Kickin Valentina
Cumming, Georgia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2013 | INDIE
Music
Press
Everyone knows Scandinavia is the current breeding ground for all things sleaze, but Kickin Valentina are bound and determined to change that with a self-titled EP that packs a 'Mike Tyson in his prime' punch. Atlanta, Georgia, may not be the first destination one would expect to find a killer new hard rock band, yet that is exactly where Kickin Valentina came together -- a group who could convincingly have called themselves 'kickin ass'.
The real gem here is vocalist Joe Edwards, who has one of those raspy deliveries tailor-made for sleazy hard rock -- often comparable to Fastway's Fin Muir or Brad Sinsel of the War Babies and TKO. However no band is successful due to a vocalist alone, no matter how great a singer sounds he/she needs songs and capable musicians backing them up -- Kickin Valentina have both in spades!
"Get Ready" gets the festivities off to a sleazy start, but by the time "Dirty Girl" rolls around these tattooed degenerates really hit their stride. This hyper-driven little number is every bit as filthy as its title suggests, burrowing its way through your cranium with screaming guitars, a heavy bottom end and vocals perfectly aged with cheep booze and stale cigarettes. "Alone" could be considered Kickin Valentina's attempt at a ballad, but it has far bigger balls than your standard sappy love song, while containing the EP's most accessible chorus. While not a bad song, the southern drenched rocker "Anita" does get a little silly with its 'boom, boom, boom' chorus, however you'll soon forget all about that slight misstep when "Eat And Run" begins its pulsating descent into the sewers of sleaze that will stick inside your head like a wad of gum on your shoe.
No words could describe how much potential Kickin Valentina display on this EP. The Europeans may have a stranglehold on the cantankerous sleaze genre, but Kickin Valentina give us all hope that the scene is capable of surviving, and even thriving, in America. After hearing these five songs expectations will be extremely high for the band's next collection of tunes. - Sleaze Roxx
Rising Atlanta-based hard rock group Kickin’ Valentina have continued turning heads following the release of their eponymous debut album last October; so much so, the band received the “Rock Band of the Year” award from the Georgia Music Awards, cementing their reputation within their home state as well as serving as a strong example of Kickin’ Valentina’s tenacity.
Not content to be only the best rock band in Georgia, Kickin’ Valentina have set their sights on the national and international markets as well. These southern boys are currently preparing to embark on a tour of the United States which will see them perform alongside the likes of such established names as LA Guns, Kix, FireHouse and more.
Meanwhile, tracks from their debut effort have been receiving airplay in the US, Canada, and around the world, even going as far as to earn the band several appearances in an upcoming movie soundtrack. The Kickin’ Valentina songs “Alone” and “Get Ready” are slated to be featured in the upcoming film ‘Altered,’ an action/horror movie under the direction of award winning filmmaker Kely McClung.
This certainly is an exciting time for Kickin’ Valentina, but it’s also an encouraging sign for rock musicians and fans everywhere. With the market dominated by established acts and supergroup collaborations, it’s rare for a new band to make waves the way Kickin’ Valentina has over the past few months. By combining great music with a great marketing strategy, these boys from Georgia are making it work! - Music Enthusiast
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Rising Atlanta band KICKIN VALENTINA is creating quite a buzz and has already established a rabid fan base. The band was formed in early 2013 by guitarist Heber Pampillion and drummer Jimmy Berdine. After meeting vocalist Joe Edwards (whose distinctive style has been described as a “diamond in the dirt”), they began writing and rehearsing, then recruited Chris Taylor to round out the lineup. In 2013, their debut performance was in July, followed by the release of their self-titled debut EP on Highway 9 Records in October. The band has been busy in 2014 playing live (with many festivals scheduled for the Summer & Fall), and in June they were nominated for – and won – the 2014 Georgia Music Award for “Rock Band of the Year.”
With a little bit of sleaze, a little bit of blues, and a whole lot attitude, KICKIN VALENTINA have secured their place in the Southeast and are quickly gaining attention and traction across the US and overseas. The band has already performed with artists as diverse as Buckcherry, Queensryche, Pop Evil, Fozzy, Eve to Adam, Faster Pussycat, Nonpoint, and Cilver, while their first single “Get Ready” is already a fan favorite on radio stations around the world, and one of the top requested songs on Hard Rock Nights and Canada’s Rock X Radio. Both “Get Ready” and the standout track “Alone” will be featured in the upcoming action horror movie Altered from award winning film director Kely McClung (Summer 2014 release).
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