spreading the vallejo love

I never in my life of 36 years ever wrote to band but you guys rock. My boyfriend purposed marriage to me at your concert in Austin for Mardi Gras 2001. It was one of the best times. You have a killer crunch grove rhythm going. Excellent and Original! Keep it up Dudes! Michelle Panzrino

I have a great story. On my 17th birthday I went to KLBJ fm in Austin, TX and sat in on the Dudley and Bob show. Vallejo was the musical guest, and when I heard they were coming, I was thrilled. The show went slowly, but I knew when Vallejo got there things would pick up, considering previous encounters at D&B such as the song man lotion. When they got there they played some of their tunes and talked for a while. Some stippers walked in and I thought I was going to have to leave since I was only 17. However, Dale Dudley, being the coolest guy ever, managed to get them to give me a lap dance. And then - the cherry on top - was that Vallejo played some nice stripping music and turned it into "Happy Birthday" for me. It was the best birthday ever and I know have bragging rights forever with all my friends. Hyperboy

I attended a 3 Doors Down concert in November last year in Mississippi and Vallejo was the opening act. I immediately became a fan! I bought the CD the next day. I was disappointed because I missed them in May when they were in Biloxi, Mississippi because I was on vacation. :( I bought my tickets the minute I heard that they were going to be back in Biloxi at CPR Fest on June 1. My sister flew down from Nebraska to go with me. She didn't know who Vallejo was, but like me, became an instant fan! She bought the CD as soon as she returned home (2 days later). I didn't get to meet them the first time but did at CPR Fest. They are awesome! Very nice! I have attached the pics from that day (I am the one with the black hat and striped shirt). I am willing to do what I can to help the guys, but am limited in time being the mom of a 4 year old. :) But I was able to get someone to spread the word in the Midwest! Go sis! Jen - VALLEJO ROCKS!

I live in southwest Michigan, and the first time I heard of Vallejo was when the local alternative rock station played "Just Another Day" for the first time back in '97. I was totally into it from the opening rant, and it just blew my mind more as it went on. I was driving home or my lunch break, and as soon as I got in, I called the station to find out who it was. They told me it was Vallejo, and said that if I come down, they'll give me a free copy before it's released in the stores. Man, when I put the CD in and let it play, I just kept surprising me more and more. I kept waiting for a bad song - ya know, one ya hear part of, and skip - but it never came! Every single track was just f'ing awesome. And, on top of that, each song was totally unique. They didn't all sound alike. (Something I call "Gin Blossoms Disease") And also unlike any album I'd ever heard to that point, each and every song from "Shining Sun" to "Cold Monkey," has been my favorite at some point or another. That album, to this day, remains my favorite of all time. And each one since, has not disappointed me at all. Each one lives up to the standards I came to expect from Vallejo. Now here's a few examples of what I love about Vallejo... Unlike so many modern rock groups out there today, Vallejo has their OWN sound. I was telling a friend about them once, and he told me to compare them to a group he'd know, to give him an idea of what Vallejo sounds like. I couldn't think of a group to compare them to, and after he finally heard them, he agreed. "You're right, they don't sound like anyone else I can think of," I believe were his exact words. And like everyone else I've introduced to Vallejo, he loves it. And that's really saying something, because I DJ occasionally for various kinds of parties, and put together CD's for friends, and I always make sure there's some Vallejo in the mix. Another thing ya gotta love about Vallejo, is their diversity... all the layers there are in their music, and all of the different styles they put into it. I mean... there's the traditional Latin sound in some of the rhythms and with the horns in the later records. Then you have the straight hard rock sound, which is most prominent in the untitled "Shining Sun" record with songs like "Sangre" and "Boogie Man." And on top of that, you'll find a little hip-hop, scratching, psychedelic-sounding guitar (like in "Die Trying," ballads like "Immortal," (and even some jazz and blues flava with "Magnolia Tea Room." Vallejo does and can do it all... and they do it all better than any other band, in my humble opinion. And I listen to a LOT of music. I have over 700 CDs ranging from The Beach Boys, to Marilyn Manson, to Dr. Dre, to Phil Collins, to... I think you get the point. And the one thing that is a constant throughout all of the albums, is the great mix of AJ's vocals and the smooth rhythms of the guitars and beats. I think that's probably what stands out most to me. So yeah, that's why Vallejo has come to be my favorite band. Simple, huh? =) Peace. -Jeremy

My name is Leia Crawford, I'm 16, and I have been a Vallejo fan for a year. I feel like I have grown up in Antone's! In fact, I moved here in the summer of '99 and Vallejo was the first live band I saw. Since then, I have become an avid live music go-er. At school, everyone who knows me, knows I love Vallejo and live music. They all check with me about new concerts and such. I have at least one Vallejo sticker on everything. My room has posters, pictures, picks, drum sticks, set lists, anything and everything. There is a very good chance that the screaming, skimpily clad girls at the Austin concerts are with me. I have converted 7 total! I feel when a person can find a band they truly connect with emotionally, no other band will ever take their place. No band will ever take the place of Vallejo in my heart. Thank you. Leia Crawford

VALLEHO OR VAYEHO…that is the question. The answer…is plain to see…and hear. The first time I heard of VALLEJO was back in '96 at a buddy's house in Austin, you see, I am from the Rio Grande Valley deep down in South Texas. He said, "Check out this cool local band," as he slipped in the self titled CD "VALLEJO," which I believe is also called "Sacred Heart," and "Shining Sun," because of a couple of different album covers. At the time, I said, "Not bad" and didn't think much of it, but as most of you music fans know, it takes awhile for good music to grow on you. My buddy was ranting and raving about how great these guys were live. About a month or so later back in the Valley I saw the CD at a record store in McAllen, TX. I'm always buying new music and trusted my bud's taste, so I picked it up. The CD didn't leave my truck for months…at the time my all time favorite band was VAN HALEN, until recently. In '98, I believe, they released the "Beautiful Life" CD and I happened to stumble on to that one as well at a local music store. I freaked when I saw the cool blue album cover with what appears to be the twins inside a giant embryo. This was it, I didn't need to browse around anymore, this was the CD I was buying! This time around, I actually read the lyrics as I heard the songs for the first time…they blew me away - "I've got a question for the society…well, is there anything that we can foresee…I want to know because it's inside of me…Tell me, how's it gonna be in the 21st Cehenturheeee." - too freakin' cool. In November of that year, they made their way to the Rio Grande Valley with BROTHER CANE. This was my first time seeing them live. It was great, except I was too far back to really get the "in your face" concert experience. Around '99 I started checking out their website and eventually became a regular. It was cool to hear the band had come out of a bad financial situation and get signed to Sony records with Emilio Estefan. VALLEJO began posting messages telling about their progress on a new album revealing names of the songs and so forth. I was actually getting pumped…"this is gonna be a kick ass album," I thought to myself. Sure enough, August 22nd 2000 rolls around and I'm there to pick up Into the New. I was so impressed and absorbed by the music, I made the 5 hour drive to Austin to see the show at Antone's that same week on a Saturday. So here I am waiting in line around the corner with my wife and a couple of friends, including the buddy who introduced me to them, for about 2 hours. It just so happened AJ and Omar casually walked out from the alley and into the side door. By the time I realized it was them, they were already inside Antone's. I was really hyped about the show now…It rocked, up close, in your face, best show I had ever been to. Later VAN HALEN, these guys are the real deal. I have been a big fan ever since. The third time I saw them was at a small club in Corpus Christi in March 2001, I actually waited with my wife after the show to try to get autographs and maybe a picture, we felt a little awkward waiting around like a couple of over aged groupies, but I put all pride aside, this was my chance to meet my favorite band - sure enough, we were let in backstage. My wife interrupted Alejandro and Diego during a conversation for their autographs; they were kind of quiet and just signed, I'm sure they get this all the time…moving along now…I told my wife "Ask AJ," I still felt a little awkward being a guy and all…he kindly excused himself from the presence of a couple of blonde chicks and said "sure," I then asked, if he'd take a picture with us, to that he also politely obliged. This just happened to be our last picture in the camera…"Oh shit"…I told they guy taking the picture, "that's the last picture, please don't mess it up." He returned the camera, and AJ thanked us for coming out to the show; of course we told him how much we loved the band's music. After working our way through the crowd, we found the rest of the guys…Omar, Heath, and Bruce, they all signed my CD cover and were all really cool. They really do treat their fans like "familia". The picture on this website is the one from the night in Corpus. I have not taken Into the New out of my car since I bought it back in August, I still listen to it in rotation with the other CD's. Of course I get burned out now and then, but I always come back to them after awhile…Can't wait for the next release. VALLEJO FAN FOR LIFE! RGV FAN Alex Burrows

[more VST members pics & stories]
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