|| The Sound Faction (dot com) ||

New month and we’re late because I fail! No time to waste!

Month of June, readers, everyone say hello to City Lights. …Have you said ‘hello’ yet?

Before I get started I would like to send a giant congratulations their way on recently signing to InVogue records!

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, City Lights graced us with their presence in early 2008 with their debut EP “Rock Like A Party Star.” Since then they have been part of several DIY tours, sharing the stage with bands such as Mayday Parade, Amber Pacific and The Dangerous Summer.

The five young men that make up City Lights are vocalist Oshie Bichar, bassist Chase Clymer, drummer Sean Smith and guitarists Jeremy Smith and Joey Kasouf.

In late May 2011 they announced that they had signed to InVogue records and will be releasing their debut full length, “In It To Win It,” in July.

Personally, the lyrics and upbeat music of City Lights takes me back to early Blink 182 and New Found Glory with a mix of Mayday Parade. I’m not complaining in the slightest as all three of those bands have been some of my favorites for a long time now, imagine mixing the three of them together?! They are constantly posting old demos and new songs and you can notice the growth in their music and lyrics, all the while keeping what City Lights is about.

I can’t lie; City Lights is one of my favorites. They are just so fun and talented and when playing live, they have a presence that pretty much guarantees a fun, energetic and all around fantastic show. I found them by chance on Pure Volume in late 2008 and got to see them live in November 2009 with Mayday Parade, There For Tomorrow and The Dangerous Summer. I was bummed because I read somewhere that CL actually wasn’t playing the Erie, PA show – the one I was going to. So imagine my surprise when they walked by with their merch and my friend says, “who is City lights?”

This is where I admit my nervousness when saying hello to vocalist Oshie Bichar. We saw him after their set and you’d think that with all the bands I’ve interviewed or the friends I’ve made at shows or the random people I talk to that I wouldn’t be as shy as I am, but you’d be wrong! I was still stoked that I got to see them live and in turn felt like an idiot! I didn’t even do anything but say hi and complimented their set. Apparently that’s more embarrassing than once thought!!

If you haven’t heard City Lights yet, I highly recommend you check them out via their album, Facebook, Myspace or go out to a show. Personally I can’t wait for their new album and I hope they make it to Canada some day soon!

Again, Congratulations on all the success! You guys deserve it!

Ive been hearing TONS about City Lights lately. After listening to them, I can see why. They're fun! One of their older tunes, Hang Out sounds like just that! A song about really just wanting to be around friends. They've got that lovable pop-punk feel that really just makes me want to dance, or clean while singing loudly, or dancing while singing loudly AND cleaning! They've just enough of that "run of the mill" boy band song to off-through the somewhat heavier guitars that really reminds me of Fallout Boy's earlier stages.

This is a great band to get into if you're into The Maine, Mayday Parade, and the like. Again, these guys are high energy and fun to listen to. Dont expect to come out of one of their songs feeling down; unless super-cheery, enthusiastic band boys dont make you happy, I guess...

Anyway, check them out, see what you think, and love em' or hate em'. I know I certainly love em'.

City Lights is a band that I have heard a lot of buzz about! Every time I hear someone talking about them I make a mental note to check them out, but for one reason or another, I always forget to do it. I'm kicking myself now for putting off checking into this band!

Thanks to Jen, I am FORCED into checking them out, and when I went to their MySpace page to listen to their songs, I was instantly digging their sound when their newest single "Lawnmower" kicked in! They are comfortingly familiar, and yet at the same time have a unique something that they bring to the table. To have something that stands out in today's pop-rock industry is tough, because 9 times out of 10, it all sounds like the same-old same-ole, but City Lights manages to have that same sound that is so popular right now, while commanding attention. What exactly it is that they have that separates them from the rest eludes me. I just can't put my finger on it, but it's unique to them, and I LIKE it!

If you're a fan of pop-rock bands like Freshmen 15, The Maine, or even older pop-punk bands like Alkaline Trio, you should check these guys out. As always (eventually I'm going to just stop saying this and assume that you know I mean it) check them out for yourselves, and see what you think!

I've heard of City Lights before Jen made them Band of the Month, though I cannot place where I did, or who was talking about them, so I'm coming into this pretty blind. When Jen described them to us as having a "somewhat familiar sound," I was expecting to dislike City Lights immediately. I'm not a fan of bands where you can't tell immediately by listening which band/singer is performing (blame that on coming of music age during the height of manufactured Boy Bands and pre-packaged blonde teenage-ish pop princesses).

However, I'm pleasently surprised by their sound. They are somewhat familiar, but I know I'm not listening to The Maine, Alkaline Trio, Freshman 15, or any other pop/punk band that's out there right now. I really dig their most recent single, "Lawnmower," and the older tunes "Where You've Been," and "Hang Out." I can definitely see myself jamming to City Lights while I drive to work to pump myself up for the day.

City Lights appear to have found the highly successful combination of sounding like the popular music that's out right now, yet have something that makes unique. And Just like Caity, I cannot put my finger on it, but it's awesome, and I want to hear more!

So, if you like upbeat beats, and are looking for something to jam out to while you ride around with the windows down at the beginning of the summer, definitely check out City Lights! According to their facebook/Myspace, they are touring around the midwest US with none other than Freshman 15! So, if you're in that area, or are travelling there in July, definitely check out their dates. I know I would be if I was in the area (especially the Doc's Music Hall date in July, cause SF's Doc at Doc's would have been hilarious...Or maybe only to me...)

City Lights! What can I say about you. I still remember the first time I heard this band, which was also the first time I got to see them play live. It was the Manna Tour that they did with one of my playlist staples, There For Tomorrow, we were in Buffalo and we only really knew of TFT and no one else. I wasn't sure what in that moment what I was going to be in for, and to say I was suprised. City Lights had some amazing stage presence and an amazing show. I remember being plesently suprised by the music and the sound.

I honestly haven't been following the band since that tour, which I think was a mistake on my part. I did purchase their EP at the show, and it is present in my itunes playlist. Since they have been made band of the month I think it has renewed my enjoyment of their music to say the least and I have found myself with their myspace open and listening to songs that are for lack of a better word, fantastic. They have a sound that I think a lot of people would enjoy.

If you have a chance I think you should for sure check them out, head over to their myspace and take a listen to what they have to offer. I would recommend their new song posted titled Lawnmower, however my favorite would have to be their single Where you've Been or What it Takes. Two great choices for you to start of into your adventure of City Lights.

They also have some tour dates posted, one for June and a bunch for July, think you can make it to these shows? I reccomend that you go, you honestly won'tbe disappointed at what they have to offer to you!