It is rare that the opening act gets interviewed, but it is also rare for an opening act to have such a leadership role in the cultivation of our local music scene.
While some bands could let ego get in the way, Valentiger — a local favorite rock and roll trio — does nothing of the sort. As the band’s Scott Rider reveals his insights on the show, all I am able to detect is pure excitement for his chance to be on the same ticket as The Howlers and The Go Rounds.
“It is rare that three similar rock acts, like we see on The Pyramid Scheme’s Local Music Showcase 7, are on the same bill together,” says Rider, going on to cast a distinction from the other acts where, in the past, a diversity of styles have been promoted.
And Rider should know a bit about our local sound, as he has been over the last year an important participant, going on to produce the Let’s Talk GR Music series — a locally organized event where local musical acts are invited to gather and discuss how to successfully navigate the local music landscape, but also how to improve our geography’s reach beyond. It is a project that I and many other writers of our city believe is critically important if the great music of our region is to be heard and valued.
Rider adds during our talk that part of the pleasure of hearing these three acts together is that they are all at a distinct point in their careers, with a major highlight being The Go Rounds tour of Mexico.
“Man, I was so excited for them when I read that news,” says Rider, who notes that musicians often have to miss out on seeing their own favorite bands perform because they're on stage the same night, “Having The Go Rounds on the ticket means that I can spend time with them and ask how they did it.” (Rider mentions that Valentiger has a fan base in South America and Europe and would love to tour on both continents someday.)
Local showcases also mean that your money goes a little farther when a line up is strong like this one is, so at $6 in advance or $8 at the door, what are you waiting for? Get your tickets
here.