If you don't know, now you know: Valentiger to perform at Jammies

“Oh, to know!” is the name of the WYCE Jammie-nominated song and album by local trio Valentiger, and can also be used to describe the feeling after hearing the band for the first time. A mix of instinctual harmonies, homegrown guitars and drums, and one bad-ass harmonica, Valentiger is riding a wave of successes that includes award nods and an appearance at SXSW music festival.

Valentiger is comprised of guitarist/vocalist Brent Shirey and drummer/vocalist Scott Rider, both Sparta natives, and bass guitarist/vocalist Bill Kaher, an import from the east side of the state. The three came together about four years ago and have since released two albums, "Oh, to Know!" and 2009’s "Power Lines to Electric Times," projects that are equal parts toe-tapping ear worm (in a good way) and lyrics reminiscent of a midwestern e.e. cummings (minus the weird punctuation).

In the case of "Oh, to Know!," the group composed each aspect of the project themselves from start to finish.“Every last thing about the album we made,” said Rider, whose living room served as the recording studio.  It’s also a testament for what the band can do when working under pressure. “We were going to play South by Southwest and wanted to have something new done for that,” Shirey said. The collection of ten tracks is a striking showcase of simple, honed musicianship that would sound good anywhere, whether on stage, in the car or in someone’s living room.

The guys aren’t strangers to playing in unconventional places and using unconventional methods. “That puts us in our element, when we get put out of our element,” said Shirey. “We can focus on different aspects of our sound. We make sure it’s good down to the core.” The band teamed up with Scopitone VidBox to create a live, low-fi video inside Brewery Vivant and also hosted The Frontman Show, a collaborative showcase that paired local lead singers with Valentiger. The result of the show is a video series on the band’s website that offers a new video each Monday.

“None of us knew what to expect or how it would turn out,” Shirey said, “We had a blast, and hopefully it gets people to listen to new bands.” Rider added that they rely on word of mouth for exposure and said it’s always an honor when they hear of people passing around their music. “I think people should do that more – recommend bands. Listening to music happens in a vacuum, on the computer, on your iPod,” Shirey said.

The chance to hear Valentiger and many of the performers featured in the Frontman Show is coming this Tuesday when the 13th Annual WYCE Jammies take the stage at The Intersection Lounge. Valentiger set is slated for 9:20.

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