THE RETURN OF THE ALMIGHTY DEATH VALLEY GIRLS
Updated: May 24
DVG descended Riverside on October 22nd to headline a Beau Monde showcase. It was their first show back in Southern California in over a year.
Photo by: Juan Perez
Live music has returned, or is slowly returning, around the world slightly back to "normal." More and more bands are playing a first show back since before the pandemic, especially in Southern California. However, few were as special as this return to a home as I’ve ever seen. The show was opened up by the always fun King Flamingo and the wonderful Triptides. Certainly a magical atmosphere was felt throughout the night inside of the MTL in Riverside.
October marked a year since the release of acclaimed record “Under The Spell of Joy.”
Unable to tour for the album last year, the band ached to get back on stage and do what makes them most happy. Not only did the past year keep them from playing live shows, it also kept them from entering the studio and recording new material. They did manage to stay busy, bringing different content and work out during all this time. Bonnie has come out with a very own Death Valley Girls podcast where she is constantly interviewing interesting people and dropping multiple episodes a month. Pickle has been doing great things with her “Church of Pickle” and most notably collaborating with The Black Angels for some shirts on their tour. On top of that she has also been touring with the great Frankie & The Witch Fingers.
Photo by: Juan Perez
2021 also saw the debut album by DVG titled “Street Venom” get a remixed and remastered Deluxe Edition reissue drop back on July 30th. Three different vinyl versions were released in different phenomenal color schemes, along with exciting new cover art, completely different from the original record. I’ll just and say that the style and overall aesthetic of DVG as a whole, whether it be music, videos, art, etc., is some of the best I have ever seen. With all those creative juices flowing for the band, even in the most confusing times, you wonder what terrific things are in store for the future.
First show back for the band was at Psycho Las Vegas, followed by an appearance at Lose Yr Mind Fest in Portland, Oregon. I had the great pleasure of having a conversation with Bonnie before they hit the stage on October 22, 2021
Q: You really had your first show back at Psycho Las Vegas, what were your thoughts going into that?
A: It was wild! I mean for your first show to be in Vegas, for a pool party, at a metal fest, with like bikinis, tattoos, beer and weed everywhere… it was surreal. It was just like a continuation of the long dream. Totally just seemed like a dream but it felt amazing, and to feel human energy again just changed everything.
Q: Being here tonight back in California, how special is that?
A: Yeah! This is our first show back in like a hometown kind of thing and it’s amazing. You don’t realize how you don’t remember what a physical activity feels like when you’re not doing for so long, whether it be running, sex or whatever… but when you just play it’s like “oh my god, that’s what I’ve been missing.” It’s the only thing you truly love to do you know, so to actually do it again you go “oh my god I forgot I like being alive!” It’s shitty to say but it’s true.
Q: What were some inspirations behind the new single DVG just released?
A: We recorded a few songs to come out. There’s one really exciting thing that’s going to come out early next year that we are super, super excited about. This latest one is like my guides, I guess some people call them angels or they call it something else, whenever I get super down they just sing me this song and I’m just like “oh shit, why don’t we record it?!” Then everyone can sing it when their down and it’s basically you don’t have to be 100% happy or 100% sad, you can be super sad but notice that there are good things. They always sing it to me when I’m like “there’s no point!” and then the song will pop on in my head because a dog ran by or I’ll see a cool plant, just something outside of my myself that’s like, “oh, it’s not all lost.”
Q: Recently on social media you openly talked about having social anxieties and trying to work on them, how do you get through that to get on a stage and deliver amazing performances?