homas Jefferson loved to jam.
A skilled violinist, he savored sessions with other musicians at Monticello as well as in the Academical Village.
For him, music was “an enjoyment, the deprivation of which … cannot be calculated,” he wrote in 1785. Much later, in the twilight of his life, Jefferson added, “Music is invaluable where a person has an ear. It furnishes a delightful recreation for the hours of respite from the cares of the day, and lasts us through life.”
Though he could hardly have foreseen the path that music would take, not only in society but also at U.Va., it’s not hard to imagine a winsome smile on his lips if he could have seen the Skip Castro Band, SGGL, Baaba Seth, Dave Matthews Band or Sons of Bill rocking the Grounds over the years.
The music of those bands and others has helped define the student experience at U.Va. for generations. For some, the sweaty grind of tight spaces and pulsing music fueled many a memorable evening at fraternity parties and Charlottesville clubs. For others, a warm spring afternoon listening to indie bands in the McIntire Amphitheater has provided equal pleasure. .
The following pages provide a visual stroll through some magical moments provided by bands that have made their mark on the music scene at the University and beyond. Some have faded into nostalgia; some have risen to stardom; all have shared a passion for music that resonates across time.
Comments
How! Is! There! No! Mention! of! Six Day Bender?!??! Come on, now, that's a crying shame--and an insult to a great band who carry so much Charlottesville pride. Readers, educate yourselves: http://www.6daybender.com/band
Great piece, what incredible memories. Those photos from Easters and the early video clips....WOW. And is it me, or does that music still sound fresh? Boogie at midnight!
BLARGHHHHHHHH!!! C-Ville music scene makes me wanna PUKE!!! So bland. These bands are odious.
No mention of the mid-90s Tokyo Rose punk scene? Figures.
So many bands from a thriving time (late 70's/early 80's) not even mentioned -- anyone remember "The Monarchs" at the C&O/Pav/Mineshaft; "The Motive" everywhere; 100 Proof, "Dodge D'Art" and on and on???...
Editors carefully trimming comments? WHY IS FREEDOM OF INFO SO DANGEROUS? You will never be able to squash all of us. I WILL BE THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT WAHOOWAH MFRS xoxo
Yeah, you should really do some RESEARCH before attempting an article like this. Nice try POSEUR.
I have to add Left Lane to the discussion here! Their flame was bright for a few years in the early 80s before it burned out.....
No mention of Happy Flowers? Until DMB came along, we were quite possibly the most well-known band on the international scene from Charlottesville, and we were both students of UVA (despite UVA roots, Pavement were from California).
What about The Birchback Canoes (1984-88)? Or Rude Buddha? Or the infamous Idiots Incognito (who tore it up at Pavilion XI's open mike night before that was shut down)?
Yes. The Pav was unboubtably shut down as a consequence of the Riotous reception the Idiots received at their Charlottesville debut. A great performance, but sadly also the end of Green Bottle Night on Tuesdays.
Cannot talk about mid 80's without a mention of Jimmy O....
Good point. Jimmy O and the Ready Teds, right? Also, who can forget the amazing Sigma Nu coffeehouse jams that went on until 4am? Many a band stopped by after shows at Trax or the C&O to partake and participate. Though they weren't C'ville-based, the Good Guys (from Richmond) dished out some pretty awesome ska pop all over town in '82 and '83.
How 'bout The Birchbark Canoes circa 1986-1987?
Great article! I remember many of these bands well. Brings back great memories. These were all the great musicians of Charlottesville. Many years have gone by, and love to catch Indecision, SGGL, Bob Girard, Charlie Pastorfield, etc... Whenever I can! Thank you!
@waughman: Left Lane is mentioned several times in the documentary Live From the Hook and Tom Lewis is interviewed. Sigma Nu coffee house gets a lot of credit as well. (Not everything can go in the trailer, which appears here.) Great article! Support live music whenever you can!
Great piece although the Silver Jews deserve more than just a mention as they were not only a band of crack musicianship and dense yet not obtuse songwriting but a highly respected one in almost all indie rock circles. And my dear lord does Parachute look lame- let's not hold too dearly to oar and maroon 5 comparisons- we should continue blazing trails (pavement, the aforementioned SJs) rather than fatten the status quo.
Silver Jews started in New York, after Berman et al graduated from UVA and moved away.
Great piece! Brings back a lot of memories. While he is not from the Hook (but not too far away in Richmond) the soundtrack of my years at UVA would not be complete without mentioning Robbin Thompson.
Yes, Left Lane was a band that really stood out. I was pretty drunk at the time and it was 30 years ago but I seem to recall them doing a great version of Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. And you have to love Indecision. They broke the ice and revolutionized the UVA music scene. One year if you liked the Grateful Dead you were an outcast and a freak. The next year Indecision is the top band in town and everyone's wearing tie dye.
@LB that's a good point but the same could be said for Pavement who never used that moniker during their college days- although the article does a good job of not suggesting they wrote "slanted" or anything while at UVA.
@Nick: An earlier comment already mentioned that Pavement were not a C'ville band. @The Monkey: What year was liking the Grateful Dead unacceptible at UVA? Heck, they even *played* at UVA back in 1982.
Hey Guys-you put Dave Mathews Band in the article but no mention of the following bands that played during the monogram sweater short hair elimination years ('69-'73) Janis Joplin, Grand Funk Railroad, the James Gang, Rod Stewart & Faces, Delaney & Bonnie (with Eric Clapton)--oh well--
@ Scott Brady: Because they weren't local bands??
Is that really you Mr. HCI? I also think it is a travesty that the Happy Flowers were not included in this collection.
Yup, that was really me. :) It is this time, too. :D
Speaking of ska, which was popular in the late '80s/early 90's, you forgot a band that played at so many frat houses and Trax and so popular in the college arena: Boy-O-Boy (now called Fighting Gravity -not the America's Got Talent act either). Those guys were from Richmond but played at the University so often! Good music and fun memories!
The list of Easters entertainment from this website indicates other magical moments provided by bands that have made their mark on the music scene at the University and beyond: http://www.freewarehof.org/easters.html
For those who were here in 70s/80s - Skip and Johnny Sportcoat were THE bands!
Does anyone remember the name of the band that played in the early '80's that had a sound similar to The Stray Cats? They played almost every E-School happy hour.
Jimmy O and the Ready Teds?
Slackjaw!
How could I forget -- CAPTAIN TUNES!!!
While The Casuals and Skip were tearing up the scene at the mineshaft and points west a guy named John D'earth blew into town and started his regular gig at Miller's. That gig became a magnet for some of the finest jazz musicians around. Soon after John started his gig Emily Remler moved to Cville and with Emily, John, Carter on the Drums and LeRoi and - and to this day I still don't know the bass players name but he had blond hair and wore wire rimmed glasses- that was some of the best Jazz anywhere. WTJU was sponsoring a Jazz concert series during the winter and those guys would end up at Miller's after their concerts. I don't know where John would find these guys but he could dig up some of the most unbelievable musicians. Then some kid named Dave showed up at Miller's and Carter and Leroi ran off with him. Then there was Big Nick Nicholas but that's another story...
SLACKJAW indeed!!!
doesn't anyone remember Everything? played Awful Arthur's like every minute they were open, it seemed. And Earth to Andy, as well...
@LB "Pavement" is a heading in the article. Who from Titus Andronicus is a Wahoo? Their "The Monitor" is one of the few fully realized albums in a world of digital downloads.
Also from Baaba Seth (1994-1997)trumpet player Brandon Rose (ENGR '95)
What was the band that did "I'm On Drugs" back in the mid-80s. Sorta punk-pop. Continental
@Els: The Next of Kin did it originally. I just digitized my copy of their 1982 (?) demo a few months ago, in fact.
Although not from Charlottesville, I remember well (well a little hazy) seeing a group called the White Animals several times at the Pav as well as at Trax in the mid '80s. I'm told I had a good time at their shows.
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