The River Valley Band formed in late 2007. For anyone with happy memories of underage drinking in Swords the band’s name is sadly not a reference to the River Valley Park. But don’t let that put you off (it would be weird if you let that put you off though, wouldnt it?). All five members are Kilkenny born and bred and all five share a very similar taste in music 60s, 70s rock and roll, really nothing later than 1980 says Danny I mean we will listen to more modern stuff but our major influences are pretty much solely from the 60s and 70s.
When it comes to specific influences Danny can reel off a countless amount of band names without pinning it down to even a handful. Although, when we were younger we all seem to have had Bob Dylan in common. But surely in a five piece there must be some squabbles over music? A drummer with a penchant for Hair Metal? A bassist in love with Britpop? Nah, we just try not to listen to sh*t music is Danny’s succinct answer.
With 80s tinged music seemingly in vogue for the entire decade, its a refreshing change to hear a band so in love with the sound of the 60s and 70s. And the guys love for this musical period is reflected in their attitude to gigging. As much as possible, the more you play the better you know your songs. This attitude has played dividends with the River Valley Band gaining great word-of-mouth following during their, relatively, short existence. Too often 60s/70s style rock is a byword for a plodding, inferior rehash of other bands glories. But the RV Band (did a little abbreviation there, did you like it?) pull off the trick off, tipping their cap to the era while keeping their sound fresh and relevant.
This old-school hard working attitude extended to the studio when they recorded their first album this year twice. Yeah first time around, in hindsight, we went in [to record] too early We got it done but listening back we realised we had more ideas to bring to it, different harmonies. It was a brave decision, particularly for a band recording their first album, but Danny feels its paid off. We just knew the songs inside-out on the second go and were glad we went back [to the studio].
So with the album (provisionally titled Drunk in the Wine Cellar) due out early 2010, the band are currently promoting their debut single Kimberly released October 16th. With Louise pencilled in as the follow up theres a bit of a pattern in the song titles laughs Danny. From there the band hope to get back gigging to promote the album as widely as possible Gigging non-stop seems to suit us. Is it harder now to succeed, when its easy to record and put your music out there but a lot harder to get heard above the din? Ah its six of one half a dozen of the other, like you sometimes feel nostalgic for some bygone era, but I think people will still respond to the bands that put the proper work in.
Kimberly is out October 16th.
