One of the most powerful assets of art is its ability to transform negative or sad experiences into positive emotions. A Valley Son does just that in their new, moody Americana and folk rock infused single, “Dark Places,” which tells the story of a mysterious old man full of dark tales – and of his undignified, lonely death ("They found him in his bathroom’s floor…"). The song keeps the band’s promise of “encompassing the dark, poetic lyricism of Bruce Springsteen,” yet they do so with accents that are more Southern and twangy than the ones adopted by The Boss. You can catch A Valley Son at Union Hall on August 13th. – Madeleine Grossman