Aliens, Breakups, and Bedroom Pop: Discovering New Music in the Valley
I haven’t been to many shows in my life; I can count the number of concerts/shows I’ve gone to on one hand. I’ve lived in Midtown for almost two years and haven’t taken advantage of the music venues in my own backyard. I decided to challenge myself for May and attend three shows, all of which I do not know the artist. My only criterion for attending these shows was that they all had to be under $30 a ticket.
5/1 La Luz, $20 @ Valley Bar
The first show I attended at the start of the month was the all-female band La Luz at Valley Bar. This act completely blew me away. Their energy was oozing with each beat, and I was instantly hooked the moment they came on stage carrying a giant papier-mache Sun. I would define La Luz's genre as alternative, with waves of surf rock influences. I saw myself floating on a Seattle lake (the band's hometown) while an alien spaceship crashed down and asked if I wanted to share a drink.
Surprisingly, La Luz offered quite a bit of crowd work. During one song, guitarist and lead vocalist Shana Cleveland tossed two inflatable aliens into the crowd (which were promptly returned by the end of the song). About halfway through their setlist, they demanded that the audience split down the middle for a “worm dance contest”; the person who performed the “best worm dance” was awarded a medal (no, I did not compete).
I was mesmerized by La Luz and was pleasantly surprised when Shana returned for an encore. She performed a melodic and dreamy closer with just her and her guitar (I later found out this song was Blue Jay). Since the show, I’ve had their 2024 album, New of the Universe, on repeat.
5/9 Miya Folick, $18 @ Valley Bar
This show took a dreamy turn from the rock psychedelic ketones of La Luz to a moody, somber showcase of Miya Folick’s breakup album Erotica Veronica. Once Folick took the stage, she announced this performance would be different. Her bandmate had come down with a virus, so her Phoenix show would be solo and a more stripped-down version than what she was used to.
She alternated between an electric and acoustic guitar, her serene voice complementing each instrument. With each note she sang, I felt her pure heartbreak, love, loss, rage, and angst. During her performance of Fist, I began crying as the song went on. Her vulnerability and storytelling capabilities, combined with the ugliness that the end of a romantic relationship can take, touched me.
If La Luz felt like I was at a lakeside party with aliens, Miya Folick had transported me to the Bronze from an early season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, swaying under the moonlight with both eyes closed and letting each note consume me.
5/15 Florist, $17 @ Valley Bar
The last stop on my journey through Valley Bar’s showlist was the New York-based band Florist! Their sound was reminiscent of slow, folky, alternative music of Bob Dylan, yet with hints of contemporary experimental styles of bedroom pop. The entire venue swayed along to lead singer Emily Sprague’s sweet melodies. For an hour, I was in the clouds between awake and dreaming, and I didn’t want to leave. It was a bittersweet ending to my month of new music.
I ended my journey of finding new music with a deep appreciation for live performances and fell in love with each of these artists, who I would’ve never discovered otherwise. Each of these artists were so different from one another, bringing a different energy on stage with them and crafting their own relationship with each audience. I danced, cried, dreamed, and laughed. This will definitely be a monthly occurrence.
