THE POP STAR PHENOMENON ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POND

by Emily Eason Illustration by Corey Martin

With the utterly instantaneous stardom of so many female vocalists, it is not a surprise to see such a massive influx of women belting out some serious chords and maintaining a presence that has taken the world by storm. It seems as if every month there is a new lady whose face has been devoured by the television set, and, as evident throughout this year, there is an obvious battle evolving between these fiery vixens, especially between the Americans and the Brits! Yes, it’s true everybody, we are once again fighting our past rivals, but on a more cultural and musical level. Before I rush into this theory, let me describe how these two sides have developed and how much they differ in their charismatic styles and, most importantly, in their overall message to fans.

First, let us evaluate the British side of this pop movement. Aritsts like Adele, Lily Allen, and the ever-amazing Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machines) are some prime examples of British pop-stardom. All these women have completely unique vocal talents and have gained an enormous fan base in both their native island and the States, and they are all fairly similar in style. For instance, they all seem to portray a more sophisticated, ambient kind of sound, singing simple feelings of heartbreak, but utilizing epic choir-like ballads, and producing a heavenly affect. It’s as if these beautiful, British bombshells are emphasizing the importance of their voices and how they make the audience feel with their performances. Their use of sweet and heavenly tones make their music truly remarkable. There is no flash or over- whelming sexualization of their images, and their music is simply lovely, with poetic qualities that everyone can recognize and appreci- ate. Another wonder ful similarity is their musical influences, from classic artists like the timeless Aretha Franklin to the 90’s sensation Natalie Merchant. These women, whether they want to or not, are definitely considered the “good girls” of the popular female artists.

On the other hand, there are the insane Americans like Lady Gaga, Kesha, and the emerging hipster-diva Kreayshawn, who all have made names for themselves as the “bad girls” of this transforming music scene. It’s no secret how sexually charged these women are, and they use this to their advantage, resulting in overwhelming success that may have more to do with looks and image then with talent. It is very obvious how obsessed these women are with self-image. Take, for example, the controversial attire of our dear Lady Gaga and the obnoxious lyrics that Kesha never gets tired of repeating. These girls all have the same message, and that is to party and live life free from conforming restraints, reflecting the cultural ideals that most Americans are attracted to at the moment.

The bottom line is this, each side offers completely different images, and both have granted these talented women international fame, but who will come out on top and conquer all? Which hipster-popstar will be the new female icon, the quite, piano playing Brit, or the wild, outspoken, meat-dress-wearing American? The battle may be bitter, but that doesn’t mean sides must be taken. Let’s just sit back, relax, and revel in this phenomenon until it burns out under the pressure for number-one status. •

A BREAKDOWN OF RIVER CITY’S MOST NOTABLE LIVE MUSIC VENUES… THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE STRANGE.

By Shannon Cruse-Ranson

In a city known for tobacco and tattoos, the love of live music is symbiotic. While Richmond has many places to catch a great show, some raise the bar, while others walk smack into it. Based on this writer’s own experiences and the helpful, but brutally honest reviews from fellow Richmonders on Yelp.com, here’s what you can expect from venues around town.

The Camel

1621 W. Broad St

Richmond, VA 23220

(804) 353-4901 www.thecamel.org

The Camel is easily one of the best spots in Richmond for live music, with a variety of acts playing every night of the week, and is quickly establishing itself as the premier venue to catch upand-coming Southern rock and bluegrass bands, acoustic singer-songwriters, and jazz/funk musicians. Boasting a large menu with tasty sandwiches and apps, a great selection of beers on tap, friendly service, and cool art on the walls, it’s a great spot to catch dinner before the show.

The National 708 E Broad St

Richmond, VA 23219

(804) 612-1900 www.thenationalva.com

A true concert hall, through and through, The National ropes in an incredible and consistent lineup of regional,

Cary Street Café

2631 W Cary St

Richmond, VA 23220

(804) 353-7445 www.carystreetcafe.com

This hippie-haven has been the cornerstone for much of the jam band culture in Richmond and beyond since 1995. Decked out in what seems like national, and international acts of all genres. Chromeo, Minus The Bear, Foster The People, and Primus all stopped in to play this past fall. With a bar in each direction you turn, the lines are short and the bartenders work fast. A beer will run you $5+, but there’s no real food to speak of, so grab a bite before you head down to 7th St. or check out the remains of the Magic Bus, dear Deadheads would love to have you believe that Jerry even played there once. There’s live music almost every night featuring reggae, bluegrass, rock and alt-country, and jam bands of course. The food is always on point and yes, they deliver…beer and cigarettes too!

Gibson’s Grill next door, though the service is spotty, especially on a busy night when The National has a sold out show. Lastly, as if your concert of choice wasn’t awesome enough, the bucket drummers are always outside banging away as you exit and hit the streets. Save a buck to toss their way, they deserve it.

Hat Factory

140 Virginia St

Richmond, VA 23219

(804) 788-4281 www.hatfactoryva.com

Housed in the former (and short lived) Toad’s Place, The Hat Factory is holding on, thanks to the rousing success of RVAlution, the Cirque du Soleilesque weekly dance parties held each Summer where young Richmonders do their best to imitate a rave in the

Czech Republic, but the blinding lasers, thumping techno and scantily clad gogo dancers can cause serious sensory overload. The 18+ policy works because of the large mezzanine/balcony available for the 21+ crowd to escape the “X” branded teens. If faux-raving isn’t your style, you can find more of Richmond’s Suburbanites tearing it up at The Hat Factory for other themed nights, like the ever-popular hiphop night.

Cafe Diem

600 N Sheppard St

Richmond, VA 23221

(804) 353-2500 www.cafediemrva.net

Affectionately known by some as “Cafe Divorce,” it’s a place for 30+ singles. Painted in splashes of bright orange, green and pink to give it some island flare, it’s still a bit of a dive. The beer selection is humdrum, the staff is kind of slow and apathetic to your presence, and the food is definitely underwhelming. Their weekly schedule of performances has gotten very repetitive, with the same jazz or rock combos playing to the regular crowd on a PA that is turned up way too high for a smaller venue. However, they host stand-up comedy on Mondays, which has proved to be one of the few saving graces of the place.

Canal Club

1545 E Cary St

Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 643-2582 www.thecanalclub.com

If you’re looking for a dark, gritty, “I think I heard gunshots” sort of night, then the Canal Club is your place. They typically have bad bookings of unknown bands and though they claim to have shows every weekend, there have been plenty of times when people show up to find locked doors, calls go- ing straight to voicemail and no hope of a ticket refund. However, they do occasionally book big-time dubstep/ electronic acts and have had a few decent metal and punk shows, and they are usually one of the venues that participate in Best Friends Day every year. If you do make your way in, expect overpriced drinks in dinky plastic cups served by forgetful, barely-trained bartenders. Frankly, many people are in awe of how this place hasn’t closed down yet.

Strange Matter

929 W Grace St

Richmond, VA 23220

(804) 447-4763 www.strangematterrva.com

As a VCU student, you’ve either got to be blind, buried in your books, or hopelessly un-cool to not be familiar with Strange Matter. Known very well by the hipster scene for the rows of archaic arcade games, adequate vegetarian food, rockin’ metal, punk, and indie shows and sweaty, steamy dance parties, this is the place where the artsy, wild, or eco-friendly kind of kids feel at home. If you don’t fall into that category, however, you’re likely to stick out like a sore thumb and occasionally be treated as such. Although this venue is certainly exclusive in some ways, they are undoubtedly catering to a very large niche in the Richmond community.

So there you have it, the real-deal scoop on Richmond’s live music venues, Good, Bad, and Strange. other spots on the radar worth checking out are Emilio’s for amazing live Jazz on Friday nights, or The Cellar Door for an assortment of shows and dance parties. No matter what music you’re into or what type of venue suits your style, River City has something for everyone, even the divorcees. •