Thursday, Nov. 14
Take Your Pick: Mini Jazz Festival @ Révéler Experiences (Nov.14-16)
Amid the bathtub mermaids, themed breakout rooms, and gilded skeletons, Reveler Experiences rotates through a wide variety of genres. Which makes this weekend’s three-night run of area improvisors something of a mini jazz festival. The run includes a cross-section of fine RVA players as well as musicians from a bit farther afield:
Thursday night offers a rare appearance of Washington, DC-based Joseph Henson, a saxophonist who has played with a who’s who of famous musicians. This time he is backed by the local Brotherhood rhythm section – Michael Hawkins on bass, Dr. Weldon Hill on piano, with Daniel Kelly on drums. This show is Thursday, Nov. 14 with doors at 7 p.m. and music from 8 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Admission is $15.
Friday night (Nov. 16) features saxophonist/vocalist John Winntet with a quartet featuring the virtuosic Charlottesville guitarist Adam Larrabee saxophonist with the ace rhythm section of Brian Caputo and Randall Pharr. Doors at 7 p.m. and music from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $15.
And Saturday night (Nov. 17), it is innovative drummer Robert Jospé, leading a group with pianist Daniel Clarke, guitarist Chris Whiteman, and longtime Tony Bennett bassist Paul Langosch. Doors at 7 p.m. and show from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $20.
While his associations are stellar, Henson is a bit of an unknown on the local scene. Winntet, on the other hand, is one of the most charming musicians in the area. Larrabee is astoundingly capable. Jospé has been on the scene since he moved to the area with local legend John D’earth; and any band with Daniel Clarke in it is going to deliver soulful surprises.—Peter McElhinney
For more information on these shows, visit Reveler Experiences here.
Friday, Nov. 15
A Drag Queen Christmas @ the Carpenter Theatre
Murray & Peter Present this 10th anniversary version of the longest running drag tour in America, hosted by Nina West. There will be “winners, fan favorites, legends, and Miss Congeniality, plus queens from Season 16 and All Stars 9.” Also there is the option for a VIP meet and greet at 6pm. The show starts at 8 p.m. There will be a 20-minute intermission. 18+ welcome.
Gala5: Emerald City – A Membership Bash @Gallery5
Support grassroots community art! Come and celebrate 20 seasons of “keeping Richmond weird,” as the organizers say (and keep telling yourself, “we could be weirder,” as we like to say). Hosted by Carmel Clavin, this event features performances by Imaginary Sons, Jonathan the Juggler, Spectre Percussion, Burlesque from Nu Rodeo Caldonia and WRIR DJs; a live drawing game with art for auction from Jamie Douglas, Bizhan Khodabandeh and Kate McBride; as well as raffle items from VMFA, Richmond Symphony, River City Roll, TopGolf, Mission Laser, Agecroft Hall, Altria Theater and more. Thre will be specialty cocktails and mocktails, a food truck and a visit from the wizard. Tickets are $20. Members get in free.Runs from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16
The 47th Allianz Richmond Marathon
From their website: “The marathon starts at 1st and Broad Street and finishes on a downhill slope at 5th and Tredegar Street at Brown’s Island and the Canal Walk on Richmond’s beautiful downtown riverfront, site of the CoStar Group post-race party. The marathon course will lead you through scenic and historic sections of the city, including along and across the beautiful James River. The marathon course is great for first-timers and features some rolling hills. The marathon is USA Track & Field sanctioned and certified and is a top Boston Qualifier.” It all starts at 7 a.m. Go here for more info.
World Toilet Day @ KavaClub
World Toilet Day raises awareness about everyone’s need for access to sanitation; as an organizer told us, it’s a “UNICEF Celebration and Awareness day of the wonders of the porcelain throne.” Wow, this sounds right up Gwar’s back alley (in fact, I hear a song and/or album title). But in all seriousness, this local event is supporting “women’s health equity and girl’s education equality through sanitation” featuring poetry by Zach Pennix, art by Scottt Earthwing and music by Midnight Ukulele Society and DJ Dru West. Runs from 5 to 11 p.m. 1529 W. Main St.
“The Room” screening with special guest Greg Sestero @ The Byrd Theatre
Come spend an evening with the actor, model and author from Walnut Creek, California who wrote “The Disaster Artist” memoir and starred in the cult movie, “The Room,” which screens tonight. $15. Doors at 6 p.m. and event runs from 7 to 9 p.m.
Skydog: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band @ The Broadberry
One of the ‘70s most popular bands, and a personal favorite of our longest living former commander-in-chief, President Jimmy Carter, the Allman Brothers are instantly recognizable for their twin guitar attack and Southern-flavored hits like “Jessica” and “Ramblin’ Man” and “Midnight Rider.” This local tribute act does them justice. $20. 7 p.m. doors.
Babymetal with Scene Queen at The National
Created back in 2010, the massive popularity of Kawaii metal remains of the moment. Over a decade later, it exists and continues to flourish in the realm of whatever nightmarish stage of late capitalism we’re in now and a 24/7 fever dream. The Japanese genre, which combines metal and J-pop, has found global success thanks to its originators Babymetal, a trio of gifted idols backed by an anonymous heavy-metal backing band, known only as Kami Band. Not unlike boy and girl groups from the states, Babymetal’s conception is credited to an earthly mastermind, Kobametal, a producer from the Amuse talent agency. Like organized religion or cults before them, Kobametal credits the band’s creation to a divine destiny brought by messages only he receives from a deity known as Fox God. Their mythology and novelty are fun, but you can’t understate the band’s success. They’ve shared the stage with Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Red Hot Chili Peppers; and their 2016 album, “Metal Resistance,” was the highest charting ever on the U.K. charts by a Japanese band, and the first to crack the Billboard Top 40 since 1963. That Babymetal isn’t linking up with GWAR on its stop in Richmond is an oversight, I can only hope to live to one day see redeemed. Doors are at 7 p.m. and cost $125 (+ fees & taxes). All ages.—Tim Abbondelo
Sunday, Nov. 17
A Celebration of Minimum Wage Recording Studio with Bio Ritmo, No BS! Brass Band and Justin Golden @ Broadberry
This is a a big hearted send-off party for beloved local drummer Lance Koehler, the kind engineer behind the affordable local recording studio Minimum Wage in Oregon Hill, who is moving to Staunton and Statler Brothers-country. Read more about it in our feature preview by Davy Jones. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Doors at 7 p.m. show at 8 p.m.
Comedian Marlon Wayans @ Carpenter Theatre
The veteran actor, comedian, producer, writer and movie director returns to Richmond on his Wild Child Tour. He can currently be seen in Netflix’s “The Curse of Bridge Hollow,” which he stars in and produced. 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 18
Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights @ Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
If you’re a member at Lewis Ginter, you can catch the early weekend preview of this family-friendly event which won USA Today’s Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights category in 2023. But if you’re not, Monday night is the public opening for this annual tradition featuring “millions of lights, botanical decorations, model trains, festive dinners, warming fires, hot chocolate and s’mores.” This year’s theme is “Homes and Habitats: A Celebration of Connection,” and the gardens will be “re-imagined resembling wetlands, rainforests, deserts, and more through light forms and brand-new interactive features in the Waterway splash pad (Children’s Garden) and Cochrane Rose Garden,” according to the website. The ongoing event is rain or shine and advance tickets are required and available online only. We repeat, no walk-ups. Runs through Jan. 5, 2025. To learn more about special events and how to get tickets, go here: https://www.lewisginter.org/visit/events/dominion-energy-gardenfest-of-lights/
Tuesday, Nov. 19
Rex Richardson @ Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen
For the last two decades, trumpeter Rex Richardson was the most prominent mobile advertisement for the VCU music program. He’s an incredibly adept player, one of the rare musicians who can nail exacting, highly technical solos in modern classical settings and swing inventively on a jazz bandstand. His social media feed was all photos of him, sitting onboard a jet, wearing noise-cancelling headphones, waiting to fly to a symphony gig or elite brass gathering in a distant time zone. Actually, it still is, except now he is flying home it is to Columbia, South Carolina, where he is an associate professor at USC. His upcoming, somewhat homecoming gig at the Cultural Arts Center features music and musicians from his upcoming CD, “Elegy”— Charles Owens on tenor saxophone, Dimitrie Vasiljevic on piano, Randall Pharr on bass, and Kofi Shepsu on drums. The CD selections have a classic, mid-20th century feel, airy post-bop architectures and clear melodies, albeit with ability to turn unexpected corners on a dime. Richardson’s roots are in the effortless mastery of Freddie Hubbard and the creative playfulness of Woody Shaw. There is a rare purity to his playing, especially in the ballads. The band is excellent. If there is a revelation, it is area newcomer Vasiljevic. The pianist’s lovely, late-night tribute to his mother, “Aurora,” is a heartfelt highpoint of a recording full of beautiful moments. It promises to be a pleasure to see this music come together live. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.—Peter McElhinney
