ALMOST FAMOUS: STYLE WEEKLY’S MUSIC ISSUE
The Cheats Movement Blog got some serious love in Style Weekly’s 12th Annual Music Issue. Since I spend most of my time covering music and events, it is very cool to be interviewed and have the blog recognized in this way. I do consider it an honor and motivation to keep the blog going in its current form. I have to take a moment to S/O Andrew Cothern AKA RVA Playlist. Andrew has always giving love to The Cheats Movement Blog from day 1 and being a music blogger himself – he didn’t have to do that. RVA Playlist is one of my favorite music blogs and Andrew is really at the top of his game right now. S/O to Patience Salgado AKA Kindness Girl for the photo used in Style. The multi-talented kindness worker has so much going on – and with that she takes some of the most soulful photos that I have ever seen. I also want to S/O Sounds of RVA and One Way Richmond – I read their blogs as much as I can and it’s very awesome to read their interviews in Style.
The thing about press in general – like everything else in 2013 – it is really about momentum: one day you’re hot – the next day you are not. I understand that Style Weekly or any other “press” type situation may not be there next week let alone next year but that doesn’t mean that the city stops moving forward. The goal is to take in good press – in the spirit that it’s meant to be – and use it to push forward. So the blog moves forward – the grind moves forward – the family moves forward – we are already working on what’s next. To every person that reads the blog and supports what’s happening on the blog and around the city — all I can say is Thank you & of course #WESEEIT!
PHOTOS: RCC’S RICHMOND FAMOUS FT. CASEY AND MARSHE FROM RUMORS BOUTIQUE
For the second year in a row, the Richmond Comedy Coalition has been named the Best Local Comedy Group by the readers of Style Weekly. They took back to the Gallery 5 stage last Friday night for another addition of their show, Richmond Famous. Friday’s featured guests were Casey and Marshe, the founders of Rumors Boutique. Their stories were great: recounts of the first time Casey and Marshe met each other, a story about international blind dating via Myspace ,and Casey’s desire to race people without warning – were all hilarious. The improv was equally solid. David (who was also voted one of the best beards in RVA from Style Weekly), Katie, Jason, Dustin, Steve, Aaron, Josh, and Patrick once again brought the house down with their all out style of live comedy. There was was beard licking, slam dancing, and someone got Pottered!
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE CHEATS MOVEMENT PHOTOS FROM RICHMOND FAMOUS: RUMORS BOUTIQUE
VIDEO: SHADROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL IN LESS THAN 2…
The Shadrock Music Festival was awesome! Check out this quick video of my time. Thanks again to Style Weekly and all my friends that made this rainy day amazing. LIKE THE CHEATS MOVEMENT ON FACEBOOK!
THE CHEATS MOVEMENT CRUSHES THE SHADROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL!
First and foremost – a huge shout out to Don Harrison, Toni Stevens, Jason Roop, anyone and everyone at Style Weekly for granting The Cheats Movement Blog press access to let me do what I do yesterday at the first ever Shadrock Music Festival. It really gives me a good feeling that my blog (one guy with a camera) can really start to grow something positive in RVA. I can’t put into words how great everything is going for The Cheats Movement Blog this year…
With that – The Shadrock Festival was really dope! Here is what’s going to happen – a few years from now, everyone is going to say they were there for the first Shadrock Music Festival and De La Soul. That’s what’s going to happen but the truth is….poor weather made a significant impact on the attendance. Not just the rain – which it rained really hard in pockets – but it was cold. It was a bad weather day – no way around it but Style Weekly did an amazing job with the bill. The bill was fantastic! And the decision to headline the show with Yo La Tengo and De La Soul was perfect.
Both Yo La Tengo and De La Soul brought completely different sounds and fan bases to the festival but there is something special about RVA that made it work well – it was such a RVA experience last night and it was perfect. 
Also, Shabazz Palaces and Dum Dum Girls both did an amazing job. I first heard of Shabazz Palaces about a week ago from a friend. I downloaded their album “Black Up” and love it. They performed a great live show with some serious improv and just crazy beats and flow. 
Dum Dum Girls, made the biggest impression on me – I can’t deny they are very easy to look at but beyond that – their live show was great. Much better than the albums songs that I heard leading up to the festival. They were so great – they took so many photos after the show (including one with yours truly) and they stood in the crowd to enjoy the rest of the headliners. They were just mad cool rockstars – I loved it. I also got to chat with Plug 1 (Pos) and Plug 2 (Dave) after they tore down the stage. Unfortunately, Maseo couldn’t make the show last night but it didn’t slow down the fast pace show. De La’s music catalog is so amazing – every song they played was a hit (Grind Date, Potholes in my Lawn, Saturday, on and on) and I walked away thinking of so many songs they still could have played. Funny story – after De La got off stage all they were talking about was the Knicks loss to the Heat. They are NYC through and through. Loved it. They were very gracious and glad to be back in RVA. Pos (who’s voice was gone after the show) said they hadn’t been to RVA in about 10 years and loved the vibe. I have so many photos…I will be posting all week.
Last but actually performing first was Cheats Movement Fam, Photosynthesizers…don’t worry – I’m working on something special in regards to their amazing performance.
I’m sure moving forward everyone will have amazing coverage from last night — visit it all – view it all – it’s well worth it but keep checking the Cheats Movement this all this week — I have so much stuff coming. Also – Like the Cheats Movement on Facebook!!!
NOAH-O BRINGS HIP HOP TO STYLE WEEKLY’S EARTH DAY [WITH LELA BIZZ]
Yesterday, I dropped by the Earth Day celebration in Manchester to catch Noah-O performing on Style Weekly’s main stage. Noah-O, joined by the lovely Lela Bizz, brought some hip hop and R&B to a stacked musical line-up featuring some of RVA’s most popular indie rock band (The Trillions and Diamond Center – both friends of the blog also preformed).
Noah didn’t disappoint – bringing that Charged Up Ent. energy to the stage – working the crowd – and really representing for hip hop music. Both Noah and Lela Bizz are featured in this week’s Style Weekly music issue. I’m happy to see Style recognizing their talent.
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM NOAH-O AND LELA BIZZ AT EARTH DAY! [COMING SOON]
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IT’S TRUE: DE LA SOUL IS COMING TO RVA! [PHOTOSYNTHESIZERS OPENING]
Exclusive Cheats Movement video: Don Harrison (Style Weekly) and Mike Kemetic (WRIR/Photosynthesizers) on “Activate!” with Mike Rutz announce that De La Soul will headline the Shadrock Music Festival. The date is April 28. Check out the website for details. Hip hop is making a real run in RVA.
Congrats to Style Weekly for landing one of the best hip-hop groups of all time.
VOTE FOR THE CHEATS MOVEMENT [THE LITTLE BLOG THAT COULD]
I understand this is truly a long shot – I personally know at least 10 RVA bloggers that have great blogs and larger followings than The Cheats Movement – I really wish that Style Weekly had a “Best New Blog” Category because I truly believe The Cheats Movement would be in the running – but as Herm Edwards once said, “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME” and I’m all in with this blog — so I’m asking all that read the blog and like what the Cheats Movement stands for — click below and vote for the Cheats Movement in the blog category
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THE 2012 BEST OF RICHMOND
RVA PROFILE: BIZHAN KHODABANDEH [RICHMOND MONUMENTS COMIC]
I first saw the web comic Richmond Monuments in print. It was the second place winner in the 2011 Style Weekly’s comic strip contest. I noted the name of the designer Bizhan Khodabandeh and remembered him from Style Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40 a few years ago. I then saw the now bi-weekly web comic posted on RVANews.com. Its now syndicated home. Most Richmonders would say that the history of RVA is alive. Well, Richmond Monuments tells a comedic tale of just that — historic monuments coming alive in modern time — often nailing a comedic true about our beloved city. I met up with Bizhan at The Shop to chat about the origins of the comic strip, his process of creating the strip, and his plans for the future. Make sure you check out RichmondMonuments.com every other Sunday to see Bizhan’s latest strip.
The Cheats Movement
