The Lights Out is a rock band that formed in 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts. A band not signed to a major record label, they have nevertheless been able to sustain themselves, self-releasing a string of EPs and full-length albums since 2007.
The Lights Out | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
Genres | Rock |
Years active | 2005 – present |
Labels | (unsigned) |
Members |
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Website | thelightsout |
Biography
editThe band started when Rishava Green and Matt King met in the Model Café in Allston, Massachusetts, where they decided to form a band before ever playing a note together.[1] Green had recently written and recorded eleven tracks that were later named Douglas Sessions '05 with the purpose of attracting the right band members. In October 2006, Jesse James joined on drums. Adam Ritchie joined on guitar in June 2007. Both James and Ritchie were attending Syracuse University at that time, but never met before joining the band.[2] In October of that same year the band released their self-titled EP, The Lights Out (EP).[3] Late 2007 saw the band "blitzing" Boston[4] with a string of shows in support of the record.
In June 2008, the band released their follow-up five-song EP, ¡Heist!.[5]
By September 2009, the band had taken the songs from their two previous EPs and put them together with a new batch of compositions to create their first LP, Color Machine.[6] That year the band also became a semifinalist in the WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble and headlined a showcase at CMJ Music Marathon.[7] In May they played Gillette Stadium to open the New England Patriots' 2009 season.[8]
In 2010 the band's song "Gottagetouttahere", from Color Machine, was featured in an Absolut Vodka ad[9] and was featured in Vh1’s Tough Love Couples.[10] The music video for the song, produced by Boston Music Awards Video of The Year director Mike Gill,[11] was released in October.[12] That fall, the band released their third EP, Rock Pony.[13] The EP’s cover caused a stir,[13] and for Halloween the band dressed and performed as Madonna.[14]
The band self-released their second LP, Primetime, on January 1, 2011.[15] To promote the album, a theme record about what it is like to be in a band,[16] the band held a mock auction for their tour van named "Tim".[17]
The band's third LP, On Fire, was released on June 1, 2012, and a track from the album, "Today Was The Day", was selected as MP3 of the Week by The Boston Phoenix.[18] Songs from On Fire were featured on MTV[19] and the band supported the album with an appearance at South By Southwest.[20]
T.R.I.P. is the band's fourth LP. The album, mainly about parallel realities, is synchronized with a wearable light show invented by the band.[21] It is also the first studio album ever released on a can of craft beer.[22] The band supported the album by opening for Andrew W.K. and the Dream Theater, King's X and Dixie Dregs side project called The Jelly Jam.[23]
Members
edit- Rishava Green - lead vocals, guitar
- Jesse James - drums, vocals
- Matt King - bass, vocals
- Adam Ritchie - lead guitar, vocals
Discography
editLPs
edit- T.R.I.P. (2017)
- On Fire (2012)
- Primetime (2011)
- Color Machine (2009)
Studio sessions
edit- Douglas Sessions '05 (2005)
EPs
edit- Rock Pony (2010)
- ¡Heist! (2008)
- The Lights Out (2007)
References
edit- ^ Marotta, Michael (2007-10-18). "Let's party with the Lights Out". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
- ^ Bialczak, Mark (2009-04-16). "Music Notebook". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Marotta, Michael (2007-10-18). "Let's party with the Lights Out - BostonHerald.com". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on 2012-09-30. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Goldstein, Meredith (2007-12-06). "Count them in". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Sullivan, Jim (2008-02-08). "Boston music news: February 8, 2008 - New England Music News". Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Carioli, Carly (2008-06-26). "Mp3 of the Week: The Lights Out - On The Download". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "2009 CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival: Schedule for Showcase Events @ New York, NY". CMJ09. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
- ^ "Patriot Place announces Rock The Plaza Schedule through July". Patriot Place. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
- ^ Bennett, Kelly (2010-11-04). "The Lights Out Sell Tricked-Out Tour Van on Craigslist to Promote the First Album Released in 2011". Green Light Go Publicity. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "Steve Ward Interrogates The Couples - Tough Love Couples (Video Clip)". VH1. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "2010 Boston Music Awards winners". Boston.com. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ JK (2010-10-12). "Premiere: "Gottagetouttahere" by The Lights Out". The Music Slut. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ a b Marotta, Michael (2010-09-22). "[mp3] The Lights Out EP: Is this the finest cover art released in 2010? - On The Download". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Dinaro, Matthew (2010-10-20). "Metro - To win at all costume parties on Halloween". Metro. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ McDuffie, Candace (2010-12-28). "The Lights Out". DigBoston. Archived from the original on 2013-09-15. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "Always Ready to Go". The Lights Out Blog. 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Lambert, Matt (2010-12-27). "The Lights Out release new album "Primetime" New Year's Eve @ Church!". The Deli Magazine. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Marotta, Michael (2012-05-31). "Mp3 of the Week: The Lights Out "Today Was The Day" -- Friday @ T.T. The Bear's - On The Download". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Shanahan, Mark; Goldstein, Meredith (2012-10-02). "The Lights Out get a song on Jersey Shore". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Marotta, Michael (2013-03-06). "Boston Accents 03.06.13: SXSW edition with You Won't, Mellow Bravo, David Wax Museum, Coyote Kolb, Animal Talk". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20.
- ^ Marotta, Michael (2015-05-12). "Illuminated: Boston's The Lights Out tease their experimental T.R.I.P. through the multiverse". Vanyaland. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ Wolinski, Cat (2016-11-10). "Beer is the New Vinyl: Boston-Based Band Releases Album on a Beer Can". Men's Journal. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ King, Matt (2016-11-22). "The Lights Out Release an Album on a Beer Can". CraftBeer.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.