Valley’s One Night Only In New York City.
Shot and written by Shauna Hilferty
June 22nd, 2023
New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
“Half of our heart is here, in New York City,” said lead singer Rob Laska, of Valley as he looked out to the crowd of early showgoers. After all, Mercury Lounge belonged to them a couple of nights ago.
Shauna Hilferty
Just hours before the release of the Toronto-based, alt-pop band’s second studio album Lost In Translation, 250 fans enjoyed the album live for the first time the night before its highly anticipated release. Playing one-night-only shows here in New York and another in their hometown at the Horseshoe Tavern, Valley is fresh off the first leg of their North American tour and ready to share an album that’s been years in the making.
There was something special about hearing a song live for the very first time. With the fifteen-track album releasing at midnight, fans were in for a treat. “Go easy on us,” Laska said to the crowd, after playing new songs like “Haven’t Seen You In Forever,” an introspective letter to one’s self, and “Keep My Stuff,” the band’s ode to unanswered questions that occur after a relationship ends. It’s no surprise Valley is heavily influenced by the Fleetwood Mac legacy, with a bassline and breathy adlibs reminiscent of the 70s rock band in their song “Evenings & Weekends.”
The crowd sang along to the already-released singles, like “Break For You” and “Throwback Tears,” and went especially wild for “Have A Good Summer (Without Me)” knowing every last word. The entire show felt conversational as the band interacted with the fans and even took song requests.
Shauna Hilferty
A couple of songs didn’t make the album release show’s set, including “i thought i could fly,” a heavily auto-tuned ballad that blends into the following song, “Either Way, I’m Going Your Way,” the pairing like a call and response to each other. Other tracks include “We Don’t Need Malibu,” “Big Jet Plane,” and “Fishbowl,” songs that shine when listened to in the order of the tracklist and include transitions and callbacks from one song to the next that can only be heard as intended, one after the other.
Valley had some big shoes to fill after their album 2019 album Maybe, and after such positive reception of their singles and Last Birthday EP, it was hard to say how they’d manage to outdo themselves. And yet, despite the title, Lost In Translation doesn’t feel lost at all. The project is complete and cohesive, including the raw and real topics Valley is known for never shying away from. Their sound progresses with each release both lyrically and sonically, giving each member of the band a chance to showcase their undeniable talent. There is a balance in the album that allows the dreamy songs to be dreamier and the rock songs to be rockier, the sad songs sadder, and the dance songs dancier. The band’s dynamic onstage is easy, fun, and comfortable, and listening to their music feels like that too.
Stream Lost In Translation here and find my personal favorites here!
