Valley Live in Manila Got Us a Little More In Love

Canadian Indie-pop outfit Valley deserves all the flowers and the whole garden after their rambunctious Manila return show on Sunday, June 15.

Frontman Rob Laska, drummer and vocalist Karrah James, and bassist Alex Dimauro brought to their 2024 record "Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden" to life as well as fan favorites such as “Oh shit?... are we in love?,” "Have a Good Summer (Without Me), Like 1999," among others.

“I’m sorry to keep you guys waiting after all these years,” Laska told the Filipino crowd at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.

“This is the last stop on our tour, which has always been bittersweet… but we can say that this has been the best show because of how loud you guys are.”

Valley last played in Manila in 2023 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay Activity Center when the toured their previous full length LP.

Valley Frontman Rob Laska

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The band kicked off the show with the title track of their latest album to much uproar in the packed crowd who belted along to nearly every word from the setlist.

The Toronto natives dropped their Juno Award-nominated album in late August last year and have been touring the record throughout the early part of this year. The Juno Awards recognize musicians from Canada for technical excellence.

Back to the show, Valley carried on with the banging Alt-Rock track Bass Player’s Brother followed by the introspective title track of their last record “Lost in Translation,” which has stayed a fan favorite due to its soaring rock instrumentation and melancholic lyrics.

Laska’s vocals and rhythm guitar performance throughout the gig rang out as clear and as charismatic as the band’s studio recordings. Dimauro and James’ respective tight bass and drum performances also stood out as shining points in the show.

The acoustic backed “A Little More” which is reminiscent of the 1975’s “Guys” in tugging on nostalgic strings of the band’s genesis was unsurprisingly met with affection from the fans.

It is an earworm that works really well in concert through its catchy hook and a bridge that just invites the audience to do a two-step dance to the beat.

“Crawlspace” has always been a standout track off the band’s latest album, thanks to the infectious percussion, groovy production, and creative songwriting choices. Laska earlier told Esquire Philippines in an interview that the song is one of the band’s favorites off the record because of how energetic it comes off when performed live and how tight the production is.

Drummer/Vocalist Karrah James

Hearing it live at the Manila show was a top priority for me since it was also a favorite off the album, also considering my musician leanings consisting of Dreampop, New Wave, and Alternative Rock sound profiles.

Another euphoric track from the album that sounds magnificent live is “When You Know Someone” that features a soaring guitar solo.

The band also surprised the crowd with one of their oldest and deepest cuts from the catalogue, “Swim,” which is reserved for the most loyal of "Val Pals", as fans belted out the line “show me the water.”

Another highlight of the show was the heartfelt and introspective “Life Goes On Without Me” that started off with Laska’s intimate acoustic guitar performance. The band then followed suit, painting an anthemic acceptance of moving forward.

A Valley show would not be complete without Laska’s crowd work as he submerged into the crowd for “Bop Ba,” a fan favorite track and a staple in their live shows that capped off an unforgettable night of music.

Bassist Alex Dimauro

Valley Live At The New Frontier Theater