February 27, 2007
The Valentines
Good tunes for good times.
Fun. That's the way I'd describe The Valentines. I should be on the patio outside of Whole Foods with an uber-veggie slice and an organic beer on one of those rare temperate days, lunching with a friend in the sun. Like modern-day surf rock, without the cheese factor. It's just plain old enjoyable.
It's refreshing to hear of a Texas alternative band who doesn't take themselves too seriously. Their name has less than five words, their pants aren't painfully tight, and their drummer brags about being a Chuck Norris look-alike. Hell, their autobiography tells the story of a man in black with a bottle of Jack, digging in a churchyard with magic shovels and finding instruments with which to create a band. Not your everyday "we put out an ad in Craigslist" story. The McLellan brothers (Aaron and Joey) hooked up with Chris Holston and Austen Hooks in Dallas, a city known for bringing out some great alt-rockers (the Toadies, Tripping Daisy), and while they haven't been together for ages, their sound comes across as neat, polished, and precise. These guys can harmonize with the best of em, and tossing in a little organ for good measure throws you right back to the sixties; I'm thinking Donovan, the Kinks, maybe a little Lovin' Spoonful? Don't get me wrong, the Valentines aren't just a rehashed hippie escapade. In fact, they remind me a lot of Austin darlings Spoon, and they could slide right into the playlist on "The Next Big Thing" (syndicated radio by alt-guru Andy Langer, for those not fortunate enough to live in Austin).
It seems The Valentines are attracting quite a bit of attention around the state (Texas, it's the state), winning "Best New Act 2006" from their hometown Dallas Observer. And what perfect timing; they're now putting the finishing touches on their debut album, and already have shows scheduled at this year's SXSW. You can get a preview of their new LP online at their website.
And even though I'm not in the sun and I'm sadly sans-brew, I'll admit, these songs had me doing the monkey.
It's refreshing to hear of a Texas alternative band who doesn't take themselves too seriously. Their name has less than five words, their pants aren't painfully tight, and their drummer brags about being a Chuck Norris look-alike. Hell, their autobiography tells the story of a man in black with a bottle of Jack, digging in a churchyard with magic shovels and finding instruments with which to create a band. Not your everyday "we put out an ad in Craigslist" story. The McLellan brothers (Aaron and Joey) hooked up with Chris Holston and Austen Hooks in Dallas, a city known for bringing out some great alt-rockers (the Toadies, Tripping Daisy), and while they haven't been together for ages, their sound comes across as neat, polished, and precise. These guys can harmonize with the best of em, and tossing in a little organ for good measure throws you right back to the sixties; I'm thinking Donovan, the Kinks, maybe a little Lovin' Spoonful? Don't get me wrong, the Valentines aren't just a rehashed hippie escapade. In fact, they remind me a lot of Austin darlings Spoon, and they could slide right into the playlist on "The Next Big Thing" (syndicated radio by alt-guru Andy Langer, for those not fortunate enough to live in Austin). It seems The Valentines are attracting quite a bit of attention around the state (Texas, it's the state), winning "Best New Act 2006" from their hometown Dallas Observer. And what perfect timing; they're now putting the finishing touches on their debut album, and already have shows scheduled at this year's SXSW. You can get a preview of their new LP online at their website.
And even though I'm not in the sun and I'm sadly sans-brew, I'll admit, these songs had me doing the monkey.