World's Greatest Dad, The Young Flyers, The Salvation Alley String Band, Whistle Jacket, The True Jacqueline, Super Happy Wicked Awesome Fun Time, Hunter Gatherer, Bunny's A Swine, Rust Knuckle Raptor, Next President, Petulant Child, Eric Hnatow, Drew Hickum & The Colonels, Friends Of Yours, Fiesta Brava, Ava Black, Garrett Jackson, Tundra Toddler, The Brass, Soul Summerset, Radioactive Prostitute, Span Of Sunshine, The Motel Matches, Abeja, The Cheater's Club, Futurepunk!, Problem With Dragons, The John Bobbit Experience, Apocalipstick, Curious Buddies, Count Westwest, Flock and Field, Ryan Crowley, The Trials and Tribulatons, Matt Silberstein, Ella Longpre, The Novels, Los Hijos Unicos, Opel, Rabbit,Rabbit, Space Captain, Running With Karma, Spot On, Prescription America, The Thungs, The Steamrollers, Party Wolf, Bunnies, Swill Merchants,---------The Judges------------------------------
Jose' Ayerve, Flora, Phillip Price, Matt Hebert, Laurie MacNamara, Lord Russ, Ken Maiuri, Mark Schwaber, Bruce Tull, Neil Robinson, Eric Gaffney, Justin Pizzoferrato, Zeke Fiddler, Stephan Rand, Brian Marchese, Peyton Pinkerton, Thane Thomsen, Lesa Bezo
Movies
The Good,The Bad and The Ugly, High Fidelity, Teen Wolf, Back To The Future Trilogy, Star Wars, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure,
Television
Square Pegs, Deadwood, Heroes, Lost, Beavis and Butthead, Californication, VH1's Behind The Music,
Books
No One Here Gets Out Alive, Catch A Wave: The Rise,Fall and Redemption of The Beach Boys Brian Wilson
About me: *****ALL SHOWS START AT 9:30pm*****
2009 Show Schedules/Line-Ups&Dates
The Line-Up and dates for 2009
week 1 Jan 4th:
The Brass( Winners of Week 1)-/ Bound To Stand/ Fiesta Brava/ Span Of Sunshine/ Friends Of Yours/ Garrett Jackson
Judges: Brendan Leith (I.H.E.G. Talent Buyer), Dan Cashman (Purity Supreme/Grey Skull), Lynelle Lefferts (Rabbit,Rabbit), John St. Onge (Swillmerchants),James Fiore (V.I.A./Opel)
Week 2 Jan. 11th:
Drew Hickum & The Colonels/ The Salvation Alley Stringband/ Martin Popst/ Rust Knuckle Raptor/ Bunny's A Swine/Robert American's little Brother
Judges: Ken Mauri (Hampshire Gazette),F.Alex Johnson (Drunk Stuntmen), Jodi "Mistress Of Music", Jim Neill (IHEG Publicist), Christian (Not A Pretty Girl)
Week 3 Jan 18th:
The Devil's Moses/ Conduit/ Cunhaband/ The Motel Matches/ Radioactive Prostitute/Tundra
Judges: Rob American(problem With Dragons), Ben Hersey(breaking World Records),Eon (The Cheaters Club), Jeff Lloyd (Tal Vez), Ella Longpre (Songwriter/The Advocate)
Week 4 Jan 25th:
Ava Black/ The True Jacqueline/ Eric Hnatow/ Hunter Gatherer/ Abeja/ World's Greatest Dad
Judges: Roger Knight (Party Wolf/Novels), O'Brian Tomalin (owner Sierra Grille), Jeff Bujak (Solo artist), Erik Allen (The Amity Front), Thane Thomsen (The Figments)
Week 5 Feb 8th:
Super Happy Wicked Awesome Funtime/ White Problems/ The Young Flyers/ Whistle Jacket/ Petulant Child/Our Mother's Are Gods
Judges: Matt Silberstein (Swillmerchants), Shannon (The Thungs/Others), Phillip Price & Flora Reed (Winterpills), Mike Esss (Space Captain)
Week 6 Feb 15th (Winners from each week head off in a final battle!) Wk 1 THE BRASS/ Wk 2 BUNNY'S A SWINE/ Wk 3 THE MOTEL MATCHES/ Wk 4 WORLD'S GREATEST DAD /Wk 5 THE YOUNG FLYERS
Judges: Jeremy (Bunnies), Rich Tardy (Swillmerchants),Jason Bourgeios (The Novels/Bourgeios Heroes),Ben (The John Bobbit Experience)
The Happy Valley Showdown is a showcase of the new indie, punk, garage, electronic and underground bands in and around Northampton,Ma. loosely disguised as a battle of the bands to get people out on Sunday Nights in the dead of Winter. It takes place over a 6 week period starting the 1st sunday in January and every Sun. thereafter, skipping Superbowl Sunday and back for 2 more weeks finishing up in February. This year it takes place at The Elevens Pleasant St. Northampton. There will be a panel of Judges comprised of local legends, members of already established Noho & National bands and media. A list of cover songs will be posted in the blog section of this page as each bands set will consist of 5 songs(4 originals,1 cover). There will be 5 bands each week. The winner from each week moves on to Week 6, The Final Showdown. Rules for judging will be made up by members of the bands competing and the date to organize these rules will be posted in the future. The point of this is to introduce new bands to the older bands in town and the fans that come out to shows. There will be prizes. We don't do this to hurt feelings and bruise egos. People just love bloodshed and they'll come out to see a collection of bands that aren't well known to them. Last year's Showdown took place at The Basement and succeeded in getting bands out there. The bands that are booked at the clubs in town and the surrounding areas and as the opening acts for National bands played in The Happy Valley Showdown. Some were well known but most were not. New bands were formed as a result of people meeting each other. I want to spread the knowledge of new, up and coming Independent Local Acts to as many people as possible and last year I achieved that goal. Let's join together as a community once again and at the most basic level just rock the FUCK out!!!
Also click on the blogs and read the details of last years event in blow by blow detail! Click the pics to see what it all looked like! *All bands MUST pick 1 of the covers from the list and keep it to yourselves, the element of surprise!*
THE TRUE JACQUELINE cover THE MAGNETIC FIELDS
Who I'd like to meet: ABEJA "Dry The Rain by The Beta Band"
Local businesses interested in donating prizes, Audience members, people interested in knee slapping fun!
"man, i gotta tell you, these shows have succeeded in doing what you had hoped. so many people around town have seen a shitload of bands that they never would have taken the time to go see over the course of the last month. i personally have been turned on to the likes of the novels, and ella, and have found a new appreciation for the likes of the thungs and others. and i know that others have new opinions on the swills as well. it has been a blast."-Rich of Swill Merchants
"We had a great time and enjoyed all the bands from Sunday (I'm still reeling from hearing the Novels).Also, if you know how to get in touch with them,could you let the judges know we appreciated their comments.They were constructive...also they likened us to Gram Parsons
twice, which is basically the best review I've ever received- he's a big influence."-Ryan Quinn Los Hijos Unicos
The Happy Valley Showdown Part Deux's Friend Space (Top 6)
The Happy Valley Showdown Part Deux has 349 friends.
February 14th and February 28th are the show dates I can offer. They are best suited to groups who can perform as acoustic acts live on the air in a little room (1 to 3 musicians). The show airs at 8pm in Springfield. "Land of Plenty", 90.7, WTCC, 8pm - 10pm, the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, alternating with "Sabado Grande", followed by "Viking Woman Presents" and "The Punk Show" at 10pm.
Hey all, We had a blast at the Showdown, got to see a bunch of bands that we've never seen before. Congrats to The Brass - they're amazing - and good luck to them in the Final!
