Originally published April 10, 2006

Photo by: Bob Leggett Taming Ingrid: Snappy rock tunes with pop appeal and strong licks.

MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE
Club Reviews Section
By Bob Leggett

Taming Ingrid
The Joint
Los Angeles

Contact: Hotline, 714-437-9310; TamingIngrid1@aol.com

Web: www.tamingingrid.com

The Players: Rhonda Monica Salci, vocals; Valles, guitar, backing vocals; Lee Wright, bass; Matt Westfall, drums; Oleg Ginzburg, keyboards.

Material: Taming Ingrid combine snappy rock music with strong pop hooks. This act sports one of the better guitarists, male or female, in Valles. In fact, Valles and Salci took a year off to perform as an acoustic duo to polish their songs. The result is a fresh new sound. Of particular note are the songs “I Can See” and “Knock on the Door,” both of which have commercial appeal.

Musicianship: Wright’s bass and Valles’ guitar chops are top notch without being overpowering. The band’s overall tones are well blended. Valles is no ordinary fe-male guitarist and rates right up there with Nancy Wilson.

Performance: Taming Ingrid took the stage like they owned The Joint. Even though two of their bandmates were new and had never played live with them before, the chemistry was palpable, especially between Valles and Salci. Salci had full command of the music and the good-natured ribbing between Valles and Salci was a treat. The show included pop, rock and reggae, and the band showed style and substance in all three genres. The harmonies between Salci and Valles were especially sweet. The crowd was not particularly alive, but by the end of the set they were charged up by the music.

Summary: Valles, Salci and Westfall form a solid musical core, and the other members work hard to fit in. Building on a foundation of excellent guitar riffs and climaxing with Salci’s soaring vocals, Taming Ingrid deliver a strong attack. So much so, that this attractive group just might have a chance to make it in the current ultra-competitive indie market.