Valley Meadows

They may not have the resources to get Nicki Minaj or Snoop Dogg to drop by on their record, but Minnesota-based hip-hop duo Valley Meadows is proving that you don’t need bling and flash to create delightfully entertaining (and funny) rap music. Gary Schishynszenski (Chris Knutson) and MC Tom Johnson (Zach Coulter) combine hilarious lyrics and high-energy stage antics with what are no doubt the most banging beats around in their new Kickstarter-funded self-titled album.

The gentlemen promised their loyal backers that they would “make a record that’s so loaded with hilarious lyrics and bangin’ beats that everyone who listens to it feels tingly in their guts and immediately rushes out to buy a pregnancy test,” and let’s just say there’s been a lot of peeing on sticks lately.

Released through Stand Up! Records, the self-titled collection is a quick listen at just over a half hour, but many of the tracks are bound to stick in your head for quite some time– particularly a catchy little number titled, “Balls on the Ceiling”, which has the boys voicing their angst towards the police by rapping, “Put your balls on the ceiling – f**k you, pig!”

The album overall paints a comical image of Gary and MC Tom, who live in Gary’s mom’s (and stepfather Neil’s) basement. Kicked off by “Neil” himself, who claims he went behind their backs to release the album to make some rent money, songs such as “Kung Fu Karate” and “Do You Remember the Rain?” are interlaced with shorter comedy bits that are as creatively unique as they are funny. “Vegan Potluck Open Mic” finds Gary and Tom crashing a vegan open mic with various meat and dairy-related material, which is sure to appeal to the comedy-loving carnivores.



This duo isn’t your average fake-rap act; their clever and often ironic songs combined with bizarre sketches make an excellent combination. Knutson, who was the winner of the 2010 Twin Cities Funniest Person Contest at Acme Comedy Company; Coulter was the winner of the 2011 ABSOLUT Funniest Comedian Contest and together they were finalists in last year’s “Minny’s Got Talent” Contest at Mall of America’s House of Comedy. But even without the accolades, this album is proof enough that Valley Meadows should be around for years, prompting laughs and the urge to dance from their eager audiences. - Laugh Spin

Comedy-rap duo Valley Meadows drop their debut disc this Sunday at the SAUCE show at Cause Spirits & Soundbar, with a little help from Stand Up! Records — and Gary's stepdad, Neal. Valley Meadows is a collaboration between harried substitute teacher Gary Shinchenshenzenski and his semi-fly layabout pal MC Tom (comedians Chris Knutson and Zach Coulter). In a pair of tracks that bookend the eponymous album, Neal explains the origins of the record: He discovered the audio files on his stepson Gary's computer and is releasing them to raise Gary's overdue rent money. The record is a smartly intertwined hodgepodge of hip-hop tracks and sketches that even comes with its own party anthem, "Put Your Balls on the Ceiling." The CD-release show is part of the regular music-and-comedy SAUCE showcase, which takes place the first and third Sundays of every month. Also on tonight's bill is standup from Amber Preston, Nate Abshire, and Chris Maddock, and music from Courtney McLean and the Dirty Curls, Jonah the Destroyer, and Karma Sluts.
- Village Voice Media