The Valley Vibrations

Yo Bloggers! I hope we’re all having a rockin’ weekend! Although I was unable to attend, I heard the T-Pain concert last night was out of control, which is awesome.

So it’s Saturday in Harrisonburg and there are so many things going on.

Valkyrie is playing tonight at the Blue Nile in downtown Harrisonburg. The show will start at 9:30pm and the cover is $3. The band describes their sound as “classic doom, hard rock, and heavy metal from the mystical climes of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia,” so if that’s your jam you should definitely come out and see them throw a kick ass show.

Valkyrie

The Worx will be playing again at Rocktown Bar & Grill. That’s right, if you missed them last night, Friday, you can come out tonight, Saturday, April 19, and see them again. I don’t know what kind of music this band has, but it must be an amazing show because Rocktown had to turn people away last time because of the crowd size. Plus, Rocktown always has really mind-blowing shows. I saw The Monster Band there about two weeks ago and it was a phenomenal show. The lead vocalist was a female vocalist with a voice to die for. Hopefully we can get them back here for another show! So, as stated on The Worx web site, “Don’t settle for less than the best. Get The Worx!”

The Worx

Things are not just “happenin” in Harrisonburg.

We have The Sometime Favorites playing at Virginia Tech ZTA in Blacksburg, VA. I was first introduced to this band a couple of months ago and have become a big fan. Actually, scratch that, I have become a huge fan. Their sound is a combination of indie, pop, and rock and what a sound it is. Definitely check out their myspace to get a preview before the show. I guarantee you, if you can attend this show you won’t want to miss it. The show starts at 9pm. If you can’t come to this show, we’ve got the inside scoop that they’ll be in Harrisonburg on Friday, May 16, 2008, playing at, yup, you guessed it, Rocktown!

The Sometime Favorites

Friends to the Valley Vibe, Mozely Rose, will be playing at Dice’s Nightclub in Staunton, VA tonight at 9:30pm. This Richmond, VA based band has been spreading their music nationally since 2004. Having recently released their second album in 2007, The New Brew, they are becoming world renowned having their music played in places like Italy, Germany, France, and all across the United States. Pretty cool, guys! As stated on their myspace account, “the listener will find the album samples country, funk, and blues drenched with outlaw-rock finesse.” Definitely come out to rock with these guys. They’ll show you a good time!

Mozely Rose

Don’t forget about these shows as well on Saturday, April 19, 2008:

-         Sweetbriar: Charlottesville Marathon Finish Line @ 9am

-         Proverbial: Radford University Quad Fest @ 5pm

-         The Silo Effect: Baja Bean in Richmond, VA @ 9pm

Good luck to all of the bands playing this weekend! I know they’ll all throw amazing shows. Have a great rest of the weekend Bloggers and check back tomorrow, Sunday, to find out what is going on the rest of this week. Also, we’ll be doing a feature story on Crowded Streets, a Dave Matthews Band Tribute, who will be playing on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at James Madison University’s Memorial Hall. Thanks to Bangorang Productions for setting this event up. Get excited!

Before I forget, Sunday, April 20, 2008 (also known as 4-20), is The Green Apple Festival in Washington D.C.. This is a FREE concert and tons of unbelievable musicians will be there. To name a few: O.A.R., The Roots, Talib Kweli, Jorden Sparks, Ne-Yo, Will.i.am, and many more. It will begin at about 12pm on the National Mall. I’ll be there and I hope to see you there too!

Whitesel Music opened almost 50 years ago in 1948 as a music supply store located in downtown Harrisonburg.  After decades of service to the surrounding valley, the store was sold and turned into another music store, Ben’s Music.  Four years later, Josh Love, grandson of the original owner of Whitesel Music, came back to reclaim the store that he learned to love growing up in Harrisonburg.

Josh Love graduated from Bridgewater College in 2004 and moved to Pennsylvania to pursue a career as a stock broker.  After three years as a stock broker, Love decided the music business he grew up around was his calling.  When asked his motivation for coming back to reclaim his Grandfather’s music store, Love replied, “I missed the music business.  I spent so much time in my grandfather’s store and I learned to love and appreciate what my Grandfather was doing.”  However, Love’s respect for music extends past the business side of things.  Love is also a dedicated guitar player who has been playing for many years.

The name Whitesel Music has a rich history in Harrisonburg.  At the moment Love offers the sale of countless instruments, amplifiers, and anything else a musician would need including a large collection of Gibson guitars.   Apart from serving as a music supply store, Love has quite different plans for his newly acquired business compared to its traditional ways.  Love plans to keep his Grandfather’s mentality while putting his own spin on the store as well.

Whitesel Music will serve as a music supply store during the day, and at night provide a chance for individuals throughout the community to come together for instrument demonstrations.  These events are already in the works.  A Blues Jam Session, which begins this Thursday, April 17, will give enthusiasts the opportunity to jam with others throughout the community.  Love has set up a drum set in the store for the event and has also set up a hammond organ for people to play.  ”The hammond organ is the original blues keyboard.  It is over 30 years old and was the instrument of choice by many blues greats like Stevie Wonder,” said Love.  The Blues Jam Session will be a weekly event on Thursday nights at 7:30.

Love also plans to begin a Jazz Jam Session that will start the following Friday, April 25, that will work along the same lines.  “This will be a great opportunity for music enthusiasts throughout the community to come and play with complete strangers, yet create something that everyone can enjoy,” said Love.

Whitesel Music has brought a brand new vibe to the valley and is a key player in the downtown music revival effort.  As a guitar player and music enthusiast I feel like this store is the missing link in the valley because of its modern ideas, amazing supply of instruments, and excellent customer service.  Harrisonburg needed a dedicated music store, and I believe that Whitesel Music, “Where everything is music…..and music is everything,” is exactly what we’ve been looking for.

There will be a private grand opening of Whitesel Music on April 25 for high school and college students located throughout Harrisonburg and surrounding areas.  Be sure to go and check out this amazing store and what is has to offer music enthusiasts throughout the valley.

Photo by Pete Marovich

For more information, contact:

Josh Dove

Whitesel Music - 34 South Main St. Harrisonburg, Va. -(540) 434-1376 - www.whiteselmusic.com

Aloha Bloggers! Welcome to yet another week of fun and excitement in the Shenandoah Valley. Big things this week….huge!

Well, Rocktown Bar and Grill is making sure we’re starting off the week right. Tonight, April 13, 2008, at 8pm Rocktown will be hosting The Beetnix. Their web site describes their music as, “nothing you’ve ever heard before,” and it’s true. They have created some truly great beats that will keep you dancing all night long. I can tell you this hip-hop group has an awesome rhythm and the potential to be rise up with the likes of Method Man and Redman. Previously, this band has joined the stage with the likes of: Ghostface Killah, Al Kapone, and Blackalicious. What I found most interesting was their list of influences; the list ranges from some of the greatest bands ever (The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix), to hard-rocking bands (My Chemical Romance, Incubus, The Used), to jam bands (Bob Marley, Sublime, Thievery Corporation, Fiona Apple), and then all the way to hip hop (Nas, WuTang Clan, Talib Qweli). With all of these inspirations, one can only imagine the type of sound they have. Opening for the Beetnix will be DJ XSV (excessive), the official DJ of The Beetnix, and The Super Octavius. Yet another bonus to this event is that you will yet again become a philanthropist ($5 entrance fee)! Yes, it’s true. All proceeds to this event will be going to the Harrisonburg Education Foundation, which aids the community in buying classroom supplies, giving school grants, and offering scholarships to those in need. So college students get out of your computer chairs, parents find babysitters for the kids, and everyone else who wants to change up their Sunday night come to Rocktown for a rockin’ good time.

Don’t worry if you just can’t get away tonight, the rest of the week should prove to be just as eventful!

Rocktown Bar & Grill

Sunday, April 13: The Beetnix w/ DJ XSV & The Super Octavius @8pm

Tuesday, April 15: Reckless Kelly w/ Mickey & the Motorcars @ 9pm

Wednesday, April 16: Proverbial w/ the Bridge @ 9pm

Friday, April 18: The Worx @ 9pm

Saturday, April 19: The Worx @ 9pm

Clementine Café

Friday, April 18: Tony Trishka’s Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular @ 9pm

The Little Grill Collective

Friday, April 18: Red River Rollercoaster and Hound Dog Boys @ 8am

Taylor Down Under (TDU)

Tuesdays: Open Mic Night

Thursdays & Fridays: Open Mic Late Night @ 10pm – 2am

The Bag

Friday, April 18: Ryan Villanueva, The Nice Jenkins, The Silo Effect, Jah B @ 8pm (Wear your toga!)

In the Shenandoah Valley:

Monday, April 14:

-         The Avenue @ Whitesel Music in Harrisonburg, VA @ 8pm

-         Secret Ninja Death Squad @ The Artful Dodger in Harrisonburg, VA @ 7pm

Thursday, April 17:

- The Avenue – Rock for Relief (Festival Ballroom) in Harrisonburg, VA @ 8pm

- The Kings of Belmont – Satellite Ballroom in Charlottesville, VA @ 8pm

Friday, April 18:

-         Sweetbriar – UVA Amphitheater w/ Tim Be Told @ 5pm

-         Sweetbriar – House Show w/ Streamline @ 8pm

-         The Avenue – Bridgewater College @ 8pm

-         The Kings of Belmont – Club R2 in Charlottesville, VA @ 10pm

-         Alien Cabbage – Byers Street Bistro in Staunton, VA @ 9pm

-         Broda – The Flagship Restaurant in Portsmouth, VA @ 6:30pm

Saturday, April 19:

-         Valkyrie – Blue Nile in Harrisonburg, VA w/ Angels of Meth @ 9:30pm

-         Proverbial – Radford University Quad fest @ 5pm

-         The Sometime Favorites – Virginia Tech ZTA @ 9pm

-         Sweetbriar – Charlottesville Marathon Finish Line @ 9am

-         Mozely Rose – Dice’s Nightclub in Staunton, VA  @ 9:30pm

Also, Springfest was very successful this weekend. Awesome job to all the bands that came and played for us!

Springfest