It was at this point the band started to show true potential upon the joining of Sam Hall as drummer. Their story began with their first live gig to an audience of 125 friends and family at the Forde Hall Social Club at Newton Abbot, from that point on the gigs started to come in at a rate of one every 15-18 days, opening fetes and fairs.
Then the opportunity came to play at Air Fusion music festival in Newton Abbot, Devon in July 2005, which raised the bands profile. The band was now finding themselves never out of the local newspapers, playing there own brand of rock the lads have always chosen different songs to the standard list that gigging bands normally choose from, in an effort to set themselves aside from other bands.
Along the way in 2005 they met up with some class acts to include Pete Ways band Waysted, Pete who found fame in the eighties as bassist of the rock legends UFO, as well as three of the UK’s biggest AC/DC, Darkness and Iron Maiden tribute bands. (See picture gallery)
2006 saw the departure of Sam Hall but the band would like to still thank and respect him for his time and contribution throughout the 16 months he spent with Livin in a Valvestate.
Livin in a Valvestate was now starting to move in new circles this in turn required that the position of drummer be filled with an experienced but young drummer with flair and ambition that lived up to what Matt, Rob, Damian & Dom had already created. March 2006 saw the only credible candidate to fill these shoes join the ranks as ex Vanadium and Contra-Band Six hit man Joe Sansome took to the skins. Damian now having a complete band stronger than ever ,was now in a position to start moving things forward with greater speed.
Their quality of musicianship and pure entertainment value has in turn given them, without exception, further bookings and block booking’s from every major paid gig and out door music event to date the lads have played at.
Finding their way up the local social ladder to their current position, as a main contender against any local band for a gig or slot in a music festival or event.
The name Livin in a Valvestate along the way has caused some interest to its unusualness and what it means, the answer is very simple Damian was toiling with the idea of calling the band Valvestate after the AVT Valvestate Marshall Amps he and his brother Dom uses, this was added to by a sarcastic comment by one of his parents because both guitarists use AVT 100 Watt amps as practice amps at home, and it merely echoed what it felt like for them with the sound volumes in their home.
2006 saw the lads support Girlschool at a local music festival This has also lead to them being Chosen to support Juicy Lucy ..ed Dates of their forthcoming UK Tour. The tour will not only promote Juicy Lucy‘s First studio album in Twelve years “Do that and you’ll lose it” but will also promote Livin in a Valvestate’s first E.P “The Train to Hell”. This in turn may co inside with further dates for the band’s planned own short tour in the autumn of 2006 which is set to go as far afield as northern England.
After ending 2006 on their 80th gig and probably one of busiest gigging schedules undertaken by a Torbay Band in this age group small cracks had appeared in the armour of the band, this lead to a major loss in drummer Joe Sansome,Only to learn a few weeks later that Matt the lead Singer had annouced his attentions to leave the band.
Another new addition to be seen at Gigs is the introduction of a regular backing singer Melissa Glanvill worked the position of backing singer untill mid 07 when Melissa and the band amicably agreed that in order to reach her full potential it could only be achieved outside the band and possibly Rock music, Melissa is currently persuing a successful career in musicals and our love and best wishes will always go with her.
After some consideration Damian annouced that his original vision had not yet been achieved and so after a few meeting with the remaining members the Band set about implimenting new plans in running the band to become more self aware and governed as well as replacing Joe & Matt. After several auditions Sam Squire Ex Craze was given the green light and took to the skins as the new drummer,This left the slot for singer open,and subsequently to be filled by J.B ex Earth and Terrafirma front man.
Now moving forward with drive ,direction the new line up with new material the band have already met with massive approval from landlords, Promotors & fans alike .Later 2007 brought more problems to the band when the band found them selves left in the unusual position of feeling they had no option for the on going good of the band but to ask Jb to leave which he did,At the same time to make things worst the lads were also looking for a new drummer as a couple of months previous Sam made it known that he wished to step down as drummer due to career comitments.Sam fulfilled many engagements long after this time and we wish to thank him for that loyalty.
The search went on for several weeks to find both drummer and frontman and finally ended with ex Notch frontman Emlyn Newton being draughted in to fill the shoes of Valvestate Frontman.now attentions fully turned to Drummers, After several try outs Damian spoke with other members and decided to make the decision to try out a new comer to the local Gigging scene, and After a few weeks of proving himself more than capable Sam Davies was given the green light and welcomed to the Ranks. with 2008 looming the band have already met with approval to the new line up and are looking to recording new original material early in 2008.
Bmad 2006