About
The Lonesome Valley Singers
Label: Self Righteous Records
""A time comes when aging punks pour whiskey over their wounds and cast off their chains. In such times it is a special breed that picks up the acoustic guitar and plays melodies haunted by tradition, to words written in the flames of their own lost youth. Victorian David Chenery is one such man — a Misfit fiend turned haggard crooner. Chenery has crossed the wild alt-country plains, with twangs of spiritual expansion and pangs of disillusionment in his dust."The Lonesome Valley Singers could easily be described as Canada's weirdest band. Frontman David Chenery, described by Exclaim! magazine as a "Misfit fiend turned haggard crooner [with a] beautifully sad and wandering soul", cut his teeth as a solo artist opening for beloved indie heroes Smog , Elevator to Hell and Dale Morningstar in his hometown of Victoria, B.C. He formed the Singers just prior to performing as a feature artist on CBC's nationally syndicated 'Connect the Dots' tour. The band has accumulated a loyal fanbase and enjoyed extensive radio play on both CBC Radio3 and college radio across the country since the release of their debut EP, 'Memorial', in 2004. 'Memorial' was lauded by fans and critics alike, with Splendid magazine declaring that with the Singers' take on "old-timey, wrath-of-the-lord, bad doin's in the holler Americana... they threaten to become an all-new love affair".
In 2006, The Singers contributed songs to three compilations of Victoria artists: Self Righteous Records' 'Cavalcade of the Stars' and Aaargh! Records' 'Aaargh! Annual: Year One' and Aaargh! Records' 'Aaargh! Annual: Year Two'. All three releases ranked in the top 30 of the Earshot charts, and Self Righteous Records' own 'Cavalcade' enjoyed more plays on Victoria's CFUV than any other release in 2006. Since their formation in 2004, the Lonesome Valley Singers have shared the stage with Canadian favourites Nathan, Hank & Lily, Immaculate Machine, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, The Doers, The Cape May and label mates Meatdraw and Amy Honey, to name a few. The band finished recording their sophomore album (the highly anticipated 'Corpse Circus Revue'), slated for release in the first quarter of '07, in December 2006. The album promises to start where 'Memorial' left off, with dense melodic explorations of love, death, alcoholism and the apocolypse. You may think you've heard it all, but rest assured: you haven't heard death country until you'! ve heard The Lonesome Valley Singers.
REVIEWS
- "The Lonesome Valley Singers
Corpse Circus Revue
By Neil McDonald
David Chenery, guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter for the Lonesome Valley Singers, is something of a legend within the musical community of their hometown of Victoria, BC. So much so, in fact, that last year he found himself the subject of his very own tribute CD. Corpse Circus Revue, LVS’ second release, shows why Chenery’s fellow songwriters have so much respect for this self-described “misfit fiend turned haggard crooner.” The title track, an appropriately macabre circus tune, opens the album and sets the stage for the ensuing nine tales of death, ghosts and booze. Chenery’s world is one of blackened hearts and “factory skies,” as demonstrated by the deceptively carnival-esque “House of Meat” and the blackly humorous “The Children’s Death March Through A Grey November (Parts 1 and 2).” Chenery also knows his way around a country tune, whether it’s a tear-jerkin’ ballad (“When Will I Be Loved?”), an old-time lament (“Tombstone Yodel) or a honky-tonk stomper (“I Often Long For Home”). (Self-Righteous)"
- Exclaim magazine
- "Chenery mixes up original and traditional tunes that are depressing in a good way. Death, sorrow and redemption all figure in to Chenery’s tales that range from sweeping funeral dirges”
- Bill Stewart - Monday Magazine
"Killing country from Victoria, B.C. When you're sitting up in your booze shack this winter polishing your shotgun and wondering if that sun-thing you remember seeing a long time ago was just a dream... pull out this album and be assured that, yes, it was all just a dream."
- Red Cat
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