Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden was a rebirth for Valley: the first album made after the departure of their lead guitarist, Mickey Brandolino, it was born from the ashes of the band they once were, and it’s a testament to the band they still are. As the Toronto-based alt-pop outfit marked 10 years together last year, they set out to showcase the creative spirit that still runs through them, even as a trio rather than a quartet. Water the Flowers is a bittersweet record, working through the grief of unexpected change while celebrating how far they’ve come. 

That’s exactly what this show felt like: a celebration. The December 11 show closed out nearly a year and a half of touring, both as a headliner and support act for indie stars The Beaches and AJR. At Racket NYC, Chelsea’s cozy, intimate club, the crowd buzzed with enthusiasm so tangible it was almost visible in the air. For some fans, this was their fourth, fifth, even sixth time seeing Valley. One fan showed off her tattoo dedicated to the band. There’s a sense of community around this band that reminds me why being a fan is so much fun: the moments shared among people who have never met before and might never see each other again, but can instantly connect over shared purpose and love for music. Not to mention the connection between artist and audience — the cheers as the Valley members interacted with the crowd, gifting guitar picks and setlists to those in the front row, the ecstatic excitement of one fan as the band played a song at her request — it felt as though barriers were broken down, beyond the literal lack of a barricade in the venue. 

That feeling wouldn’t be possible without the band members’ inherent synergy and stage presence. A 27-song setlist is no small undertaking, but they had each other to rely on. When frontman Rob Laska got emotional speaking about the band’s journey, fellow members Karah James and Alex Dimauro were immediately there to embrace and comfort him. Playing through Water the Flowers front to back was not only an opportunity to reflect on everything they’ve accomplished, but also a reminder as to why they keep on going.

Their goal when writing the latest record was to not overthink it: letting their emotions and thoughts naturally drive the process, not worrying about making a perfect product, and it’s clear they’ve brought that freeing attitude to the stage as well. The members bounce off each other’s energy effortlessly, even showing off their multi-instrumental talents by swapping instruments for certain songs. They finally ended the night with a cover of “Last Christmas,” and there couldn’t be anything more fitting for the show’s celebratory vibe than a holiday song. As we return to the cold winter reality, I want nothing more than to keep chasing the warm escape that a band like Valley creates.