Photo courtesy Sledd Photo
Do512 was happy to have Saints of Valory as our special guest at the inaugural Lounge Session taping, presented by Shiner. Saints of Valory has quickly been making a name for themselves in Austin after arriving here just a few short months ago, already having played some of the best venues in town with some of Austin’s best local talent. For this session the band chose a handful songs from their debut album, The Bright Lights, which were performed in front of a live audience and captured by the video crew, Austin Music Weekly. Nomad Sound was in the house making certain that we could achieve the highest audio quality possible. Shiner provided everyone with a plentiful bounty of cold beer, and our favorite neighbors over at Black Sheep Lodge brought in a tasty spread of food to soak it all up. In addition to having Saints of Valory perform, we were able to ask them a few questions about the history of the band and where they are headed next.
Saints of Valory at the Do512 Lounge – Photo courtesy of Sledd Photo
Do512: Where are you from originally, and how did the four of you come to know each other?
Do512: How did you all and up in Austin and how long have you been here?
SoV: We heard really great things about SXSW, so we met up in Austin from Atlanta, San Antonio and Monterrey for the 2010 festival. This was a key point in the bands history, because the Austin music bug bit us pretty hard. The amount of music going on and the electricity in the air was something we just wanted to be a part of. By June of 2010 we were in San Antonio prepping for our first gig in Austin, and by September we were all settled in here. To date, we’ve been in Austin for 5 months.
Do512: Did you immediately get to work on recording an album once you got here?
Do512: Where does your songwriting and arrangements come from?
SoV: Most of the time Gavin will bring in the skeleton of the song, as in a melody, a musical part or just something to build on. After he brings that to the table, everyone contributes their own part, giving it that Saints of Valory sound. The arrangements are generally born in the rehearsal room where sometimes they come together in a matter of minutes, but it’s not uncommon that we will write and re-write the arrangement up to ten times.
Do512: What are some of the best things you’ve discovered about the city since moving here?
SoV: The avocado coma’s at Musashino are amazing, Amy’s Ice Cream is fantastic, and Kung Fu Saloon on Sunday nights is the bomb. Being able to walk two blocks to watch an awesome show at La Zona Rosa, Austin Music Hall or Antone’s is really great. Playing soccer with 100 people at Zilker Park is amazing in it’s own confusing way. There’s also running Town Lake, listening to bands play the ACL Music Festival from our apartment roof, discovering Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, and partying at the Do512 Lounge. It’s really a great town.
Do512: What are some goals for Saints of Valory in 2011?
Do512: How was your experience playing the Do512 Lounge Session?
Pingback: Do512 Blog » Blog Archive » Introducing the Do512 Lounge Sessions
Pingback: The Do512 Lounge Sessions | Jessica Skinner