BASING THEIR SONGS ON RIFFS, THE IVINS CREATE A “GUMBO” OF CLASSIC ROCK INFLUENCES WITH A MODERN TWIST ON THEIR UPCOMING ALBUM, THE CODE DUELLO

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SUAREZ PHOTOS BY M. KROPF PHOTOGRAPHY AND BRANDON HAMBRIGHT Formerly known as TOMORROWS, brothers Jim and Jack Ivins, or THE IVINS, are making noise under a brand new moniker with a new slew of songs that will… Continue Reading

RAINTREE EMBODY VIRGINIA DIY WITH THE HELP OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, AND ENCOURAGE GROWTH OF THE EMO SCENE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SUAREZ PHOTOS BY THE MODERN OWL PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN Earlier last month, I met with RAINTREE bassist Peter Sacco after a house show in Richmond. Driving down from the band’s hometown of Charlottesville, Sacco and I discussed… Continue Reading

SWAN OF TUONELA’S MOST RECENT TOUR BRINGS THE BAND CLOSER TOGETHER AND READY TO FINISH WRITING THEIR UPCOMING FULL-LENGTH RECORD

INTERVIEW BY JOE FITZPATRICK PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SWAN OF TUONELA One of the few Virginia screamo bands making a huge mark in both the local and national scene is SWAN OF TUONELA from Richmond. Formed by members of other local… Continue Reading

DESPITE BEING BORN IN NEW JERSEY, CHARLIE PERRIS OF TAWNY PEAKS AND TRUMAN CALLS THE RICHMOND DIY PUNK SCENE HIS HOME

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SUAREZ PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ETHAN HANSEN AND CHARLIE PERRIS While THE DOMINION COLLECTIVE is typically exclusive to Virginia bands, there are also a number of musicians and artists who call the Old Dominion home but are in… Continue Reading

MAJOR AND THE MONBACKS SPREAD “MONBACK MANIA” ACROSS THE EAST COAST THIS SUMMER FROM FRATERNITY HOUSES TO MUSIC FESTIVALS

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SUAREZ PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MATT CRANE, COLE FRIEDMAN, AND FESTY SHOTS PHOTOGRAPHY MAJOR AND THE MONBACKS is the latest group continuing the tradition of Soul n’ Roll twang-pop, which is so closely associated with the culture of… Continue Reading

BUCKY MALONE AND FA$TLIFE MILITIA AIM TO DOMINATE THE VIRGINIA RAP AND HIP HOP GAME WITH THEIR UNIQUE CHEMISTRY AND RELENTLESS WORK ETHIC

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SUAREZ PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BUCKY MALONE VIDEO BY THE CLASSIC LP Hip-hop in Northern Virginia is a genre that has yet to be really documented too well in the area in previous years. While Washington, DC and… Continue Reading

COMRADES REFLECT ON WHERE THEY CALL HOME FOR THE RELEASE OF THEIR DEBUT FULL-LENGTH ON BLOOD AND INK RECORDS AND DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SUAREZ PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COMRADES In the time I’ve lived in Richmond, I honestly can say I have not heard of a band that tours more than COMRADES. For many aspiring DIY musicians and artists, they’re essentially… Continue Reading

#CRYPTID: VIRGINIA SCREAMO BANDS CAUST AND KILGORE TROUT PLAY TWO SHOWCASES AT THE 2014 SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FESTIVAL IN AUSTIN, TX

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SUAREZ PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CAUST AND BLAKE LARSON The South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival seems to grow larger each and every year. Every spring, hundreds of bands, musicians, filmmakers, and celebrities converge on Austin, TX over the… Continue Reading

FEST TOO HOPES THIRD ANNUAL DO-IT-TOGETHER MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL CREATE STRONGER COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND DC MUSIC AND ART SCENES THROUGH “COLLABORATION”

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SUAREZ PHOTOS BY DAN ABH AND CHRISTINA PERRY Over the last few years, a number of more DIY-oriented music festivals have started in Virginia. Richmond has Stay Sweet Fest, Harrisonburg has had Macrock for almost 17 years,… Continue Reading