NEW Homebrew Kit, Top 20 Chart, Underdogs Win & More!

E-NEWSLETTER FINALLY LAUNCHES ALONG WITH NEW PRODUCT

Dear Kava Community,

Thank you so much for being among the first to subscribe to this brand new e-newsletter! I hope you find it useful and informative. Being the first kava lounge in the Kentuckiana region, educating the public is a huge part of what we do here.

I believe that kava is on the right trajectory to become a new pillar of the social drink scene in North America. It has been amazing serving this community since opening in May 2022, and you might have noticed that we are always up to something here. Recently, the next step for Cave Valley Kava was naturally to become KY’s 1st ever kava powder company with our own line of ceremonial grade kava root and it’s simply the best!

Please enjoy the “Giant Thirst” commercial (above) we had the joy of producing at the majestic Bernheim Forest about 20 miles from here. If the ancient process of brewing kava appeals to you, as it has to me and become how I now make a living, please consider ordering your homebrew kava kits at this link. I personally believe wholeheartedly in this product and think it will become your new favorite drink, at a competitive price too!

We are currently seeking any stores who might be interested in stocking our new homebrew kits and bulk discounts are available to anyone who orders at least 4 bags, big thanks to everyone who grabbed a bag so far!

COMING SOON TO KENTUCKIANA’S ONLY KAVA LOUNGE

STEVIE THE KAVA GUY’S ALL-TIME TOP 20 ACTS

As promised, for our first e-newsletter I will be ranking my personal all-time Top 20 acts who have visited the kava lounge so far! Multiple genres are going to be represented but I think you will still get an idea of what my musical taste is, as I do give priority to talent that is not conventionally brought in to play at kava lounges. There are really only a few other kava lounges out there in the whole world right now who can come anywhere close to the kind of programming that I tend to book here, ones in Ithaca, Denver, and Pittsburgh. I think every other kava lounge is either strictly booking “calming” types of music in order to stay on brand, and/or the bars are in too small of a town to be on any bands’ radar so they stick to the occasional open mic. I am so thankful that my customer base has actually embraced the programming here for the most part, and thankful that such amazing acts even consider visiting my unconventional space. One point I really want to get across with this list is that the local scene is really hitting its stride these days, so you better get down to the kava lounge soon to witness it for yourself!

1 - Lucas Granpa Abela (Sydney, Australia)

Still both the only non-rap event here to have sold any presale tickets and the furthest traveling act so far. A truly special evening, Granpa was on his best behavior since he has allegedly been known to spew blood everywhere. All I had to clean up was a little shattered glass, it was quite incredible really. Flawless from the noise legend who has had an illustrious career making sound art with glass found objects, making him arguably the most high profile act to visit so far. He played maybe a 10 minute set, completely captivating the audience of our cozy kava lounge for the duration of it. Bonus points for having a tourmate of Tongan descent who loves kava!

2 - XEONXEONXEON (Louisville, KY)

Leon has been at the forefront of multiple out of this world raves at the kava lounge and has solidified a position in the upper echelon of local talent in the process. It was an honor to have even had this project put out live bootlegs recorded at the kava lounge from these special nights of elevating the humble dancefloor here to its peak, glow-sticks and all.

3 - Cookie Tongue (New Orleans, LA)

I usually don’t care for solo acts or humorous songs so it’s surprising this act made it to number 3 but if you ever have the rare privilege of witnessing Cookie Tongue live, it feels like you are being transported to a plethora of other worlds and that’s not just the kava talking. It was a shame that only 2 audience members made it to their last minute event here, still what a night it was that the video I got of it for our YouTube channel has since gone viral with 1k+ views. Still the only puppetry to have appeared here but it was so much more, and the perfect amount of weird. Omer is a real enigma of an artist.

4 - Shrudd (Louisville, KY)

Local musician/friend T (Parking, Thee Tabs, etc.) was destined to make it onto this list having raised the standards of the local scene so much over the past few years, and it is with Shrudd that T has landed on the radio and road with unprecedented acclaim for this eggy synth punk sound that Louisville has grown to love. Shrudd has churned out hit after hit with expert ease, just as expertly as they have put on incredible live displays featuring cheeky homemade costumes and gimmicks that I fully approve of. I always try to go see them no matter where they play. Who doesn’t enjoy a little Oh Sees worship now and then?

5 - The Little Michael (Louisville, KY)

This band came highly recommended to me shortly after they quietly popped up in the local scene and began turning heads overnight. This band is a spectacle, more than any experience you could ever expect to witness once you step onto a dancefloor. I am convinced by now that they aren’t even a band, but rather a weird sort of multinational conglomerate theatre specializing in opera that brainwashes people or something like the modern day jester archetype embodied for us in this moment until they all just realize that what they are doing has raised more eyebrows than listeners they’ve attracted. Then you tap into their songs under the absurd facade and the music is really, really good so we will always keep praising Michael no matter what even if their 9th member is just a triangle player.

6 - Why DOMS (Louisville, KY)

Some of the best lyrical work on display in the scene right now, masters of their craft. Something about the energy they bring to their shows is really special too and we have been lucky to have them here.

7 - babybaby_explores (Providence, RI)

Easily a top band to have been here, they are always so tight due to growing up together and then sharing a rehearsal space where they worked diligently to get to the point where Lightning Bolt has basically passed them the torch to their east coast enclave for weirdo songwriters. It’s been great to see more buzz develop around this awesome band who played an intimate show here to a handful of people mere months after the kava lounge opened its doors. I was able to get them to stop by due to having mutual friends in Providence, where I lived briefly for a temporary job, so it was surreal to land a top band from that scene here so shortly after the doors opened.

8 - SATAN’S GOD (St. Louis, MO)

Yet another solo act makes the list surprisingly, I just couldn’t leave out this underground noise rock cult icon who has put out over a dozen albums and getting banned from venues in the process with their unhinged theatrical sets that can easily either clear a room out, make an audience enraged, or make you a lifelong diehard fan of the enigmatic musician. Best part was either the artist’s utmost unique personality, or the delicate handmade backdrops and merch displays that they insist on lugging around to the craziest DIY mixed genre shows wherever they go. I was honored when they offered to have my band, Zurich Cloud Motors, do a support tour with them this year but then our van broke down so we dodged that one. One of the most unhinged acts to ever play anywhere!

9 - MEAN MUGG’D (Louisville, KY)

Lots of fantastic hardcore bands have graced the kava lounge thankfully. I’m always happy when MEAN MUGG’D turns up because they bring great energy to their shows, are great people, and have done a great job representing the Louisville hardcore scene even as kind of a newer band.

10 - Dustbin (Cincinnati, OH)

We hosted a very special performance awhile back by this folk rock supergroup, the lounge was packed and the band sounded amazing in this room partly because they play at the perfect volume for it. I hardly ever enjoy listening to this genre that can kind of be painful in these modern times, however this band goes about it refreshingly different in a way that sounds so authentic to who they are. That’s all you can ask for from a band really.

11 - Pons (Brooklyn, NY)

Back in 2019 my band actually shared a stage with Pons, at the time they were your typical college party band in Burlington. Fast forward to their relocation to the no-wave punk capital Brooklyn and out of nowhere their sound develops into an absolute beast and they’re getting a decent record deal, packing big shows left and right. When they came here a few months ago, they were a really high profile band for a room of this size. It was quite fun to see them again after all these years and hear for myself how much they have grown as a band.

12 - L.I.P.S. (Harlan, KY)

This hardcore punk trio absolutely shreds. I’m glad they have been showing more love to Louisville. When they were here there was a clear sense in the room that we were witnessing something special. Great songwriters, great musicians, great people.

13 - Torture Agenda (Buffalo, NY)

Buffalo’s hardcore scene is historic, it definitely shaped me some in the few years I spent there during college. This band took me back to the many nights I spent at shows in crowded, crusty, frozen basements up there yet their sound is distinctly a modern development of the best aspects that have been culminating there. They put on a hell of a show, very underrated. If they would play more shows, I am convinced this band would become massive on the hardcore circuit.

14 - The Sharp Stars (Louisville, KY)

I’m thankful that this band has embraced playing the kava lounge because they really are way ahead of their time, it’s kind of absurd how good they have become being such a new band.

15 - Prodigy Tha Kid (Louisville, KY)

A local rapper with huge potential known for all the positivity he has been bringing into the scene lyrically at such a young age, it’s no wonder this prodigy has already moved on to packing music hall and festival stages. All his positivity really goes a long way in a place like the ‘Ville. I hope he can keep up the tremendous momentum he’s been building and eventually go on tour to get these stellar songs out there.

16 - DATA UNKNOWN (Indianapolis, IN)

I am lucky to call these crazy good musicians friends of mine, with my ex-bandmate Brandon on synth duty for them when he isn’t playing in Skull Cult or any of the other bands he sits in with since moving north. Scooter’s stage moves with the mic are unparalleled and I am always learning new moves from him, great guy too. This band finally has put big plans on their future calendar so I feel like it’s just a matter of time until their fame outgrows playing rooms this size. They have released hit after hit and sure deserve it.

17 - CROP ROT (Louisville, KY)

Another newer local hardcore band, CROP ROT has quickly risen to the challenge of becoming one of the top bands in town. As the kava guy around here, I really respect the story of harm reduction that is at the core of this band forming and it shows with their heartfelt songs that have been bringing a refreshing energy to the local hardcore scene.

18 - Pravus Warlord (Louisville, KY)

Yet another newer local hardcore band to grace this list, the first Pravus Warlord gig here sounded so chaotic and raw that I instantly became a big fan and couldn’t wait to have them back. Since then, they have grown as a band exponentially as have the size of the crowds that gather to catch their high energy performances which usually are known for their unique spoken word breakdowns and an old school type of hardcore that never gets old.

19 - Beams (Toronto, Canada)

It was an honor to have Beams be the first ever international act to visit here, and one of the most high profile acts too. They are a rad, well traveled Canadian dream pop export made up of naturalists who regularly incorporate powerful messages into their lyrics.

20 - Lady Laveaux (Louisville, KY)

With a rootwork inspired name, Lady Laveaux had to make it on this list since we are an herbal elixir bar specializing in roots! Irony aside, I am convinced that if she would just play a few more shows per year she could easily rise to dominate the local rap scene. Her energy on stage is a force to be reckoned with and full of pure positivity, yet still so laid back and cool. I really hope she puts out more music and returns here before too long.

TONGA (RANKED 200TH) MENS SOCCER WORLD CUP HOPES STILL ALIVE

Best of luck to our friend, the Tongan soccer star Maikeli Lomu, and his teammates as they take on Samoa tonight at 10pm! Cave Valley Kava will be closed but you can stream the match on FIFA+. Thursday night a crowd gathered in our Microcinema to see the underdogs Tonga beat Cook Islands in the first round of qualifiers to see who will get one step closer to the World Cup, which will take place stateside next year. Louisville has actually been granted a team training headquarters for the tournament, so fingers crossed Tonga will go all the way and be based here so we can mix some kava, the national drink of Tonga, with the Tu’Ulalupe! Our house kava is imported from a small farm in Tonga, where kava exports have become a huge part of the economy ever since the industry began booming stateside. We are starstruck by the attention Maikeli has shown Cave Valley Kava, and we are so glad he loves life in Tonga after selling his pottery studio in Utah and all his belongings to go play soccer there since that’s where his family is from. What a legend, he has even been featured in The New York Times! We made the watch party into a drinking game for fun, so the kava was flowing big time in what became their unexpected first World Cup qualifier win since 2011 and we can’t wait to see what they can make happen on the field tonight! For those who don’t know, I am a former semi-pro soccer player and coach and Cave Valley Kava was the primary sponsor of local mens team Louisville Dynamo FC during the one season they competed in with a home field in nearby Beechmont. I even scored a goal and assist for them too! Kava really shines post-workout. What’s amazing about this Tongan team is that a majority of the squad plays for semi-pro teams too, so a lot of them work day jobs which makes me wonder if any of Maikeli’s teammates are kava farmers, physically demanding work, on the side… either way come try our Tongan kava sometime because it is the MVP around here!

Be Well,

Stevie the Kava Guy

Cave Valley Kava, founder

ph. 502 818 5835 (txt only please, it gets loud/busy in here sometimes)