Hunter Valentine lends strong voice to Salt's stage
This weekend London's live music scene will be taken over by female musicians.
Not only are Dala performing at the London Music Club, but just across the way, Hunter Valentine, a three-girl rock group, are going to be headlining a show of their own at The Salt Lounge on February 15.
I was eager when I was offered the chance to speak with Kiyomi McCloskey, the guitarist and lead vocalist of the group, as she is not only a multi-talented singer and songwriter, but she is also one of many strong voices in Toronto's gay and lesbian community.
Hunter Valentine, made up of McCloskey, Laura Petracca and Adrienne Lloyd officially began their ascent into the world of music in 2004, playing straight-up rock and roll, heavily influenced by an array of ‘70s legends ranging from Neil Young to Joan Jett. Unlike so many ‘rock revival' groups, though, Hunter Valentine are anything but trapped in some zeitgeist from decades ago, and in fact, they take many cues from modern musicians - two of their favourites today are Kings of Leon and The Weakerthans.
They began their journey touring heavily in Southern Ontario while working day jobs on the side to support themselves financially. The constant workload eventually took its toll, however, and the three “got really burnt out, and maybe a bit jaded” about the life of a rock band. They decided to take a break, and took jobs working at a music camp just outside of Connecticut, New England.
It was there that two major events happened. For one, they received a call from True North Records, who, captivated by HV's sound, wanted to sign them. As well, it was through working at the camp that they were introduced to the incredible lifestyle of New York City.
On days off from the camp, Hunter Valentine would take a train into the city, and what they saw inspired them.
“The first time that I went there, everywhere I turned there was some amazing artist - a painter or a glass blower or a musician, and it was just really intriguing for me,” said McCloskey.
Certainly, McCloskey is used to big-city life, as she grew up right in the downtown core of Toronto, but something about New York still made her feel as though she was “from a tiny, tiny little town.”
“I find that really inspiring as an artist that there are so many things to challenge myself as a musician and a writer, so I'm sort of in awe of it,” she explained.
Hunter Valentine started playing shows in New York City, and quickly, they developed a devoted following. Indeed, the band's style seems perfectly suited for the city; hints of anyone from Janis Joplin to Patti Smith can be seen in the band, and their confident, albeit sometimes raunchy attitude seems to represent the soul of rock and roll. Even the Riot Grrl movement of the early 1990s, with bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile have had an effect on the band.
“Taking that strength from that whole movement and turning it into my live performance and pushing myself as a musician in a sort of general way,” McCloskey said.
That sense of outward strength has also carried into their personal lives, and all three members of Hunter Valentine are openly gay. As a result, the group have played many Pride festivals along their way, but make no mistake about it; their sexuality is not their selling point.
“I just like to call ourselves a rock band, and we never deny our sexuality in any kind of way, but we prefer not to focus on it,” McCloskey said. “We make that really clear when we do interviews that we really do want to talk about the music and not who we sleep with,”
Before heading back to New York, the group are doing some Southern Ontario dates, which leads us back to this Friday's concert at the Salt Lounge. Hunter Valentine will be playing with openers The Scenario, and Lights, a young electro-pop artist who has also been attracting much attention. Cover charge is $5 for the night.
Not only are Dala performing at the London Music Club, but just across the way, Hunter Valentine, a three-girl rock group, are going to be headlining a show of their own at The Salt Lounge on February 15.
I was eager when I was offered the chance to speak with Kiyomi McCloskey, the guitarist and lead vocalist of the group, as she is not only a multi-talented singer and songwriter, but she is also one of many strong voices in Toronto's gay and lesbian community.
Hunter Valentine, made up of McCloskey, Laura Petracca and Adrienne Lloyd officially began their ascent into the world of music in 2004, playing straight-up rock and roll, heavily influenced by an array of ‘70s legends ranging from Neil Young to Joan Jett. Unlike so many ‘rock revival' groups, though, Hunter Valentine are anything but trapped in some zeitgeist from decades ago, and in fact, they take many cues from modern musicians - two of their favourites today are Kings of Leon and The Weakerthans.
They began their journey touring heavily in Southern Ontario while working day jobs on the side to support themselves financially. The constant workload eventually took its toll, however, and the three “got really burnt out, and maybe a bit jaded” about the life of a rock band. They decided to take a break, and took jobs working at a music camp just outside of Connecticut, New England.
It was there that two major events happened. For one, they received a call from True North Records, who, captivated by HV's sound, wanted to sign them. As well, it was through working at the camp that they were introduced to the incredible lifestyle of New York City.
On days off from the camp, Hunter Valentine would take a train into the city, and what they saw inspired them.
“The first time that I went there, everywhere I turned there was some amazing artist - a painter or a glass blower or a musician, and it was just really intriguing for me,” said McCloskey.
Certainly, McCloskey is used to big-city life, as she grew up right in the downtown core of Toronto, but something about New York still made her feel as though she was “from a tiny, tiny little town.”
“I find that really inspiring as an artist that there are so many things to challenge myself as a musician and a writer, so I'm sort of in awe of it,” she explained.
Hunter Valentine started playing shows in New York City, and quickly, they developed a devoted following. Indeed, the band's style seems perfectly suited for the city; hints of anyone from Janis Joplin to Patti Smith can be seen in the band, and their confident, albeit sometimes raunchy attitude seems to represent the soul of rock and roll. Even the Riot Grrl movement of the early 1990s, with bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile have had an effect on the band.
“Taking that strength from that whole movement and turning it into my live performance and pushing myself as a musician in a sort of general way,” McCloskey said.
That sense of outward strength has also carried into their personal lives, and all three members of Hunter Valentine are openly gay. As a result, the group have played many Pride festivals along their way, but make no mistake about it; their sexuality is not their selling point.
“I just like to call ourselves a rock band, and we never deny our sexuality in any kind of way, but we prefer not to focus on it,” McCloskey said. “We make that really clear when we do interviews that we really do want to talk about the music and not who we sleep with,”
Before heading back to New York, the group are doing some Southern Ontario dates, which leads us back to this Friday's concert at the Salt Lounge. Hunter Valentine will be playing with openers The Scenario, and Lights, a young electro-pop artist who has also been attracting much attention. Cover charge is $5 for the night.
