Bring on the Bright Lights was conceived out of a desire to put San Diego on the map as a bourgeoning musical hub. Those of us at SoundDiego know this best -- there's something really unique and exciting about the music community that the area fosters.
Their idea was to put on big shows with great bands, then have local press and blogs involved, and just create something San Diego music enthusiasts could be proud of. They kicked it off with Cut Copy, Washed Out and Midnight Magic at 4th & B on Oct. 14, and it was a huge, sick, sold-out success. Here at SoundDiego, we're excited to announce we're helping sponsor upcoming shows with headliners Nada Surf and Mutemath -- and now, we're giving away tickets to both shows to a pair of lucky winners. Click HERE to enter to win two tickets to the BOTH shows!
It's been four years since the legendary indie rockers Nada Surf put out a record, and we've all been eagerly awaiting their upcoming LP The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy, which is out Jan. 24, just before their show on the 28 at 4th & B with openers the Soft Pack. Nada Surf fit perfectly into the ethos of Bring on the Bright Lights. The band has always maintained a good-natured optimism in their lyrics, most obviously in their hit "Always Love," which is a pretty self-explanatory manifesto about loving ourselves and others. Their first single off the new album, "When I Was Young," examines the divide between childhood and adulthood, and how everything from intentions to perceptions change. Nada Surf continue to churn out beautifully written rock anthems that are hopeful and light, which is no small feat for an independent rock band after all these years.
Following that show will be a night headlined by heavy hitters Mutemath, who are set to play 4th & B for Bring On the Bright Lights on Feb. 3. There's been some recent buzz about the band since is it was given a nod as a VH1 You Oughta Know band. Mutemath's latest record, Odd Soul, came out Oct. 4; the funk-infused collection of songs has that Black Keys vibe, with a little throwback '70s sound thrown in. They combine that with equal parts electronica in the direction of Radiohead -- but cohesively. There's really nothing like what Mute Math is creating. This is perhaps their darkest and grittiest record to date.
SoundDiego is proud to sponsor Bring on the Bright Lights, and this next lineup of artists really demonstrates the diversity in San Diego's musical palate. Grab your tickets quick for Nada Surf (Jan. 28) and Mutemath (Feb. 3) before they sell out.
Nada Alic runs the San Diego-based music blog Friends With Both Arms.Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.
