“We like it rough and raw. Nasty. Messed up,” said Mike Brandon, lead singer of Mystery Lights, in Wick Records’ video series, ‘Live From The House of Soul’.
Performing “What Happens When You Turn The Devil Down,” the light bashes against the darkness, the intricate, weeping lead guitar line sweeps over the tumultuous drum kit and pedaled madness. The single is from Mystery Lights’ debut album, which was released earlier this summer.
Mystery Lights are inspired by vintage American blues in the way the Rolling Stones and The Who were in 60’s and 70’s. This backs the logic behind Daptones (the parent label to Wick) plucking this New York act as its first signing; the five piece fits like a glove with its other roster talent, including Charles Bradley and Sharon and the Dap Kings.
While the shooting of “What Happens…” takes place in a Bushwick back alley, the echoed grittiness and Brandon’s voracious vocals would be fitting for Austin’s Hotel Vegas, with the crowd thrashing as much as the musicians on stage, booted feet stomping the scatter of PBR cans and cigarette butts, whirling up a tornado of dirt, smoke, and evaporating sweat rising into the night sky.
This week Mystery Lights play Nashville on August 10, the first date of their headlining tour, ending back in New York by mid August, and then perform at two of the cities hosting the Modern Sky Festival, Helsinki, Finland and their home town of NYC.
Mystery Lights Tour:
8.10 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
8.11 – Whitesburg, KY @ Summit City Lounge
8.13 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
8.14 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
8.15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit
8.16 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
8.17 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
8.27 – Helsinski, Finland @ Modern Sky Festival
9.17 – New York, NY @ Modern Sky Festival
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