by Josh H.
Here at KVRX we are greatly interested in the goings-on of the Austin music scene and especially of our very own, locally grown artists. In this vein I would like to bring to your attention, Saints of Valory. Seriously guys, check them out. No one in the band is actually from Austin, but the band has decided to launch from here despite their Rio de Janeiro roots. If you listen to them, you’d never realize that the four members come from Brazil, France, Canada, and California. It’s ridiculous really.
Origins aside, they are relatively new on the Austin scene, but I feel a quick rise through the metaphorical ranks. They’re one of those bands that just sounds extremely polished right off the bat. Listen to them and you’ll just think they’ve been through some serious production to clean them up. They have that crisp stadium sound that you can practically hear echoing while the song is playing. The thing is they achieve this sound anytime they play. They’re just that good. Listen to any of their tracks, and that’s exactly what they’d sound like live in your backyard. The first time I heard Saints of Valory, they were simple openers. I expected what I usually expect from opening acts—simple droning from a melancholy hipster doing a bad the XX impersonation or a band full of good musicians and lead singer that sounds like what tree bark would sound like if it could sing (scratchy and full of bugs?). But as I approached the venue, I heard what must be a recording playing. It was too crisp, too beautiful. But no, it was the Saints of Valory with all their foreign mustachioed glory. I have never been the same.
So to the point, check out Sweet Dissaray, Dear Ivy, or Providence maybe (all of the CDs I got from their show of course) as an intro to the band. They’re on my mind because they have a show in a couple months I just heard about—Stubbs 8/24—I highly suggest ya’ll check it out. You will not regret it.