Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
Welcome to what may or may not become a regular segment here at Riff Relevant, it remains to be seen. That said, Riot’s Revelation is where I search out and share something you might be interested in. It may be a band, a record, an event, whatever… I merely make you aware and leave the rest up to you. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Today’s inaugural spotlight is cast toward RVA (Richmond, VA), and its shine lands upon Roy Batty.
Now, I can already hear you asking “What is a Roy Batty?!“, so just hold your horses a sec and I’ll tell you. Roy Batty is a rising band from the musical hotspot that is RVA and it actually features some rather well-known figures. Those figures are known locally, regionally, nationally, and even internationally. What they bring to, and blend within, this band is a sound rife with myriad styles and influences.
With singer Lindsey Spurrier (ex-Hot Dolphin), Mike Layne (Hoboknife), Danny Trice (both also ex-La Mere Vipere), and drummer Erik Larson (do I really need to break his pedigree down? i.e.: Backwoods Payback, Alabama Thunderpussy, Birds Of Prey, Hail!Hornet, The Mighty Nimbus, Avail… and on and on); Roy Batty is as unique an entity as you’d imagine.
Thankfully, you don’t have to imagine that, as the band’s style of punk-fused Alt. Rock/Noise Rock-meets-a hint of New Wave can now be heard. The band has made three songs, ‘Yesterday Came Today‘, ‘Mirror, and ‘A Quality Of Mercy‘, available for streaming on Bandcamp below (also designated NYP – Name Your Price – too).
The Roy Batty sound is one that might result from mixing some Wendy O. Williams & The Plasmatics with TSOL (True Sounds Of Liberty), ha! Chew on that… and this:
