The courage, hope, love and music behind Valor and Lace

By
Albert H.Fulcher
-
WEBValorandLace.jpg

When Chris Hamilton sings, his voice slices through the air with muscle and conviction, and with his lyrics, also pierces your heart. With his partner in music and life Emily Ridings, this dynamic East County duo, along with Richard Smith on the Dobro and Ian Belmondo on the harmonica, Valor and Lace is a homegrown musical joy to listen to. Hamilton, a retired Marine sniper, and the band all veterans, valor is befitting.

When Chris Hamilton sings, his voice slices through the air with muscle and conviction, and with his lyrics, also pierces your heart. With his partner in music and life Emily Ridings, this dynamic East County duo, along with Richard Smith on the Dobro and Ian Belmondo on the harmonica, Valor and Lace is a homegrown musical joy to listen to. Hamilton, a retired Marine sniper, and the band all veterans, valor is befitting. And with Ridings clear high register and somewhat sultry lower tones, Valor and Lace is paving its way through the local music industry, with a determination and collaboration that has deep roots in love, courage and hope.

But unlike many other musicians, Hamilton did not spend his life reaching for fame and glory as a musician. Music came to him, and in many ways, helped salvage his life.

Growing up in a little town outside of Waco, Texas, Hamilton lived the country life growing up on a ranch. A sports enthusiast, he played football at Hardin-Simmons University. But tearing his anterior cruciate ligament twice, his sports career ended. It was then that some of his buddies introduced him to the Marine Corps. He joined in 2007. After spending time in Kings Bay, Georgia, he came back to San Diego and worked for two years to get into sniper school. By 2012 he was in the Kajacki District in the east of Helmand Province, Afghanistan as a team leader in support of ongoing combat operations.

It was then, that something happened that would shape the rest of his life.

“Lost one of our buddies to an IED (improvised explosive device), and a lot of other things happened that day, and it’s something that you just cannot ever forget.” he said. “One minute someone is here, and the next minute someone is not. And it’s not really that, it is in the way that it happens. His body was severely mangled beyond what anybody could possibly imagine.”

Hamilton described that having his team and other squads seeing that, bringing the body back and dealing with that loss, and continuing to deal with combat was beyond difficult to deal with.

“I shouldn’t be here today, and a lot of other guys that shouldn’t be here today either, but we are. That’s the way the cards fell, the way God wanted it I guess,” he said. “There were a lot of other things that happened on that deployment. I guess it’s kind of natural for somebody under that amount of stress, but I wound up having severe anxiety, nightmares, and depression.”

With one MEU and one tour in Afghanistan under his belt, when he returned home, Hamilton could not go out in public without being heavily medicated. He went through many medication regiments as anxiety turned into depression. He said as a Marine, this was extremely difficult because as a Marine, coming back from war, that nothing else in life would be that cool.

“That’s a thing with PTSD, you’ll never be this cool again,” he said. “It’s true to an extent in some of the things that you do and deal with, but it is hard to deal with when you think about what you wish you could have done and the guilt that comes with it. Like if I did this, he would still be here today, even though you don’t have control over a lot of those things. But every Marine, every grunt, every infantryman kind of feels like they are Superman and it is our destiny to protect each other. That’s what we do and why we have been so successful. You are fighting for your country, but really while you are there you are fighting for each other. It’s a bond that will never go away.”

After spending two years going through group and individual therapies, medications, and “all the other stuff” they had Hamilton doing to lead a happy normal life, he decided to take another route. He joined a music therapy program at the Wounded Warrior Battalion. “From that point on, it completely changed my life, my mood and my outlook on everything changed,” he said.

Hamilton had learned a few of the major chords on a guitar from his father, but had never really sung before. A voice coach helped him write his first song “Home,” and recorded it. He said when he still listens to that first recording today he sees how terrible it was. But his Semper Fi mentality kept him motivated in learning more and striving to make it better.

“Dedication, hard work, it’s whatever you do that makes you happy,” he said. “This doesn’t pay all the bills now, but if it does, it will be amazing because now I get to do something that emotionally, mentally and physically makes me feel like the person I’m supposed to be.”

Hamilton is a huge advocate for music therapy because the music did more for him than what the medications did.

“I really can’t ask for anything better than that,” he said. “Still to this day I’m heavily involved with the music therapy. I guess I’m an example of how it really works. If I’m having a bad day I can go pick up my guitar, start playing and singing, and about 30 minutes later, I’m fine.”

Scientifically, music has the power to change your emotions and it’s a proven fact, he said. Music transmits through the same neurotransmitters that everyday emotions do. And they can alter your emotions to whatever kind of music you are listening to, he said. “And that is powerful.”

Living in Lakeside, he began his musical journey mostly for fun, created the Chris Hamilton Band, when one day his life took another unexpected but amazing turn. He met an Alpine woman that ricocheted his personal life and musical career in a new and more focused direction.

“I met Emily right at Moonshine Flats, on the deck, playing a set with James Cramer of Barbwire. I was sitting at the bar, sitting with Richard, my Dobro player and she came walking up, but we only met eyes,” he said. “The next weekend I went to the Renegade with another Marine friend and I looked over and knew that was the girl I saw when I was out on the deck playing. I went over to talk to her.”

That changed everything. They have been inseparable since. When he found out she could sing, he saw no reason for them not to take this journey together, and Valor and Lace was born.

“It’s perfect, because everyone in the band is a veteran, and she, she’s the lace,” he said affectionately. “The name strikes a chord. With Emily and I, it’s two heads in one. It’s more of an advantage. I’m more the rhythm guy with the guitar and the chords and she’s more of the lyricist, coming up with more of the words and structure. It makes our songs unique and creative that way. And the songs pump out faster.”

Ridings said they write well together and are happy with the original music they are now producing. She said, with the two of them, it comes pretty natural and easy.

Hamilton said where he is in life right now is so different than when he retired in 2015. He said it was like, “I hate it so much, it had so much structure, and I wanted to go back to it. You miss it, the guys, the camaraderie, but life goes on.”

“You have to find your happiness in life, and that’s a problem with a lot of veterans. They can’t find it and they wind up committing suicide, and the other things that they do. If I could spread a message to anybody it would be to try out new things because eventually you are going to find a new passion, you are going to find that happiness.”

The ability of telling a good story in lyrics and influencing the audiences’ emotions through song is something that every artist tries to capture and Valor and Lace is on the right path for success. They both understand the difficulty of the industry, but are adapting their style to fit various venues both here and in Texas. Hamilton and Riding believe in collaborating with other artists, and sharing in the creative process and work hard to surround themselves with musicians and writers where that process in a benefit to all involved.

Valor and Lace take covers, make them personal, but still allows the audience the ability to know the song, sing along and dance to it. And throwing originals in the mix creates a show worth watching. Because of limited space at most local venues, Valor and Lace is stripped down and acoustic, but Hamilton and Ridings are moving towards becoming more of a production, still wanting to keep the singer/songwriter style of music. They understand that it takes time for people to notice new music, but that is not a determent. Hamilton said people spend their whole lives trying to get other people to notice what they are saying or doing, put it is not about a popularity contest. Although to make a living, the group strives to make it a success.

“If I can sit in a room with 20 people and inspire them versus playing for 5,000 and maybe inspiring one or two people and the rest really don’t care, I’d rather sit in that little bitty room. And that’s what I really love about it,” he said.

It is not just telling a story, he said, but about capturing a glimpse of his life when he sings. But in many people, they find a place in their lives that fit into the lyrics they sing. It becomes a bond and a relationship with the people that listen.

A country man from Texas, and an Alpine woman, country music is a centerpiece of their talents, but they do not allow themselves to be stuck in a genre, as their creative writing sometimes leans more to pop, blues and other genres. These are things they want to incorporate into their music, making their style unique, versatile, but mostly the creations of people that love to write music.

“Every song we have come out with has been different,” said Hamilton. “As the songwriter aspect, I think that is outstanding. I’m being as artistic as I possibly can with the experience that I have. If I can come out with songs that don’t sound the same, have different meanings behind them, then I think I’m headed down the right track. I need to keep flowing with that and try not to force things, and be yourself. Ultimately, I think that is what it is all about. It’s a growing thing and something we both love to do and we hope to continue to do this.”

Valor and Lace play at the Lakeside Carter-Smith VFW Post 5867 every first Wednesday of the month, on special occasions and various venues in the county. 

Memorial Day weekend is a special time for them, for many reasons. Valor and Lace is playing the Team Darkhorse and Nellie Gail Ranch Showcase for Valor on Friday, May 27 to benefit 3/5 Darkhorse Marines. This is something Hamilton is honored to be invited to, and is looking forward to sharing his life to other Marines that might need to hear what he has to say, and show them that there is life beyond PTSD.

And Lace, she’s got his back.

To find more about Valor and Lace, find out where they are performing you can find them at www.valorandlace.com, REVERBNATION, YouTube and www.facebook.com/Valor_and_Lace.

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  18. O Interpretação Da Familia Na
    O Interpretação Da Familia Na Igreja E Na Sociedade

    Porém hoje temos certa novidade que pode te surpreender:
    a conchinha pós-sexo é tão fundamental quanto a preliminar para satisfação sexual feminina.
    Quando encontrar alguém e este alguém fizer seu
    coração parar com funcionar por alguns segundos, preste atenção:
    pode ser a pessoa mais imprescindível da sua vida.
    É só ver os índices de homens que terminam os estudos, as
    mulheres estão passando na frente9, ambição pelos estudos vem aumentando consideravelmente entre as mulheres.

    Muitas das feitas, consumidor prefere assistir a algo que transmitirá bons momentos,
    fazendo por uma instante parte de sua vida, fazendo com que criação anunciado quer seja posteriormente
    lembrado e guardado pelos espectadores com atenção e carinho.

    A música “Wind of Change” foi a balada de mais alto desenlace na Alemanha e ficou 55
    semanas consecutivas nas paradas naquele país, com 11 delas em primeiro.
    Em poucos casos, as mulheres mais novas podem estar mais
    sexualmente ativas do que alguns homens. Imagine-se
    agora tendo uma arma secreta e fatal para conquistar aquele cara que você tanto sonhou,
    esse é poder do Guia Código da Conquista.

    Você vai aprender a técnica para deixar a mulher viciada em você, sento totalmente fiel e sem sequer olhar
    para mais homens. Elyon, (Oyli la) está em Gn. 14.18-20 para identificar Deus Altíssimo de Abrão, a quem Melquisedeque
    servia. Quando A Perfect Circle deu um tempo, Tool imediatamente voltou às atividades.

    B) Em todas as coisas: A onipotência de Jesus cristo abrange
    todas as coisas (ICr.29:12), esfera sobre a natureza (Sl.107:25-29; Na.1:5,6;
    Sl.33:6-9; Is.40:26; Mt.8:27; Jr.32:17; Rm.1:
    20), domínio sobre a experiência humana (Sl.91:1; Dn.4:19-37; Ex.7:1-5;
    Tg.4:12-15; Pv.21:1; Jó.9:12; Mt.19:26; Lc.1:37),
    domínio sobre as regiões celestiais (Dn.4:35; Hb.1:13,14; Jó.1:
    12; Jó 2:6).

    Com uma pitada de bom temperamento, Dr Goldstein disse sugerir festival da melancia a fim de
    aumentar desempenho sexual dos homens, seria equivalente a alguém despejar qualquer garrafa de cerveja em Minneapolis, onde rio Mississipi começa, e esperar
    que isso impacte ser em Nova Orleans.

    Aqui a fêmea apresentou terreno que vai para além da compreensão de qualquer
    homem, para além do falo. Diante disto, os sonhos do coração
    de Deus para os nossos corações certamente vai acontecer, basta tão somente devanear juntamente com Ele, que
    no sazão determinado irá se efetivar os sonhos de Deus
    para nossas vidas.

    ” luta é um aspecto fundamental da vida por atender às necessidades humanas, tão do conjunção de vista material como espiritual, visto que através das tarefas concretas homem se sustenta e, ao mesmo tempo, expressa seu modo original de realizar valores no um determinado tempo e lugar.

    Eudimorphodon cujo antenome significa ” Verdadeiro Dimorphodon ” era um pterossauro primitivo que viveu durante período Triássico há aproximadamente 225 milhões de anos atrás na Itália, caçando insetos agilmente, como os atuais morcegos, em numerosos bandos.

    Fatores Psicológicos: Quando desempenham supostamente um papel importante no desencadeamento, gravidade, exacerbação de outra maneira manutenção da disfunção sexual. Assumindo de vez displicência com suas carreiras no Yardbirds, Jim McCarty e Keith Relf inicialmente começaram um projeto que se chamou Together.

    Muitos jovens apreciam apenas atividades associadas ao lazer, como ouvir música, passar-se à praia bem como namorar, porém, não se recebe dinheiro por nenhuma delas. Esta técnica não é só para homens, mas também para as mulheres, que são capazes de se masturbar até que eles estão perto de possuir um orgasmo e depois parar até que atração física de clímax passa. https://thinkdatavis.com/virgo/um-homem-dificil/

  19. O Interpretação Da Familia Na
    O Interpretação Da Familia Na Igreja E Na Sociedade

    Porém hoje temos certa novidade que pode te surpreender: a
    conchinha pós-sexo é tão fundamental quanto a preliminar para
    satisfação sexual feminina. Quando encontrar alguém
    e este alguém fizer seu coração parar com funcionar por alguns segundos, preste atenção: pode ser a pessoa mais imprescindível da sua
    vida. É só ver os índices de homens que terminam os estudos, as mulheres estão passando na frente9, ambição pelos estudos
    vem aumentando consideravelmente entre as mulheres.

    Muitas das feitas, consumidor prefere assistir a algo que transmitirá bons momentos,
    fazendo por uma instante parte de sua vida, fazendo com que criação anunciado quer seja posteriormente lembrado e guardado pelos espectadores com atenção e carinho.

    A música “Wind of Change” foi a balada de mais alto
    desenlace na Alemanha e ficou 55 semanas consecutivas nas paradas naquele país, com 11 delas em primeiro.
    Em poucos casos, as mulheres mais novas podem estar mais sexualmente ativas do que alguns homens.

    Imagine-se agora tendo uma arma secreta e fatal para
    conquistar aquele cara que você tanto sonhou, esse
    é poder do Guia Código da Conquista.

    Você vai aprender a técnica para deixar a mulher viciada
    em você, sento totalmente fiel e sem sequer olhar para mais homens.
    Elyon, (Oyli la) está em Gn. 14.18-20 para identificar Deus Altíssimo de Abrão, a quem Melquisedeque servia.
    Quando A Perfect Circle deu um tempo, Tool
    imediatamente voltou às atividades.

    B) Em todas as coisas: A onipotência de Jesus cristo abrange todas
    as coisas (ICr.29:12), esfera sobre a natureza (Sl.107:25-29; Na.1:5,6; Sl.33:6-9; Is.40:26; Mt.8:27;
    Jr.32:17; Rm.1:20), domínio sobre a experiência humana (Sl.91:1;
    Dn.4:19-37; Ex.7:1-5; Tg.4:12-15; Pv.21:1; Jó.9:12; Mt.19:26;
    Lc.1:37), domínio sobre as regiões celestiais (Dn.4:35; Hb.1:
    13,14; Jó.1:12; Jó 2:6).

    Com uma pitada de bom temperamento, Dr Goldstein disse
    sugerir festival da melancia a fim de aumentar desempenho sexual dos
    homens, seria equivalente a alguém despejar qualquer garrafa de cerveja em Minneapolis,
    onde rio Mississipi começa, e esperar que isso impacte ser em Nova Orleans.

    Aqui a fêmea apresentou terreno que vai para além da compreensão de qualquer homem, para além do falo.

    Diante disto, os sonhos do coração de Deus para os nossos corações certamente vai acontecer, basta tão
    somente devanear juntamente com Ele, que no sazão
    determinado irá se efetivar os sonhos de Deus para nossas
    vidas.

    ” luta é um aspecto fundamental da vida por atender às necessidades humanas, tão do conjunção de vista material como espiritual, visto que através das tarefas concretas homem se sustenta e, ao mesmo tempo, expressa seu modo original de realizar valores no um determinado tempo e lugar.

    Eudimorphodon cujo antenome significa ” Verdadeiro Dimorphodon ” era um pterossauro primitivo que viveu durante período Triássico há aproximadamente 225 milhões de anos atrás na Itália, caçando insetos agilmente, como os atuais morcegos, em numerosos bandos.

    Fatores Psicológicos: Quando desempenham supostamente um papel importante no desencadeamento, gravidade, exacerbação de outra maneira manutenção da disfunção sexual. Assumindo de vez displicência com suas carreiras no Yardbirds, Jim McCarty e Keith Relf inicialmente começaram um projeto que se chamou Together.

    Muitos jovens apreciam apenas atividades associadas ao lazer, como ouvir música, passar-se à praia bem como namorar, porém, não se recebe dinheiro por nenhuma delas. Esta técnica não é só para homens, mas também para as mulheres, que são capazes de se masturbar até que eles estão perto de possuir um orgasmo e depois parar até que atração física de clímax passa. https://thinkdatavis.com/virgo/um-homem-dificil/

  20. O Interpretação Da Familia Na
    O Interpretação Da Familia Na Igreja E Na Sociedade

    Porém hoje temos certa novidade que pode te surpreender: a
    conchinha pós-sexo é tão fundamental quanto a preliminar para satisfação sexual feminina.

    Quando encontrar alguém e este alguém fizer seu coração parar com funcionar por alguns
    segundos, preste atenção: pode ser a pessoa mais imprescindível da sua vida.
    É só ver os índices de homens que terminam os estudos, as mulheres estão passando na frente9,
    ambição pelos estudos vem aumentando consideravelmente entre as mulheres.

    Muitas das feitas, consumidor prefere assistir a algo que transmitirá bons momentos,
    fazendo por uma instante parte de sua vida, fazendo com que criação anunciado quer seja posteriormente lembrado
    e guardado pelos espectadores com atenção e carinho.

    A música “Wind of Change” foi a balada de mais alto desenlace na Alemanha e ficou
    55 semanas consecutivas nas paradas naquele país, com 11 delas
    em primeiro. Em poucos casos, as mulheres mais novas podem estar mais sexualmente ativas do que
    alguns homens. Imagine-se agora tendo uma arma secreta e fatal para conquistar aquele cara que você tanto sonhou, esse é poder do Guia Código da
    Conquista.

    Você vai aprender a técnica para deixar a mulher
    viciada em você, sento totalmente fiel e sem sequer olhar para mais homens.
    Elyon, (Oyli la) está em Gn. 14.18-20 para identificar Deus Altíssimo de Abrão,
    a quem Melquisedeque servia. Quando A Perfect Circle deu um tempo,
    Tool imediatamente voltou às atividades.

    B) Em todas as coisas: A onipotência de Jesus cristo abrange todas as coisas (ICr.29:
    12), esfera sobre a natureza (Sl.107:25-29; Na.1:5,6;
    Sl.33:6-9; Is.40:26; Mt.8:27; Jr.32:17; Rm.1:20),
    domínio sobre a experiência humana (Sl.91:1; Dn.4:19-37; Ex.7:1-5;
    Tg.4:12-15; Pv.21:1; Jó.9:12; Mt.19:26; Lc.1:37), domínio sobre as regiões celestiais (Dn.4:35; Hb.1:13,14; Jó.1:
    12; Jó 2:6).

    Com uma pitada de bom temperamento, Dr Goldstein disse sugerir festival da melancia a fim de
    aumentar desempenho sexual dos homens, seria equivalente a alguém
    despejar qualquer garrafa de cerveja em Minneapolis, onde rio Mississipi começa, e esperar que isso impacte ser em Nova Orleans.

    Aqui a fêmea apresentou terreno que vai para além da compreensão de qualquer homem, para além
    do falo. Diante disto, os sonhos do coração de Deus
    para os nossos corações certamente vai acontecer, basta tão somente
    devanear juntamente com Ele, que no sazão determinado irá se efetivar os sonhos de Deus para nossas vidas.

    ” luta é um aspecto fundamental da vida por atender às necessidades humanas, tão do conjunção de vista material como espiritual, visto que através das tarefas concretas homem se sustenta e, ao mesmo tempo, expressa seu modo original de realizar valores no um determinado tempo e lugar.

    Eudimorphodon cujo antenome significa ” Verdadeiro Dimorphodon ” era um pterossauro primitivo que viveu durante período Triássico há aproximadamente 225 milhões de anos atrás na Itália, caçando insetos agilmente, como os atuais morcegos, em numerosos bandos.

    Fatores Psicológicos: Quando desempenham supostamente um papel importante no desencadeamento, gravidade, exacerbação de outra maneira manutenção da disfunção sexual. Assumindo de vez displicência com suas carreiras no Yardbirds, Jim McCarty e Keith Relf inicialmente começaram um projeto que se chamou Together.

    Muitos jovens apreciam apenas atividades associadas ao lazer, como ouvir música, passar-se à praia bem como namorar, porém, não se recebe dinheiro por nenhuma delas. Esta técnica não é só para homens, mas também para as mulheres, que são capazes de se masturbar até que eles estão perto de possuir um orgasmo e depois parar até que atração física de clímax passa. https://thinkdatavis.com/virgo/um-homem-dificil/

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