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RIVAL SONS
Jay Buchanan â vocals
Scott Holiday â guitar
Dave Beste â bass
Michael Miley â drums
âFizzing with freshnessâ - BBC
âSunkissed psychedelia and irresistible hooks, with the bandâs soul, funk and blues influences thrust joyously to the fore...â- 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 Americaâs next great rockânâroll band. With a âconscious decision for this band to be just what it isâ (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 ânâ roll a chance. Scott Holiday: âa 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.â
Jay was invited to record vocals on the bandâs debut release âBefore the fireâ âSinging 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.â
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. âWe have a reputation for recording our albums very quickly and keeping things very live - off the floor.â
As Holiday puts it after recording Before The Fire: âThis is just the simplest way to not cheat ourselves or the listener. Rock and Roll canât be over-thought, and if it is, it loses its immediacy and instinct ⌠it needs to be a knife fight, not a choreographed knife danceâ
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, âin 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, youâre bringing your most immediate instincts.â
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 âEach 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.â
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 âBreakthrough Artistâ 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 didnât 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 âGreat Western Valkyrieâ.
âOpting 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 rollâŚbut on several tracks you get something much more hybrid.â â Scott Holiday
Called âA vital force in the modern ageâ by The Guardian, Rival Sons often approach their music as if they were on a mission. Drummer Michael Miley: âWeâre pushing the envelope of modern music; forcing it to stay awake and active through instinctive and honest music delivered with a blistering live performanceâ
âIn 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.â â 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 â HEAD DOWN (Earache Records)
June 2014 â GREAT WESTERN VALKYRIE (Earache Records)
The Pageant is a great venue to see a show. Rival Sons is one of our favorite bands so it was an amazing experience Definitely will be back and staying next door at the Moonrise Hotel which was nice. We always stay there when in St Louis
Rival sons...boring. however starcrawler put on a great show. The audience didn't seem to be that into it, tragic because they really are incredible. Black angels is the band that i really wanted to see. They were ok but the set was short. At least it seemed that way to me. I would see them again if they weren't with rival sons.
The Rival Sons delivered what may have easily been the best live rock musical performance I have ever seen. I will go see them again every chance I get.
It was unbelievable to see a band of this caliber in such an intimate setting, especially given they sell out stadiums in Europe. They could have phoned it in, but they gave 110% and were so gracious. We feel so lucky to have experienced them live and up close!
They sounded great as always! They always put on a great show!
I was disappointed not to hear my favorite Rival Sons song. I kept thinking they were saving it for the encore, but they left without an encore even though the crowd was chanting for them. Weird.
Staff at the Fillmore was great. I watched security hand out water to anyone who needed in the first few rows, more than once. EMTs were on it and professional for the few that went down. Need some more shows as we will return.
All three bands were kick ass! The venue is great as well!
Starcrawler, The Black Angels & Rival Sons. If the Angels or the Sons were not on the bill, I'd still go. Starcrawler, I heard of, but have not heard @ all. The played a burn the house down set that I have not seen in a loooong time. This trio of a bill is a must see. Actually, see any of the three. But, I got see them all in 1 nite at the fantastic The Fillmore Minneapolis!
The Black Angels were great and sounded great. The venue is terrible, I hope to never go there again. It has draconian rules about bags, but no bag check. No where to sit unless you pay big. The opening band sounded bad, maybe bands only sound good if the bands themselves know what do. It feels like one big advertisement for overpriced drinks. If you are in the Twin Cities, try to always go to First Avenue/Palace/Turf Club/Fine Line, or a bar that is independently owned. Fillmore is owned by Ticketmaster, and so is the Varsity.
The place itself is visually a gem. The layout is well executed. However, the sound does not quite compare to First Avenue. Vocals and crisp instrumentation were lacking in comparison. First two bands of the night were excellent. But each only had a 45 min set and then Rival sons took an entire hour before they appeared? That extra time should have been given to the two opening bands.
I see these guys every time they come to Detroit and am NEVER disappointed đ¤đź They always are rock solid and give their all at every show. If you havenât seen these guys live, you are missing out!
Finally, Rival Sons get Top Billing like they deserve. I wish the opening bands would have been better and whatever happened with the Sound system at the Filmore was disappointing because the band left the stage for a bit while things got ironed out. But you cannot keep a great band down. They came back and nailed every song in pure Rival Sons fashion. We were super excited because we also paid for the Meet & Greet experience that came with this show. All of the band members were friendly and welcoming. Truly one of the greatest experiences that any fan could hope for!
The Rival Sons are one of the most talented bands playing live right now! I will be seeing them again! The Fillmore on the other hand made the seating for short people. My knees were pushed so far apart to fit into the seat that they were in the way of the people next to me. Imagine if I was over 6â2â tall.
We splurged and got VIP meet and greet! We have been trying to see Rival Sons for a few years and finally did. It was seriously an surreal experience. The guys were beyond sweet and it was worth every cent! Time for the concert and there was not one rude person we talked to. Everyone was so awesome. The band came out and played one son and there was an issue with equipment so we had to wait. Rival sons did not let us down during that time. Jay came out and played acoustic until it was fixed. When the band rejoined... It was the best concert we have ever been to. They sound better in person than on record.. if that's even possible. They sing and play from the soul! If you are second guessing getting tickets... Promise it is worth it!!!
First off, I want to state that the band(s) themselves played well. That said, I have never in my life experienced a concert where it took 30 minutes between sets. For. Every. Group. After the opener, 30 minutes to the next band, then between them and the headliner, another 30 minutes. Rival sons, when they finally did go on, played 1 song before the set was interupted and further delayed by technical difficulties with the guitarist's equipment. This would have been less frustrating had the evening not already been prolonged by nearly an hour and a half. Having played and been to numerous shows at many different venues, my question is, why would it take a backlined, pre sound checked NATIONALLY TOURING group(s) THIRTY MINUTES BETWEEN SETS? This after doors had been moved forward an entire hour unexpectedly. The icing on the cake: The lighting engineer consistently aimed the bright white lights directly into the sightline of the guests in the mezzanine. Myself and everyone else left shielding out eyes as to not be effing blinded. Must have been their first rodeo, I guess. Why? Just why? Rival sons performance: pretty damn good Venue beverage pricing: ridiculously overpriced money grab Venue/performers abolity to manage time: 1/10 It's truly discouraging/disappointing to see that this is whats become of major live shows
One of the best concerts I've seen in a while! Black Angels and Rival Sons were very good. New rock n roll still lives on!!
Despite a lengthy repair period on Guitarist Scott Holidays Amp rig, Rival Sons put on a great show. I don't understand why this band isn't huge, they are that good!
The show started off rough with technical issues with first song, which didnât distract the Rival sons from putting on an amazing Concert performance and experience. They rocked the Detroit Fillmore.
If you havent, go see Rival Sons! Ive already seen them twice this year! Jay is amazing on yhe mic and watching the wizard aka mr fuzzlord Scott play the guitar is always a blast!
