The Audio Perv

On Tuesday night, we sent out some staff to go check out new pop (punk?) rock sensation LIGHTS at the Mercury Lounge on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Let’s see what they had to say:

After a strong set by the bass-less trio of Stars of Track and Field, on stage came up a young girl with two older brother types. Were they jumping up there for the thrill of it or were they the headlining band? For the next hour, LIGHTS and her bandmates would prove why they were the latter. Wearing a bit of mascara and a flannel shirt, LIGHTS wowed the crowd with her sweet yet uninhibited vocals while rocking out her key-tar and dual keyboards. LIGHTs was celebrating the release of her first new full album The Listening (Sire Records) out that day (10/6). Though we’ve listened to The Listening and heard LIGHTS’s music in television commercials, the music when performed live is like ice cream being added to your great slice of cake when compared to the album. Though her popularity is skyrocketing, LIGHTS remains poised and humbled when greeted with her lyrics being sung back at her from the packed audience. In a fourteen song set that included every song from The Listening* (Pretend was only played once), LIGHTS and her band rocked enthusiastically to fans and various industry types. LIGHTS displayed a bit of shyness as the photographers pit snapped what must’ve been hundreds of photos (how many songs do you need to be up there for??). Once they left, LIGHTS seemed more at ease whether she was singing about her love of video games or ex-boyfriends or covering Phil Collins. LIGHTS exuded joy and modesty not expressed by today’s pop stars. Maybe they can all learn a thing from her and have a good time with their audience.

Setlist:
1. The Listening
2. Lions!
3. February Air
4. Saviour
5. Quiet
6. Second Go
7. Ice
8. Pretend (solo piano version)
9. Face Up
10. White
11. Drive Your Soul
12. River
13. The Last Thing On Your Mind
14. In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins cover)

(Click on pics to enlarge, videos below the pics)

For more on LIGHTS, go to IAMLIGHTS.com and myspace.com/LIGHTS.