Brighten
Encyclopedia
Brighten is a pop rock
band from Chico, California
, consisting of brothers Justin (guitar, lead vocals) and Jimmy (drums) Richards, and Alex Draper (bass, backing vocals). The band has recently been on tour with This Providence
, Cute Is What We Aim For, Eisley
, and All Time Low
. In 2007, their debut album, King vs. Queen
, was released on Carbon Copy Media
, without the band's full knowledge.
They independently released their debut EP, Ready When You Are, on November 9, 2005. The EP was extremely well received by critics, and has since sold out.
In 2006, Victory Records
sued Carbon Copy Media, and in the resulting turn of events Brighten's debut album, King vs. Queen, could not be released. After selling a 9-track version independently at their concerts, Brighten discovered in March 2007 that the album had in fact been released.
In June 2007, Brighten began a tour with Hawthorne Heights
.
Brighten has shared the stage with: The Maine
, From First to Last
, Taking Back Sunday
, Number One Gun
, The Junior Varsity
, Lydia
, Waking Ashland
, Eisley
, This Holiday Life, and more.
Brighten is represented by Tim Kirch and Tanner Radcliffe at Eighty One Twenty Three Management.
In 2008 Jimmy Richards raised enough money to travel to Africa and minister African children. He has said that he will return to the band and play drums when he gets back to America. For a short time time Richards was replaced by ex-Parade the Day drummer Ben Spear, and also briefly by Loren Brinton, who also drummed in Lydia
and A Rocket to the Moon
. Richards has since returned and participated in the band's most recent recording effort.
Justin Richards is now a full time touring member of A Rocket to the Moon
which has put Brighten on a temporary hiatus. However, Brighten announced via their myspace in May 2009 that the next month they would go into the studio in with producer Jeff Schneeweis with hopes of recording new material.
The band has finished recording their next EP, called "Be Human", which was released March 23, 2010. Currently, they say that touring is a possibility. Justin has been quoted saying "A Rocket to the Moon is, it feels right, y’know. It’s really cool kinda doing both and it’s really not hard to juggle since Brighten may not be touring... a whole lot."
On July 25, 2011, drummer Jimmy Richards posted on his Twitter saying that Brighten will be digitally releasing a new record, titled "I'll Always Be Around", on August 9, 2011.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band from Chico, California
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, consisting of brothers Justin (guitar, lead vocals) and Jimmy (drums) Richards, and Alex Draper (bass, backing vocals). The band has recently been on tour with This Providence
This Providence
This Providence is a four-piece Alternative Rock band from Seattle, Washington. The band consists of Dan Young , David Blaise , Gavin Phillips , and Andy Horst .-Formation and early history:...
, Cute Is What We Aim For, Eisley
Eisley
Eisley is a rock band from Tyler, Texas, consisting of four siblings and their cousin , all of whom were born and live in Texas. Although the band's name translates to ice island in several Germanic languages, it was actually selected by the bandmates because of its link to the Star Wars saga...
, and All Time Low
All Time Low
All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003.The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson...
. In 2007, their debut album, King vs. Queen
King vs. Queen
King vs. Queen is the debut album of indie rock group Brighten, released on March 20, 2007.-Overview:The album was originally slated for a fall 2006 release, but was pushed back. However, before the album's intended release, Victory Records sued Carbon Copy Media . As a result of this, Brighten...
, was released on Carbon Copy Media
Carbon Copy Media
Carbon Copy Media was an Ohio-based independent record label, clothing company, and video production company founded by singer JT Woodruff of the rock band Hawthorne Heights. The label consisted of local bands in the Dayton, Ohio area...
, without the band's full knowledge.
History
Although the band has been playing together for nine years, they only formed a band in 2004. In high school, Brighten went by the name Sincerely Me, though after high school, due to minor conflict, they changed their name to Brighten.They independently released their debut EP, Ready When You Are, on November 9, 2005. The EP was extremely well received by critics, and has since sold out.
In 2006, Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
sued Carbon Copy Media, and in the resulting turn of events Brighten's debut album, King vs. Queen, could not be released. After selling a 9-track version independently at their concerts, Brighten discovered in March 2007 that the album had in fact been released.
In June 2007, Brighten began a tour with Hawthorne Heights
Hawthorne Heights
Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band from Dayton, Ohio, formed in 2001. Their line-up currently consists of lead-singer and rhythm guitarist JT Woodruff, lead-guitarist and vocalist Micah Carli, bassist and backing vocalist Matt Ridenour, and drummer Eron Bucciarelli...
.
Brighten has shared the stage with: The Maine
The Maine (band)
The Maine is an American rock band from Tempe, Arizona. They were formed in January 21st, 2007, they released EP Stay Up, Get Down in the same year. On December 11 2007, The Maine made their debut with a five song EP called The Way We Talk produced by Matt Grabe...
, From First to Last
From First to Last
From First to Last was an American rock band based out of Los Angeles, originally hailing from Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. The band released their first EP titled Aesthetic in 2003 with vocalist Phillip Reardon, followed by Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count in 2004 and Heroine in...
, Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
, Number One Gun
Number One Gun
Number One Gun is a Christian rock band from Chico, California, that was most recently signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They self-released their debut EP Forever in 2002, before releasing their follow-up albums Celebrate Mistakes on Floodgate Records and Promises for the Imperfect on Tooth & Nail...
, The Junior Varsity
The Junior Varsity
-Biography:Formed in 2002 by current guitarist Andy Wildrick, the band succeeded another local band called Winner Takes All; several songs written during that time were later recorded as Junior Varsity songs. The Junior Varsity self-released a six-song EP in 2002, with Noah Wenger taking lead vocals...
, Lydia
Lydia (band)
Lydia is an indie rock band from Gilbert, Arizona, formed in 2003.-Biography:Leighton Antelman and Steve McGraw started writing music and booking shows when they were both in 7th grade. The band really got their start as Rolo 15 while attending Greenfield Jr. High. They then went on to change the...
, Waking Ashland
Waking Ashland
Waking Ashland was an American rock band from San Diego, California. Formed in 2003, they were signed to Tooth and Nail and Immortal Records. In all the group released two EPs and two full-length albums before their disestablishment in 2007...
, Eisley
Eisley
Eisley is a rock band from Tyler, Texas, consisting of four siblings and their cousin , all of whom were born and live in Texas. Although the band's name translates to ice island in several Germanic languages, it was actually selected by the bandmates because of its link to the Star Wars saga...
, This Holiday Life, and more.
Brighten is represented by Tim Kirch and Tanner Radcliffe at Eighty One Twenty Three Management.
In 2008 Jimmy Richards raised enough money to travel to Africa and minister African children. He has said that he will return to the band and play drums when he gets back to America. For a short time time Richards was replaced by ex-Parade the Day drummer Ben Spear, and also briefly by Loren Brinton, who also drummed in Lydia
Lydia (band)
Lydia is an indie rock band from Gilbert, Arizona, formed in 2003.-Biography:Leighton Antelman and Steve McGraw started writing music and booking shows when they were both in 7th grade. The band really got their start as Rolo 15 while attending Greenfield Jr. High. They then went on to change the...
and A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon is an American rock band. The band was founded during 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts by Nick Santino, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist...
. Richards has since returned and participated in the band's most recent recording effort.
Justin Richards is now a full time touring member of A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon is an American rock band. The band was founded during 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts by Nick Santino, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist...
which has put Brighten on a temporary hiatus. However, Brighten announced via their myspace in May 2009 that the next month they would go into the studio in with producer Jeff Schneeweis with hopes of recording new material.
The band has finished recording their next EP, called "Be Human", which was released March 23, 2010. Currently, they say that touring is a possibility. Justin has been quoted saying "A Rocket to the Moon is, it feels right, y’know. It’s really cool kinda doing both and it’s really not hard to juggle since Brighten may not be touring... a whole lot."
On July 25, 2011, drummer Jimmy Richards posted on his Twitter saying that Brighten will be digitally releasing a new record, titled "I'll Always Be Around", on August 9, 2011.
Members
- Justin Richards - Guitar, vocals
- Alex Draper - Bass, vocals
- Jimmy Richards - Drums, vocals
EPs
| Date of Release | Title |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Ready When You Are |
| 2008 | Early Love |
| 2010 | Be Human |
| 2011 | I’ll Always Be Around' |