The Bright Light Social Hour - “So Come On”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 7

Pairs Well With…Portugal. The Man, My Morning Jacket, White Denim

The Bright Light Social Hour followed up expected in 2020 with Jude Vol. 2, a groovy, psych pop collection that shows off the SXSW regulars’ wide-reaching rock palette. It’s among the most patient of their catalogue, leaning a bit more on dream-pop and 80s synth influences than some of their more indie-rock oriented material. While a little slower, it’s still a record filled with funky hooks, songs that can be outright soulful while still under the band’s hazy bounce. The band recently released an eleventh anniversary edition of their self-titled debut, so expect their SXSW set to feature both old and new as they celebrate themselves as a band throughout 2022. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: The Bright Light Social Hour (BLSH) delivered their most ambitious record yet last year with Jude Vol. 1, an album that incorporates bold psychedelic rock, krautrock rhythms, and some dream pop layering in a sound that is as intense as it is hypnotic. By increasing the tension in their sound, BLSH give their often vibing grooves more meaning, grounding their airy pop/rock sound percussively and with mature intention.