Whale-ing with Nate and Eric

by AZURA

Now as it is, www.InTheWhaleSucks.com, is not a common website name to promote a band with, but then, that also depends on your market, and actually, it kind of stands out. Really, if a band sucks, they’ll hover off in some lounge somewhere that doesn’t go anywhere and won’t have much, if any, support from an audience. However, that is not the case for this Greeley duo – In The Whale. If In The Whale were to suck at anything, it’s taking voicings of disappointments and frustrations in life’s ups and downs with jobs, shelter, girls, relationships, being boys and making ends meet and pouring them into an In The Whale funnel of fun high energy and turning them into ‘Yeah! It’s all good, let’s party! Rock and roll.’
With Nate Valdez’s melodic and grunge guitar riffs and Eric Riley’s hard hitting pow-wow drumming, their audiences have quickly grown especially since moving to Denver in February 2011. In fact, their audiences grew so quickly, Valdez and Riley found themselves surprised at first when their CD release party for Cake, the first dedicated In The Whale composition in 2012, sold out at the Hi-Dive in Denver just barely a year after entering the Denver market.
They have indubitably worked very hard to raise awareness of In The Whale’s efforts. Starting out in 2010 as a side band to other bands they were each in, they realized they wanted to elevate their focus with their music and began to take their partnership more seriously.
“It’s not easy making a name for yourself in Colorado when Denver’s pretty much it,” says Valdez. Therefore, traveling has become a new pastime of building, growing and now frequenting circuits approximately every two months to maintain In The Whale audiences thriving during their absence. Their hard work has led them to a current and expanding network of 14 states; Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and of course, Colorado.
Besides immersing themselves with their music, they both truly enjoy the interacting and conversing with audiences as part of their shows.
In The Whale has become a voice that has developed a tone with resonance of triumph in overcoming challenges of life and making the most of it.
Their next and upcoming CD Nate, a follow-up to last Fall’s release of Eric that was also released on 7” vinyl, is set to be released in April 2014. After three annual performances at South By Southwest, they decided to stay home and promote their new EP. “EPs are the way to go,” both Valdez and Riley chimed. They are much more efficient, both with time and money. Less time in the studio and less money per pop, while also allowing for new works to develop for sharing with a fan base that, with their continued and steadfast work ethic and focus, will grow them into another level of local.
April 1 – Moxi Theater, Greeley
April 4 & 5 – Hi-Dive, Denver
April 25 – FoCoMX6, Aggie Theatre, Fort Collins