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Rival Sons

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About

RIVAL SONS

Jay Buchanan – vocals
Scott Holiday – guitar
Dave Beste – bass
Michael Miley – drums

‘Fizzing with freshness’ - BBC
‘Sunkissed psychedelia and irresistible hooks, with the band’s soul, funk and blues influences thrust joyously to the fore...‘- Guardian

Released in June 2014 via Earache Records, Great Western Valkyrie puts Rival Sons freewheeling fuzz and improvisational stage ethos to wax and cements their position as America’s next great rock’n’roll band. With a ‘conscious decision for this band to be just what it is’ (Jay Buchanan) this album is more cohesive than any Rival Sons album before.

From the beach cities of Southern California, the time was ripe for Rival Sons. Guitarist Scott Holiday had long been searching for something that would fit his psychedelic vision and fuzzy garage rock tones, then things fell into place when blues singer/songwriter Jay Buchanan put the solo career on the backburner and gave rock ‘n’ roll a chance.  Scott Holiday: ‘a random find on the Internet points me to Jay Buchanan. In 13 seconds I realize I have just come across the singer I've looked for over the last 10-12 years of my life.’
Jay was invited to record vocals on the band’s debut release ‘Before the fire’ ‘Singing On My Way in a single take. We never even ran tape a 2nd time. That was a first to witness for me. And so it was born... Rival Sons.’
Four albums on, with an ever-growing fan base the band go from strength to strength and have never looked back.

Emerging from a scene where over-production was commonplace, writing and recording in a hotbox of activity without prior discussion or preparation came to be what Rival Sons is about. ‘We have a reputation for recording our albums very quickly and keeping things very live - off the floor.’
As Holiday puts it after recording Before The Fire: ‘This is just the simplest way to not cheat ourselves or the listener. Rock and Roll can’t be over-thought, and if it is, it loses its immediacy and instinct … it needs to be a knife fight, not a choreographed knife dance’

The Rival Sons EP was recorded soon after Jay Buchanan joined the band and it caught the attention of Earache Records founder Digby Pearson who signed a deal in November 2010 that led to the recording of Pressure & Time in early 2011. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Dave Cobb (who has worked on all Rival Sons albums) and released worldwide in May 2011. The band committed to creating an experience that closely matches the attitude and excitement of one of their live performances. Coming straight off a 4 week stint on the road, Rival Sons wrote, recorded, and mixed the album in just 20 days; ensuring a rawness for both the listener and the band; explains Buchanan, ‘in the code of the Samurai, any decision must be made between 3 and 5 breaths … writing by that code forces us to act, go with our instincts and really, truly listen to each other. Creatively, you’re bringing your most immediate instincts.’

Pressure & Time opened a door to Europe where from their first European show at Camden Barfly to Shepherds Bush Empire in 2012, there has hardly been a show that was not sold out. The band quickly picked up European shows and festivals and became known for a wild improvisational live show.

Jay Buchanan “Each one of us is coming at this thing we call a band for different reasons and with a very different approach. It's an unlikely collective really but when it all comes together there's an energy I don't see happening anywhere else. If rock'n'roll is our base form I would say, that transparent energy in our performance and solid writing are our highest functions as a band. Give everything you have, every time. Each time you approach that stage, every night, you're waiting for someone to call you out for the fraud you really are so you empty your pockets and give them everything you have inside of you just trying to prove that you've come there for a greater reason than just wanting to be the center of someone's attention. Music is fucking heavy business.”

Seeing the creative process as a snapshot, only spending less than a month in the studio for each album, writing and recording live under one roof to keeps the process raw but also grueling. Straight off the back of more touring early 2012 the band went into Honey Pye studios in Nashville in February 2012 for 22 days to write and record their new album again with Dave Cobb and Vance Powell (Jack White, Kings of Leon etc). Experimenting with old analog equipment from legendary studios that producer Dave Cobb had collected the band found a warmth in their sound for the album that would be Head Down.

With growing accolades and chart success the band were presented with “Breakthrough Artist” award by Vic Reeves at the Classic Rock awards at the end of 2012, they also graced the cover of the magazine as well as several other publications.

Between albums Rival Sons have a taxing tour schedule, original bassist Robin Everhart left the band in August 2013, finding that the touring life didn’t agree with him. Playing club shows, stadiums and festivals, the band convert new fans wherever they go. The band continued their touring schedule with long-time friend of the band Dave Beste (Maroon5, Rocco Deluca and The Burden) on bass, before returning to the studio in Nashville once again in Jan 2014 with producer Dave Cobb to record their 5th release ‘Great Western Valkyrie’.
“Opting to keep the sound in-tact and very accurate as to deliver to the listener exactly what was happening in the room when we put it down. We also felt a big desire to make a few left turns musically on this record - which we did. You will get the rock n roll…but on several tracks you get something much more hybrid.” – Scott Holiday

Called ‘A vital force in the modern age’ by The Guardian, Rival Sons often approach their music as if they were on a mission. Drummer Michael Miley: ‘We’re pushing the envelope of modern music; forcing it to stay awake and active through instinctive and honest music delivered with a blistering live performance’
‘In a ideal world, I want our records and live shows to envelop the listener to the level of forgetting daily worries. Just be free and lose (or FIND) yourself in the music.’ – Scott Holiday

Releases:
June 2009 - BEFORE THE FIRE (self released)
Feb 2010/2011 - RIVAL SONS EP (self released and on ITunes via Earache Records)
June 2011 - PRESSURE & TIME (Earache Records)
August 2012 – HEAD DOWN (Earache Records)
June 2014 – GREAT WESTERN VALKYRIE (Earache Records)

Reviews

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 281 reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Best show I’ve been to thus far

    by Chloe on 12/2/23

    I first saw rival sons when they opened for Greta Van Fleet. It immediately blew my mind and I had there music on repeat. I booked a trip to Paris and Amsterdam to see Greta Van Fleet as a bonus to the trip. My luck, rival sons also was playing Amsterdam at the Melkweg and I was lucky enough to snag a couple tickets and be front of the pit. I can truly say it was the best, most energetic show I’ve seen and was my favorite night of the entire trip. Forever dreaming about the energy given from the crowd and the band! Can’t wait to see them again.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    So good

    by Chris on 9/9/23Roxian Theatre - Pittsburgh

    Rival sons are amazing and this show didn’t disappoint. The roxian is also one of the best venues for live shows around.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Darkfighter Tour 2023

    by Gee n Kay on 9/9/23Roxian Theatre - Pittsburgh

    AWESOME show!!! We dont know if they were hungry for a full set after opening for the Pumpkins or what, but this was the best we have seen them yet of the 5 times we have. Love seeing Rival Sons at small venues and the Roxian in PGH was perfect. This group is peaking this tour. They did great new material off Darkfighter and good renditions of older songs. Just a perfect show. We don't think they can get better but we wont complain if they do.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Excellent show as always

    by Heather on 9/9/23Roxian Theatre - Pittsburgh

    These guys are amazing. Never disappoint ! You have to check them out.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Amazing show

    by Rival Son of a Gun on 9/9/23Roxian Theatre - Pittsburgh

    Rival Sons’ first show after about a week off was fantastic. They’ve been on the road supporting Darkfighter for a few months now and the set list was more varied than heavy on the new record with Lightbringer pending as well. I had a tremendous time. Great crowd. Good venue.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Voice control to major Buchanan

    by Patti on 9/2/23

    Rival sons never disappoints! Mr Jay Buchanan needs to rest his godly voice a little! The only man I want to yell at me, needs to be able to

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Awesome show

    by RW on 9/1/23

    The Rival Sons show at XL live was awesome. First time at this venue and it was a great experience as it's an intimate setting but has lots of room to roam around to watch from various points. Bar prices were very cheap compared to other venues I've been to recently, almost corner bar prices. The show itself was incredible. My first time seeing the band but will not be my last. From Jay's vocals to Scott's guitar it was a great rock show from beginning to end!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Rival Sons/Harrisburg, Pa.

    by doozerdoo on 9/1/23

    Fantastic GIG!!! Rival Sons never disappoint!!! Great Band, quite surprised not bigger than they are! 6th Time seeing them Still getting better & better!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    One of the best bands out there.

    by Tracy on 9/1/23

    If you haven't seen Rival Sons Live then you are missing out. Love, Love, Love everything they are doing.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Rival Sons Out of Body Experience

    by Tatted Biker on 9/1/23

    Jay gave us the most passionate and emotional performance I've ever witnessed. It was as if he was having a out of body experience. As if he detached himself from every aspect of life and was living out every word and note of the song in real time right before our eyes. Nothing phony or routine about it at all. You couldn't take your eyes off of him. It was truly remarkable to witness because you don't get that type of performance every night.