The Art of Being Heavy: Horsefang

Horsefang is epic instrumental Metal from Charlottesville, VA. “The ‘Fang” recorded their first EP at Monkeyclaus last year. It is a gnarly Metal ripper from start to finish. This past weekend they began to lay down the tracks for their follow up release. The raw tracks from this first session are entirely mammoth and crushing. [...]

Abel Okugawa: Beat Wizard

Let it be known that Abel Okugawa is an epic figure in the Monkeyclaus family. He is the chief head honcho engineer of the Monkeyclaus Recording Studio. As an early Monkeyclaus believer, Abel was a key figure in the construction of the studio. He personally wired the entire studio. All the patches. All the everything. [...]

Jennifer Gentle, Dodos, Richmond Flowers 5: Psyche Pop Charade

The Italian psyche-pop group Jennifer Gentle, along with the Dodos, and the Richmond Flowers Five played an intimate show at Charlottesville’s Tea Bazaar, on August 25th 2007. The eclectic palate of sound was most enjoyable and made for a diverse and pleasurable experience. The confluence of musical minds from Northern Italy, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, [...]

Monkeyclaus Artist of the Week: Abel Okugawa

Yer Bird’s “Folk Music For The End Of The World”: CD Release Show

Yer Bird is a wonderful, small, independent folk label based out of Charlottesville, Virginia. “Folk Music for the End of the World” is a compilation of new, unreleased and rare recordings which Yer Bird has recently collected and compiled. The CD features gorgeous artwork and 17 tracks by songwriters from all directions. Three of the [...]

The Chihuahuas Finish Their Tour Where They Began

The Virginia Jihad Tour of 2007 is coming to a close after a short tour around the Southeastern and Southwestern United States. Come welcome the Chihuahuas home at Starr Hill this Saturday night. They will be lighting up the stage along with Jim Waive and the Young Divorcees and The Hackensaw Boys. Should be a [...]

Casa de Chihuahua: Seen Heading South, Considered Dangerous

art by nico and photo by konstantin sergeyev The Casa de Chihuahua is an upscale bed and breakfast in Chihuahua Mexico. Ironically, it’s also the name of the New York City / Nelson County, Virginia “street-grass” kingpins and queen. The band plays bluegrass music soaked in a punk aesthetic, and affected by urban surroundings. “The [...]

Holy Bear Crossing: Bobby St. Ours Solo Album Represents the Blue Ridge Spirit

Robert St. Ours is an old soul. You can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He’s an All-American original in the purest sense. He is one of the many things that make America a great land, despite all the thieves and the crooks, the indiscriminate bombs, the wayward missiles, the [...]

An interview with Martha Mendenhall regarding the Wunderkammer

On October 3rd I interviewed Martha Mendenhall about the Wunderkammer (the great theater production she helped organize, which ran in Charlottesville in July and August of 2006). Lark Davis then transcribed the interview and gave it a first edit. We hope to eventually publish interviews with each of the core team of the Wunderkammer. Below [...]

Remembering Summer- Tiger Saw, Annie Palmer, and Sarah White

As the short days and long cold nights of winter approach it is good to reminisce on the carefree days of summer. This past summer Monkeyclaus booked a show for Tiger Saw, Annie Palmer, and Charlottesville’s sweetheart, Sarah White out at our studio in the Blue Ridge Mountains. According to their label, Kimchee Records, “Tiger [...]