Spawned from the badlands of Virginia Beach, OF TYRANTS sound like a deathcore band that should have been part of the late 90’s to early 2000’s metalcore scene. This, however, is a blessing for kids going to metal shows in the Hampton Roads today as their music hearkens back to bands such as WE WERE GENTLEMEN and ABACABB. However, with their debut EP, the band is quickly building a reputation of their own.
Usually these days when people think of pop punk, the word generic frequently comes to mind, which was my first thought when I heard the opening riffs of FRIENDS WITH MONSTERS debut EP Handsome America. However, when the band broke into chorus, I was struck by the catchy melody of vocalist Brian Pursel alongside the more aggressive guitars and bass of his band mates. The song made me feel nostalgic of simpler times when I was younger when I didn’t have a care in the world other than Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, pizza parties, and Street Sharks.
Once an angsty punk singer, BENNETT WALES is now a soulful blues singer, and it is safe to say that when he is singing the blues, he is truly in his element. Though he previously dabbled in punk and alternative rock, Wales has found his calling. He recently released his debut EP Booze Blues featuring two very powerful songs that leave the listener craving more.
In the surfing world, a “rhino chaser” is someone who sets out to find the biggest and best waves possible. For Matt Hagerman and Favio Garcia, their “rhino” was the perfect beer. Veterans of the brewery business, they set out on a nationwide journey to immerse themselves in the rich traditions and even richer flavors of American craft brewing. That adventure culminated in the 2011 launch of Lost Rhino Brewing Company in Ashburn, Va., and they’ve been riding a mammoth wave of success ever since.
Virginia native Reilly Stith is a double threat. In 2013, she performed as Odette on Netflix’s hit program “Orange is the New Black,” and she recently starred in a short film currently in post-production. Since then, she has been building a music career as RYLI, and she released her debut album ENTER on Capitol Records at the beginning of the summer. Combining a progressive, rhythmic sound with traditional R&B, RYLI is an artist that you need to hear. Continue Reading
Releasing their new album Let in the Light on July 14, 2015, SLEEPY BROTHER is a two-piece band from Richmond, Va. Both of the members, Heather Wiederholt and Nathan Burns, work full-time jobs but also focus their free time on being full-time musicians, as well as breaking their way into the music scene with their down to earth roots. They are a band that is more focused on their songwriting rather than becoming famous.
Though you may not have heard of her yet, SHENNA is quickly making her way into mainstream pop music, and she is a serious contender with nothing else in mind but gold. Shenna Somsmieh was born and raised in Northern Virginia, and she has been performing in the Washington, D.C. area since she was a little girl. Despite moving to New York City to advance her career, she still maintains close ties to the District.
Formerly known as the voice of the pop punk duo RANDOM HOLIDAY, vocalist and guitarist Mike Frazier is setting out on his own, but he is not doing it alone. Instead, he has been actively writing songs from the heart based on his most personal stories and life experiences with the support of close friends in an out of bands in Virginia and throughout the U.S.
For the past seven years, Katelyn Almeda has been building a movement to end smoking in the Virginia music scene. To accomplish this seemingly impossible goal, Almeda utilized her connections in the local scene and beyond to build a brand based on beating Big Tobacco at their cruel business in the Commonwealth where it began in the U.S. Known as Syke, Almeda and her team focus on the alternative music scene with multiple outreach and education initiatives to encourage youths to engage in a smokefree lifestyle.
Ten years ago, the thought of a major label artist releasing their new album on vinyl sounded like a marketing stunt, a ploy to reach a only small niche of collectors or DJs. During the last few years, however, among the tidal wave of available streaming services and digital retailers, the old format has become new again. According to Forbes, vinyl sales have grown 260 percent since 2009, and the numbers suggest that 2015 may be the biggest year yet.