RVA #36 Spring 2019 by RVA MAGAZINE

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RVA MAGAZINE SPRING 2019 / NO. 36 RVAMAG.COM

The Rest of History Andrea Geyer. Constellations (Jessie Redmon Fauset) , 2018. Hand-cut archival print on rag paper. 38 7/8 x 24 3/4 inches. Courtesy the Artist and Hales Gallery. ÂŠAndrea Geyer

Gina Adams Andrea Geyer Fabiola Jean-Louis 2200 Parks Ave. | Virginia Beach, VA 757-425-0000 | VirginiaMOCA.org

Mary Reid Kelley On View Mar 23-Aug 18, 2019

Charles Williams

RVA MAGAZINE 2005 – 2019

CURATING CULTURE ACROSS VIRGINIA

#36 | SPRING 2019

CONTENTS

Founders

Welcome to the Dark & Beautiful World of Abigail Larson

RVA Global / Seven Wonders of the Modern World

Publisher President Managing Partner Editor-In-Chief Editor Web Editors, RVAMAG.com Writers

Photography

Graphic Design Ad Design Interns

Cover by General, Editorial & Distribution Questions Sales & Advertising Sales Manager Submission Policy

Send Submissions to All Submissions become the property of Inkwell Ventures Inc. Social Subscriptions Distribution All issues of RVA Magazine can be viewed online at RVA Magazine is printed locally by SPECIAL THANKS TO

R. ANTHONY HARRIS, PARKER GALORE INKWELL VENTURES LLC JOHN REINHOLD LANDON SHRODER MARILYN DREW NECCI CALEY STURGILL MARILYN DREW NECCI, CALEY STURGILL MADELYNE ASHWORTH, SAGE CANNADY, ASH GRIFFITH, HIP HOP HENRY, EMILY HOLTER, SARAH HONOSKY, MATTHEW MCDANIELS, MICHAEL MILLIONS, MARILYN DREW NECCI, NATE NEWTON, CALEY STURGILL MADELYNE ASHWORTH, ASH GRIFFITH, ROGER MAY, MICHAEL MILLIONS, LANDON SHRODER LLEWELLYN HENSLEY, STAMP STAMP GINNY BIXBY, ALICEN HACKNEY, AVIANCE HAWKES, EMILY HOLTER, SYDNEY LAKE, JAYLA MCNEILL, CAITLIN MORRIS, KATE SELTZER, BENJAMIN WEST CHRIS VISIONS hello@rvamag.com JOHN REINHOLD / john@rvamag.com CALEY STURGILL / caley@rvamag.com JOE VANERHOFF / joe@rvamag.com ACE PATEL / ace@rvamag.com JUSTIN MCCLUNG / justin.mcclung@rvamag.com RVA MAGAZINE WELCOMES SUBMISSIONS BUT CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSOLICITED MATERIAL. hello@rvamag.com RVA MAGAZINE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF INKWELL VENTURES INC. @rvamag hello@rvamag.com THANK YOU TO OUR DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS QUICKNESS RVA rvamag.com/magazine CONQUEST GRAPHICS ARTIFEX M. HUNTER HAGLUND

attitudes of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publisher or editors. RVA Magazine is published quarterly. Images are subject to being altered from their original format. All content is © Inkwell Ventures LLC and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written authorization of the publisher. RVA Magazine is a registered trademark of Inkwell Ventures Inc.

words & photos by Madelyne Ashworth

The Truth Is Out There / The Universe Beckons: In Virginia, Life Outside Earth

by Sarah Honosky

Activists Push Back Against 36 words by Emily Holter / photos by Roger May

Into the Visions-Verse: The Illustrious World of Chris Visions

by Matthew McDaniels & Marilyn Drew Necci

words by Michael Millions / photos by Michael Millions & Landon Shroder

Indie Film Last Call Finds the ‘Twilight Zone’ in the Richmond Bar Scene

by Sage Cannady

Richmond’s Local Businesses Find 50 Doin’ It For Real: by Hip Hop Henry

Rock Is Dead, Let It Die by Nate Newton / photo by Rama

COLUMNS DON’T SLEEP PLAYLIST STUDIO NEWS MUSIC REVIEWS RVA ON TAP

62 66

8 10 10 12 58

Thank You to Our Sponsors! Our music coverage is sponsored by the Graduate Hotel of Richmond. Our art coverage is brought to you by the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Quickness RVA is our distribution partner.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Our fair city is known for its warm Southern summers, but right now it feels like we’ve been trapped in an endless, cold winter for too long. Thankfully, spring

We hope that with the spring comes another season of warm days, and warm hearts, for our neighbors and friends across the Commonwealth.

made 2018 one of the rainiest years on record for the River City feels like it might be fading at last.

This issue is a reminder that our state will always bring us plenty of stories to be proud of: from its

Richmond this year, we hope you’ll roll up this issue of RVA Magazine and carry it with you—through all your riverside picnics, all your park outings, and all restaurants are serving up for every taste in the book.

weather that has plagued us lately, but we also hope to give you a refuge from the troubles that we, as Virginians, have endured together this year.

outstanding work that carries the Virginian name, to the intriguing tales from its community of UFO our rural areas are more than incubators of backwards thinking. As we grow with one another, RVA Magazine is here to tell your stories from mountains to coast,

The sun will shine again, Virginia. 2019 is going to be a great year—let’s spend it together. Warm Regards, Marilyn Drew Necci

DON’T SLEEP

1 A harrowing feeling in Caroline County, Virginia by Richmond photographer @df.picturess / 2 The hauntingly intrepid work of Virginia artist @blashygallowsart / 3 Killing us, while saving us by @benjah_photography / 4 Orgy Burger. Art by @mike.makatron / 5 Dropping bars with @themostdebonair at RVA Lyricist Lounge by @radiotokyo / 6 Happy Presidents’ Day by @zoueh_skotnes / 7 Be who you were really meant to be. Mural by @gammagallery / 8 Virginia legend Pusha T by @5thphvse / 9 Valentines come early with Richmond’s @ grittycityrecs and @big_johnny_ciggs / 10 Snail Mail by Virginia photographer @itsana.photos

RVA MAGAZINE 36

6 7

SPRING 2019

9 10

monthly residencies

1st thursdays mikrowaves 1st fridays jackass flats 2nd fridays kendall street company 3rd saturdays suggesting rhythm last wednesday open mic night

happy hour residencies

2nd & 4th thursdays comedy happy hour hosted by jameson babbowski

1st & 3rd fridays

beers & banjos rotating acts: sturgeon city cary st. ramblers the slack family band heritage bluegrass band

2nd & 4th fridays

blues & brews hosted by the river city blues society

the camel 1621 w. broad st - thecamel.org

PLAYLIST TRACKS WORTH LISTENING TO

MORGXN FEAT. WALK THE MOON, “HOME” VITAL (WXNDERLOST)

With my music, I like a good beat; a swift hook that pulls me in, and the kind of luring seductivity that keeps me singing it hours later. “Home” by Morgxn and Walk the Moon is that kind of sultry pop that requires blaring it in my car during the off times, when I choose the radio over podcasts. It speaks to anyone with wanderlust, who ultimately just looks for home because there’s nothing like it -- nothing like the feel of it in your blood that you just can’t describe. --Ash Griffith

LORETTA LYNN, “AIN’T NO TIME TO GO” WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT (SONY LEGACY)

With over 50 years of experience under her belt, the queen of country music’s latest album shows her range as she shifts from the classic sounds of heavy steel guitar to a softer, acoustic-folk sound. At the age of 86, Loretta Lynn has gone back to her Kentucky roots with her song “Ain’t No Time To Go.” Highlighting themes of death and the human inability to accept loss, Lynn’s sound is reminiscent of mountain music, relying heavily on fiddle, banjo, acoustic guitar, and harmony. Lynn’s hauntingly-pure voice and lyricism juxtaposes with the upbeat instruments, leaving chills through its rhythm. --Emily Holter

ROSIE TURTON, “BUTTERFLY” ROSIE’S 5IVE (JAZZ RE:FRESHED) I was first drawn to this song by the drums blending with the piano and bass, then this blaring horn began to stand out. I assumed it was a trumpet… false. Normally, when I listen to jazz, trombone is not the first instrument that comes to mind -- but here I am, talking about trombonist Rosie Turton. “Butterfly” finds every member of the band playing their part to perfection. After the first listen, I wasn’t sure if I had listened to something brand-new or a classic standard of the genre. Maybe it’s both. --Hip Hop Henry

TURKUAZ, “IF I EVER FALL ASLEEP” LIFE IN THE CITY (ELECTRIC HABITAT) A self-described "musical drip painting," Turkuaz puts the fun in funky. This track off their latest album, Life In The City, is the anthem you need when you're getting set to tear Richmond up for a night on the town. With a ten-piece ensemble ranging from horns to strings and stage singers, Turkuaz is a band best enjoyed live and in color. If you're feeling it, be sure to catch them at Dominion River Rock on May 18th -- just be sure to come in your dancin' shoes. --Justin McClung

SEEYOUSPACECOWBOY, “YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE LIQUOR IS CALLING THE SHOTS NOW RANDY BOBANDY” SONGS FOR THE FIRING SQUAD (PURE NOISE) I must say, I am delighted to see the early-00s sass-grind being reborn in a new generation of bands; bands who give long, wacky titles to songs full of stop-on-a-dime transitions, hyperspeed blast beats, and neck-snapping breakdowns. For a loud, brutal, and completely melody-free metallic hardcore record, SeeYouSpaceCowboy’s debut LP is filled with over a dozen incredibly-catchy songs. It’s the way the chaotic opening riff woozily teeters off a cliff, before falling headlong into a sick mosh breakdown, that makes this one the winner for me -- but really, they’re all winners. --Marilyn Drew Necci

SPRING 2019 13 YEARS OF RVA MAGAZINE 2005-2018

STUDIO NEWS This project -- formerly known by the name of its frontman, Clair Morgan -has worked through an identity crisis. As of last year, they definitely are a band, and they are called New Lions. They’ve recently completed a trackingsession marathon that took place over several months, after hours at Triple Stamp Press. Singer/guitarist Clair Morgan isn’t quite sure how the band’s new sound will be received compared with previous work under his own name. “I think some people will hear it and say, ‘Eh, they sound about the same.’ Others may be turned off if they really like the quieter things we've done,” he said. “I really have no idea how it compares, but I'm very proud of it.” This is the group’s first release since the 2016 election, and political events over that time have definitely had an effect on the material. “There is an urgency I feel about this record -- it’s a message of love, anger, frustration, disappointment, and worry for everyone,” said Morgan. “I wanted to share how I'm feeling about current events, share that I have lost close relationships over what has happened in the last two years. I hope we can sit back 5-10 years from now and you can tell me, ‘See, it all worked out.’ … it's going to take a village.” The EP, a co-release with Nodderly and Trrrash Records likely titled End Story, should be out in May. Occultist have been hard to track down in recent years, but the blackenedthrash group is still going strong, and are currently working on their first album in over five years. “I would say our sound has both evolved and devolved,” said guitarist Jim Reed. “There is more complexity in some of the new stuff -- definitely with the interplay in guitars, between myself and our newer guitarist, John Bliss. And then, there are very sparse elements stripped of frills; just going for the jugular, so to speak.” The quintet will be recording over the course of the spring, with mastering be handled by Dan Randall of Mammoth Sound Mastering, who mastered their last LP, Death Sigils. Reed tells us that the working title for the album is Tremendum. “It’s a word that kept reappearing in a dream I had,” he said. “When I woke up I looked it up: ‘A mystery before which humanity both trembles and is fascinated, is both repelled and attracted.’” Prepare to tremble with fascination later in 2019. Grunge-punk noisemakers Fat Spirit are putting the finishing touches on their third LP. Singer-guitarist John Graham tells us that the album, Egg, was tracked live with Ricky Olson at The Ward, with overdubs overseen by Bob Quirk. “I had heard releases I really loved that both of them had worked on, and I felt drawn to work with them,” said Graham. “The whole experience, with both, has been very natural and positive.” He calls Egg “a culmination of pain, joy, and things we have learned and honed along the way, towards the goal of making something that we love.” Citrus City Records is scheduled to release the cassette version of the album; they’re hoping to release a vinyl version as well, but no label has been locked down as yet. Label owners, you know what to do. --Marilyn Drew Necci

11 1

Richmond Music Hall

Pairing Great Beer

WITH GREAT MUSIC

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT capitalalehouse.com

MUSIC REVIEWS

HIP HOP HENRY (HH) AND MARILYN DREW NECCI (MN)

A ARNXBRW N

ANALO G S US P EC T S

On his latest release, Richmond upstart Aarnxbrwn delivers introspective and lyrical rhymes with the polished sound of a veteran emcee. He displays the ability to give you something to vibe to, while spitting tight bars that demand your attention. With soundscapes that could

“UNPLUG. RESIST. OVERTHROW.” is the mantra on Analog Suspects’ new album. That could be aimed towards our political climate, or towards mainstream rap. With an abundance of wonderfullycrafted loops and sampled drums (courtesy of DJ Mentos), Noah-O picks up

BBX, Skinny Hendrixx, and OG Illa, the jailbird is something to look for. (HH)

collab, The Rain, with sharp, relatable

JAI LB I RD ON WALTON ( EQUAL S7 ENT.)

TR AN SMI SS ION 001 ( PURPLE REPUBLI C)

PETRICHOR

II (PETRICHORVA .BANDC AMP.COM)

The most interesting thing I’ve heard come out of our city’s scene in quite a while. Tess Fisher’s vocals make the strongest and most immediate impression on Richmond quartet Petrichor’s second full-length; their brassy bravado is unmistakable and appealing. They sit high and proud in the tric guitar meshing with the spooky, atmospheric keyboards of Hunter

F LY ANAKIN & T UAM IE

F R I ED EG G

Part 4 in the popular series from Mutant Academy producer Tuamie features

This quartet started with a straightforward U.S. hardcore sound, but they’ve taken a welcome turn for

over some of Tuamie’s most innovative

wave HC vets like Butthole Surfers or Laughing Hyenas, who discovered

shouting out the re-emerging wave culture in hip hop with the always-dope Skyzoo, one thing you can’t say is that Mutant Academy’s style is predictable. (HH)

downright unhinged. The resulting slab is fast and slobbery, like a Tasmanian devil at the wheel of a runaway truck. Get out the way. (MN)

H OR S EH E AD

IL L IT E R AT E L I GH T

E MERG ENC Y R APS VOL 4 (M UTANT AC AD EMY)

S QUARE O NE (FE EL I T)

PAG E ANT WAVE ( EMER ALD C IT Y SOUNDS)

SWEET BE A ST (ILLITERATELIGHT.BANDCAMP.COM)

smile about it. The twang and pedal steel

making a surprisingly-huge noise. Sweet Beast has a big, expansive sound that’s got a ton of melody weaving through it. Illiterate Light is capable of generating strong forward motion

Horsehead make music for contemplating the sadly-unavoidable

heartland rockers like Tom Petty, Jakob Dylan, and Paul Westerberg are really the classic, heartfelt sound doesn’t ever get old. Thank god for that. (MN)

transitioning directly into big glowing choruses full of psychedelic pop bliss. It’ll give you something to smile about. (MN)

up to a strong collection of tunes that sound like the most haunting, and other retro-doom band; the occasional acoustic interlude makes clear that sic than anything you can trace back to the opera houses of old Europe.

said it.) --Marilyn Drew Necci (MN)

ROY BAT T Y

ROY BAT T Y (ROYBATTYBAND.BANDCAMP.COM)

Some really raging post-hardcore here -- but honestly, it’s barely “post-” at all. but with a dose of vitriol drawn from ever-present melodic undercurrent adds a spoonful of pop sugar, but Roy Batty in your belly, noise in your head. (MN)

S I C K BAGS

CIGAR E T T E SP I T (TH E COLON E L)

This group brings back that early era of punk, when the bands were just rock n’ roll greasers with leather jackets, quick tempos, and snotty attitudes. Their singer brings a certain pinup-witha-switchblade energy, and her vocal melodies inject a garage-rock layer to what would otherwise be straight-up Dead Boys-style action. Three songs full of swagger and sass to liven up your night. (MN)

RVA 2018 RVAMAGAZINE MAGAZINE33 31 || SUMMER WINTER 2017

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Welcome to the Dark and Beautiful World of Abigail Larson

by Ash Griffith

The work of illustrator and artist Abigail Larson is what you’d get if you mixed Neil Gaiman and Mary Shelley together with a mystical, wonderful paint brush. From paintings to comic book covers—and even a tarot deck, currently in the works—Larson has romantic style. words: “Strange, macabre, romantic, whimsical, imaginative.” The arts have been in Larson’s blood since she was a young child. Originally, she dreamt big plans of of a circus, but crippling stage fright thwarted those ideas before they could come to fruition. We may never know what Larson’s version of The Greatest Showman would have been, but today, she could draw or paint a version of it for us. She’s had a great deal of

“I was always an artsy kid, but it wasn’t until high school that I realized illustration could be a career path for me,” said Larson. “I fell in love with the works of classical illustrators like Arthur Rackham

VCU, I built a website and started using social media to promote my work.” It took quite a long time before Larson started titions and joining gallery shows whenever able. Two of Richmond’s artistic landmarks: The Poe Museum and Gallery 5. many artists fall victim to burnout and depression. Larson was no exception: looking back, she points to the strong storytelling aspect of illustration as one of the things that kept her motivated. “That’s really the heart of illustration—telling a story through art,” said Larson. “I really love that creative process, but I especially love sharing my work online for others to see and enjoy.”

styles. She has always been drawn to this approach, and its influence throughout her life has seeped deeply into her work. Even in her childhood, reading stories by authors like Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, attracted her, even if she isn’t sure why. “I’ve never really been able to pinpoint what it is about the macabre and the Gothic that I love so much,” said Larson. “I think the quiet, creeping, dark romanticism has always appealed to me. I felt very comfortable with that world, and eventually brought it into my artwork.” SPRING 2019

to see that she stays busy. Her work is as extensive as it is diverse, and she keeps a full schedule of projects at all times. Because of this, Larson admits she’s turned down projects due to time constraints. It’s pure profes-sionalism that motivates her at times like this; for her, turning down a project is a way to avoid way, she can maintain focus on the project at hand. However, there is one dream collaboration she’d probably make time for. “I’d love to work with a major studio on a feature

“I think quiet, creeping, dark romanticism has always appealed to me. I felt very comfortable with that world, and eventually brought it into my artwork.” “I love everything I’m working on while I’m working on it, and when the next project comes, I get

to date is the Dark Wood tarot deck I’m working on Ask any artist what their favorite project of all with Sasha Graham, for Llewellyn Worldwide. It’s my time is, and they will probably tell you “the one I just

RVA MAGAZINE 36

Naturally, a unique tarot deck falls right into Larson’s wheelhouse. Another very apropos recent project of hers was to illustrate a story by pioneeringhorror author H.P. Lovecraft. In 2016, Larson’s literary agent helped her pitch the project of a lifetime: creating an illustrated edition of Lovecraft’s The Cats of Ulthar acclaimed by fans of Larson and Lovecraft alike. “It was a pretty fast-paced project, but the publisher was incredible to work with, and it was a lot of As mentioned, Larson tends to keep her hands in array of comic book covers. She’s illustrated covers for series like Edward Scissorhands, Assassin’s Creed, and Penny Dreadful, and is currently working with DC and Vertigo on a project for the Sandman Universe. But she can’t tell us too much about it just yet: only

see an original comic series of her own in the future? Just maybe? “I’m working on my own gothic retellings of classic fairytales, and I’m planning to release them in graphic

Larson originally came to Richmond for the stration program, which was recommended by several abilities, she felt the university experience would help her evolve—not only in her skills, but in her sensibilities as an artist—in ways that working on her own couldn’t. “I took classes in science, history, math, and literature. In art school, I was able to learn not just how to draw, but to really understand art in all mediums. I studied photography, sculpture, painting, graphic design, etc. which have all helped give me a more solid foundation

she lived in Richmond was for the city’s Zombie Walk, designing their posters. Since graduating with her Bachelor of Fine Arts at VCU, Larson has relocated to Italy, where she now lives with her husband; and even though she’s far from the city, she still designs work for Richmond’s beloved annual event. Larson is open about the fact that she looks to many people for inspiration in her work. From various artists she follows on social media to the prince of of inspirations endless. But just like anyone else, Larson occasionally hits a creative roadblock. Her biggest tip for other artists, though, is just to take a step back. SPRING 2019

RVA MAGAZINE 36

“I’m working on my own gothic retellings of classic fairytales, and I’m planning to release them in graphic novel form. That’s a long way off, but it’s in the works..” watch, take a break and go out, visit a museum, read a book—things like that. I hit an art block a couple times a year, and usually all I need to do to get back on track When you’re a creative person of any kind—whether in visual art, writing, theater, photography, or any other artistic discipline—the hardest part of the yourself solely through your work. It’s an arduous process that takes a long time and a lot of work… and that’s if it ever happens for you at all. she held while perfecting her art, she lists working retail in a lingerie store, and teaching children’s art classes (all while freelancing in her spare time, making path she walked, though, Larson never gave up. She advises today’s struggling artists not to get discouraged if they don’t land the job they want right away. “Learn, experiment, and your style will develop post your work regularly on social media, and jobs Even in her position today, as a successful artist self-supported with her work, Larson admits that there are still challenges. “Keeping the momentum can be a battle someat once, or there’s nothing coming in at all. But having a personal project to keep you occupied during the Despite moving on to live an ocean away, Larson’s time in the River City stays with her—and she maintains that it still influences her. Even if it’s just a small detail hidden in the background, the city is still present in her work.

in a new city, making new friends, building my portartist. Sometimes a certain headstone from Hollywood Cemetery or the landscape of Belle Isle might show up in one of my illustrations… and of course, I still carry all SPRING 2019

RVA Global: Seven Wonders of the Modern World

Words & photographs by Madelyne Ashworth

The most difficult part about traveling is the people you must leave behind. Other things can also go wrong: missing planes, losing luggage, items

Rather, it is connecting with people in a real and meaningful way,

stolen, food sickness, uncomfortable weather, fear of strangers, looking like an outsider, feeling unsafe... theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all most likely going to happen. When traveling to a new place, especially by yourselfâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and even more so as an American, whose exposure to hardship is less than most of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;mishaps occur. You learn to deal with them, and then you learn about yourself,

even while recognizing you may never see them again. The most important moments in travel are not the ones that connect you with yourself, but the moments that link you with others. Modern media, especially the ubiquitous travel blogs, have created a searching. Seeing international travel through this lens distracts us from even the most basic level of mindful immersion. Traveling alone should not mean that one exclusively travels inwardly.

What becomes memorable and meaningful is subjective. Your takeaways will vary. Here are some of mine.

Last fall, I took a three month journey to Asia by myself— but this was not a backpacking trip. I spent two months month exploring Vietnam. I took ten days at the end of this journey to visit a few European countries. While living in

like dyslexia, ADHD, and autism: all disabilities that are regarded in India either as taboo or as outright fabrications. I spent my time at the institute interviewing and documenting teachers and students, and working daily with woman who owns and operates the school, thanks to her generosity and to knowing her son as my college roommate. gave me the ability to immerse myself in Indian culture, traveling through the country on holidays and weekends. It was, indeed, immersive. I woke up each day at 6 a.m. for yoga and meditation. I know how cliché that sounds, but I’m not kidding. I’d go into the courtyard of the apartment complex in which I lived to do yoga alongside many others doing the exact same— old, young, men, women. This is a way of life here. Then I’d come inside and watch as my hostess carried out her daily Hindu prayers, make Indian food with her, dress in an Indian tunic, and head to the school to help prepare lessons for the day. That level of immersion was, in ally wear, knowing that at home they’d either be seen as a novelty or as cultural appropriation. As a woman in Southern India, I was expected to dress, talk, and act like Southern Indian women do. It was easier that way. Last year, the Thomson Reuters Foundation found India to be the most dangerous nation in the world for sexual violence against women. Wearing long, loose pants and Indian tunics was a protective measure—those clothes felt like armor, and soon I felt strangely naked if I wasn’t wearing them in public. That feeling took several weeks to So, yes, immersing myself into Southern Indian culture

with strangers in meditation, to be included in holiday celebrations. It was worth it to learn to cook Indian food each night, discussing Indian customs and education with me. It was worth it to spend days in Hindu temples and an elephant’s head, why Durga is a badass. It was worth learning how to bless myself with herbed water, learning about energy and balance, about arranged marriage, village farming, the criticality of a healthy corn harvest.

RVA MAGAZINE 36

“...a da leaves smellin spices and co

“The fog creeps up the Himalayan mountains everyday at 5 pm like a weary visitor come to rest for the night.” I am being bombarded. “What does your house look like?” “Where do you live?” “Do your streets look like ours?” “Do you live with your mom?” “Are there loose dogs everywhere in America?” “What do the cars look like?”

children into a lower social position, and setting them up for failure before they’re given a chance to prove they deserve any better. Happy “Maybe one day you’ll all have the chance to visit me in America,”

some pictures on my phone. I show them the tiny dot on the map that is Richmond, Virginia, pictures of my backyard, of my mother, of ones whose names I don’t know, crowd around the little desk. Their

The intelligence these children display—despite the prejudice they face from teachers, family, and friends due to their learning generations still think in context of the caste system, slotting these

If ever you have the chance to teach abroad, take it.

The fog creeps up the Himalayan mountains everyday at 5 p.m. like a weary visitor come to rest for the night. The mountains are so tall, the fog is like a lap blanket below us. The air smells of mint and dew, and

RVA MAGAZINE 36

character in someone else’s story. Embrace them: being a listener is an underrated gift.

ay at the temple es your palms ling of herbs and es, cardamom coconut water.”

His back leg was irreparably broken after being crushed in a logging accident, and an abscess was embedded on his hip. He walked with a limp. He had been rescued from a logging company, and sent to the Elephant Conservation Center in Laos to live out his days with a disability that would prevent him from ever mating or socializing of space. The metaphorical space he occupied was overwhelming. I couldn’t touch him—this was a conservation center, meant for three hours walking around with one of the center’s organizers, learning the painstaking, meticulous processes—both legal and medical—that the center must carry out to protect these elephants. Regardless of the way it seems from afar, the solutions to another

companies.” Cultural immersion isn’t always about people. Sometimes it’s about 12,000 pound elephants.

It was like a barrage. For the past hour and a half, the entire train car had been empty, but at this small village stop somewhere outside Hanoi, a huge group of people making their way to the city piled in. the entire car. Grandmothers corralled the little ones, men hurried into the quiet corners, students rode back to the city for the school week and the girl poring over her math homework, because doing math homework at 6 p.m. on a Sunday is actually the worst. She smiled back. Traveling to more than 50 places within the span of a year, as some other popular travel articles have advised, becomes nothing more than that’s never been my goal when traveling. I aspire to learn, to absorb, to connect. I want to spend at least two weeks in any single place, because anything less is a tourist trap. I’m happy for those who have the opportunities and means to travel—granted, I am one of them. I work hard to earn what I can, and every single star comes out to wink the night away. The chai is all

peak in the lower Himalayas of the Uttarakhand region. A new friend and I had been joking throughout the day: bonding over art, writing, hiking, and superhero movies, laughing so hard my abdomen hurt. As the cold moved in and the aches of the day pushed everyone to bed, soon he and I were the only ones left awake. “My boyfriend and I broke up last week,” he said, interrupting

Travel is what you accomplish while being present in a place. It’s about mindfulness, being careful to remember you’re a stranger, not presuming you’re welcome in any space, and respecting boundaries until told otherwise. Reach for immersion. If you have the choice between staying in one town for a few more days or traveling elsewhere to look at a national monument for two minutes, stay in the town. Don’t Ride the city bus.

hard.” Only me, the crickets, and the pack mules know the rest. Homosexuality was decriminalized only this past September When traveling, instances arise in which you become the side

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link arms in the cold and head down the street, speaking a weird mix of English and French that probably only we can decipher. No time has passed. We order hot chocolate —it’s the best in the world, and we don’t need wine to enjoy ourselves. This is home. It’s okay to visit the same place twice. Maybe even three times. Maybe even annually.

On the island, his friends call him “Crazy Sven.” He laughs loud, photobombs every picture he can, makes dirty jokes, and lives by the motto that “Every day is a good day.” Sven

mountaineer, photographer, mountain guide, and tour guide. Our little group of eight had chosen a newer, independent Iceland tour company, meaning we had the pleasure of and glaciers of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. At the end of a long, cold, wet, and wonderful day, we gathered around a table eating dinner in a farmhouse somewhere in the barren Once inside, Sven removed a couple of his many warm layers, revealing seven ravens tattooed on his forearm. After entertaining us with some stories of elaborate pranks he used to play on his coworkers, everyone became engaged in side conversations. I asked him about the tattoo. He tells me that in Norse mythology, the raven can be a symbol of death—of a loved one lost, watching over you. “There were eight of us,” he said, referring to his group “I’m the only one still alive.” “I have a tattoo like that, too,” I said.

Many people regard international travel as glamorous,

a lot to be learned from it. Mark Twain, the original American travel writer, once wrote: “Travel is fatal to prejudice,

charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” For me, the travel required, it means a measure of courage,

importance of home.

RVA MAGAZINE 36

SPRING 2019

The Truth is Out There The Universe Beckons: In Virginia, Ufologists Search Confidently for Life Outside Earth By Sarah Honosky

Or maybe my fascination with UFOs started earlier, with man desire for something more. Everyone has a UFO story, and my neck to look at the night sky, desperate to see something “I get phone calls every day from people who are seeing things in the sky, and believe that they are alien craft,” said Shostak. that the aliens are here, sailing the skies.” My own fascination started when my mom dropped the news at the dinner table: apparently, my sleepy hometown of Crozet, Virginia is home to more than peach orchards, cow pastures, and

Or maybe it starts here. Now, with the warning. It came in an email, one which I received after poking into the Virginia UFO scene. The cautionary sentence was nature: “This subject can be very dangerous,” I’m warned in stumble upon…”

gist Steven Greer. Greer is the founder of the Sirius Disclosure

modern extraterrestrial study, and it doesn’t disappoint. The

gence that, according to the project’s website, “has been visiting planet Earth for decades, if not centuries.”

self described Ufologist and theorist, the president and founder of the UFO Club of Virginia. Youness has made the study of extraterrestrial existence

brarian mother chatting up the author of Ufology books, DVDs, from a trip to Saint Paul, her mother visibly upset. “She took me aside and she said she had seen something in the sky that she’d never seen before,” said Youness. the Discovery Channel as an expert on all things “alien.” I was already suspicious about the role of the paranormal in alleged government conspiracy, and the infamous Roswell traterrestrial fascination. restrial in our locale is enough for me to be convinced this goes to the top.

Youness was spurred by an interest in astronomy and photography, and references UFO sightings she witnessed

As for the danger, Youness says that sometimes it’s best to

she founded the UFO Club.

tions from ancient cultures and civilizations to present day

sages out into space, or trying to telepathically connect with them to bring them [here]. That can be very dangerous.” The study of UFOs is often taboo, or at the very least, done

pare. We’ll know what we’re dealing with.”

non, Youness said many members of the UFO Club don’t want

paredness and safety, down to the basics: like stockpiling

investigations. “It’s not something that the world accepts.” In many cases, this pursuit is their night job. Take Susan

traterrestrial attack. “No matter if it’s a natural disaster or a celestial disaster,” she said, “humans can’t seem to take care of themselves.”

organizations, composed of volunteers who study alleged UFO sightings across the U.S. While we talked, she pushed a cart around a grocery

sion from the stars, or a natural disaster like tornadoes or hurricanes. intermittently interrupted by the soft sound of Muzak from overhead speakers, the beeping of the checkout line, and a cilities, power plants, and military bases all create a draw, said Youness.

“I have my hands full,” said Swiatek. “Most people at

band have made sightings both together and separately. “We lished in 1969, the organization boasts of four thousand members nationwide, with chapters in every state. ent experiences and sightings, when something comes closer to you, when you can get the better picture…that’s when it’s time to stop,” said Youness.

, I don t feel that humans should be sending messages out into space, or trying to telepathically connect with them to bring them here. That can be very dangerous.

est started young. Spurred on by the cases of extraterrestrial

widely publicized report of an alien abduction in the U.S. The story surrounded a rural New Hampshire couple, who claimed they were kidnapped by aliens in September of 1961. As always, it began with a bright light in the sky—as did broad daylight. “It looked like a gas burner in the sky… an oval As director of MUFON’s Virginia chapter, it’s Swiatek’s job to log, track, and investigate these UFO sightings. She manages teams of civilian investigators, whose ultimate goal is to collect enon. It’s a vein of work that relies on shaky cell phone footage and a plethora of false starts. “The phenomena doesn’t really behave,” said Swiatek. is going to do. It’s not that easy.” Thanks to the geography—lakes, mountains, and prime al breeding ground for UFO activity. “We have a little bit of everything to attract them. It’s like a microcosm. And of course, we have the big government and military presence in our state, more so than others.”

to cloak itself and disappear. The lists of reported incidents are nearly endless, and Swiatek says some cases get very involved,

nior astronomer at the SETI institute, a research organization whose mission is to explore the nature of life in the universe.

lottesville. Though he was paid to study galaxies, in his free moments he would point the radio antennas in the direction of the black holes and planets, hoping to pick up a signal that would change his career. “The universe beckons,” Shostak wrote in a 2015 editorial

Though he was paid to study g in his free moments he would p the radio antennas in the direc of black holes and planets, hoping to pick up a signal that would change his career.

sages into the cosmos, for fear of who could be listening. Shostak ricocheted from Virginia to Europe, and finally to California in 1988: where he became entangled with the newly conceived SETI Institute, before it was even a whisper fi flick, Contact. The SETI institute is a key research contractor for both NASA and the National Science Foundation. It employs more

for Education, and the Center for Outreach.

RVA MAGAZINE 36

ology, biology, and sociology.

mistic. Our technology and knowledge of astronomy is more advanced than any culture before us. mans before us; none of them could have found any of this life,” gram.” In the end, It’s Shostak, and not The X Files, that convinces green.” They’re enormously popular with the public, because they give us something to unite against.

y galaxies, d point ection

ins for our human fears, giving us the means to look into the vastness of space and to compartmentalize the intricacies of our own earthbound problems. “It’s something that astronomy and physics can actually tell you,” said Shostak. “The stars will all burn out. The galaxy will turn into big black holes. These are things that are going to happen.” UFOs are a universal fascination—whether it’s a life’s work, a hobby, or an idle pastime. Despite its association with fringe conspiracy, it’s a study legitimized among many major news sources. See the The New York Times December 2017 exclusive on a secret Pentagon program investigating the phenomenon, or

See an article published last month by The Washington Post about a top Harvard Astronomer, Avi Loeb, who theorized an extraterrestrial craft may be among us and became what the enthusiast of his time.” These theories, suspicions, and studies exist at every tier of our society. From national organizations to local clubs, and to my small hometown—where a ufologist can make a career in copious wineries, and good ol’ rural Virginia. Despite our hometown connection, I should have you know that Steven Greer declined to comment for this article. For all the talk of aliens, this is what makes us so entirely human. That, amid everything—amid logic, skeptics, and grainy, inconclusive photographs; amid debunked abductions, space that meets our calls—we are drawn to the stars in search of fundamental truths. Or, at the very least, a spaceship.

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GayRVA: Rural LGBTQ Activists Push Back Against â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hillbillyâ&#x20AC;? Stereotypes by Emily Holter photography by Roger May

tives. The understanding of the mountainous, rural pable of independent thought, drove the political gion of America after the 2016 election. In the wake of

age surrounding Appalachia was that of passive, poor, conservative voices.

litical paradigm: one in which the outside world can nore issues in the region. What these dismissals fail to realize, though, is that marginalized people live in Appalachia. There are large populations of people of color, indigenous persons, and queer individuals who call the mountains their home. ginalized communities stand in the face of adversity every day, struggling to get by in a region with a

vative Christiansâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a group that tends to have no interest in their plight.

Despite the odds stacked against them, they continue to fight back against bigotry, building their communal ties through social media, and taking action in their communities to rewrite their own narratives.

Yet despite the odds stacked against them, they contin

With the help of the community, Queer Appalachia’s zine, Electric Dirt, has grown into a 200page magazine encompassing the art and lives of queer individuals all over the Appalachian region.

nal ties through social media, and taking action in their communities to rewrite their own narratives. For founder Gina Mamone, the Queer Appalachia collective did not set out to be a cultural movement. What began as an inside joke—a way of coping with ing—became a stepping stone for other queer people in Appalachia to share their art and stories. Created as a memorial to their friend, activist active social media accounts became a way for Ma mone and many others to address their identity with in Appalachia. With the help of the community, Queer Appala magazine encompassing the art and lives of queer individuals all over the Appalachian region. Their In stagram now boasts 136,000 followers. Focusing heavily on local artists’ work, the zine encompasses art and pieces from all over Ap palachia and the South. And none of it serves to profit the collective. “We don’t keep the money,” Mamone explains. “It all goes back to the community.” This community outreach includes coat drives clothes this winter. The group also helps to organize events like “No Thanks,” a project to recognize in digenous communities and the struggles they faced during the Thanksgiving holiday. The organization also works to help queer ad dicts in Appalachia. Opioid addiction is an epidemic that has plagued the region for some time. In 2016, dose deaths in the nation, while Virginia has seen a past several years. It’s a problem that has no clear solutions, and one that Mamone believes is a part of continual exploitation of the region.

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“No one is really looking out for queer addicts,” Ma ganization to collect data on opioid addiction within the region’s community, and Mamone explains that the average amount of queer people addicted to opi oids in West Virginia is around 90 percent. According to Mamone, it only gets worse for queer people of color: for them, the statistic rises to 98 percent. “There is this perpetual ideology of pulling your self up from your bootstraps—but that’s not how ad diction works,” Mamone said. “Most of the aid comes from churches. Straight people can accept Jesus [and get help], but when you’re queer, no [religious] com munity will have you.” Queer Appalachia is trying to break the stigma by

Sacco, who acted as the chief editor, designer, writer, and artist for the Cornbread Communism Manifesto. at these poor, bumbling souls.’” The Cornbread Communists have made it their mission to spread awareness of Appalachia’s long history of resistance, and to unite disparate groups of Appalachian activists. Often overlooked by activist movements, the region has a history steeped in ex ploitation. Its roots lie in communities made up of poor immigrants, runaway enslaved people, and in digenous groups. The discovery of coal allowed the exploitation to grow, as coal companies abused their power to trap local workers into an exploitative sys tem of cheap, feudalistic labor. “Our history is that of capitalist exploitation for labor and natural resources, and currently by phar maceutical companies dumping opioids into com

and clean needle exchange. Queer Appalachia is not the only movement in liberals and conservatives see us as trash.” Despite adversity, the most marginalized people the region that is helping to rewrite the narrative of in these communities are working to shift public marginalized people. Another is Cornbread Commu opinions, making space for themselves as they share their stories to the rest of the world. who came together to create The Cornbread Commu “I’m thankful I have the opportunity to change nism Manifesto, another zine set on changing the the narrative,” Mamone said. “I want to build this narrative of Appalachian voices. “When pieces are written about rural Appalachia, platform for the community.” pletely lacks authenticity or nuance,” said activist

RVA MAGAZINE 36

“Our history is that of capitalist exploitation for labor and natural resources, and currently by pharmaceutical companies dumping opioids into communities,” Sacco said. “Because let’s be honest—liberals and conservatives see us as trash.”

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Into The Visions-Verse: The Illustrious World of Chris Visions by Matthew McDaniels & Marilyn Drew Necci “The first time I feel like I really internalized what art was…” with that, Chris Visions begins the story of his first art teacher—his mother—sketching out a rose. The setting of the story was Visions’ grandmother’s kitchen, where Al Green filled the room. With couple of connecting lines showing him the magic of art, that was the day when Visions began to understand the fundamentals of illustrating objects in the natural world. Now, it’s 2019. Visions and I are drinking orange juice in his private studio. We cover a wide range of subjects over the course of our four-hour conversation while he shows me his collection of journals and sketches. Having recently gained some fame in the world of graphic novel illustration, one thing is obvious: even if the world hasn’t completely realized it yet, Visions has the talent to place him alongside the giants in his field—Paul Pope, David Mazzuchelli, Jim Steranko, and other names that ring out in the world of comics. And yet, somehow, he’s the most humble person in Virginia. He’s not one of those stereotypical, presumptuous art snobs you see lampooned so frequently. No, Visions is the kind of person who sees Kill Bill and Stanley Kubrick at the Byrd Theatre and gets Chinese food from China Panda on Sheppard Street. He likes Breaking Bad and Omar from The Wire. He loves his cats and a big cup of hot tea. In short, Visions is an artist people can relate to, and he creates art that is accessible to everyone. Arguably, Visions is among the best cartoonists in America, and has one of the greatest imaginations in the galaxy. His style is a revolt against conventions. Every illustration he creates is fresh, unique, and powerful. Each piece he paints contains commentary on contemporary issues, while holding its pleasing aesthetic and avant-garde. Visions is educated on his predecessors and their legacy in the art world. By mastering the techniques and methods of Sergio Toppi and Aaron Douglas, Visions has the insight and toolbox to create artistic narratives entirely unique to the 21st century. One example of his insight is his representation of Walter White, the lead character from Breaking Bad. Through his use of color and perspective, Visions shows the moral and ethical decay of the family man-turned-meth cook. What took five seasons to depict in televised form, Visions makes clear in the space of two illustrations. The central elements of his work are the concepts of freedom to express oneself—the need for the human spirit to feel beauty, and the driving force of empathy in art. In that way, his work lies somewhere near the intersection of Richard Wright and Norman Rockwell.

One masterpiece in Visions’ portfolio is a purple and black illustration of Amy Winehouse, blurring colors and showing the body’s movement to depict a supple, but symbolic, representation of the departed singer. The future is bright for this young artist. His work on the Marvel comic Spider-Gwen, which provided some source material for popular animated Marvel movie Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, gained Visions a lot of attention in the world of comics.

Visions has the talent to place him alongside the giants in his field—Paul Pope, David Mazzuchelli, Jim Steranko, and other names that ring out in the world of comics. A little over a year ago, he underwent a corneal transplant, correcting damage to one of his eyes from a progressive disease that’s been with him since childhood. He was able to afford the surgery thanks to donations from fans, raising the necessary funds in less than 12 hours through a massively-successful social media campaign. These days, he continues to sketch, maintaining a daily practice that he sees important for any aspiring artist. “I always get excited to see people are sketching,” he says. “It means they’re thinking.” As 2019 gets rolling, Chris Visions continues to think, sketch, and create. Fueled by a love of music, laughter, and life, it’s only a matter of time before he brings his next masterpiece to the world.

“ I always get excited to see people are sketching. It means they’re thinking.”

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Whitesburg, Kentucky

Words & Whitesburg photos by Michael Millions Live photos by Landon Shroder After being on the road for more than a week, Nickelus F and I left Chicago for the midwest leg of our tour and headed south

Whitesburg: population around 2,000. Surprisingly, when the

As if being in a city with virtually zero black people wouldn’t be interesting enough, our road manager decided to pull over at a local grocery store as we entered it. Wanting to see what type of time this city was on, Nick and I hopped out of the van, Nick pulling up in his dark sunglasses. None of us were prepared for what happened next. from Richmond, Virginia, with long hair and nice clothes, just

tour stop was going to prove interesting. Watching the country roll through hills and windy roads, I kept wondering why people would choose to live in such a rural area. The closer we came to Whitesburg, the more I realized that normal city attributes like neighborhoods, shopping centers, restaurants, and gas stations seemed to disappear and reappear like mirages—harbingers of civilizations. one of the valleys, we even found a Lee’s Famous Fried Chicken. I came to the conclusion that during our tour through the heart bypass surgery. This place has been here long before me and Nick, and it will be here long after we depart. Maybe when everything goes up in smoke, Whitesburg will still be standing,

tour manager, Phil Shive. stops, and everyone turns to look? That happened. So quiet did the grocery store get, we could actually hear the generic music playing in the background, mixed with the sound of the sliding doors opening and closing—a weird silence for that many people at midday. Following Phil to the beer aisle, we noticed customers had stopped their transactions to look in our direction. In the beer

With almost no cell service, I began to look up Whitesburg. I learned that, of its population of less than 2,000 people, only one percent of that population was black. Yet, apparently, it

a shelf; everyone in the store was still frozen in place. As we made our way to the registers, all the eyes still looked back at us. I could see their faces from where we were standing. The feeling was so crazy that I actually burst out laughing, and bent over to hide my reaction. I heard Nick mumble, “Shit’s crazy around here, yo.”

Smiles.

it was clear she had never seen black people in her life before. I didn’t sense danger, and these people were not racist—

smiling. We walked into the record store, Roundabout Music

supplies and paintings. Nick broke the ice by asking about some records. He ended up buying a few albums. We observed looks of slight confusion on both of their faces before we told them we were in town for the show at Summit. Then it clicked; we were the artists on the bill, and we were headlining this diverse bill in their city. After leaving the store, Nick and I took some random pictures and kicked it until show time. Naps are essential on tour, and sometimes they slow you down. We got to the venue a bit late and started setting up our merch tables. A short time later, we started meeting a bunch of locals attending the show. There were only two other black people there—a grand total of four, including Nick and myself. they’d just never seen so much color in their small town. We who had indigo blue skin due to genetics. This was probably

Glory Fires and a few others. When it was time for me to go on, the whole crowd, previously spread out around the venue, pack into the front for our sets. I still couldn’t understand what connected Whitesburg music was bringing their town together. Of course, playing

Walking back to the van, I think we almost caused a couple of parking lot accidents due to people rubbernecking our accidental trip to this store. Safely back in the van, we cracked up about the whole experience, but this made us even more excited to see what the show would be like. Ten minutes later, we pulled up and parked on a block that happened to be the city’s downtown, maybe one or two city blocks long by Richmond standards. Phil blurted out, “Welcome to Downtown Whitesburg! The city that has earned its name today!”

the most amazing part of tour is to have such a rare cultural experience in a new city. Sometimes it’s not about the big cities with lights, but the small ones in the shadows of the country; these rare, remote places that give you a glimpse of a better America—not the one you expect when you recall the history. I wonder how many other hidden places around the country sit under the radar like this. And, hopefully, to more artists: consider Whitesburg the next time you sit down to plan a tour.

rated show, The Trillbilly Worker’s Party podcast—had a real

of Dr. Cornel West, one of America’s most prestigious black academics, on the wall leading to the bedrooms. In this moment, I instantly understood what they meant when they said Whitesburg was progressive. Maybe, I thought, this city spot on. For me, it was like visiting one of America’s lost cities. One that had never lost track of the world. I rolled a joint, and they walked us over to the building beside theirs where we would be staying. A couple doors down from our loft was the show venue, Summit On Main. We

respected person in the community, and he was excited for us to perform. This was more than just a random show for him. We heard there was a record store at the end of the block, and I thought it was strange that a town this size even had a record way, we saw big posters for our show in all the store fronts. SPRING 2019

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Indie Film

LAST CALL

Finds The Twilight Zone in the Richmond Bar Scene Last Call is a

the story of a bartender who endures a tragic quest one night without ever leaving the bar—also named Last Call

ring, “a relatable theme of regret and what we can do to change our lives.” Not only was Last Call aspect of its soundtrack has Richmond connections as

with a live performance, with singer Tony Foresta

To that end, Last Call’s

renowned by locals and national beer enthusiasts

one would go to,” said producer Monica Moehring. mond, and continue to base their work here. “I’m lucky that my partner in life is also my partner in art,” said Tim Moehring. “Whether we’re writing together or discussing production details, we share an artist’s vision and the insane energy it takes to actually do it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Together, Tim and Monica Moehring lead Aisthesis Productions. However, the company is ing, the couple strove to account for each worker’s makers tend to butt heads within the industry, the rounded by those they get along with.

For that reason, it’s no surprise that the Aisthesis

clusive atmosphere within the production team. When putting Last Call together, the creators weren’t interested in playing it safe. “For all of the production design and detail we wanted the audience Monica Moehring. “The music, the lights, the acting, and everything had to feed into that.” portance. Throughout, he strove to make sure that the story unfolded in a manner that would create the ica Moehring, this sometimes meant obeying the classic literary advice from William Faulkner: kill your

er’s room than the editing room.” tors that have been working with Aisthesis for years.

left and above

Last Call.

olds plays the bartender in Last Call, ter who devolves on screen as the story unravels. According to Tim Moehring, Reynolds “gave us 110%. He truly gave his blood, sweat, and tears bringing this character to life.” Last Call largely derives its mood from the 1950’s TV show, suspended somewhere between reality and fantasy. The classic series is best known for its unforgettable shocking moments, but beneath the obvious elements of weird fantasy and horror lies an unexpected, but important, moral vision; one that’s given weight by the series’ particular approach to cinematography. The Moehrings worked to achieve a similar cinematic

“a master of his craft.” Explaining the atmosphere they sought, Tim Moehring said, “We wanted to transport the audience into another world with this ways been the life of the party.”

above: A shot of the crew during the production of We do our own stunts!

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Moehring. “There are a lot of moving pieces and preparation is the key. Luckily we had people like Will Towles and Saskia Price making sure all the moving pieces kept moving! We didn’t settle on any details, and that didn’t come easy. It meant rehearsals, and rewrites, and hours of production meetings.” “When you’re watching a movie, you’re seeing the puzzle completed,” said Monica Moehring. “You’re not seeing the ten million pieces that had to be put together.” As yet, Last Call has no set release date; however, its trailer is viewable on YouTube. It’s sure to get local

Richmond’s Local Businesses Find Ways to Thrive in a Big-Box World

Words and photos by Ash Griffith various household needs straight to our doors, and food apps like it’s become more convenient than ever to satisfy all our needs online. As city dwellers, we want life to be easier, cheaper, and more convenient— those desires.

Business-based tourism helps support the city as a whole. And it is definitely a thing.

districts. There is something for almost everyone here: from costume and comic books at Velocity Comics. Richmond’s merchants know how to do local business right; more importantly, the city’s residents do what they can to keep them alive. If Amazon is Goliath, neighborhoods like Carytown are our David. business tends to do pretty well in the city. While there is no such thing as an average day for any small business owner, there are still more ups than downs to owning an independent business, having no corporate man in the sky telling you what you can and can’t do with your store.

RVA MAGAZINE 36

“There is no wrong way of doing things,” said Vinyl makes no sense to anyone but you, you can just go ahead and do it. I’ve come up with some of my best [and some of] my worst ideas that way.” “We are controlled locally, so we can order the books

we’re happy to have the opportunity to do, and not [try to] please everybody, which corporate does. We don’t try to doesn’t support social justice issues.”

year the store hosted a donation drive to gather toilet paper for Richmond Public Schools. During the government shutdown earlier this year, World of Mirth worked to help furloughed federal employees give gifts to their children with January and February birthdays. Sometimes reasons for local businesses to be cheerful come from unlikely places. One of those came for World Of Mirth when international toy giant Toys R Us closed all of its U.S. stores—this provided a small, but welcome, bump in new customers.

here!’ Well, of course—we want you to come back.” advent of the internet, with electronic versions of both becoming more accessible to consumers with each passing year. Even for customers who are loyal to physical media, that make it hard for local stores to compete. Nonetheless, “We’re able to use the idea of social media to drive customers into our store,” said Egger. “When we get new product, people are able to see on the internet what we have before they come in the store. People are able to see before really awesome that people want to take the time to do that.”

“We’ve had people here on vacation from New York

thing that people tend to overlook is that local businesses make a city special. They make it really unique, and people will go to those cities because they’ve heard X amount of shops exist.” “Essentially, you’re allowing people who are creative to bring a service to the city,” added Egger. “People really like supporting local business. I think the fact that the city isn’t massive keeps it really special. Everyone knows everyone by two degrees.” This was shown in dramatic fashion in 2018, when national grocery store Publix took over the former Ukrops/ Martins grocery store in Carytown’s Richmond Shopping Center.

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Despite the looming outsourced shadow of big-box giants, local businesses tend to do pretty well in the city.

RVA MAGAZINE 36

“We fight to make our business the best it can be, and live the best life we can live.” center owner Regency Centers evicted over a dozen local businesses, forcing longtime tenants like the Aquarian homes. The response from city residents was not very happy, by any means. “We don’t like it when big companies uproot small over to Publix once it opens in 2020 remains to be seen. “There will be people who don’t care, there will be new students who won’t even know that was an issue, and then there will be some people who will choose to not shop there.” Supporting local business doesn’t just help keep people’s dreams alive, it also keeps money in the community replace the experience of walking into a unique store and “If you don’t support and you just shop online,

be, and live the best life we can live.”

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Foster Equality Event

Did you know 1 in 5 youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ?

Join us for an LGBTQ foster care and adoption discussion. Hear personal stories from a family who currently fosters kids and from LGBTQ youth who were in foster care. Learn how you can make a difference in the lives of all children in foster care. Thurs, May 16, 6-8 p.m. 1717 Innovation Center 1717 E. Cary St. Richmond

mtennity@lfsva.org 804.716.6511

Lutheran Family Services of Virginia

RVA ON TAP

Charlottesville spot turned two last month, and The Veil Brewing is celebrating their third anniversary

BOOZE NEWS FOR THE PEOPLE: RICHMOND’S LATEST IN ALL THINGS CRAFT BEER. By Caley Sturgill

won’t want to miss, packed with tons of taps. And down the road, Garden Grove just turned four. For the downtown and is turning and guest taps as well. The Brew Ridge Trail—the state’s oldest beer trail—just closed the keg on their their start down in Nelson County along of wineries and breweries, with local favorites like Devil’s Backbone Brewing and Wild Wolf, among others, calling it home. Richmond’s got the rest of the for breweries per capita, but this beer trail is something special you just can’t you’re looking for a weekend out of town to celebrate the new season of warm weather, here’s your spot.

New Brews In Town Welcome back, beer family! Jumping into great all the time. This spring is going to got a few new faces to welcome to the beer community in town. Starr Hill, one of my Commonwealth favorites, is join ing the RVA club this season with a roof top beer hall in Scott’s Addition. Starr Hill is originally out of Charlottesville, and they’ve got an adorable spot down in Roanoke in front of the mountain, too.

releases to events and festivals, so grab your mugs and let’s drink!

A Legendary Quarter Of A Century In contrast to new members of the RVA family, a few special anniversaries are coming in 2019 as well…and this year, we’re wishing a big, huge, giant con gratulations to for celebrating their 25th year in business!

with their new spot in Scott’s Addition. When fall comes around, be sure to give pany, and they’re partying big time for their 25 trips around the sun. Their 25th Anniversary Double IPA for the occasion is a tasty, very drinkable brew. It’s got a malty background, which truly takes Also new to the area is Tabol Brewing, what Legend is known for—in their clas who joined the club last month with their sic style—and gives you an IPA you can soft opening up in Northside outside love with a nice, smooth character. Leg end’s 25th Anniversary party is going down on Saturday, April 13th from and NOW. Most of their brews tend to pups, and celebrate with Virginia’s Orig these guys are great to try with dinner 58

RVA MAGAZINE 36

Fresh On Tap Outside of special occasions, all the locals are celebrating the best part of all this time of year: Winter’s over! Well, for now. Spring weather in Virginia is pretty unpredictable, but trust us, we’ve got you covered with a beer for every temp of the season. For St. Paddy’s, Brewing has none other than a Lucky Charms beer, which will certainly be one for the books. is soon to drop

Sense that dropped last month. After nearly two years in the making, Garden Grove Wine, White Tawny Port, and Synthe

will have a big handful of can and bottle releases, plus guest taps from friends like and Center of the Universe has big plans for brews this season

som Honey Ale, and plenty more releases upcoming across the region—so be sure to hit up RVA On Tap weekly online to get fresh updates as all the new recipes hit the taps every day.

Happenings Around Town I think one of the most unique things activity possible that can be combined with drinking. Snow Law all winter, smashing things, bowling, arcade bars, parading ourselves through Carytown… we’re never short on things to do, and this season is keeping up the spirit. Fine Creek Weird festival to celebrate the best of the unusual, and is packed with events like Casino Nights and Arcade Weekends through the spring. coming up this season, and Center of the Universe is set to celebrate their massive St. Paddy’s Day fundraiser party. We’ve also got the 2nd Annual Southern Food Festival, music festivals, and spring time gigs galore, so keep up as we roll of the year.

SPRING 2019

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doin' it a conversation with segga spiccoli By Hip Hop Henry Segga Spiccoli is only in his mid-20s, but he's been a visible and productive member of the Richmond hip-hop community for quite a while now. I got a chance to sit down with the East End rapper shortly after the release of his latest project, The Skinny V Tape, which dropped in the fourth quarter of 2018. We discussed The Life Company collective project—of which he is a core member—and his Green and Gold Label. We were then joined by fellow Life Company member and sought-after Richmond producer Bandolero, who

for

produced almost all of the tracks on The Skinny V Tape. We started out by discussing that very release. Tell me about The Skinny V Tape. Segga Spiccoli: We've been working on it for a while now. Some songs we had in the cut—Bandolero produced like six, six out of the eight. But Skinny V Tape is basically everything that I've been thinking about, everything that I've been going through for the last year and a half. This feels like the most complete body of work that I've put out so far, and I was super proud of that, because I got a chance to say better understanding of me as an artist, you know what I'm saying? Who is Segga Spiccoli? Segga Spiccoli: I'm just an East End nigga. You feel what I'm saying? Like, I'm humble and down to earth, I’m laid back, and I think that is where I came from in the city, and I give a great description of how I look at the city. People always say to me, like if they ain't never been to Richmond before, listening to my music gives them a description of the city even if they never come to it. I think about it because when I used to listen to Snoop, or I used to listen to UGK, or 8 Ball and MJG... wherever they was at, whether it was Memphis—Orange Mound or wherever it was—or Port Arthur, Texas, or whatever. I felt like I was there and I knew what was going on. So I just wanted my music to be the same way for this city. For Richmond.

the label of the The Life Company at the beginning. Now I have noticed that it has shifted to the Green and Gold Label. Was there a change?

RVA MAGAZINE 36

Segga Spiccoli: It's still The Life Company, its TLC/Green and Gold. We started The Life Company just on some independent shit. The “LIFE” in The Life Company statement is Living Independent For Ever. That's the umbrella of everything; Green and Gold is just the set. The Life Company is going to live forever though. Life. We might not and Gold. And we still gonna keep the clean visuals—shout out to Flexico. How many are with Green and Gold?

r real:

Segga Spiccoli Young Flexico, A6, and Wayne. It’s us, and we've been moving together for a minute, know what I'm saying? Bando came in like three years ago. Flexico, me, Wayne, and Nard, we have known each other for damn near ten years. This Green and Gold is serious, we're worried about us. We doin’ us, we don’t have time for the bullshit. We’re trying to prosper. [At this point, Bandolero joined in to explain how he joined the crew, and their vision for the future of Green And Gold.]

Bandolero: I didn’t even really get involved until me and Segga had a conversation one night outside of Gallery 5. With young motherfuckers in general—like, we’re all around 24, 25, so we’re not teenagers but we young. But we didn't see a lot of organized young guys making moves, know what I'm saying? And that was our thing: we got to pick up that slack for the next generation, to be something that people can look at and be like, “Oh, they actually doing it.” Originally when I came in, I asked to be in Life Company, but when we started pushing Green and Gold the label. That's our Death Row Records. Know what I'm saying? That's our artistic outlet. Now that we are in 2019 and with the buzz of Skinny V, What’s next for the Green and Gold Label? Segga Spiccoli: My new project, On the Eastside: Side B. Flexico is working on his album, that shit’s done, it’s in the stash. He’s working on all his shit to make it perfect. Like I said, I'm working on On The Eastside: Side B, keep going with that series [which began with On The Eastside: Side A, released in 2017]. Bando and I have two songs in so far. Bandolero: But I mean, for real—2019 should be a really good year. We’re picking up a lot of pace on putting ourselves strategically. That's the other thing is, like, you'll see a lot of motherfuckers out here doing shows. That ain't worth shit. And that's not to take away from anybody's performance or anything like that, but at the end of the day, we’re not gonna hop on a bill with 30 other motherfuckers just so you saying? We want to get on the stage with people we fuck with, we’re gonna make moves with, promoters that we fuck with. We're not going to do all this weird shit; nine times out of ten, we gonna be trying to do the shit ourselves. soundcloud.com/segga-spiccoli

SPRING 2019

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Rock is Dead. Let it Die. by Nate Newton

Rock and roll is dead. Each and every one of you need to hear

So the mantra of “there’s no good music anymore” marches on, and with it, the generation of music fans who will always know best. The ones who still want you to know that The Who sang “Long Live Rock.” The kids are alright—didn’t you know?

honest—it’s all about you. You, who cannot believe these kids today and their awful taste in music—music you are not willing to understand. You, who “cannot stand this EDM shit.” You, who can’t stand all of this

In the end, the younger generation—the ones whose work you hate—are the ones driving creativity in 2019. They don’t care about your rock and roll; they’re worried about an unin worried about crowdfunding their medical bills. They are

where all of today’s rock and roll heroes are living, and where You, who distinguish yourself in the wild with your natural bluster of, “There’s no good music anymore.” Rest assured, I was once you.

lessly in a dead ocean. Not one of trash, waste, and rubbish. No, this island of garbage will be built with vinyl copies of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, made over and over for record store day, year in and year out—because the eight million copies already in cir culation throughout America are somehow not enough. This

they need to kneel to. They’re on to the next thing, and thank fuck for that. They don’t need your old rock gods. It is time for them to make their own, and it’s time for us to make space. Nurture their creativity. The island needs to be set adrift. Let the birds shit on it. Let the seeds be fertilized and sprout new musical life; a musical life we won’t understand. It’s time we let the island become an unrecognizable paradise. The kids are alright… they always will be. Let rock and roll

Do. Not. Fucking. Resuscitate.

to buy the same album, over and over, for the next 50 years. Never exploring, never recognizing that the vast musical fron tier is generational, and that every generation makes new music for their time. Instead we cling to a vast Pangea, whose Zeppelin box sets. And on this supercontinent are mountains less copy of Whipped Cream and Other Delights by Herb Alpert

This musical wasteland will always be adrift, like a massive, wonder years. Their gods can never be replaced. Should they be, the replacements know that they, too, may very well be replaced. 66

Photo by Rama, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

RVA MAGAZINE 36

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