The Bright Light Social Hour: “Detroit”
Imagine it’s the crux of your weekend – Saturday night around eleven – late enough to call it quits, but still early enough for a second wind. It’s the moment when you either tell your friends goodnight or order another round. If Austin quartet The Bright Light Social Hour is acting as the soundtrack to your night – you’re likely going to be waking up with a party-induced headache.
In just over a year, the self-described “hard, funky, indie-rock band” has become darlings of the Austin music scene. The band captivated crowds at its first SXSW showcase (last year, in 2010), having been dubbed “a prophet of the future” of rock and roll by critics. All of this on the heels of an eponymous debut LP.
In some respects, the band’s popularity might mark a shift in the Austin music scene – and even, perhaps, the music industry in general. Don’t get me wrong, TBLSH write great songs with great grooves, but above all else these dudes are showmen – from their hilarious and admittedly off-color (to the point of being NSFW) youtube promotional videos, to their electrifying live performances. The band just seems to get it.
For those of you who haven’t been able to check this band out around town, worry not. They’re set to release a live EP on March 8th; the songs were captured at a performance last year at The Parish. With a devastatingly groovy bass-line backed by a compelling vocal performance, “Detriot” is the standout track on the EP. In no time, you’ll be playing the drums on your steering wheel and singing along with the pleading lyrics. And all of this without having to pony up to the bar.
