Jesse Rutherford, whom you might know from either the pop-rock band The Neighborhood or as the ex-lover of Billie Eilish, now has a hardcore band.
The band Valley Girl first appeared last week when they uploaded a four-track demo on YouTube with their identities unknown. Fast forward to this week, the band performed their first show on January 27 at Midnight Hour in San Fernando, CA.
The minimal credits only mentioned the production of the demo by prominent hardcore producer/musician Taylor Young and included drums by his brother and frequent collaborator Colin. As a result, numerous people speculated that it might be a new venture from the prolific Young brothers, which later turned out to be a collaboration between the two brothers and Rutherford.
Though this is the first time the frontman has been in a hardcore band, it seems that it’s a genre that Rutherford is really into, and the band sounds like, as Revolver stated, a slightly heavier version of ‘Glow On’-era Turnstile.
How People Reacted To Rutherford’s Appearance In A Hardcore Band
While some really enjoy the new band the Neighborhood singer is fronting, some feel differently about the band.
Despite staying anonymous until their first show, many people came to see the show without knowing The Neighborhood frontman would be the singer. But after it was revealed it was Rutherford who was singing, some criticized his work with the hardcore band since he had never been on the heavier side of the music industry before.
As a result, fans went on to support Valley Girl and the frontman. A YouTube comment read:
“Wild that the dude that wrote ‘Sweater Weather’ also wrote my favorite hardcore demo of 2024.”
Singer Mac Miller of Cosmic Joke, who also performed at the January 27 show with Valley Girl, took to X to comment on the fact that despite no one knowing the identity of the frontman, many people showed up to the first show and took their time to listen and enjoy:
“Maaaan I really didn’t wanna get into this sh*t but – 1. Jess started going to shows with me over 15 years ago and had played it low key because he didn’t want to be taking attention. 2. Reasonable to hate on any band for the music but insane to make it personal with a stranger. 3. Valley Girl moved quietly and announced on the show anonymously so people would come out strictly for the music. They opened a 6 band bill and supported every other act. At the end of the day I just wanted to have my friends play our show, and I’m glad I did. They belong here.”
You can watch their first live show below.
