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The Bright Light Social Hour w/ The Tontons & Otis the Destroyer
February 16, 2014 @ 8:00 pm - 11:55 pm
THE BRIGHT LIGHT SOCIAL HOUR
The Bright Light Social Hour is an American rock band from Austin, Texas. Born out of a university art-rock collective, the band first gained attention in Austin from their incendiary live performances and innovative vision of rock and roll. Melding southern rock, hard dance, psychedelic blues, and deep soul, their debut full-length album led to heightening critical acclaim, national touring, and a rare sweep of six awards at the SXSW 2011 Austin Music Awards, including Band of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Recorded in five studios around Austin during summer 2010, their self-titled debut is founded on sun-drenched optimism, raucous youth, and an innovative brew of American music. Producer Danny Reisch of Good Danny’s utilized the best elements of vintage and modern recording to achieve a sound both forward-looking and evocative of 1970s hi-fi. The first track, “Shanty,” pairs southern rock with hard disco, featuring the searing slide licks of guitarist Curtis Roush. Following the lean, exuberant stomp of “Bare Hands Bare Feet,” the band settles into the dark psychedelic funk of “La Piedra De La Iguana.” Throughout the middle of the record, the solemn rhythm and blues of “Detroit” is juxtaposed with “Back And Forth,” a four-on-the-floor disco-funk romp. On “Garden Of The Gods,” the album’s penultimate 10-minute epic, the band evolves from stately ballroom Americana to an expansive, ensemble anthem, conjuring up their limber and unrelenting live sets. The fiery “Rhubarb Jam” closes out the record, featuring the agile, booming funk of bassist Jack O’Brien and drummer Joseph Mirasole.
Following their album release, The Bright Light Social Hour have embarked on a heavy touring rotation, playing over two hundred shows throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They have performed in front of thousands of new fans, most notably at SXSW 2012, Wakarusa Festival and opening for Aerosmith at the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. Chronicling their adventures, the band has released a series of self-produced tour documentaries depicting their life on the road.
The Bright Light Social Hour is currently writing new material for a second full-length album with plans to return to the studio this year.
TBLSH on Facebook | TBLSH on Twitter | Official Website
THE TONTONS
It’s funny. The Tontons don’t have a readily available mainstream band to make an off-the-cuff comparison, so in this space we won’t tell you they sound like Indie Flavor Of The Week or Noted And Weighty Classic Rock Name. The Tontons simply sound like the Tontons. That sounds like false bluster, but anyone who has been tracking them since 2008 will tell you the same thing. Up front is Asli Omar, that vocal vixen who can make men and rock nerds alike quake in their boots. Bassist Tom Nguyen, whose rumble forms the dermis of the band and then them boys Adam and Justin Martinez come in with titanic guitars and drums to make sure you are still moving your feet. This is a band that has been fully embraced by their native Houston, and the Tontons have hugged the city back with relentless gigging around town, and now it’s time for the world to get some love from The Tontons.
The Tontons on Facebook | The Tontons on Twitter | Official Website
OTIS THE DESTROYER
Otis the Destroyer was formed in the late fall of 2013 when drummer Jud Johnson, bassist Nick Joswick, and singer/guitarist Taylor Wilkins decided to move in a different musical direction from their previous project The Couch after singer/guitarist Sara Houser moved on to work on another project. They have currently released two tracks “Gravity Something” and “Lovebug”, while avidly recording new material for a future full length release.