Richmond - If you pay any attention to the rock or country flavored bands playing around Richmond, you have probably heard of the Atkinsons. They've been around for a couple years now, if you consider seven to be a couple.  Most of that time has been spent playing at venues and festivals all over Richmond and the surrounding area.  For all those years playing they had until recently only released one album, a self-proclaimed alt-country opera called American Gothic.  They really are a performance band.  It's obvious from seeing them play that they just enjoy being up on stage playing music.   Recording is more of an afterthought for them.

But that doesn't mean that their recordings are of a lesser quality to their live shows, it just means that they aren't willing to put in the time to be constantly releasing new CDs.  When faced with the dilemma of very limited time to spend on recording (to be quite honest I don't see how they have any time: they seem to be constantly playing around Richmond, several of them have kids, and they all work full time jobs) they have chosen to spend that time focusing on quality rather than quantity.  American Gothic was wonderfully orchestrated, and their new album, Mile Marker, is just as good.

I consider American Gothic an excellent example of roots rock, perhaps somewhat more rootsy on the sound and rocking in the feel of the whole thing.  Mile Marker on the other hand can really in no way be considered roots rock.   It just feels too country.  What the Atkinsons have done is kept the same rootsy sound, added in perhaps even a bit more rock elements than the first album, and somehow come up with an album that gives you the same feeling that you get listening to old classic country.  You know the feeling that your life has gone to shit, but its OK because you have someone to commiserate with.

At this point I can't help but mention the fiddle.  I love the sound of a fiddle, and Mike Ferry truly knows how to play.  On the song “Lyin' and Honesty” there is some phenomenal back and forth between the fiddle and the electric guitar, and the great bow work continues throughout the album.  The vocals are another standout element of Mile Marker.  I've been a fan of Dickie Wood's nasally singing from the first time I saw the Atkinson's live, and it really doesn't lose anything in the recording process.

The sound quality might not lose anything, but there really is an element of the Atkinson's music that just can't be separated from their live shows.  The CD release show at Capital Ale House was no exception.  After a short opening set from Rachel Leyco and Constance Sisk, the Atkinsons took the stage to a packed house.  Apparently Capital Ale House's music hall can hold a little over 200 people, and there were, as I found out later, a little over 200 people in the audience.  As usual they played a great setlist mixing covers and originals to get just the right balance.  Perhaps it was too good of a balance.  The crowd loved the music so much that even after two sets they practically forced the band to play close to an hour past the scheduled end time.  Not that anyone would ever have to force the Atkinsons to play more music.  Their monthly shows at Cafe Diem are herculean three and four set affairs that go till who knows when in the morning.

Of course they weren't just promoting their new CD.  The show was also a fundraiser for the Henrico Humane Society.  In that regard it was a success as well.  By the end of the night several dogs had been adopted, and over $1300 had been contributed.  So all in all a good night, a good cause, a good show, and a great band.   And on top of that the new CD really is a mile marker for Richmond music.

By Editor (Managing) and Correspondent: Robin Marschak

Robin Marschak was born and raised in Richmond, VA. After a brief attempt at attending an engineering school in Claremont, CA he returned home to study English at VCU, an endeavour he is currently still engaged in. One thing that has remained unchanging throughout his life is a love of music. He was raised on local bands such as the Ululating Mummies and Dogs New Clothes as well as more classic mainstream bands such as the Beatles and the Grateful Dead. As a teen his tastes shifted towards the punk scene and bands such as TSOL, Operation Ivy, and Rancid, and while he maintains a deep love of this style of music he has broadened his listening palette quite a bit in recent years especially into the realms of country and old time music. His favorite bands currently are Popebear, a blues-funk fusion band out of Pasadena, CA, the Hot Seats, a string band from Richmond, and the No BS! Brass Band, also from Richmond. As far as more national acts go he tries to catch shows by bands like Umphrey's McGee, Old Crow Medicine Show, and the Belleville Outfit whenever possible.