Do512 Lounge Sessions – The Bright Light Social Hour

Photo by Randy Cremean

The performance that the Bright Light Social Hour put on in the Do512 Lounge was so exciting that we all thought the place might spontaneously combust. But for the Austin-based quartet, it was business as usual. These guys have become accustomed to shouting, jiving, and jamming their way through live shows and leaving the place in shambles. We were lucky enough to contain all of this energy in the Do512 Lounge, where the band ripped through songs from their debut album and even threw in a new tune or two. They had the intimate crowd in the palm of their hand, and as you looked around the room you could see people’s eyes and jaws wide open in amazement.

Keyboardist A.J. Vincent was pounding away on his equipment so hard that it nearly came crashing down a couple of times. Talented drummer Joseph Mirasole resembled Animal from The Muppet Show, feverishly banging away on his kit with a lengthy mop of hair swinging left and right. Jack O’Brien kept a steady groove on the bass throughout their lengthy numbers, which typically change directions multiple times. Curtis Roush cranked out guitar solos like a champ, with a great voice that stood out among the three vocalists.

Thankfully, Austin Music Weekly was there to capture all of the action. Their audio/video production team recorded the fiery set using multiple cameras, while the rest of us got to stand back and enjoy while drinking cold beer provided by Shiner. We were excited that night to discover that the Bright Light Social Hour would be appearing on the cover of the Austin Chronicle the next day. You can read the cover story here. The band will hit the road for shows in Corpus Christi, Brownsville and Houston before joining in on the fun at SXSW, where they are an official showcasing artist. Keep an eye on this band, because they have all the tools make it and will be tearing up festival stages in no time.

Do512 Lounge Sessions: The Bright Light Social Hour – “Detroit”

Do512 Lounge Sessions: The Bright Light Social Hour – “Back And Forth”

You can also check out more Lounge Sessions on Austin Music Weekly’s Youtube page

In addition to having The Bright Light Social Hour perform, we were able to ask them a few questions about the history of the band and where they are headed next:

Do512: How did the four of you come to know each other and when was The Bright Light Social Hour born?

TBLSH: Curt and Jack met at Southwestern University in late 2004, originally forming The Bright Light Social Hour as an experimental hardcore outfit before kidnapping Jo from a nearby high school drumline, and recruiting old friend and prolific local singer-songwriter A.J. Vincent, finalizing the lineup late 2007.

Do512: Why did you choose the name The Bright Light Social Hour?

TBLSH: The name was given to us by a gypsy woman when we were babies.

Do512: Whose idea was it to get butt naked for the cover of the Austin Chronicle?

TBLSH: It was all Margaret Moser (the article author)’s plan. She was mucho psyched.

Do512: What magazine cover would you most fear being on and why?

TBLSH: Bound & Gagged. We just wouldn’t want our mothers to see that one.

Do512: Where would mankind be today if moustaches had never been invented?

TBLSH: There would be no such thing as girls with dads with moustaches, so Jack would never get laid.

Do512: Tell us about your music, where does it all come from?

TBLSH: Hormones, mostly. We believe that music stimulates the human in 5 different areas- the mind, the heart, the soul, the booty and the genitalia, with the best music touching on all 5. We strive to make music that arouses all the musical chakras.

Do512: Who are some of your musical influences and what are you currently listening to?

TBLSH: Between us we have a very rich range of influences, from classic soul to modern electronic and a ton of places in between. What have we been listening to lately?

Jack: War, Cut Copy, Deep Purple, Black Joe Lewis, Allman Brothers Band
Curt: new Cut Copy, Syl Johnson, Jackson Browne, The Band
A.J.: digging up past albums: Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Love Bad News, The Rolling Stones – Beggar’s Banquet, Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (just found on vinyl!)
Jo: Friendly Fires, Deadmau5, Grand Funk Railroad

Do512: Who are some of your favorite local bands?

TBLSH: Black Joe Lewis, White Denim, The Frontier Brothers, Megafauna

Do512: What band either past or present would you love to play a show/tour with?

TBLSH: James Brown

Do512: What are your goals for 2011?

TBLSH: To continue to tour nationally and spend more than half the nights of 2011 on the road, to write and begin recording our next record for release sometime in 2012, to continually expand our fanbase, and to grow as artists, musicians, inventors and businessmen.

Do512: Are you playing during South by Southwest, and if so, where can people see you?

TBLSH: Yes! We have 2 official showcases – Our KUT-sponsored showcase at Momo’s Friday 3/18 and The Austin Music Awards ceremony at the Austin Music Hall on Saturday 3/19. We’ll also be doing Do512′s The Big One on the afternoon of 3/19, and The Austin Chronicle Film Bash at La Zona Rosa Monday, March 14th. We have other events and day parties that are still being hashed out, so check out http://www.thebrightlightsocialhour.com for more upcoming dates as we confirm them.