Wankers in Ghent

Wankers!  I like this term, it may be inherently British, but the Americanized version (Jack-Offs) is so crude.  Wankers is almost polite in comparison, and at the same time it totally captures the idea of someone focusing on their own pleasure, irregardless of their surroundings.  This is the vibe I got at a recent show here in Norfolk.

First off - I like Norfolk.  I don't live there, but I live close enough that I can be downtown in two shakes of a lambs tail, and I would prefer to grab a beer or catch a local act in the 'Real' downtown, than in any of the surrounding 'cities.'  

Second - I really like the local music scene here.  It's very eclectic; pop-punk, Americana, Folk-rock, country, blues, a little hardcore here and there.  Now I don't usually go for R&B. I do not like Rap, Country, Metal, or Screamo.  I do have more than a little soft spot for the retro sounds of my 80's upbringing.

Third - I really, really, really like the craft beer renaissance going on in Ghent.

Now the problem is this; I'm not really a hipster... that's not a bad thing, but it does mean my expectations might a little different than what the local 'kids' are willing to put up with.   So, I have a full-time job, and I make decent money - this means my free time is precious to me, and I'm used to voting with my wallet (that means I'm willing to pay for what I like).  It also means I don't like it when I feel I'm not getting what I paid for.

So here's the deal - I spend some of my precious time looking at Guapo's Listing for the weekend shows.  I convince my Lady to go out with me.  I play her some samples of some of the different band's track so she can pick one, and we settle on a show.  I'm excited, she's excited, I'm vested here!

We meet friends for a drink, grab a light dinner downtown and head to the venue. We order drinks and then...

we wait...

and wait...

The openers start to set up...

They buy beers...

They chat with some of their friends in the crowd...

They even do a sound-check...

Showtime comes...

and goes...

They drink their beers...chat with their friends, pretty much like they rented the place for a private party...

Meanwhile I've finished my beer...I'm getting bored...and I'm thinking about asking the door guy for my cover back.

I ask the server (nice whiskers), and he says he'll check.  He comes back and says they'll start in a few minutes, or he'll give me my cover back.

The band actually moves to the stage, intros and then plays.  Finally!

The music is good, great rythm, beat, ...but I can't make out a word any of them is singing.  We strain to hear syllables, but it's no use.  Their friends seem to be digging it, but I am now less than thrilled and we bail.  Now this was just the openers that weren't even advertised, so I've totally bailed on the group we had actually come to hear.

Losers = the venue (no more of my precious cash), me (missed out on the show I had vested in)

Winners - "Wankers!"  I'm sure they had a great time, and all their friends will tell them they were great...but if there are others out there that vote with their wallets...

Wankers will always come up short!

New Gigs to list

I got a few more local gigs to add to the list, looks like a couple of local restaurants are boosting their scenes Grumpy's in Kempsville and Wicker's Crab Pot, down Indian River Rd. toward SoNo.

December 2013 Local Music List – Tidewater

VIRGINIA BEACH

Sandler Center (Town Center/VB)

12/10 – Tidewater Winds Holiday Concert

12/13 - Natalie Cole: Holiday & Hits

12/14 – Virginia Beach Chorale Christmas show

12/15 – VSO: Jingle Bell Jam

12/15 – VSO: Holiday Pops!

12/23 – FREE 31^st annual Messiah Sing Along!

12/31 – “Last Night on the Town” feat. The Gin Blossoms w/Carbon Jam and Cheap Thrills

Jewish Mother (Hilltop/VB)

12/03 – Pair-O-Docs, ‘Pungo Bluegrass’

12/04 – Wednesday Acoustic Showcase

12/06 – Ralph Stanley Farewell Tour, w/More Perfect Jones

12/07 - The Dahus w/Step Pets

12/08 - "I Grew Up in VB," feat. Most Wanted Band, David Carter

12/09 – Wooten Brothers

12/10 – Ammon Tharp’s Tribute to Bill Deal

12/11 - Ammon Tharp’s Tribute to Bill Deal, pt. 2

12/13 - Larry Keel Power Trio

12/15 - The Noblemen’s "Rocking to Fill the Stocking" Concert and Toy Drive

12/17 - 94.9 The Point Presents: "Santapalooza" w/James Blunt, Delta Rae, & ZZ Ward

12/18 – Wednesday Acoustic Showcase

12/19 - Big Wide Grin HOLIDAY SHOW

12/20 - Hackensaw Boys w/Big Daddy Love

12/21 - Sea of Souls / Eye of the Green Mojo / Raunchstar

12/22 - Soul Haven Studios X-Mas Showcase

12/27 - Logan Vath / Jackson LeBeau / Dustin Furlow

12/28 - Michael Overcash Tribute

12/31 - "Taking you Back to the 80’s”: New Year’s Eve w/ The Deloreans

Green Parrott (Chicks Beach/VB)

Sunday night – Open Mic - Dahna Rowe Jam Session

Every Tuesday! Dahna Rowe and the Diablos

Hot Tuna (Shore Drive/VB)

12/04 – DJ Joe Fu

12/06 – DJ F14

12/11 – DJ OhBoy!

12/13 – DJ Joe Fu

12/14 – Brian Grilli Band

12/18 – Snackbar Jones

12/20 – DJ OhBoy!

12/21 – Ryan Hines Band

12/27 – DJ F14

12/28 – Vinyl Headlights

12/31 – New Year’s Eve Party w/Spin City

Doc Taylor’s Seaside Lounge (Oceanfront/VB)

Live Music Thursday Nights

Knuckleheads (Witchduck/VB)

Live music every Friday & Saturday

HK on the Bay (Chicks Beach/VB)

Live Music on Friday/Saturday

Abbey Road (Oceanfront/VB)

Tuesdays – Open Stage w/ Jackson LeBeau

Thursdays – Mike Proffitt

Tidewater Friends of Acoustic Music

(VB/Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library)

12/07 - MSG: Acoustic Blues Trio

JageR’s Beach Bar and Grill (General Booth/VB)

12/06 – Gator Head

12/7 - Hey Hey Hooligan

12/13 – the Deloreans

12/14 – Mack’s Daddy Grand Extravaganza

12/18 – VIP Xmas party w/Krunch!

12/20 – Project Mayhem

12/21 – Rich Whiskey

12/27 – Plastic Eddie

12/28 – Rich whiskey

Grumpy’s (Kempsville/VB)

Karaoke on Wednesday Nights

LIVE MUSIC/BANDS on Thursday - Saturday

12/04 – Karaoke w/TNT

Tapped Gastropub (Hilltop/VB)

Live Music Wednesday through Saturday

Every Sunday – Open Mic w/Jon and Justin

South Beach Grill (Oceanfront)

12/7 – White Trash Circus

Stan’s American Bistro (Courthouse)

12/13 – Skip Friel & the Resonators

NORFOLK

Ted Constant Center (ODU/Norfolk)

12/12 – 96X Winter Meltdown, feat. Fall Out Boy, w/Capital Cities, The Neighbourhood, New Politics, The 1975, & MS MR

Chrysler Hall

12/14 – VSO: Holiday Pops!

12/15 – KEM & Friends: a Holiday Music Experience

Harrison Opera House

12/21 – VSO: Handel’s Messiah w/ Virginia Symphony Chorus 

Scope

11/01 – THE STORY TOUR: featuring Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Matthew West, Nichole Nordeman, Selah, Rawsrvnt and Special Guest Author/ Speaker Randy Frazee

Attucks Theatre

12/26 – Autumnpan: The Talking Drums, will host a Kwanzaa Ceremony

Jewish Mother Backstage (Grandby/Norfolk)

12/06 – Commonwealth Fresh Friday w/DJ Bee

12/07 - Toys For Tots Benefit w/ Pillbuster, Freedom Hawk, & Saltine

12/08 – Off with Their Heads, w/special guests

12/14 - AORM: Academy of Rock Music

12/15 - AORM: Academy of Rock Music

12/20 - Fresh Radio X-Mas w/ DJ Bee and friends

12/21 - The Shack Band / House on Fire

12/29 - Pinkapalooza Charity Event

12/31 - Sneakers Ball NYE Bash w/ DJ Bee

NorVa (Downtown/Norfolk)

12/01 - Trivium / DevilDriver, w/After The Burial, Thy Will Be Done

12/06 – On the Verge: Stay Irie Edition, w/SoulStice Reb'l, No Dreads, RastaMiles, Strange Rootz, R.i.O

12/11 – The Misfits

12/13 - The Afterthought Stranger, w/Invisible Landscapes, Spirit Gun, Clockwork

12/14 - Holly Would, w/Set It Off, mOcean, Free J, D*Nik, K'bana Blaq

12/16 - Tegan and Sara, w/The Dahüs

12/19 - Thirty Seconds To Mars, with special guests

12/20 - Major And The Monbacks, w/Reckless Passengers, The Janks, Malt Liquor Sundae

12/21 - Diamond Beach, w/theKIDICARUS of Prism Surf, RBLE, The Special Guests

12/27 - THE MACHINE: PINK FLOYD Experience, ft. Norbert Stachel, Legendary Sax Player for Roger Waters and an Interstellar Light Show

12/28 – Papadosio, with Dopapod

Taphouse Grill (Ghent/Norfolk)

First Wednesday – Open Mic w/Tom Robotham

12/07 - Great Dismal Swamis

12/14 - The Scoughskes

Mo & O’Malley’s (Grandby/Norfolk)

12/3-7 - Martin Marron

12/10-12 - Martin Marron

12/13-14 - Don Bunch

Hell’s Kitchen (Grandby/Norfolk)

Thursday’s – HK Unplugged

Live Music on Friday/Saturday

12/05 - Dave Johnson

12/06 - Nitrofish

12/07 - Drama Club

12/12 - Red Stapler Duo

12/13 - Gold Sauce

12/14 - Brandon Bower Band

12/19 – Drama Club

12/20 – Whiskey Straight

12/21 – Red Stapler

12/26 – TBA

12/27 – Pawn Shop Lifters

12/28 – Sicman of VA

Mojo Bones (OV/Norfolk)

Thursdays – Open Mic with David Welsh

Fridays – Blues Friday

Saturdays – 96X Rockabilly Riot

12/06 – The Charletones

12/07 – Pawnshoplifters

12/13 – JD Silvia

12/14 – Johnny Trash

12/20 – The Diamonds

12/21 – The wet Boys

12/27 – Michael Clark

12/28 – Pelican Johnny

Mojo Bones (ODU/Norfolk)

Mondays – Country Night

Fridays – DJ Yoni

Saturdays – DJ Blue

Belmont House of Smoke (Ghent/Norfolk)

Thursday - Kareoke

LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND!

12/7 - Lonely Teardrops

12/13 - Your Jovian

O’Connor Brewing Taproom (25^th/Norfolk)

12/07 – Scott Slay

12/14 – Nate Sacks

12/21 – Dan Pellegrino

12/28 – Bret Shephard

Smartmouth Brewing Co. (West Ghent)

12/13 – Esoteric Ramblers

12/14 – Derek Smith

12/28 - Sharkophagus

Venue on 35th (ODU/Norfolk)

Every Monday – Open Mic

The Iguana (ODU/Norfolk)

Saturdays – Open Mike Comedy Night

12/13 - Humanoids From The Deep

Cure Coffeehouse (Norfolk)

Every Wednesday – Open Mic

Borjo’s Coffee (ODU/Norfolk/ODU)

12/01 – Jackie Myers Bamd

12/02 – Mimsey Mack

12/03 – FarAway

12/04 – Feral Conservatives

12/05 – Chris Titchner

12/06 – Patrick Garrison & Chris Pelausa

12/09 – Jordan Schwabe

12/16 – Pocket Vinyl

12/20 - Patrick Garrison & Chris Pelausa

O’Sullivan’s Wharf (Norfolk)

Every Tuesday – Lewis McGehee

Scotty Quixx (Grandby/Norfolk)

Karaoke Every Monday

Every Tuesday – Nature’s Child

Pasha Mezze (Ghent/Norfolk)

Every Sunday – Jazz/Classical Brunch

 CHESAPEAKE

Eagle’s Nest Rockin’ Country Bar (Chesapeake)

Every Sunday – Open Mic w/Heather Edwards

Every Tuesday – Karaoke

12/05 - Fireball Ladies Night ft. Cody and Austin

12/13 - Nightmare before Christmas w/Cody and Austin

12/14 - The Return of TailGate Down

12/18 - Joe Nichols

12/19 - Fireball Ladies Night

12/20 - Audio Affair returns to Rock!!!

12/21 - Brian Grilli's Ho Ho Ho Ho-down

12/28 - Heather Edwards Band

Wicker's Crab Pot and Seafood (Chesapeake)

Tuesdays – Open Mic

Wednesdays – Karaoke

Live Music Thu-Fri

Big Woody’s Bar & Grill (Great Bridge)

Dance Party every Friday Night

Live Music Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun nights

Winston’s Café (Chesapeake)

Every Tuesday – Open Mic w/Joey Wood

Long Shots (Chesapeake)

Every Tuesday – Open Mic with Justin & Rebecca

Cotton Southern Bistro (Chesapeake)

Every Sunday – Russell Scarborough Trio

Cliff’s Bistro (Great Bridge)

Tuesdays - Sterling Riggs is Elvis

PORTSMOUTH

First Fridays (High Street/Portsmouth)

12/06 - Music and Sing-a-Long with Chris Cushna

Baron’s Pub (High Street/Portsmouth)

live music Thurs, Fri, and Sat. Night

Paddy O’briens (Court St./Portsmouth)

Every Wednesday - DJ

 HAMPTON

Hampton Coliseum

12/27-28 – BASSLIGHTS, Featuring Pretty Lights and Bassnectar

Hampton History Museum

12/18 - Danny Fitzgerald the Usual Suspects

Marker 20 (Downtown/Hampton)

Live Music Friday Nights!

Every Thursday Open Mic Night

Taphouse (Downtown/Hampton)

Every Tuesday  Open Mic

Ethereal Cupcakes and Coffee Shoppe (Peninsula Town Center)

Every Wed. Night – Open Mic Night

Bar Louie (Peninsula Town Center)

12/05 – Prohibition Repeal Day (Jazz)

NEWPORT NEWS

Ferguson Center (Newport News)

12/1 - Celtic Woman

12/2 - American Big Band

12/4 - Dave Koz

12/7 - Kenny Rogers

12/9 - Darlene Love & The Shirelles

12/16 - Vienna Boys Choir

Manhattan’s (Newport News)

Every Monday thru Wednesday – Karaoke

Every Wednesday – Hey Hey Hooligan

Every Thursday – United Souls

Every Sunday – Rich whiskey

12/6 - White Trash Circus

12/13 - Hey Hey Hooligan

12/14 - Rich Whiskey

Toby Keith’s Bar (Newport News)

12/6 - Dustin Lynch

12/7 - Celeste Kellog

12/11 - Broke By Sunday

12/12 - Southern Prophets

12/13 - Grant Austin Taylor

12/14 - Crazy X

Hoss’ Deli (Newport News)

Every Tuesday – Brandon Bower

Every Wednesday – Gerald & Marc

Discover Teas (Newport News)

Every Thursday – Open Mic