Lost Valentinos - Don't Try This at Home
» The Valentinos take to the road with Johnny Boy - July 12, 2006
» Van She - Forum Theatre, The, NSW - September 19, 2008
» Van She - Curly's Bar, Tas - September 14, 2008
» Lost Valentinos - Don't Try This at Home - September 12, 2007
The Lost Valentino’s: You may remember them from such hits as “Man with a Gun”, when they were formerly known as “The Valentino’s” (not lost at the time…)
Now, as the band prepare to launch their debut album in the new year and have a swathe of dates to play in lieu of their new single, get acquainted with Pat Santamaria from the band, as he shares with you his perils of wisdom from getting produced to being misconceived…
On the new album, due to be released January/February 2008: “It’s been a fucking massive process, it’s had so many stages,” says Pat of the band’s forthcoming release, collaborated on with acclaimed producer, Ewan Pearson. “It’s been this huge filtering process…I mean it’s been weird. In the past we’ve just written songs and played them that night…”
“It’s a good indication of where we’re going and where we’ve been,” he adds.
On how to woo a producer: “We recorded some demos and I guess we sent them around to a couple of different producers to see what their vibes were…” muses Pat over the whole recruitment process. Retrospectively, though, it’s all about the pins… “How to lure a producer: you be this young, naïve band, you’ve gotta put yourself out on a limb, and show a bit of leg.”
On prior expectations: “Everything that I expected he would be was completely wrong,” says Pat of working with Pearson on the album. “I assumed, quite rightly so, that he was arrogant and opinionated, but he was so open, his mind was so open and he was so willing to learn from us as we learnt from him…” So, nothing along the lines of a “creative direction” tantrum from either side then? “The process was really collaborative,” Pat explains. “It was about the band and him getting together and making a vibe.” It sounds like it maybe time for a big group hug: “It was a total love-in…it was a musical love-in.
On what to expect from a live show: “It’s always pretty crazy, people get hurt and things get broken.” Pat warns potential gig trawlers. “We’re very locked in the groove, a mesmerising trance kind of thing…” But, for all you serious fans out there, take note: “It’s a complete rollercoaster…every time we get on stage we just let ourselves go…and that’s where the Lost Valentino’s really exist – on stage.”
On winning you over: When it comes to the band’s successes, Pat reckons it’s all about you: “The crowd is dependent, most fucking definitely, for us, what we do. I don’t think we can play well unless people are feeling it, giving something back…” The band likes to think they give their all, and would love it if you did too, so pay heed: “We will always put in 100%, we approach it as though we want to win everyone over as a fan.”
On when it doesn’t work: Get out the tissues, because someone’s feelings are a little hurt. “It fucking gets you down, it really does, especially if you feel like you’ve really put yourself out there,” laments Pat. In spite of the hard times, he remains diplomatic: “It’s not going to work every time…the best bands have bad nights…It’s gotta fuckin hurt man.” His advice: “You can’t get yourself in a death spiral…” Point noted.
On being in a band: Don’t assume it’s the easy life for these hard-working rockers, not for a second! Pat perceives the experience as: “fuckin’ tough.” He embellishes somewhat: “It’s such hard work being in a band, you’re not making money, you wouldn’t be doing it for anything if not for love…” Not even for the groupies then? “It’s too soul draining for that”
On what not to say if/when you meet the guys: Whatever you do, don’t label the Lost Valentino’s as “trendy” or “contrived”. “People are always talking about the fashion element of the band…how we’re this trend driven thing,” says Pat dismissively. “That was a completely organic process as far as I’m concerned.” So what are the common misconceptions surrounding the band? “People think it’s contrived or that we’re following some sort of trend (and) it gets to me a little bit…I wish people understood this is for real and we’re doing it ‘cos we love to do it,” he explains.
On the seventeen worst deaths: Incidentally, the name of the band’s first single off the new album, so, in a nutshell Pat? “The whole song’s about this one night when Joe, who plays guitar with the band, was in Brisbane on tour, he was drinking straight vodka and the next thing he’s disappeared in the toilet spewing…” Oh no, it’s not going to be one of those rock star type of stories is it? Apparently so: “He emerged groggily, and woke up from his stupor a couple of hours later…He pulls out of his pocket a bag with seventeen pills in it…That was the worst seventeen deaths ever.”
A word of warning: don’t try this one at home, kids…
