Canadian-based band Valley set out on their North American tour, titled after their newest album release, Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden, shortly after finishing nine shows in Asia.
Dallas-based band The Black Velvets was the first to open the night. They played a few singles and songs from their EP while also throwing in a handful of unreleased ones. Being a local band, the crowd was filled with friends and family. Lead singer Frankie even took the time to shout out his mom. After their performance, they returned to sell merchandise and greet fans.
With fans driving up to eight hours to see this band, this was not a show to miss. As soon as Valley stepped on stage, the energy was electric. “It’s been a minute since we’ve been back in Texas. It’s so good to be back,” lead singer Rob Laska told the crowd. From the very first song, members were jumping across the stage. Moving from right to left, jumping on the bass drum, and leaning into the crowd, they knew how to get the fans going.
Their set design was also something to admire. With the floor lined with grass, yellow flowers were sprinkled across the stage. This mimicked their 2024 album Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden. The flower field from the album cover was also the backdrop of the night, with the text “VALLEY” overlayed in white letters.
Midway through the set, attention was drawn to Karah James, the drummer of the band. “We love you, Karah,” fans screamed from the crowd. “What a warm welcome just for the little old drummer,” she replied. Wearing a Texas Cowboys shirt, a bandana, and cowgirl boots, her outfit was the perfect fit for Dallas. While she usually sticks to drumming, she switched it up for the song “Mosquito.” With an acoustic guitar, she took the front of the stage, playing and taking over the vocals.
The next song to play was “Let It Rain,” which led to a surprise for the band. Blue teardrop-shaped papers were passed through the crowd with text that said, “Hold up to your flashlight during let it rain!” The pit was instantly lit with blue lights, creating a beautiful moment for the band.
The set was nearing its end, and after leaving the stage and waiting for the “one more song” chant from the crowd, it was time for the encore. When it came time for the last song, Laska told the crowd, “We’re gonna do this last one together,” and he truly meant this. Walking off the side of the stage, he made his way to the pit. A circle was formed around him as he sang this last song. The song titled “Bop Ba” was off their newest album, and it is the perfect song to sing with a crowd. It was a magical way to close off the night.
I am a Dallas-based photographer who has an appreciation for both the arts and music! Some of my favorite gigs have been Cage The Elephant, Wallows, and Briston Maroney. I am currently studying Graphic Design in New York at Pratt, and hope to work in the music industry through both design and photography.
