Friday the 13th is coming (it’s tomorrow don’t you know), it bears little significance in the lines of superstition (except for the Americans), but it does mark the return of The River Valley Band to Ryan’s front bar. The band last played there in October as part of the 20th Annual Rockfall Festival after a screening of Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz. It proved to be an apt juxtaposition. They played some renditions of The Band’s songs and, when thrown into the mix of their music, it showed how they have drawn a strong influence from that era. The music is drenched in a semi-south American rock and roll country tone so don’t be surprised of the fact that they are all Kilkenny-born. They remind me of The Band insofar as it’s evident that these are five individual musicians working democratically, it’s not led by any one or two persons with added musicians filling ‘roles’, it’s a collaboration of ideas and comes across as rich and textured.

It is unusual to see a band going against the mainstream music in a non-rebellious manner. They are not consciously trying to be different than the industry’s current plethora of uniformly toned groups, they just are different and in my humble opinion, that’s rare to find. That’s not the reason to go see them though. They’ve got plenty of energy and if you like good honest music that you can dance or drink or simply listen to then my guess is that they’re right up your alley (or down in your valley).

The members are Danny Coady, Eoghan Leadbetter, Liam Teehan, Conor Brett and David Thompson.

These are young men with instruments in their hands and a recession at their feet. You have to ask yourself, what else would they be doing with themselves? Two are in college, one blows glass, one works nights at a petrol station and one manages a world of reptiles, but their hearts are in a River, in a Valley, in a Band. This may be one of the last chances (for a while) to see them in action. The gears are in motion to start showcasing and promoting in Dublin. They will be appearing upstairs in Whelan’s on the 15th and 22nd of February alongside resident musician N.C.Lawlor, and downstairs for a showcase gig on the 28th with N.C.Lawlor and The Hot Sprockets. All steps in their master plan for releasing their first album, Drunk in the Wine Cellar, sometime this summer. The album, recorded at Broderick’s Music Warehouse is currently being mixed by local music master, Davy Holland. The band’s management is being cared for by international photographer Dave Barry, who chanced upon them in the back of Ryans last year.

The music starts roughly at half ten, pm, and will continue up until closing time, half midnight. Friary Street is located on the right-hand side up the first lane on your left-hand side as you travel up (or down) high street from the parade. And if anything unlucky happens to you, at least you can blame it on the drink.

For more about The River Valley Band see myspace.com/therivervalleyband.