Bright Light, Bright Light - Giving us something to dream about!!!

Music to open the heart, and get you jumping on the dance floor. 

Bright Light, Bright Light **** (AKA Rod Thomas) lunched his new album ‘Life is Hard - The Remixes’ with a sparkle and sprinkle of flamboyance as part of his 'Life is Easy' tour. I am a newcomer to the brilliance of Bright Light Bright Light live... rarely am I left cursing my ignorance of an artist, but boy was I was left wondering how I had managed not to notice this one. It is a bit like not noticing the stars at night because of light pollution from the streetlights. I guess I have spent too long listening to crust, sad folk, grungy dirges lamenting life’s misery, and other music from the gutter of life.  

He is utterly brilliant and that rare gem of singer, songwriter and performer. I was instantly addicted after he sung 'An open Heart'.  If any song should be the ambassador of Bright Light, Bright Light beautifully upbeat Electro / Synth Pop sound, it is this track. For me 'An open Heart' and 'Good Luck', which was released as a single in May, were the highlights of the show and his new remix album. He beats the socks off of La Roux and Dragonette. For me the quality of his albums is up there with Scissor Sisters, who I have adored for years and whom Bright Light, Bright Light has previously supported… in fact I am now playing his albums more than theirs. It is not hard to see how he captured Elton John’s attention.     

I love the way he moves on stage. His energy, confidence, and joy are contagious. We were transported to a florescent hope filled World.  Miracles don’t exist there, but the magic is that we beat out our own path through our strength of will and by following our hearts true calling. This is surely a paradigm woven from the story of Rod Thomas’ own humble start as a busker on the London Underground. I wonder how many dirges he sang before he made it and how much he reflects on how easy or hard his path his been.

I probably walked past him on my commute without an upward glance, but he didn’t have the cymbal and 80’s style jackets back then. I love the way he plays the cymbal in his live show. Every time he hit it a wave of light swept across the audience… or maybe that was just my synesthesia. One thing I really appreciate about Bright Light, Bright Light as an artist is that he likes to vary his set list. His shows, especially the smaller ones are followed by a very tight-knit group of fans.  

They know all the words, many of them followed him from the start and he knows them well, because they go to every show.  When you have a loyal following like this, it is a good idea to mix it up, rather then playing the same show over and over. Whenever I go to see a band play on more then one show of their tour it frustrates me if they just go through the motions and repeat the same performance.  It also bothers me when they play too much of their old music rather than showcase their new material.

So, I really am being a hypocrite by saying I would have liked to hear him play ‘Love Part II’ from his 2013 album ‘Make me Believe in Hope’ in place of ‘Happiness’ my least favourite track from ‘Life is Easy’. This track wasn’t included on the 'Life is Hard' remixes. Unfortunately the venue got a little hot and Bright Light, Bright Light had to loose the jacket halfway through and turn on what looked like an old office fan stage left. It was professionally done, but on a small note, tight white t-shirts are sexier then loose fitting white vests…ah hum.

 But, I think we should let him off on that one as he sort of gets away with it as part of his look, when many others wouldn’t.  The drummer and keyboard player seemed discreet and distant.  The light shined on Rod too brightly for anyone else to stand out – even sans the jacket.  The question I was left with is life easy or is it hard.  Bright Light X2 sings about the hardness of lost love in Good Luck, on one hand it makes it seem easy for the dumped to let go and be philosophical about it, yet there is still a bitter resentment transferred to the dumper… "good luck finding someone else .. good luck with the bed you made.. I am at the finish line and you are gone...  I think a bit of Forest Gump logic applies here, and it is both at the same time and the same song can be very different in the remix. Both the new album and the artist are worth renewed attention. 

I enjoyed the show so much that I bought copy of the new album at the end of show, and got it signed by Bright Light, Bright Light.  He also earned my admiration for taking so much time after the show to talk to his fans and sign copies of his album. This is the mark of a true star... always ready to brighten someone else’s life and take away the hard edges of mundane reality. 

Check Out! the Video for 'Good Luck' (Remix) Feat. Ana Matronic Below...