How Rival Sons Swung for the Fences With ‘Great Western Valkyrie’

Rival Sons Reflect on 10th Anniversary of ‘Great Western Valkyrie’

As Rival Sons embark on their Two Headed Beast tour with Clutch and Fu Manchu, the California hard rockers are marking a milestone – the 10th anniversary of their fourth studio album, ‘Great Western Valkyrie’. We caught up with lead singer Jay Buchanan to discuss the legacy of the album and more.

Looking Back on ‘Great Western Valkyrie’

"Looking back is introspection," Buchanan says. "But it’s great to look back and think about recording that record and where we were as a band. Our founding bass player, Robin Everhart, had just quit and we had to figure out what we were going to do. We got our buddy Dave Beste on bass, who is still in the band. But that was [Dave’s] first album and we weren’t exactly sure [how things were going to work out]."

The album marked a turning point for the band, with Buchanan praising the decision to carry on despite the challenges. "We’re going to keep going, but we’re going to change a little bit now," he reflects. "I think we were really swinging for the fences to try and push ourselves in a new direction. I really think we achieved that. ‘Great Western Valkyrie’, I think, is a really healthy turning point for the band."

"Where I’ve Been" – A Song Born Out of Reflection

One of the standout tracks from ‘Great Western Valkyrie’ is "Where I’ve Been", a country-tinged ballad that showcases Buchanan’s emotional vocals. "I had started that one as a country waltz that was a lot quicker," he explains. "But it stuck with me for a couple of years. It was just the idea, ‘How could you love me/ When you know where I’ve been.’ People that live by the code of forgiveness, they receive that gift in return. The gift of forgiveness when they dole it out, because they’re making it clear that they refuse to carry the bad blood."

Parting Ways with Robin Everhart

Everhart’s departure from the band presented a significant challenge, but Buchanan believes it ultimately worked in their favor. "When 25% of the band is fresh blood, I think we were really swinging for the fences to try and push ourselves in a new direction. I really think we achieved that."

New Chapters and New Beginnings

In recent years, Rival Sons have released not one, but two albums – ‘Darkfighter’ and ‘Lightbringer’. The two records were initially intended to be part of a single collection, but the band ultimately decided to release them separately.

"It was close to two years in the making and we’d never intended for it to be that long," Buchanan explains. "With the lockdown and everything, we had that time. We dug really, really deep and by the time all of the dust was settling, we had entrenched ourselves so deeply that we couldn’t just exit. We couldn’t just jump off and be like, ‘Okay, the album is done.’"

Touring with Aerosmith

Rival Sons have had the privilege of touring with some of the biggest names in rock, including Aerosmith. Buchanan still gets emotional thinking about their time on the road with the legendary band.

"Steven Tyler has one of the most iconic rock voices, period," he reflects. "I’m not talking about all of the reality television over the last 10 years or whatever. It’s just the man and his voice. It’s his voice that’s unmistakable. For me, when I was a little kid, I’d play in coffeeshops and things like that. I’d play ‘Dream On’, because it’s just a great song that you can sit and play on an acoustic guitar and everybody loves that song."

Conclusion

As Rival Sons celebrate the 10th anniversary of ‘Great Western Valkyrie’, it’s clear that the album marks a significant turning point in the band’s history. From the challenges of adapting to a new lineup to the triumphs of releasing two critically-acclaimed albums, Rival Sons continue to push themselves creatively and emotionally.

FAQs

Q: What was the biggest challenge for the band when Robin Everhart left?
A: According to Jay Buchanan, the biggest challenge was figuring out how to move forward with a new lineup. They ultimately decided to bring in Dave Beste on bass, who is still a member of the band.

Q: How did the experience of touring with Aerosmith influence Rival Sons’ music?
A: Jay Buchanan credits the experience of touring with Aerosmith with helping to shape their music and inspire them to new heights.

Q: What’s the significance of releasing two albums in one year?
A: According to Buchanan, the decision to release two albums in one year was motivated by a desire to capture the full scope of their creative output. The two albums – ‘Darkfighter’ and ‘Lightbringer’ – were initially intended to be part of a single collection, but the band ultimately decided to release them separately.