Friday, September 26th, 2008

If you haven’t heard of The Morning Light, it is time to check them out. This pop-rock band based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania have definitely found a sound for their new self titled album that differentiate them from the ever-growing genre. They hit the studio with producer, Matt Goldman, and created a record that falls somewhere in between Jack’s Mannequin’s “Everything In Transit” and All Time Low’s “So Wrong, It’s Right.”

The album starts out with an energetic tune, “Wake Up”, that is sure to catch any listener’s attention. The track listing flows nicely on covering the usual love songs and a mix of daily life themes. Amongst poppy melodies, the band incorporates subtle classical sounds that enhance their debut LP. Track four, “Virginia”, reveals traces of a Beatles sound while songs like “Have You Tonight” include brass instruments that instill a jazzy vibe. After listening to this album once, you’ll have lines stuck in your head that you won’t mind being there. You may be sick of Sara Bareilles’, “Love Song,” but The Morning Light’s “Done Writing Love Songs” sheds light (no pun intended) on a similar theme that leaves you with a song you can embrace. By the time track eight, “Honest,” is reached, it’s apparent that all the lyrics are just that, honest. The record comes to a conclusion with upbeat track eleven, “Movin’ Along,” after a slower song, “This Way”, properly leads you into it.

The album, released on Fearless Records (Plain White T’s, Sugarcult, The Maine) is now available in stores as well as online. If you’re looking for pop-rock band with something a little different to offer, I suggest you buy a copy. And if you happen to like it, catch the band live on their current tour.

The Morning Light will be playing the TLA this Wednesday, Oct. 1 along with The Rocket Summer and Phantom Planet.

***Photo courtesy Erin Yaeger.

The Triangle: I’ve been to a ton to Tegan and Sara shows for the past few years and I’ve gone with all different types of people: male, female, gay, straight. Everyone really enjoys the performances and atmosphere. Why do you think your music appeals to so many different types of listeners?

Sara Quin: I think the first couple years of our career, we weren’t necessarily thinking about whom the audience would be—we just wanted to make music that we wanted to make. I think that we sort of progressed and realized that the bands that we grew up listening to and were really influenced by, were quite diverse and in a lot of cases were pop and rock icons. I grew up in the 80’s listening to Bruce Springstein, U2, The Police, Cyndi Lauper, and I think that we were really inspired by that. And we want to make music that appeals to a mass group of people. I think that most art and music should be that way, regardless of who the person is: their gender, sexuality, background, class whatever.

It makes me very happy to see a diverse audience. I want people in the audience to like the music and ultimately come from all different kinds of places—that makes me excited. We’re writing pretty universally themed music, so it makes sense to me that there would be a lot of different people in the audience who could understand or relate to it. Continue Reading »

On Tuesday night, Low vs Diamond graced the auditory appetites of Philadelphia’s concert goers at the TLA. Opening for Santogold, thegroup provided a taste of their self-titled Epic Records album to those both familiar and unfamiliar with their sound. However, the melodic experience offered more of a generous helping than a bite.

The band members, Lucas Field (vocals and guitar,) and Howie Diamond (drums) originally met at the University of Colorado where they started out in a jam band. They later crossed paths with Tad Moore (keyboard and guitar,) Anthony Polcino (guitar) and Jon Pancoast (bass,) to form Low vs Diamond which allows them to comfortably acclaim themselves as
an “American band;” referring to their four hometown cities dispersed widely across the country.

As the first of three opening bands for the show, Low vs Diamond granted the punctual arrivers an exciting and irresistible atmosphere. The band intrigued listeners with a set full of lush and languorous songs that speak to the heart. Focusing on themes such as family, nostalgia, and saying goodbye to former relationships, the band easily had the crowd singing along, which they say helps them to feed off the energy.

They are known by their fans to perform very animatedly and to always be lucid and cinematic. Hints of similarity to U2 and Coldplay are present, but their unique sound and style has landed them as one of iTunes’ “favorite up and coming bands of 2008,” as well as being singled out in Rolling Stone’s ‘Hot List,’ Filter Magazine’s ‘Getting to know you’ section and LA Times’ ‘The List.’ They have even been featured on the hit CW television show, “One Tree Hill.”

Favorites such as “Don’t forget sister,” “Killer B,” and “Wasted” were performed magnificently with nearly identical sound to the album version. The added intensity of a hungry crowd and the synchronized swell of the music with visual movement on stage created a great show for old fans, and sealed the deal with new ones. Their performance proved their commitment to making it big in the industry and rocking out for all who can relate—which does not leave many listeners out.

***Photos by Olivia Garrity