Category: Community Engagement (Page 1 of 4)

River City Limits on WRIR – 5-2-26

May 5, 2026 / admin

Click the image to go to the WRIR website.

Any new music links provided below go to Bandcamp. If Bandcamp offers the song or album for purchase, it is purchased in order to support the artists. Full Bandcamp collection.

The episode:

2026 0502 RCL

BED MUSIC from Richmond Synth Collective Demo Compilation Vol 2

NEW MUSIC

BEYA – Runaway
Spotify

REPPA TON, AGENT-X – Rock Bottomed (radio edit)
Spotify

MADLY BACKWARDS – Summer Denim
BC
https://www.madlybackwards.com/

THE POTTED PLANTS – Microplastics
Spotify

ROSLIN – Silver Tongue (demo)
BC

SRAVANI KAMESWARI – Seattle Speedrun
Spotify

ERIN LUNSFORD – Call Me If You Need Me
Spotify

PRABIR – Tomorrow
BC

GREG GARNER – Charmer
___

NOT NEW

Greg Garner – Lighthouse

Butcher Brown – Secret House

Charm Offensive – Misery

Madison Turner – & the days go by

Palm Palm – Automatic Attraction

Piranha Rama – Golden Blues

the Ar-Kaics – Fools are Gone

The J.O.B. – One Day In A Lifetime

Windhand – Shepherd’s Crook

FutureProjektor – Discovery-Eureka

Byzantine – Floating Chrysanthema

Prayer Group – Plagiarism

Pyramid Mass – Unrest

Sleepytime Trio – Butter Scaryflies

Coral – Pillowtalk – Figure 8

Kepone – Virginia Creeper

Long Arms – Crazy Bet

HELGAMITE – Æstrosion

Good Eye Podcast – Mark Brown – The Giving Notes Project

May 5, 2026 / admin

Mark Brown is a Richmond Virginia-area musician and entrepreneur. He took a trip to Norway, saw a man playing accordian on the street and the man refused any money or contributions. He just wanted to put the positive energy of creating music into the universe. That experience set Mark and some collaborators on a path to give back through music. They channel personal stories into original songs.

https://www.thegivingnotesproject.com/

Tom Tom Festival in Charlottesville

https://www.tomtomfoundation.org

April 22-26, 14^th Annual

This year’s theme: Courage

Submit your Good Eye ideas, topics, feedback: jay@jaysmack.com

Bike MS 2026 – Year 23!

April 30, 2026 / admin

I’ve been riding in the Bike MS event to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research and programs since 2004 when a dear friend was diagnosed. He has since lost his battle with MS, but that doesn’t mean we stop battling it. If you’d care to support my ride this year please link the link below. I am sincerely grateful for everyone who has supported my rides over the years.

We also have a team! And YOU can join it. It’s called Go Forward Cycling in honor of another organization doing the work to help our community face some of the many challenges life can throw at you. The Forward Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting working, single parents and their children in the Greater Richmond area who are experiencing a life change that has altered their finances. If you’d like to join our team you don’t even have to ride with us. We’re just happy to have you. Register for the event, join our team, and choose your route. Easy!

Please reach out if I can answer any questions or if you’d like to get involved with the MS Society or the Forward Foundation. Thanks!

Click the image to sponsor me!

Click to sponsor me!

Tribute to Jeff Porcaro (episode of “End of the Century” on WRIR)

April 28, 2025 / admin

“End of the Century” on WRIR highlights music from 1975 to 1999. This episode explores the timeline of the work of drummer Jeff Porcaro. Jeff Porcaro was one of the most-recorded studio drummers of all time. He’s a legend in drumming circles famous for his groove, his technique and his ability to not only serve the song, but approach it in such a way that he elevated it and gave it a voice sometimes the artist didn’t realize was there. Jeff worked with so many incredible artists in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s it’s hard to represent them all. From Michael Jackson to Michael McDonald, from Bruce Springsteen to the B-52’s, and of course his work with Toto, Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs. From Wikipedia: “AllMusic characterized Porcaro as “arguably the most highly regarded studio drummer in rock from the mid-’70s to the early ’90s” and said that “it is no exaggeration to say that the sound of mainstream pop/rock drumming in the 1980s was, to a large extent, the sound of Jeff Porcaro.” He was posthumously inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1993.”

The Spotify playlist above has a representative chunk of his work, and you can listen back to the show by going to the WRIR Show Archives.

Deep dive programming is not often possible on commercial radio. Support WRIR, Richmond’s independent radio station with a one-time donation, or with a monthly donation.

Riding against Multiple Sclerosis, year 22!

April 28, 2025 / admin

I’m riding against MS again this year. This is year 22 for me. I can’t wait until our Go Forward Cycling team rolls out from Richmond on May 31 headed to Williamsburg. Then we get up the next day and head back to Richmond.

MS is an insidious, debilitating disease. I started riding for a dear friend after he was diagnosed. He fought hard against MS for years, but last year his fight came to an end. I will continue to ride for him and for all the people I have met who have MS or whose friends and family have it. The list of people I ride for has grown over the years, but there’s always room for more. Because while progress has been made and continues to be made, the fight is not over.

To sponsor me, join our team or to find out more please visit the links below. Thank you for your continued support.

SPONSOR ME

JOIN THE GO FORWARD CYCLING TEAM

EVENT INFO

GO FORWARD CYCLING TEAM AT LAST YEAR’S RIDE

UPDATE:

The ride was this past weekend and it was another great couple days of cycling, fun, awareness of what we’re working for and appreciation of everyone who contributed – riders, volunteers, organizers and those fighting MS every day. See you next year!

River City Limits on WRIR 12-7-24

December 9, 2024 / admin

NEW

Andy Jenkins – Leaving Before
-released Dec 3

Twin Drugs – Convenient Spell
-released ysterday Dec 6

The J.O.B. – One Day In A Lifetime
-released Nov 5

Dogwood Tales – driver’s side fantasy
-released Nov 22
-Harrisonburg

Asylum 213 – October Beach House
-advance release (a few songs) ahead of official release Dec 13
-production began in 2021

Dayfiction – Bullet in the Sun
-released yesterday Dec 6

Murdersome – Necessary Evil – 02 Necessary Evil
-released Nov 22
-former members of Alabama Thunderpussy, Short Bus Pile Up, and Humungus.

NOT NEW

Alabama Thunderpussy – When Mercury Drops
-Rise Again (first release)

Humungus – Warband
-Warband

Enforced – Malignance
-Kill Grid

Valkyrie – Fear and Sacrifice
-Fear

Destruct – Omnicide

DYNAMIC TRUTHS – Understanding Is Overrated – You Take It All

Coral – Pillowtalk – Figure 8

Honor Role – So Anyway

Butcher Brown – Secret House – Secret House
-with drummer Nate Smith at the National for Nate’s 50th – 7pm – TONIGHT

Drook – America, My Window

Bats & Mice – worst time (single released in April, album in May)

Greg Garner – Lighthouse

Instrumentals
Colin Phils – Trust-Fall
-Trust Fall

Benjamin Mauch – Self Preservation
– A Moment in Time that Always Happens

Mark Stanley – Hydroglyph
-WHAT

DJ HARRISON – LaDeeDahDeeDah
-TapeCookies2

Ronan Chris Murphy – Another Mother for Peace
-Horse, Zanthus!

Heavy set
BASK – Mush! Carry Me Home

NIGHT BATTLES – Curse the Day

Thunderchief – Crawl

The Practitioner – Flesh At The Tips of Thorns
-Wrought

Night Idea – Riverless – Perfect Water

StudioB RVA/Good Eye Podcast – Melissa Vaughan – WRIR Fund Drive

October 30, 2024 / admin

Both podcasts – same exact interview.

In this dual episode of Studio B RVA and the Good Eye Podcast, the conversation is with Melissa Vaughan, President of WRIR, Richmond’s independent community radio station. She took over in 2020. She had previously acted as Volunteer Coordinator. Since taking over as WRIR’s fearless leader, she has spearheaded growth, expanded programming, volunteer and fundraising for the station and even led efforts to buy a new building so the station could grow further and increase its service to the community.

Good Eye Podcast – Laura Faison – Goodwill

October 15, 2024 / admin

Laura Faison is the Chief Communications Officer for Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia. We discuss creating Halloween costumes from repurposed materials available at Goodwill, sustainability practices, Goodwill’s mission, donation policies and more.

Goodwill

Good Eye Podcast

Contact

River City Limits on WRIR 9-7-24

September 9, 2024 / admin

2024 RELEASES
NEW THIS MONTH:
ENFORCED – A Leap into the Dark
Shagwüf – To Hook A Fish Of Memory
DOWNHAUL – Sinker
indoor-indoor – Miracle Time
bodyshell – Astronaut
Energy 2000 – The Rocket into Planetary Space
Justin Golden – Left My Gal in the Mountains
Midlife Pilot – Stay Low
The Mitras – No One Gets Back To Me
SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE – STRANGER ALIVE
Tomb of Annihilation – The Dead and the Living (Tomb of Annihilation)
Ninth Realm – Infernal Spite

OTHERS RELEASED IN 2024
BEEX – Big House
Halfcast – Able To Tell
The Judy Chops – Good Days
Young Scum – Lighter Blue
doll baby – Crumbled at our feet.
I am the liquor – The Devils Due
Asylum 213 – Subi
Butcher Brown – Secret House
Drook – America, My Window
Greg Garner – Lighthouse
Destruct – Omnicide
Crucial Rip – Force Fed Concrete
Mutually Assured Destruction – Hexer
Tennishu – Heat To Drop
FM Skyline – In the Clouds
Sam Valentine – Somewhere Golden
the Ar-Kaics – Chains
Bats & Mice – worst time
New Lions – Canada
Outer World – The Drum the Beat
WKNDR – All In
NO BS! Brass – Begin Again

WRIR

Studio B RVA

Studio B/Jay Smack Bandcamp collection

Good Eye Podcast – Go Forward Together Ride/Forward Fest Kickoff Live from Final Gravity Brewing

August 26, 2024 / admin

This episode was recorded live at Final Gravity Brewing during the kick-off event on August 14th. We’ll do this again on September 11, and everyone is invited whether you’re riding in the event, coming to Forward Fest or not. This is a community organization and these are community events. The Go Forward Together Ride and Forward Fest event following the ride is Saturday, October 5th.

In this episode we talk with Forward Foundation Executive Director Andrea Starr, Ride Committee member and rider/participant Steve Dragone, and rider/participant Jeff Smack about this year’s upcoming event, past events and growth (this is year 5), the mission of the Forward Foundation, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, details about registration, the cycling community including our official support shop Blue Ridge Cyclery, the 50 and 30 miles routes and more.

Learn more about the Forward Foundation and their mission of assisting single parents in financial crisis here:
www.forwardfoundationva.org