I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: May 19, 2017] Valley Queen

I recently watched Valley Queen on a Tiny Desk Concert.  Initially, I  enjoyed it but wasn’t blown away.  Although I was blown away by singer Natalie Carol’s voice.  And as I listened to their set a few more times I got really hooked by them.  So I was pretty excited that they were opening for Laura Marling.

I arrived during their first song (TLA is in the center of the city and I wound up parking about 12 blocks away–cutting it way too close).

I walked in on the right side, enjoyed the first song and then had to get water (it was a stupid hot day) and then I wended my way to the front left, where I had a great view of the band.

Valley Queen have released an EP (Destroyer) and they played about half of the songs off of it.  They played a few other songs too, but I can’t find a setlist to confirm what they were.

While I their Tiny Desk Concert really grew on me, they were amazing live.  Neil Wogensen’s bass was much more evident–and he plays some great fills that were really striking (and great backing vocals too).  And I loved watching Shawn Morones on guitar.  There’s a solo at the end of “My Man” in which he repeats a series of notes in between wailing parts–it was an insanely catchy solo.  He also broke a string during one song and managed to finish the solo on it.  I was happy for him (and us) that he had a second guitar stashed away and didn’t have to restring the main one.  I couldn’t see drummer Gerry Doot too well, but he was great too.  I got to chat with all three of them after the show at the merch table, and that was pretty fun.

But it’s hard to deny that all eyes are on Natalie Carol.  She was wearing black and white striped pants which were impossible not to notice.  But aside from her pants, she has great charisma and a fascinatingly chill onstage presence.  She said that she had gotten a message in the green room before the show and she felt so good they could play all night.  I also enjoyed her comment at the end of that one song that the broken string was “sacrificed.”  That chill demeanor completely belies the power of her voice.

In addition to the power and range she also has some fascinating enunciation on certain songs–it sounds like she could be from anywhere in the world.  But really it’s the way she can hit and hold notes like in the chorus of “In My Place” (which also has a great catchy riff), and the wonderful single “Stars Align.”  The mellow jangle pop of “Hold on You” was a nice break from the rocking of the other songs.  I also enjoyed some of the songs that were slower but had big brash choruses and the occasional mellow, slow burning song too.

Occasionally their songs veer into country sounds (more on record than live), but it seems to be more of a California vibe than a country sound.

I also almost literally ran into Carol as she was loading up the van while the guys were selling merch, but she seemed a bit too busy to talk to at the time.

I enjoyed their set immensely and am really glad they were the opening band.

Here’s some song’s I’m certain they played.

In My Place
My Man
Stars Align
Hold on You