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The Bright Light Social Hour

The Bright Light Social Hour: “Lifers Only”

Since the release of their 2010 eponymous debut, whose tracks have racked up millions of streams, The Bright Light Social Hour has become a big part of Austin’s – and by extension – KUTX’s musical character. Even after all these years (and a lineup change that keeps the core duo of Jackie O’Brien and Curtis Roush intact), this quintet continues to innovate and inspire awe within the indie-psych sphere. To the point that it seems like Bright Light Social Hour’s time to shine could easily span several more decades. That “in for the long haul” momentum’s helped the band out on a far-reaching North American tour lasting through November, one that extends to both Canada and Mexico, and includes a stop at the Mohawk along with Good Looks on September 30th as part of KUTX’s 10th Birthday Concert Series. The occasion? TBLSH’s fifth full-length, Emergency Leisure, out today. Flirting with elements of French disco, experimentalism, and a whole slew of intense emotions, Emergency Leisure marks the start of an auspicious new era for this five-piece, albeit atop the familiar “Texan trippy” formulas we’ve fallen for with each preceding LP. And just like its title implies, Emergency Leisure is a potent dose of cosmic R&R for your ear drums, so if you’re dire need of a vacation but don’t have the bandwidth, by the time you get to “Lifers Only” you’ll feel like a whole load’s been lifted off. Despite its monotonic robot intro, there’s a ton of human heart in this effects-drenched progressive piece of endurance. And right around the two minute mark, TBLSH pulls the rug out with poignant Pink Floyd vibes – further proof of what the late great John Aielli described as a “sweet but sinister” style, a perfect description of Bright Light’s sibylline vibe.

The Bright Light Social Hour: “Not New”

Typically around the tail end of SXSW music week, there’s a lot of local magic. It could be Bill Murray hopping behind a dive bar and serving up whatever he wants, or a relatively undiscovered up-and-comer getting an unexpected big break. But today we’re talking about the Austin representation, something that can get easily eclipsed by all the international faces at SX.

Now, we here at KUTX have gushed again and again over The Bright Light Social Hour, which makes sense since they’ve been with us even before the start of our call letters. So rather than recap what makes ’em so great (like their continuously progressing sound and willingness to team up with fellow Austinites), let’s just jump right into what Bright Light’s got in their limelight.

This morning The Bright Light Social Hour announced their fifth full-length Emergency Leisure. Down to its Slow Rush-reminiscent title, it seems like TBLSH is taking a sweet-yet-sinister Tame Impala daytime disco/indie-psych approach. But true to the Bright Light’s nature, Emergency Leisure isn’t just a full-band vehicle for one singer-songwriter (looking at you, Kevin Parker); instead its a seamlessly collaborative exchange perfected over nearly two decades of playing together that translates in-studio just as well as it does onstage.

For a taste of the ladder, check out The Bright Light Social Hour 8PM this evening at Parlor & Yard, 1AM late tonight at Parish for the Mint Talent Group official showcase, or 5PM Sunday at Rustic Tap. As of now, Rustic Tap looks like Bright Light’s last local gig until after Emergency Leisure comes out August 2nd, when the group hits the road on a three-plus-month tour. And while all that may sound like short notice, you gotta remember who we’re dealing with here; The Bright Light Social Hour always comes in cool and calculated, even when they drop Emergency Leisure‘s lead single like some high-powered blotter paper as they did this morning. Alongside its music video, “Not New” will knock you back with its driving-but-subdued sonics that are almost too cool to party to. Almost.

Artist Interview: The Bright Light Social Hour & Walker Lukens – “$eed”

The legendary Austin, Texas band The Bright Light Social Hour teams up with Walker Lukens to create a song based on a grandmother’s wish to extend her lineage. In Part 1, you’ll hear the confession and the song. In Part 2, Walker and BLSH discuss the confession and how it inspired the song.

Got a story you want to confess and maybe have it turned into a song? Join the Song Confessional mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest episode, news, and the whereabouts of our confessional booth: https://songconfessional.com/connect.

Help us out! Rate the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

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Confession & Song: The Bright Light Social Hour & Walker Lukens – “$eed”

The legendary Austin, Texas band The Bright Light Social Hour teams up with Walker Lukens to create a song based on a grandmother’s wish to extend her lineage. In Part 1, you’ll hear the confession and the song. Tune in for Part 2 to hear an interview with BLSH.

Got a story you want to confess and maybe have it turned into a song? Join the Song Confessional mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest episode, news, and the whereabouts of our confessional booth: https://songconfessional.com/connect.

Help us out! Rate the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Subscribe

The Bright Light Social Hour: “The Sheriff” (feat. Riders Against the Storm)

KUTX turns ten next year. And two groups that’ve been glued to our hip the whole way through are The Bright Light Social Hour and Riders Against the Storm. They’re both must-hear Austin mainstays for a damn good reason; The Bright Light Social Hour continues to innovate a sweet-yet-sinister indie-psych sound while Riders Against the Storm still find new ways to purvey their politics across a variety of soundscapes. Both TBLSH and RAS have paid their fair share of visits to Studio 1A and enjoyed plenty of official festival performances, but despite having shared stages more times than we can count, they’ve never formally created something together…until now. Riders Against the Storm and The Bright Light Social Hour recently left the studio with a single that capitalizes on its Curtis-meets-Qi/Jackie-meets-Chaka star-crossed chemistry for a menacing three-and-a-half minute cinematic march. KUTX Presents The Bright Light Social Hour and Riders Against the Storm’s single release show 8PM this Friday at The Parish, so score your tickets while they’re still around. In the meantime, admire this new authority in Austin music alliances with the crunchy, effects-drenched crawl of “The Sheriff”.

The Bright Light Social Hour: “Ocean”

On an atypically gray and rainy day in Texas, we can all appreciate the warmth of some good indie-style illumination. And celebrating the 11th anniversary of their eponymous debut this weekend is longtime KUTX favorite The Bright Light Social Hour, the psych-pop connoisseurs who’ve graced both Studio 1A and KUTX at the Four Seasons with their presence in the past. The beloved Austin four-piece takes their sweet-but-sinister sonics to the Mohawk this Saturday for a KUTX Presents event, but if you’re the type who can’t get enough water even in a downpour like today’s, check out a previously-unreleased accoutrement of The Bright Light Social Hour‘s 11th Anniversary Edition, the spellbinding “Ocean”!
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