Vincent Valentine
Ocala, Florida, United States
Music
Press
After a break, Ocala’s Vincent Valentine (named after a video game character) hit the stage. Forming in 2005, and having put out no less than ?ve EP’s since, this band went the extra mile.
Frontman Ashley played a black double-humbucker version of a Fender Jaguar into a halfstack powered by an old Peavey “Butcher” head (one of the louder tube amps around, rated at 120 Watts), while bassist Mikhail continued the black axe/big rig theme
with a Nikki Sixx Thunderbird into an 8x10 Ashdown rig. Keyboardist Sean (locals may remember him as the frontman of the Gainesville punk rock band the Monistats) played two small keyboards into a halfstack, and drummer William played a kit with an interesting sunburst ?nish.
Despite bringing much heavier artillery, ampwise, Ocala’s ?nest were not overbearing in the volume department, a sign of some smart restraint on their part. Their music is described by them as “alternative/ punk,” and de? nitely has touches of Goth, hardcore
(with the audience joining in for some “whoa-ohs” and “heys”), at times pop, and even a reggae/dub-inspired bass line on one song. Guitarist Ashley also expertly wielded a fairly massive effects pedal board to give some extra sonic texture along the way.
About as nice an afternoon of music as I can remember!
- "Our Town: Gainesville Magazine"
"As I paid my very worthwhile six bucks, Vincent Valentine had just launched into their 'HorrorPunk' set. I was surprised to see Sean Monistat on stage as well, adding a MicroKorg element to their songs. This addition made so much sense, giving the already good songs a creepy organ-ish edge. I’d wanted to see this Ocala-based band for some time and was pleased by their overall energy, stage presence, and sound." - Electronic Sub South
"Throat-ripping, yet melodic vocals and a rough-and-tumble rock'n'roll-informed approach. [Vincent Valentine] owes more to older fledgling styles than anything from the past decade... Pushing the envelope in terms of learning to do their thing with very little regard to anything approaching rules." - Scott Harrell - Reax Music Magazine
Discography
2010? - La Tristesse Durera Tujours, unreleased full-length album.
2010 - Awkward City EP
2008 - Light Your Guts on Fire EP
2007 - Survival Program EP
2006 - Twenty-two Songs About Velociraptors
2005 - Pawning Jewelry is Cool, Buying Crack is Not
Photos
Bio
It is not very often in music that you will find a band capable of crafting a truly unique musical style without compromising for the glory of "success". Vincent Valentine is that rare find. For five years, they have been crafting their one-of-a-kind sound of brutally abrasive guitars with heart-stoppingly beautiful lyrics all woven into the never-ending pop sensibilities of their songs. Combined with their hard-working D.I.Y. ethic, this band is something special.
Coming together in 2005, this Central Florida quinet began playing hundreds of shows all over the Southeast while honing their sound, inspired by both their punk/hardcore and alternative roots. Their fanbase quickly grew, as show-goers connected with the poetic melancholy of the lyrics and were transfixed by the band's complex compositions, which have been compared to the likes of those by AFI, At the Drive-In, Queens of the Stone Age, and Fugazi among others. These fans have led them to radio air-play; spots on MTV2, VH1, and Cartoon Network; as well as winning a three-month long Battle of the Bands for the Southeast in Florida.
Vincent Valentine have self-release five EP's to great reviews, and have completely recorded a full-length album. Most recently they released the "AWKWARD CITY EP" containing three songs, two of which are also
set to appear on their upcoming debut album. Currently they are playing as many shows as possible, while finding the appropriate avenue for the release of the their finished debut album.
The band plans to enter a new stage of existence this year, consistently playing shows and recording, all while continuing to bring their fire and emotion to new fans. With fans in all musical genres and wakes of life,
Vincent Valentine is poised to take on the world, or take it down with them.
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