Mr. Vale’s Math Class: A Band You Can Count On

By Andrew Johnson

Mr. Vale’s Math Class knows how to party, how to do math, and they can “Help You Out.” While their songs talk about math, they are not math rock, but rather pop/funk driven—and they will not help you with your calc final. This seven-piece funk band has horns that make you want to move with percussion-laden grooves that are perfect for dancing or studying the Pythagorean theorem. The band is composed of a multitude of young artists, led by multi-instrumentalist Jordan Vale (he/him). Mr. Vale’s Math Class includes Nick Hamel (he/him) on guitar, Patrick Golechev (he/him) on bass, James Ford (he/him) on drums, Walter Cano (he/him) on percussion/trumpet, Nicole McCabe (she/they) on saxophone, and Miette LaPierre (she/they) on vocals. The 7-piece troupe is in their element when on stage, passing out pots and pans rallying the crowd to let loose and have a good time. If seven people don't sound like enough there are often guest appearances from members of Plastic Cactus, Queen Elizabeth, Night Heron, Martha Stax, Kulululu, and Melao de Cuba. 

This collection of musicians has two goals in mind. First, to help guide you through all the emotions of doing math, from anguish to joy to a fair amount of heartbreak, like in “Walkin” and “Make 10’s First.” Second, to make music that gets stuck in your head for weeks, as seen in “Add It Up” and the band's new single, “Math S.O.S.” The band's first EP, “Show Your Work” was a community effort with everyone lending their skills and imagination to create a unique sound that is just as quirky and vibrant as their personalities. The heart of the album is lighthearted and fun, driven by the notes of “funk, Latin beats, verbed-out trumpet, bells, and catchy cheers.” 

Their new album “We Can Help You Out” is set to be released on April 8th. The lead single “Math S.O.S.” is a funky dance-pop tune that begins with a synth piano and deep bass undertones. It transitions to the chorus which has ethereal lead vocals, akin to a Math tutor’s reaffirming words, “we can help you out.” The song concludes with a sick guitar riff that reminds me of LCD Soundsystem, with its beats of classic funk and rock. Math S.O.S. is the perfect song to dance to or sing in the shower. You can check Mr. Vale’s Math Class out on social media.