Brian Dove Returns to Winchester

With the handful of shows I’ve helped arrange at The Winchester Book Gallery this year, I’ve tried to begin to bridge a gap between our city and the independent music scene in the rest of Virginia.  This Friday at 7 p.m. I hope that Brian Dove of Richmond, Virginia can bring a bit of a boost to that effort, as Brian is a Winchester native who’s found musical success in the central part of our state.

I met Brian years ago when he played in a band called The Pilgrim’s Regress, a brilliant and shockingly-young duo who experimented within the realms of indie rock, synth, and experimental music.  We’ve stayed in touch as he moved to Richmond, began Virginia Commonwealth University, and become a part of the exploding arts scene in that city.  He now performs regularly with Brother Wolf, a truly inspiring band.

Brother Wolf plays very interesting and very unique music, featuring guitar, drums, three vocalists, cello, keyboard, and an assortment of additional percussion and noisemakers.  Their song structures are far from traditional, oftentimes being more akin to a modern take on a symphony or concerto, filled with movements, themes, and pure musical atmosphere.  Like many of the artists who have passed through the Book Gallery for music nights, Brother Wolf performed on Aux Send last year, shortly after they formed.  Normally I try my best to describe what bands actually sound like, but in this case it’s best to listen and decide for yourself.

In Richmond, Brian and the band are active within an up-and-coming multi-media arts group that calls itself “The Subterranea Collective.”  The collective is making great headway in supporting, promoting, and publishing independent music (and many other artforms) to the masses.  What’s amazing is the entirely DIY ethic and process the group has built itself upon.  This is the kind of organization that could easily thrive in our city.  We have musicians, and we have the desire to see our arts scene grow and flourish; with what bands like Brother Wolf have accomplished in Richmond, it’s clear that we could have more than we do.

But enough of my soapbox. Be sure to come listen to Brian perform a mix of Brother Wolf and original solo songs this Friday at 7 p.m. Suggested donation $5—it’s going to be a great night of music!  You can listen to Brian’s old band, The Pilgrim’s Regress, at http://www.myspace.com/thepilgrimsregress, a few solo pieces at http://www.myspace.com/briandovemusic, and his current project, Brother Wolf, at their Bandcamp page, http://brotherwolf.bandcamp.com/.