The Bright Light Social Hour

The Bright Light Social Hour is an American psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Jack O'Brien on bass guitar and vocals, Curtis Roush on guitar and vocals, Edward Braillif on synthesizers and guitar, and Joseph Mirasole on drums.

History

Formation and early work (2004-2010)

In September 2004, Southwestern University students Curtis Roush (guitar), Thomas Choate (drums) and Jack O’Brien (vocals/keyboards), along with Ryan “Badcock” O’Donoghue (bass) began playing together as a post-hardcore art rock collective. They were often billed with area hardcore bands such as 25 Dollar Massacre, Thumbscrew and At All Cost and quickly grew a reputation for their visceral live shows. The band took a year hiatus while Roush studied audio engineering and O’Brien studied linguistics and Flamenco guitar in Madrid, during which time Choate moved away to study eco building.^[1]

In October 2006, upon O’Brien’s return, the band brought in Joseph Mirasole, a drummer from a local high school drum line, via Craigslist.^[2] During this period the band recorded their first studio EP, Touches. Soon after, the band relocated to Austin where O’Brien and Roush enrolled in Master’s programs at the University of Texas. They parted ways amicably with Badcock, with Jack taking over bass duties and Roush helping with vocals.^[3]

In 2008 they released the EP Love Like Montopolis, which showcased a more delicate, downtempo post-rock sound, and brought on local singer-songwriter A.J. Vincent on keys and vocals.^[4]

The Bright Light Social Hour (2010–2014)

The band continued to grow their reputation with consistent high energy shows in southern states, their sound evolving to include elements of soul, southern rock and psychedelia.^[5] The band released their debut full-length album in late 2010, entitled The Bright Light Social Hour. The album was recorded in Austin during summer 2010 with producer Danny Reisch.

Momentum built for the band under the leadership of new manager Alex O'Brien, and in March 2011 they swept the 29th Annual Austin Music Awards during SXSW,^[6] with an unprecedented 6 awards, including Band of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year (for their song "Detroit").^[7] Subsequently, The Bright Light Social Hour began a relentless touring schedule, playing over 400 shows across the United States, Canada and Mexico.^[8] In July 2012 they opened for Aerosmith in Quebec City, and in 2013-2014 played such festivals as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Hangout Music Festival, Sasquatch! Music Festival, Wakarusa Music Festival and Ottawa Bluesfest.^[9]

In January 2013, citing growing personal and creative differences, Vincent was replaced by keyboardist/guitarist Edward "Shreddward" Braillif, whom Mirasole had known DJing in Austin.^[10][11]

On June 25, 2013 Mirasole, Roush and O'Brien were in attendance at Senator Wendy Davis' famous filibuster of Texas Senate Bill 5. Inspired by the ferocity of the crowd gathered in the Capitol, they rushed to their studio and by the morning had released the song "Wendy Davis," with an accompanying video made in part with protest footage taken on the band's phones. The video was featured in MSNBC's national coverage of the event.^[12][13]

In May 2013 the band announced they'd begun work on their second full-length album, to be performed, produced and engineered by Roush, O'Brien and Mirasole.^[14]

Space Is Still the Place (2015–present)

On January 19, 2015, after a severe and protracted battle with bipolar I disorder, Alex O'Brien, the band's long-time manager and Jack's brother, committed suicide. Jack discovered him outside the band's home studio where he resided soon after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had resigned his position as manager months earlier, but continued to advise the band until his death.^[15]

On January 20, the band announced via The Huffington Post^[16] that their newest album, Space Is Still the Place would be released March 10, 2015 on Frenchkiss Records.

On February 17, 2015, Jay Z's Life+Times premiered the music video for their first single, "Infinite Cities", directed by bassist/singer Jack O'Brien.^[17]

Space Is Still the Place was released on March 10 to positive reviews, described by AllMusic's Mark Deming as "an ambitious and wildly entertaining journey into the minds of the men who created it." ^[18] The band celebrated the release with a performance at Stubb's Austin, joined onstage by outlaw country singer Ray Wylie Hubbard and ending with a tribute to Alex in the form of Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up, accompanied by prominent Austin musicians including Walker Lukens, Migrant Kids, and members of Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears.^[19] Official video of selected songs from the performance can be seen on the band's YouTube page.^[20]

Following the release of Space Is Still the Place, TBLSH embarked on a year-long tour of the United States, Canada and Mexico, including runs supporting Dr. Dog, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Galactic.^[21]

On November 13, 2015, shortly before taking the stage at Lincoln Hall (Chicago), the band heard news of the November 2015 Paris attacks and scrambled to have their performance recorded. Soon after, the digital album, Live at Lincoln Hall, was available for download from the band's Bandcamp page in exchange for any donation to the French Red Cross.^[22]

In March of 2016, TBLSH released a cover of The Beach Boys' "All I Wanna Do", which was featured on the ALL ATX All Along the Moontower compilation.^[23] They released a cover of The Beatles' "Sun King" for Amazon Music's Songs of Summer playlist.^[24]

On November 4, 2016, TBLSH and Israel Nash released the three-song collaborative EP Neighbors. The EP was recorded between the two bands' studios near Austin, and was released digitally and as a limited edition 7" vinyl record.^[25]

Production

The Bright Light Social Hour operate as an audio production and engineering unit, recording and mixing themselves and artists such as Megafauna, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Walker Lukens, Migrant Kids and Bombay the Rapper out of their Austin studio, Escondido Sound.^[26][27]

Discography

Albums

• The Bright Light Social Hour (2010)
• Space Is Still the Place (2015)

Live Albums

• Live at Lincoln Hall, Chicago (2015)

EPs

• Touches (2007)
• Love Like Montopolis (2008)
• New Year's Live (2011)
• Neighbors (2016) (with Israel Nash)

Singles

• "Back and Forth" (2009)
• "Wendy Davis" (2013)
• "Infinite Cities" (2015)
• "Slipstream" (2015)
• "Dreamlove" (2015)
• "Lupita" (2016) (with Israel Nash)

Band members

• Jack O'Brien – vocals, bass (2004–present)
• Curtis Roush – vocals, guitar (2004–present)
• Joseph Mirasole – drums (2006–present)
• Edward Braillif – synthesizers, guitar (2013–present)

Former members

• Ryan O'Donoghue – bass (2004–2007)
• Thomas Choate - drums (2004-2006)
• A.J. Vincent – keyboards, vocals (2008–2013)

See also

• List of indie rock artists

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bright Light Social Hour.

• Official website
• The Bright Light Social Hour's channel on YouTube