MAKING A MIX: Shellye Valauskas

 The Experience is four-piece blast of complex yet simple pop, highlighted by Valauskas' unique and engaging voice and guitarist Dean Falcone's economy leads. Valauskas had a good time making this mix, she says.

"As a teenager I would spend every free moment I had making mix tapes; tapes filled with songs that I wished would be released on one album, songs that I couldn't live without for long car rides, songs that made me feel something."

Patrick Ferucci
The New Haven Register

Read more at CTCentral Entertainment.

Stuck in a Corner with... Shellye Valauskas!

Name: Michele Margaret Valauskas.  Age: 30.  Bands: The Shellye Valauskas Experience and Tomorrow the Green Grass (a Jayhawks tribute that did only one show).  Music style: Melodic pop.  Armed with: Gibson J200, Fender Telecaster, DeArmond Starfire, Dan Electro Convertible, a banjo that doesn't work and a borrowed Fender Deluxe Amp.  Wishes she had: My own amp, Dean Falcone's melodic sense, [SVE drummer] Bruce Crowder's rhythm and [SVE bassist] Eric Lichter's vocal range and tan.  First album bought: Prefab Sprout, Two Wheels Good.  First concert: Daryl Hall and John Oates with Til Tuesday opening, New Haven Coliseum, 1985. A gift from my brother.

In her player at home: Aimee Mann, The Forgotten Arm ; The Pernice Brothers, Discover a Lovelier You ; Crowded House, Woodface ; Jules Verdone, Diary of a Liar ; and the Gentlemen, Brass City Band.  In her car: Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart, S & M Communion Bread ; Shane Nicholson, It's a Movie ; Rhett Miller, The Instigator ; Guided by Voices, Universal Truths and Cycles ; Aimee Mann, Whatever.  Albums that changed her life: The Posies, Failure and Dear 23.  Buy her a drink: A Miller Lite and a shot of whiskey.  What she's reading: In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall. 

Join another local band for a day: The Gene Gnomes.  Most memorable local shows: Seen: Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart at Cafe Nine [July 21, 2005]--10 people, no PA, a nearly full moon and one of best things I've ever seen. All of Ideat Village, every year. The Danglers and the Gene Gnomes at the Green Room in Bridgeport; the Miracle Legion Drenched CD release party at the Moon. Played: Our CD release party was a blast for me. Opening for Pat Benatar at Toad's Place when I was 22, solo--scary as helland for Todd Rundgren in 2002. Also, opening for Patty Griffin at Eli Whitney Barn in 1997.

Also found: Watching the Red Sox, spending as much time as possible outside, and currently I'm getting ready to start a new job and move to NY (or pretending to anyway).  If she were a pizza, the toppings would be: Fresh basil.  Fun fact about Shellye Valauskas: Those Melvins played in my bedroom in Guilford on my 16th birthday.

Kathleen Cei
New Haven Advocate, August 4, 2005

"At 7 p.m. Saturday, a huge collection of local talent will come together for a benefit to support the musicians of New Orleans . . . The organizers are only asking for a donation of $20 . . . When you go see The Shellye Valauskas Experience, it usually costs about $10, but does anyone ever leave disappointed? Nope. At the benefit, you'll get Shellye, plus a bunch of other great artists and food and drink, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Tipitina's Foundation . . ."

Patrick Ferucci
The New Haven Register, New Haven, CT. November, 2005

"The Experience is four-piece blast of complex yet simple pop, highlighted by Valauskas' unique and engaging voice and guitarist Dean Falcone's economy leads."

Patrick Ferucci
The New Haven Register, New Haven, CT. April, 2005

". . .These kids are good. Really good. Shellye has a beautiful voice, and writes lovely, gentle pop songs."

Steve Gisselbrecht
The Boston Noise, Boston, MA. September, 2004

"SVE take over the nine stage again on Sept. 10 (check out Shellye's new blue Telecaster), sharing another sweet bill with pop singer/songwrtier Mike Viola, plus Lys Guillorn and her full band. The next night, SVE gets to represent New Haven at the New England Pop Festival, a weekend-long pop-a-palooza at the Abbey Lounge in Somerville, Mass.

Kathleen Cei
New Haven Advocate, New Haven, CT. September, 2004

 

" . . . we went for some of New Haven's famous pizza with our new friends from "The Shellye Valauskas Experience" and then did the show at Cafe Nine. And what can I say ? It was unreal. One of the coolest pubs I've seen in a while . . . Dean and Shellye (from "T.S.V.E") both joined me onstage throughout the show to help out on a few songs, which was very cool."

Shane Nicholson (Australian Pop God)
An excerpt from his tour diary, 2004

"The Shellye Valauskas Experience braved the Sunday storm and played in full five-piece splendor under the shelter of the food tent. Semi-shy and somewhat waterlogged, Shellye and bassist Kris Santala harmonized in the drizzle . . . Undistracted by the cameraman on stage, the band expertly played selections from The Stupid Truth, their debut CD due out in June."

Frank Critelli
a review of the April 2002 Meriden Daffodil Festival
www.independisc.com

 

Q: "What is the best original, new local song you heard in the last year?"
A: "Shellye Valauskas' "Take It Back" which, like many of her songs, perfectly nails a feeling that is hard to give words to."

Drew Cucuzza
New Haven Advocate "Sounding Off", 2002

Q: "What is the best original, new local CD released in the last year?"
A: "Shellye Valauskas' The Stupid Truth. I hadn't really taken the time to check out Valauskas' music until recently. Once I gave it a fair listen I found lyrics that were at once both personal and universal and melodies that stick in the mind. The CD beautifully elaborates on her compositions with smart but not overdone arrangements and crisp recording. Great packaging, too."

Hank Hoffman
New Haven Advocate "Sounding Off", 2002

Q: "What is the best original, new local CD released in the last year?"
A: "The Stupid Truth by Shellye Valauskis, who has a unique ability to craft emotionally powerful songs that are never maudlin or self pitying."

Drew Cucuzza
New Haven Advocate "Sounding Off", 2002

Q: "If you could sign any local music act to a national recording contract, who would you sign?"
A: "I suppose this getting redundant but Shellye Valauskas (who will get one eventually)."

Drew Cucuzza
New Haven Advocate "Sounding Off", 2002

Q: "Describe the most memorable moment you experienced in a live music setting in Greater New Haven in the last year."
A: "Shellye Valauskas' CD release party at Cafe 9. Wax lips, packed house, balloons and no CDs!"

The Battlecats
New Haven Advocate "Sounding Off", 2002

". . . her songs are simultaneously quirky, edgy, catchy, but with Jim Balga on drums, Kriss Santala on bass and the way-cool electric guitar of Dean Falcone, she's also rock 'n roll--not like Chuck Berry rock 'n roll, more like Freedy Johnston? Paul Westerberg? R.E.M. when they really jam?? With the band, Shellye Valauskas possesses that mysterious "something else" that might just make her musical future bright."

Frank Critelli
ctmusic.com, 2000

" Her voice soared and her guitar made left and right turns that were fun to follow and hard to ignore . . . there is an aura that surrounds her and her guitar."

Pete Dodd
New Haven Advocate, New Haven, CT. December 1999

" Mirthful, soulful and amiable . . . as a solo artist she's got everything she needs - an alternately tough and tender voice, memorable melodies, lyrics you want to hear clearly and absolute unadulterated charm." " . . . charmingly personal folk-pop songs."

Christopher Arnott
New Haven Advocate, New Haven, CT. September 1999

" This singer-songwriter specializes in heartfelt, gentle melodies. If you like Shawn Colvin and Ani Difranco, you'll love Shellye."

Amanda Savio
Record-Journal, Meriden, CT. April 1999

" If you haven't heard Shellye Valauskas yet, you have no one to blame but yourself. She's been on a variety of bills, opening for everyone from Pat Benatar at Toad's Place to Ivy at the GPSCY Bar to Jules Verdone at Rudy's and Dar Williams in Stamford. Shellye deftly adapts pop complexities to sturdily simple solo acoustic arrangements. Someone to learn from."

Christopher Arnott
New Haven Advocate, New Haven, CT. August 1998

" Shellye Valauskas plays a solo acoustic set that has an insightful pop sensibility which allows her to steer clear of that dreaded musical disease, Folk Mopery. Very refreshing."

Craig Gilbert
New Haven Advocate, New Haven, CT. February 1998