Valley Embraces Heartfelt Nostalgia at House of Blues Chicago

Rob Laska of Valley at the House of Blues Chicago. All photos courtesy of Annaliese Baker

It was late in the afternoon on Wednesday, May 31 when people began to line up outside of House of Blues Chicago. The doors wouldn’t open for at least another hour, but at least 40 people stood outside in the hopes of seeing Valley from the barricade. Despite the storm clouds looming overhead and the heatwave that had swept the city, fans had planned their entire evening—some, their entire day—to wait in line to see the band.

There’s something oddly familiar about Valley. The band—consisting of vocalist Rob Laska, guitarist Michael “Mickey” Brandolino, bassist Alex Dimauro, and drummer Karah James—have known each other for upwards of a decade, and their history is endearingly displayed in the way they perform. Despite performing in a room of 1,800 strangers, the audience felt the joy and passion the band radiates for their craft, creating a sense of community.

Since I knew I would be home in Chicago for the show, I decided to bring my younger brother along. Part of my intention was to show him how cool I was helping run a music magazine, but I also felt that out of all the artists I listened to, Valley would be the one my brother would genuinely enjoy seeing live. Although he wasn’t a Valley fan prior, the band’s infectious joy for their music and ability to incorporate the crowd into their performance makes their concerts an enjoyable experience for both long-time fans and new ones.

Aidan Bissett, a rising indie-alternative artist, served as the opener for Valley. Many members of the audience pushed toward the barricade as the 20-year-old musician took the stage, wearing a simple white shirt and leather pants–which is, in a subtle way, an ode to his catchy choruses about the trials and tribulations of young adult relationships.

Aidan Bissett opening for Valley at the House of Blues Chicago

Bissett began his opening set with “Grocery Store Girl” and continued his set with more songs containing heartfelt lyrics doused in metaphors and relatability, backed by their upbeat and danceable rhythms. He engaged with the audience frequently during his set—both during and between songs—and was quick to jokingly banter with fans, proving he is capable of confidently occupying the stage. Although his set was only seven songs, he kept the good energy in the room with songs like “Out Of My League” and “Tripping Over Air,” and his (at the time) unreleased song, “Bloom.”

About 45 minutes later, the members of Valley took the stage in an excited rush as the introduction to the fan-favorite “There’s Still A Light In The House” filled the room. The song was released on Valley’s sophomore album Maybe in 2019, catapulting the band to stardom alongside “A Phone Call In Amsterdam.” Even for newer fans, Valley creates a nostalgic atmosphere when playing their earlier hits.

Nostalgia is a large factor in many of Valley’s songs, whether it’s asking to return to a simpler time with “Like 1999,” or return to a relationship that abruptly ended with “hiccup.” This aspect of their music translates to their stage presence, where members of the band dress in vintage sportswear from cities they recently played in. Brandolino was clad in a White Sox long-sleeve, while Laska wore a Bulls sweatshirt. This enabled the audience to feel closer to the band and the band to feel closer to the audience.

Mickey Brandolino of Valley at the House of Blues

While many artists used to prioritize putting out an album or following a strict release schedule with their music (i.e. a single, another single, a music video, then an LP or EP), artists nowadays release singles spontaneously, due to popularity and demand across social media. This has helped artists stay in touch with their fans and meet the standards that the music industry is shifting toward as it relates to technology. Valley’s Lost In Translation North American tour occurred before the actual album Lost In Translation was released on June 23. Despite this being out-of-the-norm, it enables the band to tap into that nostalgic and familial connection with their fans by playing unreleased songs from the album, as well as standalone singles they released in between Lost in Translation and their 2021 album, Last Birthday.

Witnessing the band play their 2022 single, “CHAMPAGNE” and previous tour favorites, “Oh Shit…are we in love?” and “Park Bench” made it clear the four band members truly have a deep fondness of their craft. It’s important to show that you’re passionate and genuine about your art when performing live shows, and Valley does just that. During the 90-minute set, this joyous feeling came naturally. There was nothing awkward or forced about the way Rob Laska danced across the stage, engaging with the audience while chanting the chorus to “SOCIETY,” or the way Brandolino and Dimauro joined each other with their guitars, or how James enchanted the crowd with her drum set.

The band concluded their Chicago set with their song “hiccup” from their 2020 EP, sucks to see you doing better, an ode to the city they were visiting. As the band reached the second verse, there was a sudden eagerness in the room from both the band members and the audience as everyone waited to shout the lyric, “Like that night we had in Chicago!” There’s something entirely therapeutic and warm about singing that lyric in your hometown and seeing how important that moment was for not only yourself but for the band as well.

Rob Laska of Valley at the House of Blues Chicago

In a post-pandemic society, many have critiqued concert etiquette in that it’s gone downhill in the sense that some concert-goers have forgotten how to behave. People shout over songs and rush the stage in a way that lacks substance; concerts have shifted from being about appreciating live music more toward a rowdy infatuation. Many pre-pandemic concert go-ers are apprehensive to see their favorite artists live again due to their expectations being ruined by the lack of etiquette, but fans of Valley have such a deep appreciation for the band that appreciating the music remains their top priority.

Fans of all ages shared the same excitement, anticipation and admiration for the band. Valley’s ability to create a close and comforting feeling through their music in a room full of 1,800 strangers is something incredibly unique, and also what makes a good musician.

Valley’s heartfelt energy and true appreciation for their craft are what made their concert so spectacular and quite personal. The post-concert euphoria lasts for days after seeing Valley live, which makes seeing one of their shows incredibly worthwhile. Valley is one of the most important rising artists right now, as they are turning the music industry back to its roots: a value and respect for their artistry and their fans while also displaying how much they truly enjoy making music.