Horsehead at Poe’s Pub
Of course you’re familiar with the idea of supergroups: bands that are formed from the members of other big bands such that talent and ego are up against one another in the new project. Which is why they don’t always work. There was no way The Traveling Wilburys would go the mile. … Ah, but Horsehead just might. The various talents of Richmond’s own supergroup, formed from members of Dragstrip Syndicate, Cracker and Gutterball, seem to have blended well, a healthy bastard child — perhaps because they focus on rock, that deceptively simple concept, all drums and guitars, with the occasional sax. And a double-shot of whiskey-drinking country. Clint Maul opens Saturday, Feb. 3, at 9:30 p.m. $5. 648-2120.
WRIR’s Second Anniversary Party
We’re reminded with the second birthday upon us that last year at this time there was, in fact, crowd-surfing in the Renaissance ballroom. And how refreshing is it for a venue to have Converse scuffs all over the floor? This year’s party promises more of the same, with performances by singer-songwriters Josh Small and Liza Kate, David Schultz and the Skyline, The Gaskets and synth-opera band the Rah Bras, which honor that ballroom by playing their last show there Friday (part of First Friday events), Feb. 2, 7 p.m.-midnight. $8. 622-9747.
Isaac Hayes at VSU
Imagine a world without “Shaft,” without Chef, without any Scientological soul-singing icons. Can you dig it? Pretty bleak. Hayes announces the arrival of Black History Month celebrations (and the month of romance) in Chesterfield County with a performance Friday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. at VSU’s Daniel Gymnasium. Comedian Micah “Bam-Bamm” White opens. Free. 768-7533.
Asleep at the Wheel at Ashland Coffee & Tea
Why we have any idea at all what Western swing is has a lot to do with Asleep at the Wheel. After almost four decades of sweetly singing fiddles and sawdust symphonies, ringleader Ray Benson has guided the Wheel through a rotating cast of some 80 members, scooping up nine Grammys for the Texas version of the big-band sound. And they’ll be tucking all that history into the coffeehouse Friday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m. before heading down to Nashville to play the Grand Ole Opry. So you finally have an excuse to wear those pointy boots. $40. 798-1702.
Santa Cruz River Band Also in Ashland
The coffeehouse up the road seems dedicated to importing Southwestern sounds this week. Consider the Santa Cruz River Band, a trio playing the music and telling the stories of Arizona in English, Spanish and American Indian languages. This is the storytelling tradition set to music, conjuring the myths of the Southwest with guitar and harmony Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. $15. 798-1702. S
