Eleganza!

Eleganza’s second album, Water Valley High, was recorded at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, MS, and Produced by the Drive-By Truckers’ Matt Patton. Released on Dial Back Sound Records, it was named “Best Local Record” of 2022 by the Star Tribune’s Chris Reimenschneider. In July 2024, Eleganza! went back down to Dial Back Sound to record their follow-up album, again produced By Patton, with a release date in 2025.

"I don’t know the reason, or even if there’s one,” sings Brian Vanderwerf in the opening track of Eleganza’s Water Valley High LP (Dial Back Sound, April 2022). Despite Brian’s undoubted place amongst underground rock’s singing MVPs, the past decade has given many in his position little reason to hustle. Love of the game? Fuck that! This is all they’ve got!

Water Valley High is the sound of a band punching its way out of a corner, once again finding ring center in a scene of royal outcasts. Vanderwuf’s vocal tenures in The Midnight Evils (Estrus Records) and Chooglin’ (Big Legal Mess) have long-established him as dirt-rock aristocracy. Bassist Tony Zaccarid is The Twin Cities’ Midnight Mayor. Tony not only doubles as bassist for St Paul’s Romantica, but also owns popular night spot and venue Palmer’s Bar in Minneapolis.

Chooglin’ grad Jeff Johnson has done more with what Chuck Berry taught Keith Richards than anyone since Chuck Berry. Think about it. Secret weapon Greg McAloon pins down the middle guitar with ruthless precision and the cold stare of 1,000 Minnesota winters. Tim Baumgart, as sweet as he is big, seems unaware that it’s actually really hard to play drums as well as he does. Ever wonder what Scott Asheton playing jazz grip would sound like? Buy the record. Latecomer (but gaining fast) Charlie Smith thinks a lot of Nicky Hopkins and puts that honky tonkin’, boogaloo shit on everything.

As a concept, it would suffice to say that the band has had their minds on what every American has these past five or six years: Exile On Main St. They have made their collective share of all-out hell-raising rock’n’roll albums over the past couple decades. With Eleganza, they have found a sound and rhythm where country and blue-eyed soul can coexist with the punk rock for which they’ve been known. And, with Water Valley High, Eleganza have hit their stride.