El Valiente: News

Thanks to everyone who voted for us and our album Daceton to win the 2009 Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) award for Best Alternative Album. The money raised during the voting process helps support music education in the greater Madison area--a great cause to be sure.

Special thanks to our old bassist, Dave Sperka, who played on the album. We're sorry you couldn't have been there with us. Also, props to Perry Blanchard who recorded the album. You do super fine work, friend.

Daceton has been nominated for the Madison Area Music Awards' in the category of Best Alternative Album of 2009. In addition, Joe Bernstein has be nominate for Best Drummer/Percussionist.

You can vote for El Valiente and the rest of your favorite Madison area bands and music by going to themamas.org. There is a small fee associated with voting, but all proceeds go to support music education in Madison, WI.

We'll be debuting some new music this Saturday at the Crystal Corner show...stay tuned.

We're excited to be opening up for San Antonio band Hacienda on Thurs., Jan. 28. Also just added to the calendar is a show with Grant Hart from Husker Du at the Frequency on March 6! We're planning on taking February off to focus on writing new material, so stayed tuned for upcoming spring shows for premieres!

We're finally getting around to making some shirts, so keep your eyes peeled for new merch beginning in March.

We're saddened to see bassist Dave "Dangers" Sperka move on to greener pastures, pursuing a Ph.D. in Physics at Boston University. Dangers is a very talented musician and we look forward to hearing more from him in the future.

Taking over for Dangers is Kris Hansen, bassist for the National Beekeepers Society. We've been digging Kris' playing for a long time and are happy to report that he's doing a beautiful job in El Valiente. Now that Kris has learned the entire EV repertory, we'll begin working on new material in Winter 2010.

Selections from El Valiente's El Topo are prominently featured as the scoring for the Madison based independent horror movie, Incest Death Squad, directed by Cory Udler. Making waves as being too disgusting for famed horror picture company Troma, IDS premiered on Oct. 2 at Madison Horror Fest.

Watch out for Daceton, dropping on June 5. Come out to the CD release show at the Frequency!