Death Valley Girls Explained

Death Valley Girls
Landscape:	yes
Origin:	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre:	Garage rock, punk rock, gothic rock
Years Active:	–present
Label:	Suicide Squeeze Records
Current Members:	Bonnie Bloomgarden Heather Nation Rikki Styxx Sarah Linton^[1]
Past Members:	Patty Schemel Rachel Orosco Laura Kelsey Alana Amram Jessie Jones Nicole "Pickle" Smith Larry Schemel

Death Valley Girls is an American rock band formed in 2013 in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of vocalist and keyboardist Bonnie Bloomgarden, guitarist Heather Nation, bassist Sarah Linton, and drummer Rikki Styxx.

History

Death Valley Girls was formed in 2013 by Patty Schemel, her brother Larry Schemel, Rachel Orosco, and Bonnie Bloomgarden after the group needed "something safe to do that wasn't AA".^[2] Patty Schemel left the band after the release of their debut album Street Venom in 2014, an album which received praise for its raw garage rock sound and what Flood Magazine described as "doom-boogie, psych-pop". Laura Kelsey replaced Patty on drums for Street Venom.

In 2016, the band released Glow in the Dark, with Alana Amram replacing Rachel Orosco and Jessie Jones joining the band as a co-vocalist.

In 2018, the band began working with Seattle-based label Suicide Squeeze Records, releasing their 2018 album Darkness Rains and Under the Spell of Joy (2020) under the label. Thanks to these albums, Death Valley Girls received critical acclaim for their memorable stage performances and dynamic mix of garage rock, punk, and psych rock. Under the Spell of Joy saw Rikki Styxx as the new drummer and Nicole "Pickle" Smith added as a bassist.

In 2023, the band released their album, Islands in the Sky.^[3] Brooklyn Vegan reported that Islands is "loaded with catchy psych-rock affirmations to the future."^[4] This album also saw the lineup reaching the form of Larry Schemel, Bonnie Bloomgarden, Sammy Westervelt, and Rikki Styxx.

Death Valley Girls have performed at several notable music festivals, including Desert Daze^[5] and Levitation Festival.^[6]

Musical style

Death Valley Girls' music is characterized by a blend of garage rock, punk, psych rock,^[7] gothic rock, and elements of surf rock and 1960s girl groups. The band's live performances focus around Bloomgarden's vocals and on-stage theatricality.^{[8] [9]}

Discography

Studio albums

• Street Venom (2014)
• Glow in the Dark (2016)
• Darkness Rains (2018)
• Under the Spell of Joy (2020)
• Islands in the Sky (2023)

EPs

• Death Valley Girls (2013)
• Electric High (2014)
• Breakthrough (2020)
• The Universe (2022)

Singles

• "When I'm Free (Peaches Remix)" (2012)
• "It's All Really Kind of Amazing" (2021)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Death Valley Girls Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic . August 22, 2023 . en.
2. Web site: Menagh . Douglas . Death Valley Girls, "Street Venom" (Deluxe Edition) . FLOOD . August 22, 2023 . en . July 29, 2021.
3. Web site: Lewis . Richard . Death Valley Girls: Islands in the Sky (Suicide Squeeze Records). www.beardedmagazine.com . August 22, 2023 . February 24, 2023.
4. Web site: Pearis . Bill . Death Valley Girls' Bonnie Bloomgarden tells us about the inspirations behind their new LP 'Islands in the Sky' . BrooklynVegan . February 24, 2023. August 22, 2023.
5. Web site: Brown . August . Hunting ghosts with L.A. goth-rockers Death Valley Girls . Los Angeles Times . August 22, 2023 . October 11, 2018.
6. Web site: LEVITATION SESSIONS - Death Valley Girls . seated.com . August 22, 2023.
7. Web site: Death Valley Girls' magic powers & Fontaines D.C. cover Nick Drake . ABC listen . August 22, 2023 . en-AU . March 2, 2023.
8. Web site: Live Review: Death Valley Girls - Moth Club, London 01/03/2023 . When The Horn Blows . August 27, 2023 . March 2, 2023.
9. Web site: Hodge . Neil . Death Valley Girls: Broadcast, Glasgow - live review . Louder Than War . March 12, 2019.