In The Valley Below is having a big year. This Echo Park, Los Angeles-based duo has amassed more than 6.6 million spins on iTunes Radio and Spotify and are in alternative radio’s Top 20 with their huge hit song “Peaches.” They recently filmed a live performance of that song on top of the renowned Capital Records building in Hollywood. And they’ve been touring like demons, collecting fans wherever they go.
Having first been introduced to their music by The Airborne Toxic Event, who invited them on their autumn 2014 tour, I instantly liked their artsy synth-pop take on Southern Gothic Americana. I’ve found their back and forth sharing of verses, close harmonies and entrancing stage presence to be quite mesmerizing. With their touring drummer Joshua Clair, they have a rich, full sound and pack a lot of punch. Plus it certainly doesn’t hurt that the core duo, Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob, are ridiculously elegant and, as they say, easy on the eyes. Gearing up for their first headlining tour this fall, they’ve been performing all summer long at various festivals and radio shows.
Their performance at WBRU’s Summer Concert Series at Waterfront Park in Providence, Rhode Island last night was nothing short of spectacular. I’d never been to one of these free summer concerts before, and I can wholeheartedly recommend them. It’s right downtown at the relaxing outdoor plaza alongside Woonasquatucket River, close to many shops, bars, restaurants and across from a large mall with ample parking. WBRU is extremely supportive of new and up-and-coming bands (both local and international), and they frequently put on free or quite inexpensive line-ups of some great bands. In addition to the evening show, they did an amusing interview with Jeffrey and Angela at the nearby Rebel Lounge.
The Rare Occasions, 2014’s WBRU Rock Hunt Champions, opened. Not only can’t I tell you what genre of music this band plays; I am also at a loss in even trying to describe it. Free-form jazz, ’70s progressive rock, heavy metal, quirky folk (in the form of a charming little xylophone and ukulele number), Frank Zappa-esque “freak out” and alternative rock (maybe) all come to mind, but a firm description remains elusive. They were… weird. Not unenjoyable, to be sure, just strange. I’m hoping that they’ll consider that a compliment.
The Rare Occasions
In The Valley Below were clearly in their element this evening, the rippling water and twinkling lights of downtown skyscrapers a perfect backdrop for their dramatic presentation. From the opening moments to the last song, the audience was transfixed, and that included those in the dozen or so kayaks in the water behind them. Jeffrey turned and played a few scorching guitar solos for them during their set. And speaking of scorching guitar solos, I had completely forgotten what an amazing guitarist he is. The sound was beautiful and he simply wailed. Joshua is a fantastic drummer, and between the huge sound, cat-and-mouse interplay of the vocals and the stark, beautiful visuals as Jeffrey and Angela interacted with each other, the end result was hypnotic.
Though I didn’t keep track, I believe they played all or most of their debut album, and we were treated to a brand new song. I don’t know the title, so I’ll just call it by the repeated refrain, “Oh My Fever.” Which also happens to be an accurate description of the general mood of the crowd.
Needless to say, the place exploded at the opening notes of “Peaches.” The band’s catchy melodies, sensuous vocals and dark lyrical subtexts have hit people just right, and this particular song is great example of that. There is that moment, in the throes of a powerful performance, full audience engagement and synchronistic symbiosis, that the boundary between performers and fans disappears and you enter into a special realm. It doesn’t happen all that often, but when it does, it’s magic.
In The Valley Below’s U.S. autumn tour will begin on September 25 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is set to conclude in Las Vegas on November 13 for a whopping 33 shows.
North American Tour
09/25 Grand Rapids MI @ Pyramid Scheme
09/27 Washington DC @ Landmark Festival
09/29 Nashville TN @ High Watt
09/30 Birmingham AL @ Saturn
10/01 Fayetteville AR @ George’s Majestic
10/02 Dallas TX @ Dada
10/03 Austin TX @ ACL Festival
10/04 Houston TX @ House of Blues
10/05 New Orleans LA @ HiHo Lounge
10/07 Tampa FL @ Crowbar
10/08 Atlanta GA @ Vinyl
10/09 Wilmington NC @ Ziggy’s by the Sea
10/10 Charlotte NC @ Visulite
10/11 Philadelphia PA @ Johnny Brenda
10/13 Hamden CT @ SPACE
10/14 Boston MA @ Brighton Music Hall
10/19 Albany NY @ The Hollow
10/22 Columbus OH @ Basement
10/23 St Louis MO @ Firebird
10/24 Chicago IL @ Lincoln Hall
10/25 Milwaukee WI @ Turner Hall
10/26 Minneapolis MN @ Triple Rock
10/27 Omaha NE @ Waiting Room
10/29 Colorado Springs CO @ Black Sheep
10/30 Denver CO @ Bluebird
10/31 Salt Lake City UT @ Kilby Court
11/03 Vancouver BC @ Electric Owl
11/04 Portland OR @ Mississippi Studios
11/06 San Francisco CA @ Great American
11/07 Fresno CA @ Strummer’s
11/10 Phoenix AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
11/11 Los Angeles CA @ The El Rey
11/13 Las Vegas NV @ Bunkhouse Saloon
Their debut album, The Belt (Caroline/Capitol Records) was released in August 2014, and is available from Amazon and via iTunes
Other videos: Lover | Searching For A Devil
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