www.lightbulballey.com

Garage/Psych/Punk

Light Bulb Alley are a Rock ‘N’ Roll band from Montreal that has existed for over 10 years. Their last release was"The Bright Side Of The Dumpster", It features Chloé Soldevila from ANEMONE on back up voice and Sean Cary Barnard from UUBBUURRUU on guitar. Produced by Daran in Montreal.


The band has shared the stage with Lyres, MOTO, Matadors and toured US, Canada and Mexico.

The group consists of Allister Booth (guitar, vocals), Sean Cary Barnard (guitar) and many members throughout the years. The band began as an independent act, self-producing their recordings, before they eventually gained popularity in the Montreal Garage/Psych scene. The band's raw garage rock sound draws heavily from Allister's influences of Old Time Blues and 70's Punk. Their debut album, "The Sound of Things", was released by Ricochet Sound (The Gruesomes label) in 2011. Their last release was "The Bright Side of the Dumpster" in 2016.

Light Bulb Alley believes in Rock ‘N’ Roll in its pure form, but does not disqualify the significance of the ever changing currents of new music. They do not believe in dogmatic pureness or regurgitating a carbon copy of what has been done before. Their sound is an alchemy of old and new, darkness and light. This duality is ever changing and never stagnant.

On the Unreleased album (Lights and Shades) Allister Booth sings of progressively breaking free from darkness. The songs, when played live, impact audiences by pulling them into the mysterious poetic lyrics and melodic music. The lyrics are vague and elusive and inspired by dark poets like Jim Morrison, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. Light Bulb Alley sees the value and humour of depression and lowly living. Allister is honest and writes about what he has seen in Montreal. They make a positive leap forward towards the light at the end of the tunnel. “Cut Me Loose” is a break up song that hints at making the best out of a bad situation and moving forward. “What You Wanted is What You Get” depicts the night life/underground scene in Montreal and how alluring it could be. Theres also the concept of steering away from dark/party ridden paths and negative aspects of life as alluded to on in “Fly Away You Stupid Ghost”. 

The underground Rock ‘N’ Roll lifestyle is hard, but when articulated in music, it can be cathartic and give people an outlet to groove to. They can be compared to the Cramps, Rolling Stones or Velvet Underground with a modern spark.

Press

"...their rollicking, rockabilly-tinged sound retains the fireball energy and DIY grit of a classic punk outfit”. Bandmark.com

"Stratified clouds of cigarette smoke in a bar are the images invoked by the music here". Earshot

" I can't describe properly how great it is! Moody guitar, bass and drums with vocals and trashy performing are still shudder my body!!! Excellent"! Gew Gaw Fanzine.

"After a rumbling, shuddering cover of ‘Who Do You Love’ we get into a CD of damned fine originals. This is neo-garage psyche delivered good and ugly".  Leicester Bangs 

"...absolute killer garagepunk guitar noise just made for dancing and drinking"! Mongrel Zine

"Seedy underbelly stabbing at your eyes like Jack the Rippers surgical knives. Leaving you for the crows, vultures and worms". Sugarbuzz Magazine

" tormented, and a rhythmic system steamroller are the ingredients of this beautiful sandstone by the ability garage, which is often willingly let go fevered drifts psych". Retrophobic.com

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