Behind the Local Music: 12 bands to watch in 2010
We all know the stories. The legendary Dave Matthews, a lowly Miller's bartender turned international star. A rough 'n' tumble UVA band named Sparky's Flaw attracted the attention of local music mogul Coran Capshaw and transformed into iTune-toppers Parachute in a few short years. Thanks to the tenacity of local musicians in the '70s and '80s (remember Skip Castro? Or Johnny Sportcoat and the Casuals?) and the aggressive UVA music department (oh, hey, John D'Earth!), Charlottesville has been a hothouse for breeding musical talent for years. But with the addition of the John Paul Jones Arena to the Charlottesville Pavilion, Paramount, and occasionally UVA's Scott Stadium, C'ville has been so busy courting hot international talent–- from the Rolling Stones to U2, Taylor Swift to Heart, Jay-Z to Lady Gaga–- that local listeners might be at risk of overlooking the still-burgeoning local scene.
Gone are the days of mega-rich labels scouring the country for the next big thing. Music these days has gone the DIY route–- venues crop up anywhere (garages, bookstores, porches), while bands are self-recording, self-promoting, self-managing machines. And with a pool of talent as large as Charlottesville's, who can keep up nowadays? Here's ten (with two to grow!) bands to watch in the next decade–- although let's hope it doesn't take that long for them to hit it big.
The Bands: Invisible Hand, Ted Pitney, Mss., Jesse Harper, Drunk Tigers, Andrew Cedermark, Pompadour, Hunter Smith and the Dead Men, Borrowed Beams of Light, Red Satellites, DBB Plays Cups. Astronomers
4Better Or Worse
Essays
Question of the Week
Real Estate
Movie Reviews
On Architecture
On 14th Street: Boutique 'Alcove' hotel gets Council approval
The Alcove apartments on 14th Street could become Charlottesv
The Brazen Careerist
Strange But True
Full Stories List for April 15th, 2010 issue #0915
4Better Or Worse
News
'Family man': Parkway shooting suspect's family, boss express shock
Pink ribbon: Navratilova's cancer recalls local near-death experience
Cover Stories
On Architecture
Cartoons
Photophile
Essays
Movie Reviews
Question of the Week
