Hand Signs, is starting to change that. Based out of Richmond, Va., Trimmer got his start as a tattoo artist and applied his traditional skills to sign painting when he saw the market changing away from custom work. Putting down his tattoo gun and picking up a paintbrush has provided him more opportunities to express his artistic side both on the signs and walls of Virginia and Washington, D.C.

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AIN’T NO MAN ABOVE THE PIFA CRU

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KESHAWN PALMER

Dealing with the death of a brother is a burden that no one should have to bear, but in 2013, the members of PAID IN FULL ALLSTARS (PIFA) lost their CEO and founder Eric Wilkins aka AllstarEazy. Despite this devastating blow, the men continued to press on to achieve the success that Wilkins sought for himself and his brothers. After performing to a sold out crowd at Shaggfest 2015 this summer in Virginia Beach, that dream is getting closer to becoming a reality.

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“SWAMPY-TONK” OUTLAWS: THE WET BOYS

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK

PHOTOS BY JULIE FERGUSON

Though they aren’t gunslingers from the wild west, THE WET BOYS of Virginia Beach have created a genre unlike any of the bands they share the stage with. Though their music is folky at times, the next minute, it might start a mosh pit or a pole dance, depending on the night. Though their music can be as rambunctious as their drinking habits, if you get the chance to see THE WET BOYS drench the stage with sweat and whiskey, you surely won’t be standing still.

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NOVAFEST SUPPORTS LOCAL HIP HOP IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SUPERNOVA SUPREMACY

Representing a variety of hip-hop styles from the Northern Virginia area, SUPERNOVA SUPREMACY have been described as “The Avengers of hip hop.” Though their fellowship does not include the Hulk or Captain America, the lyricism and power of MC Blank, Donnell Taurus, and Lion Goodwin packs a serious punch.

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STRAWBERRY DREAMS FANZINE INVITES ALL WOMEN TO JOIN “THE STRAWBERRY SCENE”

Joe Fitzpatrick

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STRAWBERRY DREAMS

It is no secret that throughout history, the music journalism field-and the music scene in general-have been oversaturated by men. Despite the advances women have made in gaining respect in the scene, the patriarchy of men in bands and music zines showing little respect for their female counterparts shows that much progress must still be made. Even as punk bands still show disrespect towards women and political candidates insult female journalists on television, women from the music and arts scenes in Washington, D.C. and beyond are giving women an opportunity to voice their thoughts and empower others to seek the change needed for our culture to progress.

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