We are in the studio today. After almost 7 months, we are finally recording the songs all of you know the best: Dr. Feelgood, You Saved Me, and Dont Leave.

In the booth right now!!

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UPDATE 1 : Friday November 20, 2009 - 3:52AM
This is a new experiment. An attempt to capture my songwriting process live, while ensuring that I am backed into a corner where I actually can't give up and go to bed. I've taken my 5-hour energy (extra strength for what that matters), and am ready to get things started. I have a lot on my plate right now ... I am feeling a lot right now. Serenity and anxiousness in equal parts. Time to make the doughnuts.

UPDATE 2 : Friday November 20, 2009 - 3:59AM
Facebook, Fan Page, and Twitter now all updated. The gauntlet has now been thrown down. Time to live up to it.

Let's start by spitballing things I am thinking and feeling right now. Some of them I can use now. Some of them I will use later. Trying to use Kurt Cobain's formula of each song relying mostly on the familiar, with the idea of allowing room for at least one idea or point of view no one has said in song.

UPDATE 3 : Friday November 20, 2009 - 4:35AM

• I'm something broken that can't be fixed
• I'm better on my own
• Don't give up on today
  
• The world at night
• I need to be better
• What do I need
• All I need is you
• Summertime is here
• Wintertime is here (album concept? Working through seasons. Random lyrics: "Seasons come, seasons go, Lovers change, Feelings grow. Feelings fade, Winter Comes. Nothing lasts, Spring has past." )
• Not ready to be King
• Why do I do this (to myself? to you? Hmmmm ...)
• Finding reasons for it all
• Hell on Earth
• Why do I buy you flowers?
• Make up Love
• Together Again
• Nobody cares
• Still (In Love)
• Numb

Moment of Clarity: Okay so this is obviously a bunch of emo @#$! ... trying to decide how I feel about that ... about what it means about me. Need to find balance between expressing myself and making music that I actually want to hear. YES ... I would like these songs to feel personal enough that I can put soul into them ... but I want other people to hear the songs and feel like they are about them. Tough tightrope to walk.

UPDATE 3 : Friday November 20, 2009 - 4:46AM

More brainstorming. Try to be more assertive here ... 

• Stand Out and Stand Alone
• From the Outside Looking In
• Seen It All
• Talk to Me
• I'll Die Tomorrow
• Can't Sleep
• Nobody Cried
• Live A Little Bit / Die A Little Bit
• One More Fight
• Lift 'Em Up
• Telling Me Lies / Telling You Lies
  
• Make It Without You
• Right Til the End
• Hold On to Goodbye
• Keep It Moving
• Good music gets to me
  

UPDATE 5 : Friday November 20, 2009 - 5:05AM
Just booted up iTunes ... scouting through the beats Bobby sent our way. Trying to find something that hits me the right way ... then will pick a song topic from above and get to work.

UPDATE 6 : Friday November 20, 2009 - 5:19AM
Okay, from 50 possible beats, I have narrowed it down to 18 contenders. I have to admit, I feel much more energized with the beats now directly in front of me. Good music gets to me way more than caffeine or 5 hour energy. I am crazy enough to believe I might write something to each of these right now. Maybe if I am lucky I can at least write a few. So you can see what I see, here is my computer screen:

1. I am going to place ALL the beats I have access to in a playlist. 
2. I will eliminate any beats that we will definitely not use
3. I will then press play on the playlist
   
4. I will then attempt to write as much of a song as possible while the beat plays
5. When the next beat comes on, I will write during that beat as much of a song as possible
6. I will repeat this process until the playlist is finished
7. I will then repeat the entire process over and over again until a group of songs take shape

Here's hoping it works. I will record each round here.

UPDATE 8 : Friday November 20, 2009 - 6:59AM

Real-Time Playlist Song Writing: Round One

+ Beat One (Can't Deny):  On second thought, beat deleted. Too slick
+ Beat Two (Radiohead): On second thought, beat deleted. Not telling me anything
+ Beat Three (Love No More):   

Growing up ... I used to be used to the baddest dudes / getting all the girls with their attitudes / Had to do / Something bout this situation / Found a few / ugly traits / one or two / brought em out in public, how they love it, Now they loving you / Now they hugging / Bugging too / Calling all their girls , But still it troubles you / Even though you win with the W / You still ain't half of a W / That's a U / Which you ain't / You're a fake / The real you is outta view / the real world it swallows you / the rep you build mmmm how it follows you / hmmm what's the reason that love always blinding you / meanwhile part of you / is lingering reminding you / of the values, morales, and goals that's inside you / but everytime you fall back and listen to your heart / some careless thoughtless girl comes and tears it apart / Now what to do / listen to that voice that's inside you / Or hide it deep inside / Keep your pride / and a girl or two / How to choose / Keep it real 100 / Or armor up that heart and keep dangers far from it / It's a lose lose battle / Like roulette with a rifle / Cause now you're the baddest dude / repeating the cycle"

UPDATE 9 : Friday November 20, 2009 - 7:34AM
 In the midst of my Playlist songwriting technique, got caught up on the third beat. Not going to fit my rule of "every song a hit", but stumbling across some very interesting subject matter. Gonna watch this one and see where it goes. Need to grab an hour of sleep, then coming right back to this.

Amazing show last night at Blonde in Gainesville last night, and here's the proof!

Photos by Blonde

Coming to the "Gainesville" Invasion tonight?


Well save money (and make sure your slot is saved) by purchasing your tickets in advance at http://www.meanmic.com/store

Purchases are safe and Pay Pal certified. Best of all, we are selling advance tickets up until we open the doors 9PM. Tickets will be waiting at the door for you!!

One last thing to keep in mind: When Bubba Sparxxx and Valentine and West performed last week in Clemson (in 40 degree weather) we had 1,000 people show up. So get your tickets now while there is still time!!!

Thanks,
Tommy

WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT DJ GENIUS HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE BILL FOR TONIGHT'S GAINESVILLE SHOW!! This show just got even better, and we didn't think that was going to be possible!!

For more information on DJ Genius, one of Atlanta's Fastest Rising DJ's, check him out here: http://www.facebook.com/djgenius

For more information on tonight's show, which features performances by Bubba Sparxxx, Valentine and West, Brian Walker, Showtime ft. Elite tha Showstoppa, and Profound Breadth, visit the official Facebook event for the concert here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196399546012&ref=ts

We want to give a special thanks to all of you for helping our Facebook Fan Page reach 100 fans in less than 24 hours!

This is only the beginning (over 2,000 people have been invited), but we are off to a great start!

To become a fan of Valentine and West on Facebook, and receive up-to-minute information on events and studio activity, follow this link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Valentine-and-West/171798621682?v=wall&ref=ts

We have launched an official Facebook Fan page for Valentine and West!

To become a member, click here, or visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Valentine-and-West/171798621682?v=wall&ref=ts

This will be the best way to stay in touch with Valentine and West on Facebook! Event invites, concert announcements, group updates and more will all go out from this page.

Thanks again for all the support. Things are moving fast, and we are so grateful to have you moving along with us.

Less than 24 hours after stepping off stage at the Bubba Sparxxx show in Clemson, we are excited to officially announce "The Invasion: Athens Hip-Hop Descends on Gainesville"!!

This concert will feature the biggest names in Athens Hip-Hop. Ready for the line-up?
+ Bubba Sparxxx
+ Valentine & West
+ Showtime (feat. Elite Tha Showstoppa)
+ Profound Breadth
+ Brian Walker (of Future Ape Tapes / KNP)
+ more SURPRISE guests!!


Hosted by the 2010 Senior Class of Brenau (Gainesville's All-Women College), this show is expected to be packed. 


If you live in the Gainesville area, or you don't mind traveling under an hour to see a historic show, tickets are $7 Advance/ $10 at the door. Save $$$, order in advance at: meanmic.com/store!

For more information, including directions, visit the official Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196399546012

The view from stage!


The view from stage Part II


Laura West stageside


Laura and my Lauren


Lauren taking on-stage photography.


Lauren taking on-stage photography. Part III.



Lauren taking on-stage photography. Part IV.


Laura crossing her fingers before the set.


Bubba soundchecking.


Laura and Lauren Pre-Show!!


Laura and Lauren Pre-Show!! Part Ii.


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Wow. Just wow.

Tonight's show with Bubba Sparxxx at Flip Flops of Clemson has received 1,208 confirmed guests.

Now, we have all clicked the occasional yes to make our friends not mad at us, but 1,208? If even a small percentage of this attendance turns out to be true ... needless to say things are going to be crazy.

Here's looking forward to a big night!

For the official Facebook Event for the concert: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=172350275918&ref=ts

For the Valentine and West concert info:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165431867155&index=1

Woah. The Bubba show that Valentine & West is opening for on Friday . . . has 1,137 confirmed guests. One Thousand. One Hundred. and 37. Guests. Woah.

This show is going to be HUGE!



"How the hell will we all fit haha"

"It's gonna get UGLYYYYYY IN HERE! IN HERE! IN HERE!"

"yea ... 1050 confirmed guest...packed isn't even the right word." 

And my personal favorite:
"Who is this guy? looks like a real badass"

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=172350275918

To visit the Facebook event, click here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165431867155&ref=mf

We obviously don't expect our Athens friends to take the trip (although we would be amazed and thankful if you do). With that said, we want to keep everyone up to date with this ... plus we have a few SC fans we want to make sure we keep in the loop.

This is going to be a very exciting show!!

Just whipped up a quick teaser image for the Valentine & West / Bubba Sparxxx show, this Friday in Clemson, SC!!

Hope this hits the spot.

Just to repeat what I said earlier: This is our first out of town show as Valentine & West, and an amazing opportunity. With 800 people already planning to attend, this is going to provide INCREDIBLE exposure for us as a group.

Big thanks to Bobby Stamps and Bubba Sparxxx for allowing us to hit the stage!

For friend, fans, and family in the Clemson area, the club is located at 163 Old Greenville Hwy, Clemson, SC.

 Hope to see some friendly faces there. For everyone else, just wish us good luck and keep us in your prayers!

Venue Address: 163 Old Greenville Hwy, Clemson, SC

It is almost 5am in the morning, and we are just now wrapping vocals. Track is bouncing now.

I can honestly say that this is the best track I've ever done.

The first Valentine and West track is officially a wrap!!!

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I just wrote the best verse of my life, on a song with Laura West KILLING the hook. I've never made a song that I actually thought could be a classic, but I'm in the midst of one right now!

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Lauren in the booth, spitting hot flames!!

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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone