The Voodoo Music and Arts Experience may have ended Sunday, but that doesn’t mean the party has to stop. The Bright Light Social Hour returns to Baton Rouge tonight at the Varsity Theatre to bring its mix of rock, funk and soul back.
The band formed when the members were in college at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. After bassist Jack O’Brien met guitarist and lead singer Curtis Roush, the two found drummer Joseph Mirasole on Craigslist and began playing and writing with a mix of influences.
“A lot of the main influences ranged from old soul and gritty rock like James Brown and The Who to a lot more recent indie and dance/electronic stuff too,” O’Brien said. “We’re always looking for new music.”
Since its inception, the band has recorded one self-titled album, which exploded onto the Austin scene. The SXSW 2011 Austin Music Awards named The Bright Light Social Hour Band of the Year, their debut LP Album of the Year and their song “Detroit” Song of the Year. O’Brien was also named Bassist of the Year, with then-keyboardist A.J. Vincent winning Best Keyboards. In addition, Roush finished fourth in Best Male Vocals and second in Best Electric Guitar, behind guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson.
While supporting its self-titled debut album, the band hit the road for months, with big opportunities to play big venues and open for bigger acts.
“We toured for about two years straight,” O’Brien said. “We opened for Aerosmith in Quebec City, and we also opened for Dave Matthews once in Austin.”
Recently, the band has taken time off from its cross-country travels to put together its second album. They couldn’t stay away from the stage for long, though.
“We’re about halfway through the recording process for our second album,” O’Brien said. “We’re taking a break for this tour, but we’ll jump back into it. We’re not sure when that will be out, but sometime in 2014.”
The Bright Light Social Hour returns to Baton Rouge with a show at the Varsity, having played gigs at the Spanish Moon on previous visits. For the band’s show tonight, O’Brien can promise some new songs making appearances.
“We’ll definitely be trying out a lot of the new songs,” O’Brien said. “We’ve been testing out a lot of those on this tour as well as kind of a lot of sonic experimentation of different, off-the-cuff experimental stuff.”
In addition to the new material from their upcoming album, O’Brien can promise three things.
“It’s a good time with definitely some new music and trying new things,” O’Brien said.
Doors for the show will open at 8 p.m. and the band will play at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Who: The Bright Light Social Hour
Where: The Varsity
When: 8 p.m., tonight
Price: $10

Gallery • 1 Photos

Photos courtesy of the band