Big Light

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Though a young band in many respects, there’s also something endearingly yesteryear about them, a kind of respect for craft, hooks and musicianship more in line with the ‘60s or ’70s but in service of a sound that’s timeless, as touched by Pavement as it is The Beatles (though “The Annuals” on their newly minted debut EP – produced by the band and Apollo’s Jeremy Black – is a perfect rejoinder to the White Album’s “I’m So Tired”). Cute and sweaty, these future indie rock heartthrobs were all shaggy and grinning and delighted to be doing what they’re doing, Big Light exhibited a focused, well-rehearsed energy. The first step of any journey is important, and they clearly understood this evening was the beginning of something, both their EP release party and the opening salvo of their residency, which will repeat the last Thursday of each month at 12 Galaxies.

What started in a reverb coated cloud, a weather system you felt coming on, grew into rock you can really dance to – hip lubricant, skull grease, mood relaxer, call it what you will. There’s something so deeply flucking enjoyable about Big Light, and it didn’t matter if they stomped it crunchy hard rock style (“Heavy”) or caressed Randy Newman’s words (“Memo To My Son”) or just rolled like a river (a fab cover of Nathan Moore’s “Safe & Sorry” with guest Dan Lebowitz on lap steel). They showed equal facility and affection for all the colors in their rainbow, constantly reaching just a millimeter or two past their comfort zones. Fred Torphy (guitar, vocals), (guitar, vocals), Bradly Bifulco (drums), Colin Hoops (keys), Cochrane McMillen (percussion), Dan Hurley (organ ) and ALO’s Steve Adams (bass, vocals) make diversity a virtue because they put it in service of something sweet and catchy, going from a burnished glow to white light/white heat. Ending with “Separation Anxiety,” a simmer that explodes into many bright stars, Big Light made more than a few of us very interested to see where this band goes in the days ahead.