Richmond, VA (or RVA as it is more commonly known amongst the locals) is an interesting city when it comes to live musical performances.  I have lived here for almost 15 years now, and have played in, recorded, and mixed bands for a majority of that time.  This town has a lot of talented singers and musicians, yet it always seems that writing and performing original music is neither appreciated or treated as positively as it should be, especially when compared with other similarly sized cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and even Charlottesville.  And even though RVA has spawned several major players in popular music over the years (Cracker, Gwar, Jason Mraz, and Lamb of God all come to mind), on the surface, it would appear that the majority of patrons that frequent the local restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, only want to hear music that they are familiar with (i.e. covers).  Because of this, there is an overflowing abundance of cover bands, good and bad, that for the most part stick to playing songs from the rather musically limited genres of classic and modern hard rock. And  for the bands that do play originals, they are only left to toil away at their craft behind closed doors, be forced to pay to play at nightclubs in order to get on stage at all, or be bundled onto a playbill of six or more bands, so that greedy promoters can squeeze every last cent that they can from the musicians and concertgoers attending these events*.

Photo courtesy of http://www.rvathreads.com

The good news is that there is some light at the end of this tunnel. You have to dig a little deeper to find it, but there are several venues throughout the city that seem to finally be embracing local, original music and the bands and songwriters that perform them.  When I go out to see a local band there are a few key things I look and listen for – musicianship, stage presence, dance-ability, and song-craft (i.e. will I be humming their songs the next morning or trying to remember what they even sounded like) which all play important parts of a memorable concert-going experience for me.  In most instances, the bands I see around Richmond are only able to capture a few aspects of this criteria.

Downbeat Switch is the exception to the rule.  This rock/funk/soul/reggae quintet has been wowing local crowds for a few years now, but has finally obtained the wings to soar to a higher view with the release of their new album, “BirdsEye”.  While their overall sound will be familiar to the uninitiated listener (the influence of bands like 311, No Doubt, and Incubus are easily identifiable), songs like “In the Middle” and the title track bring with them a sway and swagger that is currently unmatched in the current RVA musical landscape.

Downbeat Switch have finally obtained the wings to soar to a higher view with the release of their new album, “Birdseye”.

Like many of the great bands that have come before them, Downbeat Switch know that a good groove is an essential part of  the songwriting process, and the majority of the tracks on “Birdseye” showcase their uncanny ability to meld pulsating rhythms with catchy guitar and piano lines, making them both accessible and dance-able at the same time.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing them perform live, this album is a good introduction to what that experience is like.  Recorded by the band in guitarist Meredith Brooks’ home studio, the album’s production quality is on par with anything you would hear on modern rock radio while still keeping an organic, “band playing in the room together” kind of vibe.  Lead singer Jenna Be’s soulful vocals sit above the mix just enough for every word to be clearly defined, yet they do not overshadow the meticulous accompaniment by Brooks, keyboardist Sean Reese, drummer Rob Reardon, and bassist Wayne Todd.  The rhythmic precision created by Reardon and Todd, provides an excellent foundation for Brooks’ Trey Anastasio-esque guitar lines and Reese’s electric piano and organ flourishes to intermingle with.  The fusion

Downbeat Switch performing at their CD Release Party 9/6/13

of sounds that the band creates, encompass a variety of musical genres blending everything from rock, reggae, and soul, to jazz, hip-hop, and rhythm and blues.  The end result is music that is easily digestible and highly satisfying to listen to.  If there is one critique to give “BirdsEye” it is that at 17 tracks total, a full album listen can become a little daunting. DbS has a lot to say and many of these songs have been in a state of gestation for several years. Luckily, the majority of tracks clock in at four minutes or less and the album includes some breaks throughout, including the beautiful instrumental “Sunday Morning Gray” and a reprise of the title track towards the end.

Downbeat Switch are a unique phenomenon when it comes to original bands performing in the Richmond, VA area.  They have a sound all their own, but aren’t afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves.  In a concert setting their originals are mixed in with a variety of songs you’ve heard from the likes of The Police, Stevie Nicks, and Janis Joplin.  A highlight for me is always during the middle of the song “Castaway” where the band breaks into riff from a familiar but out of place song and then seamlessly jumps right back into the chaotic rhythms of the original tune.  Every show this breakdown riff is different and I have seen them do anything from video game theme music, to Tears for Fears, to the Miami Vice theme.  You can tell the band are more like a family than friends and that they are always having a great time on and off the stage together. I have yet to see any other band around town have a guitar player that utilizes a talk-box effect on something other than a Motley Crue or  Alice in Chains cover.  Meredith Brooks makes this part of his signature tone, and the added melodic capability of bassist Wayne Todd only adds to the memorable licks they’ve created and woven throughout their songs.  Keyboard players are a dime a dozen in this town and it’s very uncommon to see a player like Sean Reese that can leap from funky organ and electric piano riffing to beautiful piano ballad wizardry within the context of the same song.  Rob Reardon drums with the painstaking precision of a surgeon, yet his overall feel has a bounce and swagger to it that hearkens back to players like Stewart Copeland and Carter Beauford.  And then there is Jenna Be – it’s not often in the current state of the music business that you can find a talented, attractive woman who can also sing.  There’s not a trace of auto-tune anywhere on this record, and her voice can go from a sweet, soothing whisper to a commanding growl within the space of a few lines.  In a town overpopulated with bands spewing out hipster alt-rock and the last gasps of nu-metal on a regular basis, it’s refreshing to see a band of musicians like Downbeat Switch take music down a different path and give their fans something to really get down to.  Go download “BirdsEye” right now and go see them live when you can – they usually play Richmond at least once a month and I have a feeling that with the release of this record, they will be reaching even greater heights very soon.

*This is a subject for an entirely separate article which I will try to do in the future.