Spitvalves are a punk band with horns originating from Orlando, FL. Unlike most of the “well known musicians” from Orlando, the Spitvalves do write and perform all of their music themselves. There are no choreographed dance routines, costume changes, or pyrotechnics at their shows either, just pure energetic punk rock. Formed ten years ago by a group of friends, Spitvalves are held together by their love of music and their fondness of being crammed in a van together for weeks at a time. With influences far too numerous to list, Spitvalves music is a complex mix of all things punk separated from the pack by bouncy ska undertones along with passionate writing and musicianship.
The Spitvalves released their first CD, “Spitvalves”, by themselves, followed in 1999 by their CD EP, “Time Will Tell.” In 2001, after signing to Resurrection A.D. Records, the band released Fine Print At The Bottom, produced by Roman Flysher of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Spitvalves’ newest album “Movin On” (2002) was recorded at Big Blue Meenie Studios, produced by Sal Villanueva (Thursday, Taking Back Sunday) and released on Resurrection A.D. Records. “Each of the album's 13 songs boasts a melodic mosh-pit-meets-dance-floor sound based on controlled, structured chops and a rapid-fire vocal delivery,” stated the December 2002 review in Rockpile Magazine. Last year, the group released a Live CD from their Halloween show at the Social in Orlando, FL.
Punk bands need to stay out on the road, and Spitvalves do. In 2001, the band had performed over 200 shows and it doesn’t stop there. Thirty-Eight shows in 40 days on “Spirit of the Streets”, a European Tour with Murphy’s Law and The Business was definitely the band’s most rigorous stretch. From 1998-2000, the band appeared on the VANS Warped Tour, one of the most popular tours in the country. Spitvalves also made considerably shorter runs up and down the East Coast as well as trips throughout the Southeast, opening for a slew of national acts.
Spitvalves’ true stronghold is in the Central Florida area where they have received numerous acknowledgements from local press and radio. The band won the Orlando Music Awards Best Punk/Ska Band for three consecutive years 2000-2003. In 2003, Mikey won Guitarist of the Year, and Ricky and Chris won Best Horn Section of the Year. The band was also nominated for Live Performance of the Year by the Orlando Music Awards, along with nominations for Tito as Drummer of the Year and Charlie for Vocalist of the Year.
The band also gets quite a turn out at their local shows. The last time that the Spitvalves played in Orlando, they broke the house record at Hard Rock Live Orlando with 3,700 in attendance. What could be more impressive than that? The club’s capacity maxes out at a mere 2,800.
Spitvalves are: Charlie Bender (Vocals), Mikey Cortes (Guitar), Jeremy Perez (Bass), Tito Esquiaqui (Drums), David Torres (Trombone), Ricky San Jose (Trumpet) and Chris Young (Saxophone).
Source: http://www.spitvalves.net
