Hometown Love for Hunter Valentine at The Horseshoe

Date of show: September 26, 2012
Written by: Chiara DiAngelo

The ladies of Hunter Valentine headlined the Horseshoe for a packed hometown gig. The four piece is fronted by Kiyomi McCloskey (vocals, guitar) and rounded out by Aimee Bessada (guitar, keys, vocals), Veronica Sanchez (bass, vocals), and Laura Petracca (drums). The band has actually been in existence since 2004, though they have undergone some lineup changes over the years. They have really gained steam though since working with Greig Nori (Treble Charger) on their latest effort and starring on Season 3 of “The Real L Word.” The Horseshoe was packed for their set, but it was not your typical “hometown” dynamic – meaning that in addition to long-time friends and family, there were also many fans who likely became familiar with the band due to their stint on “The Real L Word.” Photos of the ladies were being snapped before their set even began. To say there was excitement in the air is a drastic understatement.

Hunter Valentine play harder rock that is not typically my genre of choice, with McCloskey’s raspy vocals often taking on a screamier tone. One thing for certain however was that these girls know how to rock, and they did so with a comfort level that comes from their years of experience on stage. Singing songs about relationships, growing up and finding yourself, it was easy to see why ladies would be attracted to it.

They played a mix of older songs and new ones off their upcoming album Collide and Conquer. Kicking off with “Treadmills of Love” from 2010’s Lessons From The Late Night, McCloskey owned the stage and the crowd’s collective attention. It should be noted that drummer Petracca was playing with one foot, and her wrong foot at that – it doesn’t get more badass than that.

There were flavours of Toronto throughout their set, including a song about Trinity Bellwoods; McCloskey also dedicated a song “about getting drunk and one night stands” to everyone in the audience, announcing “I f**king love you Toronto.” However, this self-proclaimed love didn’t prevent her from poking fun at the sub-par rhythm of the crowd and demanding they “be more rowdy!” Their set also included “Lonely Crusade,” “Little Curse (Shit Happens)” and “Crying,” which was the closest this high-energy group got to a “ballad.” With the crowd demanding an encore, the band more than willingly complied.

Collide and Conquer drops October 23, but right now you can preview the full album on their website. The ladies are touring the US until mid-November – full tour details can be found here.