Valentiger shared this night with the newly resurrected “Flowbs,” now Bird Rights, and Bangups. Bird Rights featured the younger of the Boyea brothers on vocals and a “harder” sound than previous years. Bangups brought the the two-man thunder as usual, while selling giant, Warhol-like posters of their faces. Valentiger played a very rocking set, while putting forward a delicate balance of new material and Magnet era songs for a more “classic crowd.” The fury continued into a dance party, fueled by disc jockey, Eric Kehoe. Even later, Rider and Shirey hosted an all-night porch fest resulting in a seemingly endless contest of Bear-Hunter-Princess.
Entries from October 25th, 2010
NEW VALENTIGER ALBUM
October 25th, 2010
Valentiger spent a vast majority or their summer inside, figuring a game plan for the new release that has since spawned from February’s demo sessions. A second set of demos narrowed 16 songs to 12 and the final recordings have totaled 10 official tracks thus far. The band in general is pretty excited about the actual recording process this time around, for the record will be completed in about 1/3 or the time we normally take. We’ve heard the songs less and it’s producing a much more efficient band as well as a tighter and natural sound on the takes. I, myself, have been putting in two to three days a week to cut vocals and overdubs. Mixing has just begun and is looking on the up! I will say I’ve heard some early feedback referring to the album as “serial killer.” Take that for what you might…we’re shooting to release Winter, 2011 along with a trip to SXSW.
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The B.O.B. – July 15, 2010
September 13th, 2010
Valentiger signs up for a run at the Thursday “College Night” at the B.O.B., appreciating the working of local, original music into the monstrous Gilmore establishment. And so the boys pulled off a three-hour set playing to a bachelorette party and various comers and go-ers. There were a few familiar faces, the band was drinking B.O.B. brews and Rider kept talking about The Real World. They started the night off with a search for a missing microphone, an inexplicable cord and things eventually got sticky with a fussy P.A. system. About every new song they had entered it’s way into the present and then they were off into the weekend without even a stop into Crush.
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Beat Kitchen – July 8, 2010
September 13th, 2010
WINDY CITY ROCK SAYS:
One of the many cool things about writing for a music blog is that it allows one the opportunity to drink canned beer and see live music with the illusion of productivity. I did just that last Thursday at Beat Kitchen for a show including The Shams Band and Cyndy Fike, who I had previously written about digging separately (see here and here), as well as Rachele Eve and Valentiger.
Cyndy was with her full band, Nelken, and started the show off with a soft but powerful bit of Americana. The electric guitar sounded like it was being played on a porch with a cord trailing behind it into a house where a dusty amp sat. At least tha t’s what I pictured, but I was putting away the Blatz. Driven by powerful harmonies and jangle guitar, it was a good start to the evening.
The second act, Michigan’s Valentiger, was a bearded three piece that mixed well-traveled folk harmony, nostalgic 50s and 60s chord progressions and the urban frenzy of early punk three pieces (when they started their cover of the Jam’s “In the City,” I annoyingly began nudging the people next to me and singing Paul Weller’s praises). It was cool to see these three establish a cohesive identity while covering so much musical ground.
Rachele Eve was the third act. Rachele has both the vocal chops and the songbook to be very impressive. Her songs were hooky, dynamic and memorable, and her band was kick-ass. They supported her as well as performing in their own right. It was like watching a gypsy boat full of catchy ruckus float down the river past you. The band allowed itself to lose control, get lost in the racket and then immediately tighten up and bring it back down. People were movin’
The Shams Band performed last to a good number of people, starting their weekend early. And like I have said before, the Shams Band throws a great party. The tone of Paul Gulyas’s electric lead really set the pace for a gritty, bluesy set. There were moments to slow down and make use of the three vocalists’ excellent harmony, moments to get rowdy and holler, and moments to shut it down completely with the bittersweet American longing of the track “Des Plaines River.”
I would like to add a few notes about Valentiger’s personal experience:
1. They were a bit upset about excessive coverage of LeBron’s “The Decision.” Not to mention his actual decision
2. Shirey promised some sort of Valentiger Onesie
3. Valentiger enjoyed the green room with free PBR.
4. Shirey broke a string and borrowed Nelken’s guitar
5. Rider witnessed a very drunken signing off complete with SSN, post-show
6. Shirey and Rider made a bad decision to spend nearly all night with Justin Valmassoi before driving home, saved only by Subway and coffee.
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