Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Venomous Valdez

Venomous Valdez is a name synonymous with the local music scene. She has been a cheerleader for the scene in many forms over the years at many posts including; WEBN, WAIF, MPMF, managing local bands, booking local bands for many events, and hosting radio shows for CincyMusic.com on WNKU and The Project.

We sat down with our favorite radio host, Venomous Valdez to discuss her love of the local scene!

CincyMusic.com: You have been the voice of local music for quite some time whether on WEBN, The Project, WNKU, WAIF, and as a band manager. What is your favorite avenue in which to promote music?
Venomous Valdez: I absolutely love the outlet of radio. It allows me to introduce bands to a wider audience that would not just randomly turn up at a bands show. At the heart of it, producing concerts is my favorite avenue. Live music permeates with the human emotion and connection that can not be duplicated in recorded music. 

CM: What is something that Cincinnati may not know about Venomous Valdez?
VV: I'm not really as mean as my DJ name suggests. Please keep that to yourself though, I have a reputation to uphold.  

CM: As a woman in Cincinnati music, do you feel that your gender has ever hindered your path? Do you feel that you have to work harder to get your voice heard?
VV: I certainly had to work harder in the beginning. I also chose to not date within the scene in an effort to be taken seriously. Something you would never hear a male counterpoint use as a strategy. Now that I am well established in the Cincinnati music scene, my gender, whom I choose to date or even my rock-n-roll radio name, are non-issues. My work speaks for itself, as it should.  I have always shown respect to the scene and it has paid it back in kind.  

CM: As an obvious music lover, what has been your all time favorite concert you have attended? 
VV: At this point, I have probably logged over a thousand concerts. There have been many, many amazing nights in my life. The following memory demonstrates what I love about live performances:

While I was in Boston years ago, I was fortunate enough to see Ray LaMontagne in a small venue shortly after he self-released his very first album, Trouble. It was just him and his acoustic. A very shy gentlemen that we, the audience fell head over heels in love with. You could tell he was working through finding how to be comfortable with exhibiting his art in front of people. We were very careful with him. In the opening chords of the song “Burn”, you could hear a pin drop. As the song went on, you could hear he was fighting back emotions. Then he gave in and wept, rendering the audience to tears with him.  Whatever he wrote within that particular song about was still very raw within him. It was a precious moment you can never duplicate. 

CM: What do you want people to take away with them when they think of you?
VV:
That I'm a very hard working lady that has endless passion for the City of Cincinnati and its music. 

*Editor’s Note *
Local bands, go submit new music to be played on CincyMusic Spotlight HERE!
The CincyMusic Spotlight is a weekly local music show on The Project 100.7 / 106.3 that features a mix of the region's most talented musicians and a recap of local music news from CincyMusic.com. The show features prominent local music veteran Venomous Valdez. You can catch us on the air every Sunday night at midnight on The Project 100.7 / 106.3.

March is Women’s History Month, in celebration, CincyMusic.com will be featuring important women behind the music scene in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is the home of so many amazing women within the music industry. These women include; a Venue Owner, a well known DJ, Educators, the First Lady of Cincinnati Music, an Assistant Program Director, Writers, Photographers, and a beloved fan.

Stay tuned to CincyMusic.com for our Features on these talented women this month!

Related

  • Feature

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati 

March is Women’s History Month, in celebration, CincyMusic.com will be featuring important women behind the music scene in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is the home of so many amazing women within the music industry. These women include; an activist, a Director of Marketing, Music Editor, musicians,...

Recap: Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati 

Within the month of March, CincyMusic.com featured many of the important women behind the music scene in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is the home of so many amazing women within the music industry and it was an honor to get to know these women. We all often take for granted how much work goes into the...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Kristin Ropp 

Kristin Ropp is the Vice President & General Manger of U.S. Bank Arena & The Cincinnati Cyclones (since 2002). Previously, she was Director of Operations / Production Manager at Riverbend Music Center & The Taft Theatre.  She is responsible for bringing the biggest names in music...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Morrella Raleigh 

Morrella Raleigh is the woman behind the late Southgate House and the now Southgate House Revival. What you may not know about Morrella is the wealth of knowledge she holds about the music and arts industry as a whole.  Morrella started her path at a young age hoping to write for Rolling...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Erica Turer 

Erica Turer is a jane of all trades in the music industry. From recording school to marketing, merchandise and being a production assistant, she’s just about done it all.  Her vast experience isn’t the only thing that makes Erica stand out. It’s her love and appreciation for...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Debbie Branscum 

Debbie Branscum is currently a co-owner of Cincinnati Events Management with Casey Gilmore. Previously, she was a production manager at Riverbend and worked at 3CDC. Among many other positions she has held, you can most likely catch her running the show at Bunbury Music Festival, Buckle Up Music...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Maggie Curtis 

Maggie Curtis is currently the Marketing Manager at our beloved Bogart’s. In the past she has worked as Marketing Coordinator at Nederlander Entertainment as well as the Entertainment & Programming Manager at Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati.  How have we had such amazing events at...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Meghan Berneking 

As the oldest orchestra in Ohio and the sixth oldest symphony orchestra in the U.S., the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) would not be where it is today without the musicians and conductors but also those behind the music. Working day in and day out to get the word out about the magical ensemble...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Liz Felix 

Liz Felix is the Music Director/Assistant Program Director at WNKU. Before coming to Cincinnati, she was the Music Director/Assistant Program Director at WAPS – The Summit 91.3 in Akron. Before that she was the Program Director at Cumulus Triple A KBXR in Columbia, MO. Liz is no newbie to...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Kelly Thomas 

Kelly Thomas is the first lady of Cincinnati Music. She spends her days shaping young minds and her nights being a champion of the Cincinnati Music Scene.    Kelly is the founder of the Rivertown Music Club, a board member for Cincinnati Heritage Music Foundation, has been a member of...

Women Behind the Music in Cincinnati: Apryl Reighn 

Growing up with two very artistic parents, one a drummer and singer of his own band and the other a singer, dancer, and modern dancer, it was only natural for Apryl Reign to venture into the world of music. Her interest in DJ’ing was sparked at a young age and later turned into a reality...