Music

Happy Valentines

With Ellis back in fold, Vegas-born band eyes Atlantic record deal

Spencer Patterson

Good news, Las Vegas: Emily Ellis has decided to be your Valentine again.

The singer, who left Vegas-based rock band Valentine last year to attend law school in Southern California, has resumed her music career just in time to stage a February 14 Unplugged series gig in the House of Blues’ Crossroads room.

“I realized music is something I can’t live without,” Ellis, 25, says while driving home from law classes at the University of La Verne in Ontario, California, where she just started her second semester. “The time I spent away made me realize music is a huge part of my life.”

Now based in Southern California, today’s Valentine looks quite a bit different than the Vegas version that landed the band in Rolling Stone and on 2005’s Warped Tour. Besides Ellis, only guitarist Adam Liberti remains from those days. Joining them in the current lineup are ex-I Am Ghost drummer Ryan Seaman, ex-Eighteen Visions bassist Mick Morris (now on guitar) and ex-A Waking Nightmare bassist Bobby Schubenski.

That fivesome could soon find itself reaping major-label rewards, if a February 27 date at Los Angeles’ famed Viper Room goes off well. Atlantic Records A&R reps requested the showcase after Ellis and Liberti impressed them with a three-song acoustic mini-set last month at Atlantic’s LA offices.

“It’s definitely a weird feeling, performing for three people in a conference room, but once we started playing I knew it was gonna be okay,” Ellis laughs. “They said the acoustic set was to see if I could actually sing, to make sure my vocals weren’t altered in some way on our recordings. Now, they want to see the whole band perform. We’re hoping something comes of it, but we know it really has to be good.”

Whether or not Valentine lands a deal with Atlantic, Ellis says she’s committed to sticking with the band this time, even though she also fully intends to finish law school—at some point. “I have a good little schedule down, so I’m able to do both, but law school is definitely something that I can take a leave of absence from if I need to,” says Ellis, who has also appeared in fashion spreads for Alternative Press and YRB magazines recently. “If we were to get offered an awesome tour or the chance to record, I could see myself putting school on hold for a while.” – Spencer Patterson

Valentine plays a free, all-ages show February 14 in the House of Blues’ Crossroads room with Phantom Communique. (myspace.com/valentineband)

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