We were happy to see so many people show up to play, and even more happy that it was all original music. We heard that Goody was so impressed that they may start a monthly songwriter’s contest.

In the meantime, there several more dates available to secure a spot in the Fest: September 2 at Jalepenos in Smithfield, Thursday the 9th at Cozzy’s Comedy Club in Newport News, and Sunday the 12th at HK on the Bay, in Virginia Beach. Full details are available on this page.

nTelos Wireless Pavilion concert schedule expands to 24 shows

Performance schedule
Academy of Rock Music, 1:00 – 1:45
Robbie Snell, 2:00 – 2:45
You, Me and the Bedsheets, 3:00 – 3:45
Godspeed and Good Fortune, 4:00 – 4:45
Holly Would, 5:00 – 5:45
The Vibe, 6:00 – 6:45
Matt Lockhart, 7:00 – 7:45
Iron Sharpens Iron, 8:00 – 8:45
Chasing Arrows, 9:00 – 10:00

Facebook Event Page

Local group City Voices is throwing an EP release party at the Norva this Friday with a number of other local acts and it looks to be one of the greatest local original music shows I’ve seen in years. Six acts from Hampton Roads and Richmond playing home-spun rock? Amazing.

The City Voices quartet seems very driven and almost makes it look too easy, having just formed the band over the past year or so and throwing together their EP in a few months, even finding time to shoot a video. Now they’re headlining the Norva and have managed to bring a handful of their friends with them? Color me impressed, or jealous. Take your pick. Smooth vocals from singer Suzanne Smith and solid playing from guitarist John Davis, bassist TJ Mckinney and drummer Jarrett Stanley. These guys got it good, and this show should be a good milestone in their careers.

Elocine is a one man band fronted by Nelson Ciron as ‘nothing than a way to kill time’ that has resulted in a half dozen or so LPs and EPs. He plays every instrument on the records; I’m not sure how that’s going to translate on stage, but the songwriting is heartfelt and the instrumentation well produced.

Over The Ocean What do you call Christian bands that aren’t? Not the safe top 40 co-opted, church approved pop praise that followed Creed success over the past decade, but the heavier, darker, more introspective bands like Philly’s MeWithoutYou, who put out intelligent music that manages to touch a nerve without sounding preachy. I may be taking things a bit to far after only listening to the one 8 minute track on their myspace, but Over The Ocean might be close to what we’d have if Chris Cornell and James Maynard Keenan had stayed in Sunday school. See, you can be righteous without being pretentious.

The Collector This one here is a treat. Described as tribal pop, The Collector’s influences fun a bit broader than a simple classification like that . The YouTube videos describe frontman Ryan Meadows as Bono’s protege, and while they may sound nothing like U2, The Collector’s songwriting is emotional and driven, changing from acoustic neo-folk to driving rock and post-rock sounds. These guys are talented. If they show up with the full choir as they did in these videos, the Norva is going to be in for a treat.

Chasing Arrows CNU’s own pop rock contemporary. Think Matchbox 20 and Gavin McGraw. Runners up of MTVU’s Best Music on Campus Woodie Award.

View From The Top Pop/punk in the vein of NOFX and Phat Wreck Chords groups. Punk, punk, and more punk.

This should be a solid show. These groups all sound good and this should be a rocking good time. All local, all original. You can’t ask for more than that. Come out and support these guys and gals and show some appreciation for our local scene.

This is four days of music and partying, and includes bowling on Thursday and Hahad’s Lake Saturday. This looks like a blast. You can see the lineup and location of all the bands on the Best Friends Day webpage, and see pics of previous years over on their blog and Flickr stream.

NYC indie rockers Nightmare of You stop by the HRV tonight in Norfolk at The Boot for their record release party. Supporting acts include Plushgun, Aushua, Theatron, Brian Bonz and VaB’s own Breaking Logic.

This is a hell of a lineup for an Tuesday night show and will probably be worth it.

The new Turntable Thursdays at Budda’s in Newport News is having a CD release party this week. In addition to residents DJ T-Solo and T.C., special guests and Rehab Record DJs Sinestro and Jonny C will be tearing it up as well. Check out this new EDM night and score some swag as well.

Check the Rehab Records site for a sample of mixes and tracks from Sinestro and Jonny C.

L00se Lips at Bar None (VaB) The last event was a blast. Tonight’s the 2nd . Get there early or stand in line till after the party’s over.

And further proof that electronic music is having a resurgence in the area: The Old Dirty Crew and the bayCityplayas are hosting a new bi-weekly, Groove at ALIZE, 601 Prince George Street, Williamsburg, 21 & up, no cover. Check the ODC blog for upcoming parties, they’ve been doing about once a month so far this year; we’ll see how this takes off.

Brutalitour at Gil’s (VaB): Forever In Terror, Murder No Motive, Behold Eternity, Memoir of a Massacre.

Itation Roots Reggae are back @ Revolution, Portsmouth on July 24, 10pm. 506 Dinwiddie Street, Portsmouth. Big ups at BE_Productions.

Neko Case is playing the Norva (NFK).

Mercy Creek is back at Marker 20 (HAM). Or catch them…

Saturday 7/25/09

Mercy Creek at the Yorktown Pub

Versus The Universe at Frankie’s (VaB) 1080 Nimmo Parkway

The Prisoners, HRV’s best Reggae band is at Schooner’s (NPN).

Country act The Lost Trailers will be playing at the Hampton Summer Street Fest.

Metal Matinee at Peppermint Beach Club (VaB) $10 includes Honour Crest, Among the Roots, One Shallow Grave, Malichi, Faithless Death, Eulogy, and Memoir of a Massacre.

Dylan, Mellencamp, and Willie Nelson (!) are playing at Harbor Park. I’ll say it again, louder. BOB DYLAN, JOHN (cougar) MELLENCAMP and WILLIE NELSON!!

Sunday 7/26/09

The Dominion Derby Girls tear it up against the Carolina Bootleggers at the Haygood Skating Center (VaB). 10 in adv 12 at door. Wheels spin at 5, doors at 4. That’s right, I said DERBYBALL.

And as always, check the Meona.net 13 Day Event Calendar for all the rest of the shows in the area.